I Predict a Disaster

The woeful condition of the turf at Heinz Field is something that occurs with the regularity of the swallows returning to Capistrano -- every single year. Now, with Pittsburgh high school football championship games to be played at the stadium Friday, Pitt playing on Saturday, and a little NFL game on Monday night, comes word from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of a unique "solution":

"Heinz Field will have a new look to it when the Steelers play the Dolphins Monday night.

It will have a whole new field.

The Post-Gazette has learned that the Steelers this weekend will cover their entire field with new sod, placing it over the DD GrassMaster field that is mostly composed of grass. However, that grass has deteriorated as usual into November and it won't be any better after the four WPIAL high school championship games are played at Heinz Field Friday, followed by Pitt vs. South Florida Saturday afternoon.

The current turf won't be replaced but covered up by the new sod, which is heavy enough that it won't have to be tied down. The work will begin after Pitt's game ends.

It's the first time sod will cover the DD GrassMaster that was installed four years ago . . .

The sod will stay in place through the rest of the 2007 NFL season."

And the prediction here is that Willie Parker will have the look of someone running on ice -- traction will be an issue, and a running game that has struggled the past couple of weeks will have something else about which to be concerned.