Sound system upgrade coming to Purdue's Ross-Ade Stadium
Ross-Ade Stadium will feature an improved sound system during the 2018 season.
Sound system upgrade coming to Purdue's Ross-Ade Stadium Ross-Ade Stadium will feature an improved sound system during the 2018 season. Check out this story on jconline.com: https://on.jconline.com/2rtx5s3
Mike Carmin, Journal & Courier Published 10:22 p.m. ET May 8, 2018 | Updated 3:49 p.m. ET May 9, 2018
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Grass surfaces inside the stadium and practice field being replaced
Purdue football Jeff Brohm (left) and athletic director Mike Bobinski at a recent practice(Photo: Frank Oliver/For the Journal & Courier)
Incoming freshman Charles Allen won't join Purdue's football program this summer
Receiver Terry Wright has joined the track team
The Boilermakers open the 2018 season Aug. 30 vs. Northwestern
Purdue plays its first four games at home this season
FISHERS — Ross-Ade Stadium's sound system is in dire need of an upgrade.
One is coming, probably in time for the 2018 season.
"There's a process underway. We have the money and the funding," athletic director Mike Bobinski said Tuesday night at the first Boilermakers on the Road event at Topgolf in Fishers.
Bobinski and other athletic department officials were present for a demonstration nearly three weeks ago inside the stadium.
"We had a demo out there literally for a third of what it would be like," Bobinski said. "After they were out there for an hour, the police came. It was pretty substantial.
"The thump that it had, it was very good. We're not trying to be loud; we're trying to be quality. It can be a lot better than it was. The difference between what that can do and what our current system does was startling."
The grass surfaces inside the stadium and on the practice field are being replaced with a new strain of Bermuda grass.
"We're going to try to use the latest and the greatest, more durable, more weather resistant type of grass," Bobinski said. "We have a great subsurface but the turf can only go so long."
Switching to a synthetic or FieldTurf surface is an annual discussion, but there's no immediate push to move in that direction. Bobinski was pleased with how the grass inside the stadium held up last season.
"This year, we were fortunate with our weather," Bobinski said. "I look at the Minnesota game and our field bounced back really well from that. For all but one home game, we had an exceptional playing surface. It might have been Illinois where it was a little rugged but Indiana was the last game of the year on Thanksgiving and the field was spectacular. It was beautiful."
Painting is being finished in the south and north end zones to create a consistent look around the stadium, similar to the upgrades around the top level in Mackey Arena last season. Also look for new signage on Northwestern Avenue outside of the arena this summer.
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Work is underway inside the Mollenkopf Athletic Center to remove and replace the infill on the synthetic surface. The infill is used with sand under the turf fibers.
"The product that provides the cushion, apparently there was some issue with how it was put down," Bobinski said. "They've taken it all up and are reapplying in the proper way."
Purdue football coach Jeff Brohm said incoming freshman offensive lineman Charles Allen won't be joining the program this summer.
Last week, Allen - who attends Doss Magnet Academy in Louisville - posted a message on Twitter that he was quitting football.
"He's had some issues come up with him personally that he felt football wasn't going to play a part in his future and we wanted to work with him and honor that," Brohm said Tuesday.
"We wish him nothing but the best moving forward. We're ready to move on. Those things happen. I appreciate him being honest with us from the get-go and not waiting until he gets here. I do appreciate his honesty."
Allen called Purdue "hands down one of the best programs in the nation but college football is not something I have interest in anymore and I'm extremely sorry."
His departure does create a scholarship opening. Brohm remains on the lookout for possible graduate transfers who can help immediately.
"Anything that comes available we're going to be aggressive in what we're doing," Brohm said. "We've got plans and we're doing our part to recruit the next best guy to help us come in and play, whether it's immediately, down the road or whatever that may be."
Regarding the team's scholarship situation, Brohm said. "things were tight and now things have a small opening and that gives you a little more flexibility."
Receiver Terry Wright has joined the track team and could compete in this weekend's Big Ten Championships in Bloomington.
Wright had to wait until the end of spring practice to make the move. Brohm was pleased with Wright's progress in the spring.
"I think he did improve. I think he can help us win," Brohm said. "Do we need to get him to continue to be more consistent and more accountable? Yes, but I think he has improved."
Brohm is willing to work with players if they're interested in playing multiple sports.
"The fact that he improved upon that role and was being responsible and accountable, we wanted to give him an opportunity to help the track team," Brohm said.
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