FIELD OF THE YEAR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BASEBALL
The final home Series against Arkansas before regionals and super regionals. Altogether the field took a lot of beatings, but held up well.
was going strong, I would have to get baseball prepared during the morning, then help the other crew at Tiger Stadium to prepare for the upcoming game that week. It was a very busy schedule, but it always kept things interesting.
SFM: Can you share a bit of insight into what the Field of the Year application process was like for you, as well as any tips you might have for other sports field managers? Billingsley: I personally found the application process enjoyable. It was so interesting to have to sit down and look at everything you have to do during the year to prepare for your season. It really puts things into perspective regarding how much it actually takes to maintain a high-priority facility. Sometimes you can get caught up just trying to get through the year and not realize how many hours you have put into your facility. I think it helped me realize that better changes can be made, and it was a great way to get started. The biggest tip I can give other sports field managers is the same thing I said earlier: make your plan, think of any possible scenario, and go enact your plan. Trust yourself, trust your plan, and trust your team. When everyone buys in, it makes it so much more fun and enjoyable.
16 SportsField Management | April 2026 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com