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Officials involved with the turf project at Cheshire High have confirmed a rumor that there is an outside chance the Rams football team could play its first game on the turf this Friday against Wilbur Cross at 7 p.m.
Playing on the turf this week all comes down to Mother Nature. Sheehan High was secured weeks ago to host the Cheshire “home” game with Wilbur Cross if it is necessary.
“Using the turf this Friday is totally weather dependant at this point,” said Bob Behrer, chairman of the Cheshire Turf Committee. “The crew from Georgia (construction company Shaw Sportexe of Kennesaw, Ga.) is installing on schedule but the issue of weather comes at the end game. Sand and rubber infill can not be done in the rain according to their foreman.”
Cheshire High athletic director Steve Trifone echoed Behrer’s remarks and said rain later this week could delay the final phase of installation.
The information on www.weather.com indicates a 70 percent of rain for Wednesday, 30 percent chance for rain in the morning on Thursday and 40 percent chance for rain early during the day on Friday.
Regarding another rumor, Trifone and Behrer shot down the notion that the installation of the new track surrounding the turf field will be delayed until the spring.
“I am not aware of the track installation being delayed until spring,” Trifone said. “The weather should be fine for the track installation this fall. Daytime temperature must be around 42 degrees and late October, early November should cooperate with those temps.”
Behrer said if the area has normal fall weather the track installation will start “the week of Oct. 17 and be finished in 2-3 weeks.
“Again, this phase is dependent on the weather,” Behrer said. “We’re talking temperatures of 42 degrees and rising in the morning with no moisture (rain) because of the bonding and coating that needs to take place.”

Photo above supplied by Bob Behrer


According to Bob Behrer, Cheshire turf committee chairman, Hurricane Irene had no impact on the installation of the turf field at Cheshire High. When this reporter visited the turf site, there was no sign of damage or impact from water.
"The field is moving forward," Behrer said. "The top soil has been removed and we are at the base level. The foreman was pleased on Monday after the hurricane. He said there wasn't a single puddle and said our field will drain wonderfully. There were no problems.
"The photo (above) shows the first 125 feet-plus of slot drain installed (Tuesday). Once around the track they will form up the inside and pour the concrete curbing between the field and track. Drain pipes are on site and the stone base will follow. Everyone is asking if we will be ahead of schedule and these professionals say we are on target for mid October for the field followed by the track two weeks later."
R.A.D. is the construction company installing the turf.

Cheshire High football's first home game against Hamden will be played at Sheehan High on Sept. 15 (a Thurs.) at 7 p.m. while the turf field is being built.
Groundbreaking for the new turf field began last week and Oct. 15 is the projected finish date. The turf installment/construction is being done by R.A.D. Sports, based out of Rockland Mass., and Shaw Sportexe based in Kennesaw, Ga.
"I have high confidence in R.A.D. Sports and Shaw Sportexe," said Bob Behrer, chairman of the Cheshire Turf Committee. "They are wonderful and will do everything they can to get this done on time or earlier."
The Hamden game at Cheshire was originally scheduled for Sept. 16. Cheshire also has home games on Oct. 6 against Hand and on Oct. 14 against Wilbur Cross.
Athletic director Steve Trifone is extremely happy the turf project is moving forward but no official decision on a rescheduled site has been made on the Oct. 6 and Oct. 14 home games.
One source said school officials will take it one game at a time, depending on the progress of the project, whether a home game needs to be moved and what other sites in the area are available if a home game needs to be moved.