ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – Albany State fans are already excited for the season. It’s officially less than a week until the season opener at Valdosta State. Fans will have to wait until Week 2 to see the Golden Rams in the Good Life City. The wait will be worth it when they see what’s new at the Coliseum.
Albany State was one of many historic colleges and universities to receive a new playing surface. They converted the natural grass field at the Coliseum to blue artificial turf. The turf came from a $6.5 million grant from the Arthur Blank Family Foundation. The HBCU Invitational Field Refurbishment Program was designed to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of the field for students and local community groups.
Quinn Gray, head coach of the Golden Rams, knows how impactful this has been not only for his man, but also for the community. He says:I think this is a tremendous opportunity for us, especially as a university. We’re very, very thankful for the Blank Foundation because this surface is going to allow us to really make an impact in the community and what people are seeing is just excited about it. You know what I mean, our guys are excited about it even though they’ve never been on it. It’s a tremendous opportunity to play on one of the best surfaces around and hopefully get some good wins on it.”
Gray and his team are still waiting for the finishing touches to be put on the new turf for the first time. They hope to have their first practice on it next week. Fans will get their first taste of it on Sept. 7 at Albany State’s home opener against Shaw.
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