BLOOMINGTON, MN—The Toro Company is pleased to announce the seventh annual Toro Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program. In January 2009, one lucky student will travel to Tampa Bay to help the grounds crew prepare the field for one of the biggest games in football – the Super Bowl.
With an extensive history of supporting student scholarships and educational activities, Toro is proud to offer this unique learning experience. “We’re excited to partner with the NFL and provide this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Dale Getz, CSFM, sports fields and grounds sales manager at Toro. “This program reflects our interest in helping students in turf programs learn what it takes to maintain safe playing conditions at all levels of competition.”
Jared Knoodle from Michigan State University was the 2008 Toro Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program winner. “The experience was unforgettable, especially how important details can be for such a big event. It is so easy to cut corners and take the easy way around things, but the expertise and precision the crew showed taught me to go the extra mile for a perfect result,” said Knoodle of the experience.
Toro equipment and representatives have been involved in preparing the stadium and practice fields for the Super Bowl since 1967. Toro has forged strong partnerships with many sports venues and events including various Major League Baseball and NFL stadiums, university and college stadiums, the Rose Bowl, and Disney’s Wide World of Sports® complex.
The student selected for the Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program will experience first-hand what it takes to prepare the field for a world-class event. The student will work alongside the grounds crew, lead by NFL Super Bowl field director Ed Mangan. Mangan is also the field director at Turner Field in Atlanta, home of the Atlanta Braves, and is a consultant to the NFL. George Toma will also be present and has served as a consultant and advisor, helping prepare the field for every Super Bowl ever played.
The selected student can expect a variety of experiences including:
· Athletic turf maintenance
· Logo painting
· Field preparation for media day
· Half time preparation and clean-up
To be considered for the program, students must submit the application form and a 500-word typed essay describing where they see themselves professionally in five years and what they hope to accomplish during that time. The student must be enrolled in their second year of a two-year turf program or in their junior year of a four-year turf program, and must be available to work from January 25 – February 2, 2009. Entries must be postmarked by November 15, 2008 and the winner will be announced on December 15, 2008. Application forms and complete rules are available online at www.torosports.com/superbowl.