University of Tennessee Student Joins the Turfgrass Team at the Super Bowl
In 2003, Toro and the NFL established the Super Bowl* Sports Turfgrass Training Program. Each year, a student who has shown exemplary leadership in turfgrass management will work to prepare the Super Bowl turf alongside Sports Turf Managers from many facilities around the U.S. who make up the Turfgrass team. This year, University of Tennessee student Conlan Burbrink has been selected to assist the crew with turfgrass maintenance, logo painting, halftime preparation and field cleanup for Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Since 1967, Toro has partnered with the NFL to provide equipment and expertise to help prepare the game field and multiple practice fields leading up to the biggest professional football game of the year. Through the program, Burbrink will work alongside NFL field directors Ed Mangan, George Toma and the Super Bowl grounds crew.
Burbrink was selected from a large pool of talented candidates due to his interest in pursuing a career in turfgrass science and management as well as his determination to continue further education related to turfgrass safety for athletes.
“I believe there is a need to more accurately understand how a field contributes to the fatigue an athlete undergoes, especially in football,” said Burbrink. “This experience will help me better understand how athletes interact with the field, which in turn will help me better educate coaches and administrators on why proper field maintenance is crucial for player health.”
For more details on the Super Bowl Sports Turfgrass Training Program, please contact boyd.montgomery@toro.com.
* Super Bowl is a registered trademark of the NFL.
