BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – (September 2005) – The Toro Company is pleased to announce the fourth annual Toro Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program. In January 2006, the selected student will travel, all expenses paid, to Detroit to help the grounds crew prepare the field for the biggest day in football, the Super Bowl. Click for application PDF.

"Toro has an extensive history of supporting student scholarships and activities," said John Caron, senior marketing manager, sports turf at Toro. "Toro is thrilled to offer this learning opportunity along with the NFL to encourage turf students to consider sports turf maintenance."

“Toro has an extensive history of supporting student scholarships and activities,” said John Caron, senior marketing manager, sports turf at Toro. “Toro is thrilled to offer this learning opportunity along with the NFL. The program reflects our interest in helping trained turf professionals to maintain safe playing conditions at all levels of competitive football.”

Toro equipment and representatives have been involved in preparing the stadium and practice fields since the first Super Bowl in 1967. Toro has forged strong partnerships with many sports venues and events including: various Major League Baseball and National Football League stadiums, university and college stadiums, the Rose Bowl and Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

The student will experience first-hand what it takes to prepare the field for the Super Bowl, working alongside NFL field managers Ed Mangan and George Toma and the grounds crew prior to the big day.  Ed Mangan is the field director at Turner Field in Atlanta, home of Atlanta Braves baseball club and consultant to the NFL. George Toma has served as a consultant and advisor to prepare the field for every Super Bowl ever played.

The selected student can expect a variety of experiences including:

• Athletic turf maintenance
• Field lining
• Logo painting
• Field preparation for media day
• Half time preparation and clean-up

To be considered for the program, the student must complete and submit the application form, as well as a 500-word typed essay, describing where they see themselves professionally in 5 years and what they hope to accomplish during that time.

The student must be enrolled in at least the second year of a 2-year turf program or in at least the junior year of a 4-year turf program and must be available to work from January 29 – February 6, 2006. Entries must be postmarked by November 1, 2005 and the winner will be announced on December 1, 2005. An application form is available online at www.torosports.com/superbowl