In 1989, Coach J. Hayden Fry's Iowa Hawkeyes opened the season on new P.A.T. natural grass vs. Oregon. In 2009, Coach Kirk Ferentz's Hawkeyes will open the season vs. the University of Northern Iowa on new FieldTurf. Kinnick Stadium will unveil a new surface for the first time in twenty years.
Link from Hawkeye Sports site
The Gazette wrote an article on May 29 titled "PHOTOS, VIDEO: New-look FieldTurf unveiled at Kinnick Stadium" by Scott Dochterman.
A look at the old PAT field:
The construction at Kinnick Stadium this past May. Some fans wanted to see more logos on the field. The marketing department unveiled a jig saw picture earlier in the month piece by piece on the official web site for the football program.
The Hawkeyes will look to have a stronger performance than past upgrade seasons, like 2005, 1989 and 1972, when Kinnick Stadium made major upgrades to the stadium, including new press box and sky box seating (2005), returning to natural grass (1989) and putting in an artificial surface (1972).
Of course, improvements in the 1950s at Kinnick Stadium provided some outstanding dividends, as Iowa won two Rose Bowls, during that era. After finishing 5-3 in the Big Ten, 9-4 overall in '08, the Hawkeyes will work to move up the conference ladder this fall for Coach Ferentz and his staff. Iowa's last BCS appearance was after the 2002 season under Coach Ferentz and their last Rose Bowl appearance was after the 1990 season under Coach Fry.
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