PROFILE
( 16 total , I think ) has to have four training sites , and each of those training sites has to have two fields . So that is a lot of FIFA-standard fields that have to be in and ready to go in 2026 . It ’ s going to be in three countries across three time zones . Nothing like this has ever been done before , certainly in the United States .
SFM : On the flip side of challenges , what are your biggest accomplishments , or what are you most proud to have achieved ?
Rogers : There are different ways to look at that . All of my graduate students , and all their success , has made me extremely proud . My undergraduates and two-year students are off at great careers at top-100 golf courses and MLS stadiums and NFL stadiums . When they call you back to say “ thank you ,” or to ask a question , or just to give you an update , you can ’ t help but have a real sense of pride .
From a project standpoint – the World Cup in 1994 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit was something I don ’ t know we will ever match . We had a ton of pressure for that project . We knew we had pressure , but we were too young to know how much it was , and that was probably good . If we had failed , who knows how much we would have set back the idea of sports turf in reduced-light conditions . But I know that we helped propel that part of the industry with what we could do and how technology can help us with sports turf . We ’ re very proud of the role we played in that .
The one thing that has allowed us to do very well at Michigan State is the fact that we have had a team approach for a lot of years . I am watching some of my teammates retire , which has got me a little concerned as to how things will go in the future . One in particular is Dr . Jim Crum , soil scientist . None of these projects were ever possible without him . You can have the greatest plants in the world , but if you don ’ t have the right soil , you ’ ve got a problem . It has been a team effort , and that has been important to me .
SFM : Please tell us about your family , as well as any passions or hobbies outside of work .
Rogers : I ’ ve been married to my wife , Michelle , for 31 years . None of this is even remotely possible if she doesn ’ t carry the big load . She is a passionate , fun-loving woman , who I am forever indebted to her in this lifetime . We have three grown children – Rebecca , Evan and Miranda ( Evan and Miranda are twins ) – as well as one grandson ( Miranda ), named Miles . We are so very proud of these children and what they have grown to become . Each of them graduated from Michigan State
John “ Trey ” Rogers III , Ph . D ., with his wife , Michelle , and grandson , Miles .
University , and have many memories of these students we have talked about in this interview . I purposely made them a big part of my classroom , and so past graduates always ask me about their whereabouts . My son , Evan , was even in the Turf Program for a while ( graduated with a Turf minor ), so I got to teach him in class . Talk about pressure ; he had already heard most of my stories ! I still remember hearing him whisper to a classmate , “ Let ’ s see how he does with this one .”
My hobby list is quite short , and maybe some of that is because turf is a big hobby of mine . I play a lot of golf and this job afforded that in many ways . And I like playing gin rummy with my gang during the long Michigan winters .
But here ’ s the thing … everyone asks me when I ’ m going to retire . I say , “ I don ’ t think I can , because I love what I do .” I think I will always be involved to some level . Academia allows that to happen .
One of my big goals is to travel with my wife going forward . She has lots of places on her list . I am glad there is turf at most of them .
I feel very fortunate , and I have always felt very fortunate . SFM
16 SportsField Management | June 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com