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Slippery playing surface at Fiesta Bowl drawing reaction on social media
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
State Farm Stadium will be the site of Super Bowl LVII in February. Before that, the Glendale, Ariz. stadium is playing host to the College Football Playoff at the Fiesta Bowl between TCU and Michigan.
TCU took an early 7-0 lead behind a pick-6 thrown by Wolverines quarterback J.J McCarthy, and later went up 14-0 after Max Duggan took it in himself from a yard out with less than 2-and-a-half minutes to play in the 1st. But the headline thus far has been the grass surface that has seen several players slipping in the early stages.
It’ll certainly be something to monitor throughout the remainder of the afternoon as both teams look to book an appearance in the national championship game on Jan. 9 against either Georgia or Ohio State. TCU hasn’t won a championship since 1938 while Michigan, who fell in the semifinal a season ago to Georgia, is seeking its 1st title since the 1997 season.
Several media members and fans watching the game made their observations about the playing surface on social media:
This playing surface is not up to par for a national semifinal. Dudes slipping all over.
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) December 31, 2022
Is this field a green-painted ice rink? Dudes are slipping everywhere.
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) December 31, 2022
The field here at State Farm Stadium was damp when I walked on it during pregame. Even some muddy spots along the sideline. https://t.co/ialLVIdodF
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 31, 2022
Is this field a green-painted ice rink? Dudes are slipping everywhere.
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) December 31, 2022
.@Fiesta_Bowl why is your playing surface always the worst anyone plays on all year?
— The College Football Bridge (@TheCFBBridge) December 31, 2022
Noticing a ton of players slipping and falling in Glendale. Absolutely the worst natural grass football field I've ever been on. AU/Oregon BCS game was like playing on an ice rink.
— Pat Smith (@patsmithradio) December 31, 2022
Man this playing surface is something so far…
— Rick Molenhouse (@RRM1277) December 31, 2022
https://twitter.com/hooverstreet/status/1609301538765258752
how is this playing surface so bad?
— Sam Cooper (@SamDCooper) December 31, 2022
The Fiesta Bowl turf still looks a bit slippery.
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) December 31, 2022
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
