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DNC takes toll on Invesco turf
Crews working to improve conditions for Sunday's game
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8/28 Barack Obama "The American Promise"
Thousands gather at Invesco Field at Mile High to see Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination for President.
DENVER -- Denver Broncos turf manager Ross Kurcab might need to be a miracle worker to get the playing surface at Invesco Field whipped into shape in time for the Rocky Mountain Showdown at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
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Workers continued on Friday to disassemble stages and platforms that had been on the field for a week following the closing of the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night.
The stage on which Sen. Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech for the Democratic Party presidential nomination left a large circle of browning grass from the east sideline extending out to the middle of the field at the 50-yard line.
Both sidelines also looked worn with what appeared to be dead or very brown patches of grass.
Both Colorado coach Dan Hawkins and Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild viewed the field Friday during a noon-hour kickoff luncheon sponsored by the Denver Metro Sports Commission.
If they were unhappy with the field's condition, they didn't say so.
"It looks like it was a heck of an event last night," Hawkins said when asked about the turf's condition as he stood overlooking the field from suite level. "I wish I was here for it."
Fairchild surveyed the field from the same vantage point.
"We play wherever we play," Fairchild said. "I'm sure they will have it ready to go."
Sports commission president KieAnn Brownell downplayed the poor condition of the turf and said she is confident Kurcab and his crew will be able to get it back into shape in time for the game.
Sprinklers were already running Friday while crews continued to remove equipment from the field.
"These guys are world class," Brownell said. "I'm sure they will get it ready.
"They had six games here last year within one week."
Kurcab was not available for comment Friday afternoon.
The Buffs and Rams meet Sunday for the 80th time in what could be the final time in Denver for the foreseeable future. CU athletic director Mike Bohn announced Friday he has notified CSU officials that Colorado has elected to play next year's game in Folsom Field. Colorado State athletic director Paul Kowalczyk responded with a statement that the Rams will host the 2010 game in Fort Collins.
Posted by JohnCronin on August 29, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who would bad turf help? We have been slower than Corky these last few years.
Posted by oz_in_cali on August 29, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We can still keep the series alive even if we don't play every year. We still have a very fun, strong series going with old Big 8 rival Oklahoma (yeah, yeah, I am being general with the term rival - although back in the Big 8 days halloween weekend was always huge) without playing them every year anymore.
My feeling is that if Bohn plays his cards right, there is not really any good reason CU shouldn't have its cake and eat it too. CSU needs the game more than we do, so why couldn't CU allow some concessions (such as CSU home games at invesco), while gaining a few concessions of their own (such as the option of being able to substitute a televised "Rocky Mountain Kickoff" game against a BCS team, Air Force, Wyoming, BYU, or UTAH).
It's a good series that has given us good games, but there has to be a little flexibility built into this arrangement so that CU can do what is best for CU, rather than being expected to subsidize little brother.
Some years (I have a feeling this will be one of those years) it's probably better if the teams didn't meet because of rebuilding or whatever (this season and Hawkins' first season in Boulder stick out in my mind as examples of this).
Posted by Ralphie2 on August 30, 2008 at 6:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BUFFS!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by BuffMan6236 on August 30, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just another reason not to vote for Obama.
Go BUFFS!
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