Not everyone gets to roam the field before some of the year’s biggest sporting events. But URI turfgrass management students do. Whenever the New England Patriots played a home game this season, students Tom Mistowski and Josh Bergeron were there to help prepare the field for the game. They lined the fields, painted the logos, repaired the divots, and protected the field from freezing so it was ready for game day. And during the game, they stood behind the team benches ready to take whatever action was necessary to ensure that the field was safe to play on.

The students interned at Gillette Stadium with URI alumnus Jon Bengtson ‘93, who proudly wears three Super Bowl rings as the superintendent in charge of field maintenance. He not only ensures that field conditions are perfect inside the stadium, where the field is artificial turf, but also on the three grass practice fields outside the stadium.

“Seeing what goes on behind the scenes to prepare a professional field is amazing,” said Josh, who grew up mowing lawns and loving sports. “It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s something you don’t realize as a fan of the game. Now, whenever I watch an NFL game, I look at the field and nitpick it.”

Program graduates are responsible for every blade of grass at some of the country’s most prestigious golf courses and sports stadiums.

The URI turfgrass research program—training students how to grow, nurture, and maintain the highest performance turf possible—is the oldest in the country. Program graduates are responsible for every blade of grass at some of the country’s most prestigious golf courses and sports stadiums. And thanks to a strong alumni network, URI students studying turfgrass management have had internship opportunities at the likes of Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, the Meadowlands, and numerous country clubs that have hosted the nation’s most celebrated golf tournaments.

Sean Hanson is one of several students who have interned at TPC Boston, home of the PGA’s Deutsche Bank Championship golf tournament. And senior Colin Zegarzewski, past-president of the URI Turf Club, interned last summer at New Jersey’s Merion Golf Club, which has hosted more USGA championships than any other course in the country.

Recent graduate Kyle Mast interned at Gillette Stadium during the Patriots run to the Super Bowl last year, so he knows exactly what Tom and Josh are doing this year. “That experience was so incredible that I wish every fan could enjoy watching the team from the field like I did,” said Kyle, who now works full-time as assistant superintendent at Metedeconk National Golf Course in New Jersey. “I loved working for them.”

W. Michael Sullivan, professor of turf management and a consultant on sustainable golf course design, said the sports turf industry is growing rapidly. “Most linoleum floors have more irregularities than an elite putting green,” he said. “Players expect the ball to roll the same on every green all day long, regardless of the weather, so the pressure on the course superintendent can be pretty high.”

For championship players, victories are won on the field. But for URI turf science students, the victory is the field itself.