It takes a steady hand to paint the LSU Tiger Eye
28 Jun, 2011 By: Ron Hall Athletic Turf NewsKNOXVILLE, TN — Ever wonder how much paint a sports turf manager uses in preparing a major college field for its Saturday afternoon battles? The short answer is plenty.
Eric Fasbender, CSFM, Sports Turf Manager Louisiana State University, told an audience of about 150 turf managers that he uses about 120 gallons of paint prior to every home game at 92,400-seat Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. (Right, Eric Fasbender, blue shirt, and Chad Price, CSFM, Carolina Green)
Fasbender spoke at the recent STMA Regional Conference at the University of Tennessee here. It was a homecoming of sorts for the tall, well-traveled Chicago native. He attended Tennessee and worked with legendary and now retired sports field manager Bobby Campbell while he was there.
Fasbender said that and his crew paint both endzones (one endzone purple, the other gold), the 3-foot border around the playing surface, the 5-yard markers (using a stencil) and, finally, the famous Tiger Eye at midfield. He does the Tiger Eye freehand. More on that later.
Fasbender explained that he cuts the gold paint one to one with water, and uses two parts of water to one part purple paint because the dark color cover better than the gold. Much of the painting is done with four airless paint sprayers, which he has reconditioned each season. He uses aerosol cans for fast fixups and a 4-in. roller for touchups.
“Whatever equipment you use, you must maintain it properly,” said Fasbender.
Now, back to LSU’s beloved Tiger Eye.
Fasbender says he does the LSU-trademarked image freehand. It’s a responsibility he assumed in 2009. If spectators notice it will look slightly different each game, he admitted.
“It doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s not art. It’s a symbol,” said Fasbender.
While the Tiger Eye and the purple and gold endzones look good from the stands and on television, they’re not good for the turfgrass.
Fasbender and his crew verticut the field and heavily aerate the field after the season in an attempt to get the paint off of grass. While they may aerate the playing field five or six times, they’ll give the painted areas several additional aerations.
“I have suggested putting less paint on the field, but they said no; it’s an LSU tradition,” Fasbender shared with the STMA attendees.
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