Turf wars

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(Image: Turf harvest, 1971) If Ohio Stadium didn’t, in fact, belong to Woody Hayes, the field did. The installation of artificial turf, which permits quick cuts by running backs, would support Hayes’ cherished running game. Trusting its coach, the University moved to install Astroturf in 1970. Lou Fischer along with Vic Janowicz and Skip Doyle, all former football players donated $380,000 of stock in memory of Joe Campanella, former teammate to fund the turf. The stock was generate from Gino's Inc., a restaurant chain founded by Lou Fischer. The plan was not without controversy. The growing scope of the project and the declining value of Gino’s stock led the University to support the project from its general fund. Arguing that the University was thus subject to laws governing state contracts, a Cleveland man and 3M, the makers of Tartan Turf, sued the University for engaging in an opaque bidding process with the main contractor, Monsanto. Litigation delayed the project for a year. Finally, in June 1971, the University was permitted to contract Monsanto and a local company to install the new Astroturf, at a cost of $535,000.