Feb. 26, 2001

Michael Parks (Portland, OR)
What was the thinking behind NOT selling the old Omni Turf and using that money to pay for the new turf?

Bill Moos: Anytime you take a product that has been down for 11 years you don't know what type of shape it is going to be in. Some of the turf was salvageable and some of it was not. Contrary to what our fans may think it is an awkward, dirty, heavy surface that you don't just go in there with a pair of scissors and cut small square. It has a sand base which is very heavy. It isn't as glamorous as it may sound. However, people are swarming into the parking lot and getting a sample to take home with them. This shows the support that our fans have given us and the state that our football program is in. Again, we have the most successful football program in the Pac-10 over the past seven years. We felt that giving it away at no cost was the best thing to do and was a way that our great fans could take home a little piece of Oregon Football history. This turf has been through a 20-game winning streak, the great pick by Kenny Wheaton, championships, bowl teams, and many other great moments.