The Team Behind The Team

The following story will be one of two feature stories included in the 2017 Super Bulldog Weekend baseball program (April 7-9). Fans can pick up a free copy of the program at all three of this weekend's games at Dudy Noble Field.

By Will Goodwin
MSU Media Relations

For many Mississippi State fans, their earliest memories of MSU sports are the green grass and the rowdy crowds of Dudy Noble Field.

Brandon Hardin, the superintendent of sports turf at MSU, has the important job of making sure that Dudy Noble is as beautiful for the fans as it is safe for the players.

"The fans, when they walk in, see the green grass shining and glowing and whatever design that we put on the field," Hardin said. "It's all a science that has to be done step-by-step. We didn't just decide to show up two hours before the game and decide to make it look okay. It's daily.

"On a regular game day, we will come in at 6:30 a.m., or shortly after daylight. We have to get every surface that the pitchers will throw off ready to go. We have to do the same thing with the infield dirt. We will have to do some sort of dragging, whether that be a nail drag or a float drag," said Hardin, a Mississippi native. "Then we will apply more surface and then we water it and have to manage the moisture throughout the day."

Ironically, Hardin said, the one thing that many fans stereotypically think that the grounds crew does—mow the grass—often doesn't happen until later in the day, depending on how much dew in on the grass.

Hardin says that keeping one of college baseball's historic fields in pristine condition is a difficult task, but that it's all worth it in the end.

"Turf management works on every playing surface with grass on it," Hardin said. "So it's a big chore, but we do it for the student-athletes. Sure, we do it for the coaches and the fans, and yes it looks good for the fans, but we do it for the student-athletes. We do it to make sure that they have the safest, most playable surface that we can give them."

Keeping Dudy Noble Field's playing surface in top shape has been a dream for Hardin ever since arriving on campus as an undergraduate student.

"This is my dream job," Hardin said. "When I came to school here, this was my dream job. I want to retire in this position. There is no place that I would rather be than at Mississippi State because of the tradition that we have."

Hardin believes that reputation is one reason that Mississippi State turf management is so motivated to keep "The Dude" in excellent condition.

"Everybody in our fan base, as well other fan bases around the conference, know that we have the reputation as having, if not the best, then one of the best turf programs in the country," Hardin said. "One of our main motivations every day is to uphold that reputation."

Hardin believes that many fans don't realize just how difficult it is to keep a baseball field playable.

"There are so many moving parts on a baseball field," the superintendent said. "There's footing on the grass. There's footing on the dirt. Then you have a pitcher on a dirt surface that's sloped. And in our case, we have an AstroTurf home plate, which creates its own set of challenges from a maintenance standpoint as well as a playability standpoint."

In addition, Hardin's crew has the daily task of ensuring that ground balls have an appropriate bounce.

"Ground balls are one of our biggest concerns on a day-to day basis," Hardin said. "The moisture management in the infield dirt is crucial because we can't have ground balls coming up and hitting players in the face. To us, anything above shin-high is a bad bounce."

When Hardin is asked about what first comes to mind when he thinks of Mississippi State baseball, the answer comes naturally.

"The tradition of Dudy Noble Field is what first comes to mind when I think of Mississippi State baseball," Hardin said. "Everything about Dudy Noble is part of the tradition and to know that we are a part of that is special."

Working at Dudy Noble can make it difficult to appreciate the history of the revered baseball field, but it doesn't take long to remember how extraordinary Dudy Noble is, says Hardin.

"Sometimes I think we, as the ground crew, take that for granted," Hardin said. "With all honesty, the people that work on the field sometimes take it for granted. Because we are there every day, some of that stuff gets to the point where we don't think about it as much. But when we see the fans, players, and recruits, we remember very quickly how special this place is. And it's all because of the tradition that we have here."

So when the Diamond Dawgs are warming up for another contest, remember that there is another squad already hard at work.

Mississippi State University Athletics

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