Generally clear skies. Low 73F. Winds light and variable..

Generally clear skies. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.

Independence's football field has been denuded of grass in preparation for artificial turf installation. Upon completion there and at Summit, all nine Williamson County Schools will have turfed football facilities. Independence opens its home schedule on Aug. 26 against Memphis Trezevant.

With the installation of artificial turf at Independence, as well as Summit, over the coming weeks, all nine Williamson County Schools will have turf for its football stadiums, completing a conversion process that began in 2017.

The natural grass playing surface at Independence's football stadium will be replaced with artificial turf over the coming weeks.

Minimal preparation for artificial turf installation has taken place at Summit, where the Spartans are set to open their season on Aug. 19 against visiting Henry County.

Independence's football field has been denuded of grass in preparation for artificial turf installation. Upon completion there and at Summit, all nine Williamson County Schools will have turfed football facilities. Independence opens its home schedule on Aug. 26 against Memphis Trezevant.

With the installation of artificial turf at Independence, as well as Summit, over the coming weeks, all nine Williamson County Schools will have turf for its football stadiums, completing a conversion process that began in 2017.

The natural grass playing surface at Independence's football stadium will be replaced with artificial turf over the coming weeks.

Minimal preparation for artificial turf installation has taken place at Summit, where the Spartans are set to open their season on Aug. 19 against visiting Henry County.

By the start of the high school football season, every Williamson County program will have artificial turf for its football stadiums.

At least, that’s the hope of officials at Independence and Summit, both of which are scheduled to have their grass surfaces replaced prior to their 2022 home openers – Summit in Week 1 against Henry County, Independence in Week 2 against Memphis Trezevant.

The process of replacing eight surfaces across the county (Nolensville opened in 2016 with artificial turf) began with Brentwood in 2017, followed by Franklin and Page a year later.

Last year, Centennial, Fairview and Ravenwood each had turf installed, though neither of the latter two were completed in time for their scheduled home openers.

“It seems they learned a lot from those three fields,” Summit principal Sarah Lamb said. “They’re assuring us it’s going to be ready the first of August. Some of (last year’s delays) was materials that came in late, so they ordered our materials really early. So it appears they feel like they’ve got a better timeline.”

On the surface, it appears Independence’s process is further along than Summit’s – a fact not lost on veteran Spartans coach Brian Coleman.

“They’ve ripped our goalposts down, and that’s all they’ve done,” Coleman said. “They’ve already got all the dirt work almost done (at Independence). Last year, Centennial was the only one ready (on time). Ravenwood had to go away and Fairview had to go away. I don’t want to go to Henry County again. We’re not going to Henry County again.”

A potential scheduling issue is just one more reason for Coleman’s lack of enthusiasm for the transition.

“Let’s just say ‘Coach Coleman is old school, isn’t thrilled about the turf,” he said.

The practicality of trading grass for turf, though, is its primary selling point.

“One thing it helps is having lines 365 days a year,” first-year Independence coach Scott Stidham said. “If you want to go out and run a 40 (-yard dash) in February or run shuttle runs or any of that stuff, you don’t have to paint lines. Having the field ready the second you walk out there to practice on it, I feel like that’s a big thing during the offseason. It also helps the whole school, for that same reason.”

With the latest two WCS schools -- coincidentally, the county's two most recent state championship gridiron programs (Independence in 2015, Summit in '20) -- added, the number of public schools across Tennessee boasting artificial surfaces on their football fields comes to just under 50.

“We talked about it in the interview. I knew all the Williamson County schools were getting it and we and Summit are the last two to get it this year,” Stidham said. “It’s something we’re excited about, our kids are excited about, to have it. This was a beautiful grass field and it hurts to tear it up, for all the work and blood, sweat and tears people have put into it before, but it’s going to be a great facility that we’re excited to use, and also you’re not afraid to have other people come here to use it whether it be camps, middle schools or whatever.

“There’s so many ways to help the community because you’re not worried about tearing up your field.”

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