A history lesson on Notre Dame’s FieldTurf

On3 imageby:Todd Burlage07/20/22

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An interesting post on The Lou Somogyi Board has been discussing the replacement this offseason of the FieldTurf at Notre Dame Stadium. 

This FieldTurf thread and pic took me back to August of 2014 when I interviewed Notre Dame alumnus and benefactor Jim Morse a couple of days after Morse dedicated the original surface upgrade.

A running back on the 1954-56 Irish teams, Morse became so frustrated with the dangerous and deteriorating conditions of the natural turf at the stadium, that he was ready to pony up millions for an upgrade.

And when asked about the initiative, former Irish head coach Brian Kelly was all-in.  

Kelly spoke at length about the “dangerous divots,” “inevitable injuries,” and “antiquated” field conditions his guys were playing on. Kelly’s points were illustrated while walking on the pocked field after games. 

“These are premier athletes,” Kelly said emphatically. “We can’t keep jeopardizing their health and their football futures.”

Giving back 

The generous gift from Morris eight years ago — reportedly worth around $10 million  — finally lifted this climate-sensitive Midwestern stadium out of the playing surface dark ages. 

And while Kelly celebrated the FieldTurf, Notre Dame traditionalists vehemently opposed it. 

As for Morse, a highly successful businessman out of Muskegon, Mich., he couldn’t have been prouder when he came to town to survey his finished investment. 

“It’s perfect,” said Morse, 86, who brought a football with him on his “field trip” so he could test out the new FieldTurf surface with a game of toss and catch. “It is absolutely gorgeous.”

A three-year starter for the Irish, Morse shared a locker room with a Who’s Who of Irish greats, including quarterback Ralph Guglielmi, fullback Don Schaefer, offensive guard Al Ecuyer, two-way standout Jim Mense, and 1956 Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung — a classmate of Morse’s.

“There were just a whole lot of great football players when I was there,” Morse says. “You kind of take it for granted at the time, especially at a place like Notre Dame. But looking back now, you realize how blessed you were to play with some of these greats.”

A successful private investor, Morse has dabbled in everything from mobile home parks and outlet malls to radio stations and aviation. 

“I have always been interested in something new, different challenges. I have a diversified background. I did everything, but none of it very well,” Morse joked of his business interests, and apparently his terrific hiring practices. “But I always was smart enough to find somebody good to run my businesses so I didn’t have to run them myself.”

Morse’s long list of gifts to Notre Dame includes the Morse Family Scholarship Fund, which supports about 12 students annually; funding for football and baseball scholarships; an endowed fellowship for MBA students; and a significant donation to create the Morse Recruiting Lounge in the Guglielmino football complex, a second-floor space that features banners to recognize Notre Dame’s 11 consensus national football titles.

Morris also helped underwrite the Coleman-Morse Center, home to Notre Dame’s First Year of Studies, the Academic Services for Student-Athletes offices and the Office of Campus Ministry.

“I think it is important to give back,” Morse says. “And I think it is particularly important to give back and help some of these kids that otherwise would not be able to go to Notre Dame because of the cost.”

Memories and records

Morse never won a Heisman Trophy or became an All-American, but his place in Irish football lore will forever remain strong.

During an era when the forward pass was more of an anomaly than a reliability, Morse remains one of only three Irish running backs to catch passes for more than 900 yards in a career, an incredible accomplishment with just 52 career receptions. 

Morris was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 13th round of the 1957 NFL Draft.

And while his NFL career never blossomed, his careers as a media personality, businessman, trucking executive, investor and even briefly as a sports agent did, to varying degrees.

“It’s clear the kids I represented (as an agent) were bigger, stronger and faster than when I played,” Morse said with a laugh. “But to bring them back to Earth, I liked to tell the kids they were bigger, stronger, faster and dumber!”

And that’s Jim Morse — funny, smart, interesting, successful, involved, caring and wired to give back to the school he loves.

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