Behind Julian C. Miller Hall exists a small treasure developedby the Department of Horticulture.
That treasure is a one-sixteenth sized replica of TigerStadium’s field, complete with small field goal posts and theeye of the tiger at midfield.
The idea was created by Robert A. Mirabello Jr., generalhorticulture and ornamentals instructor, to promote the turf grassmanagement curriculum.
Mirabello maintains the area behind J.C. Miller Hall and said inan e-mail that the idea had been on his mind for more than year.However, due to construction on J.C. Miller Hall during summer2003, the lawn behind the building was damaged and took a year torestructure.
Once restructured, Mirabello decided to create the miniaturefield for the first game of the 2004 football season.
Mirabello began the project three weeks before the game and wasassisted by Todd Jeansonne, assistant manager of athleticfacilities in the Athletic Department.
Jeansonne said he helped Mirabello by painting both of the endzone logos and the lines. He said that his entire involvement inthe project took around two hours. Jeansonne also has painted logosfor the baseball regionals and for the national championshipceremony last spring.
Mirabello also was assisted by Jeff Kershaw, manager of theathletic fields, who provided most of the paint for the field. Inaddition, Lindsay Duhon and Jessica Wilson, Mirabello’sstudent workers, helped him as well.
Mirabello said it takes three to four hours to paint the entirefield.
Unfortunately, due to heavy rains, the field has been difficultto maintain.
“The frequent rains have caused the grass to grow rapidly.We have actually mowed five times in three weeks,” Mirabellosaid.
Mirabello said he did not know how long they will keep the fieldup, but he did say they will repaint the field for the MississippiState game Sept. 25.
The grass located on the actual field in Tiger Stadium is aBermuda grass which recovers quickly. However the zoysia grass onthe miniature field, which is great for residential landscape, doesnot recover rapidly.
Mirabello said the responses from people hearing about andviewing the project have been great so far.
“We try to set a good example to our students (properlymaintained landscape beds and turf) and the students have beenexcited. I guess the typical reaction is just of wonder andamazement. The absolute best reaction is that of the kids,”Mirabello said.
Jeansonne said he has received positive reactions so far. Hesaid most people say it looks really like the real thing.
“We definitely plan to make this an annual event, even ifit is impractical to keep it up all season,” Mirabellosaid.