Agriculture: Auburn Football’s Star Player

By: Taylor Sondgeroth

Without agriculture, Saturdays in Jordan-Hare Stadium would not be possible. From the field to the game ball itself, agricultural products and management strategies make football on the Plains what Auburn fans know and love.

The Football

Throwing the pigskin is not quite what it sounds like. The footballs used by college and professional football teams are made from cowhide. This hide comes from feedlot steers in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. Young steers produce highly stretch-resistant hides that are ideal for football production. Four almond-shaped faces are cut from the hide for the panels that form the football. The panels are stitched together and lined with a blended cotton backing that gives the ball structural integrity and protects the air-filled bladder from punctures.

The Hedges

In 1987, Coach Pat Dye decided that the stadium could use a facelift. Dense rotunda hollies line the field for beautification and crowd control purposes. The hedges were intended to prevent fans from rushing the field but were nearly destroyed during the celebration of the 2013 Iron Bowl win. The damaged hollies were left as a nostalgic symbol for future seasons. Fans can still see remnants of the gapped areas and growth from historic celebrations.

The Fans

Whether you attend games in your Sunday best or an orange and blue t-shirt, cotton and natural fibers make supporting the Tigers possible. Cotton is grown in 59 of Alabama’s 67 counties. On average, one acre yields 928 pounds of cotton, which can produce 1,546 t-shirts. At capacity, Jordan-Hare Stadium holds 87,451 people. It would take an average of 57 acres of cotton to produce blue and orange t-shirts for everyone to wear on game day.

The Field

Pat Dye Field in Jordan-Hare Stadium is exactly 2.15 acres of Tifway Bermudagrass sod. This fine textured sod has vigorous growth and performs best in full sun and in warm climates. The Auburn Turf Crew waters, mows and paints the field to keep it looking game day ready year-round. Approximately 250 gallons of specialized blue, orange and white paint are used to stripe and brand the field. The paint is formulated to be vibrant enough for television and to fade fast enough so that the grass continues to grow.

The next time you are in Jordan-Hare Stadium and yell “War Eagle!” as the ball is kicked off, you can thank agriculture for making the game possible.