Tennessee won’t have to worry about a significant issue that reared its ugly head in last Music City Bowl appearance
The playing surface at Nissan Stadium is far better than what Tennessee fans saw the last time the Vols played in the same bowl game.
As the Music City bowl between Tennessee and Illinois approaches, some Vol fans might not be the greatest memory of the event based on their last time there.
The Vols fell to the Purdue Boilermakers in overtime 48-45 in a game marred by controversy. Vols RB Jaylen Wright appeared to have gotten across the goal line on fourth down in overtime, but his forward progress was ruled stopped. Purdue would win on a field goal a few plays later.
However, there was another aspect of the game that was particularly unsightly beyond just the ending. Players for both teams were slipping and sliding all over the field due to the poor field conditions for the game. Hendon Hooker slipped multiple times, and Jalin Hyatt slipped turning upfield on what could have been a big play on a pop pass in the third quarter.
Fortunately, that won’t be an issue this time around, as the playing surface at Nissan Stadium has since been changed.
There shouldn’t be a repeat of numerous slips on the field that occurred during Tennessee’s loss to Purdue in 2021 Music City Bowl
The Tennessee Titans changed the surface inside Nissan Stadium during the 2023 offseason, noting the following in its press release regarding the playing conditions:
“In more recent years, after player/coach concerns, an increase in injuries, and persistent issues with the undependable surface, the Titans amped up their research with data to determine the best, and safest, plan moving forward. Looking at statistics from the 2018-2021 NFL seasons, Nissan Stadium had higher lower extremity injuries than each of the monofilament synthetic turfs in the league.”
The Vols have since played at Nissan Stadium, opening up their 2023 season there against Virginia. There were no foothold issues against the Cavaliers, with the Vols routing UVa 49-13 on a warm and sunny afternoon in Nashville.
The temperatures will be freezing against Illinois on Wednesday in this year’s version of the Music City Bowl, but unlike the last time the Vols played in the event, Tennessee fans very likely won’t end up complaining about the grounds crew at Nissan Stadium by the time the game is over.
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