USF Practice Field

Laying the Groundwork for the Future of Bulls Football at the University of South Florida

June 04, 2026

At the University of South Florida, a familiar practice field recently got a fresh start, and the project helped lay the groundwork for the university’s future stadium field.

The original practice fields, renovated fully for the last time in 2011, recently underwent a full turf replacement centered around the installation of TifTuff Bermudagrass. The project not only improved the playing surface for student-athletes beginning this summer, but also served as an important test for USF’s future football stadium, where the university plans to install the same grass variety.

Planning for the project began in January 2026 through conversations between university leadership and the athletic department. SSC assigned a project manager in February to support the process, assisting with permitting, licensing, and overall project coordination ahead of construction.

Field replacement officially began on April 27.

Behind the Scenes: Renovating Practice Fields

The renovation was completed in partnership with The Motz Group, a Cincinnati-based contractor that had previously worked with members of the SSC team but was new to campus projects.

The first step in the renovation involved removing the existing sod and approximately six inches of organic material underneath it.

This layer was made up of sand and organic buildup created over years of mowing, irrigation, and athletic activity. Once removed, the field was rebuilt to its original elevation and carefully leveled from end zone to end zone to create a consistent playing surface.

Sustainable Savings:

Rather than discarding the removed material, the university found a sustainable way to repurpose it across campus. The sand-based growing material was reused for topdressing applications, helping improve other turf areas while reducing costs for the university.

Once excavation and grading were complete, the installation and grow-in process moved quickly. A pre-growth treatment was applied to the prepared sand layer before sod installation began and Quality Turf, L.C., based out of Plant City, supported the installation by supplying the TifTuff Bermudagrass used on the field.

Irrigation started immediately after installation, followed by additional weekly fertilizer applications designed to encourage aggressive rooting and healthy establishment.

Sod installation was completed on April 30, and by May 6 the turf had already begun rooting successfully into the prepared surface. This rapid turnaround was aided by favorable South Florida weather conditions.

Creating a Strong Playing Surface for Bulls Football

Throughout the month of May, the field remained closed to all activity to allow the sod to establish properly before summer sports camps kicked off in June.

Bulls Football Renovated Practice Field

During the grow-in period, the team focused on rolling the field to tighten seams between sod pieces and aerifying the surface to encourage deeper root growth and stronger soil structure.

The goal throughout the process was to create the strongest possible playing surface before athletes stepped onto the field. A practice field will inevitably take a beating as college lineman prepare for gamedays.

The stronger the root system, the better the field will fare in the short and long term.

Once the field returns to use, SSC will manage ongoing maintenance operations, including:

    • Painting field lines using robotic painters
    • Implementing cultural turf practices and a mowing schedule
    • Coordinating schedules with athletics staff to balance field performance with team activities.

Timing and consistency continue to play a major role in maintaining the surface throughout the year.

Looking to the Future

While the project improved the university’s current practice facilities, it also provided valuable insight for what comes next. The practice field renovation offered an opportunity to evaluate how TifTuff Bermudagrass performs in Tampa’s climate and USF’s unique conditions before stadium installation begins.

Unlike the open practice field, the future stadium will create varying shade conditions throughout the day created by the bowl. By monitoring both sunny and shaded areas on the current practice field, the team is gaining valuable insight that will help support long-term success in the stadium environment.

For USF Athletics, the renovation represented more than a field replacement. It was an investment in athlete performance, sustainability, and the future of Bulls football.

For additional stories about our services, browse the content in our news center and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.