Institute Feature

Sayrs onboard some of the equipment that maintains UT's famous checkerboard end zone. Download this image (37 K)

The National Football League has selected UT turf student Stephen Sayrs as the winner of the third annual Toro Super Bowl sports turf training program. In February Sayrs will travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to help the grounds crew maintain practice facilities and the game field for Super Bowl XXXIX.

Sayrs was chosen from a field of 100 for the Toro training program. He is pursuing a master of science in plant sciences with a concentration in turfgrass management.

"With the help of the University of Tennessee Athletic Department, part of the research we are conducting at UT is to help K-12 schools and municipalities select the proper species of turfgrasses for their fields", said Sayrs. "We are also working on selecting the best cultural practices that will enhance the fields' performance and ensure safe playing surfaces."