Triumphant Homecoming

GAMBIER, Ohio (October 4, 2004) Playing on McBride Field for the first time in two years, the Kenyon football team re-opened its home turf with a 39-30 homecoming victory over the Oberlin College Yeomen. The Lords used exceptional play from sophomore Alby Coombs, senior Nick Stalick, and first-year student Rafael Sanchez to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Lords (1-3, 1-0 NCAC) had not played on McBride since October 2002, because the field was undergoing a facelift. McBride re-opened Saturday with a new OmniGrass surface, a synthetic turf considered to be the safest on the market. The artificial turf, which also is used by the National Football League's Baltimore Ravens, replaced a worn grass field in place since the site's dedication in 1962.

The field was renovated in conjunction with the construction of Kenyon's new Center for Fitness, Recreation, and Athletics. Scheduled to open in fall 2005, the center will serve the needs of everyone from the casual jogger and the weekend hoopster to the fitness fanatic and the varsity athlete.

The OmniGrass surface features a two-and-a-half inch face width that provides more grass underfoot for better traction and durability. OmniGrass also holds a rubber infill of cryogenically processed particles that trap air between them, causing compaction to become virtually impossible. Below the surface are four layers of primary backing for shock absorption and strength.