COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Brandon Horvath, Ph. D., University of Tennessee professor |
Becky Bowling, Ph. D., University of Tennessee assistant professor, extension specialist, and co-principal investigator |
Conlan Burbrink, University of Tennessee graduate research sssistant and Ph. D. candidate |
Rhys Fielder, University of Tennessee research lead and master’ s student |
had to be custom-built for FIFA spectators and players. The men’ s FIFA tournament will be hosted in 2030 by six countries— Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco— and four years later will be held in Saudi Arabia. Because Burbrink’ s research is future-focused, the FIFA research project is an incredible opportunity to test hypotheses about indoor grass conditions that may benefit the organization for years to come.
“ There’ s no facility in turfgrass that compares to what we have on the AgResearch farm,” said Burbrink.“ It’ s completely enclosed, no natural light, so that we can answer both practical and physiological questions. FIFA’ s support to build that building and conduct this research allows us to further turfgrass science as a discipline.”
Bowling, a co-principal investigator on the FIFA research project, coordinates field research days, where faculty from UT and Michigan State University convene with pitch managers from each host venue and FIFA’ s pitch management team. The events have provided a unique opportunity for UT’ s students to be a part of global work with real-life outcomes.
“ These are high-profile international events that we help facilitate on behalf of FIFA, and the scale and visibility require an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said Bowling.“ Our students consistently rise to meet that challenge.”
Most exciting for Bowling and Horvath has been watching students step into leadership roles on the FIFA research collaboration. Rhys Fielder earned his bachelor’ s
degree in turfgrass science and management from UT in 2019. During that time, faculty members helped him land an internship with English Premier League club Arsenal. After graduating, he enrolled in the master’ s program and currently serves as the research lead for the FIFA project.
“ Before working on a golf course, I had no idea turfgrass even existed as a profession,” said Fielder.“ I knew someone came in and mowed the grass. But the sophistication behind it was mind blowing.”
Said Horvath,“ There are many programs out there that tell students to wait until their junior year to take an internship. But you’ ve got to get experience working in different settings, under different managers, to learn about yourself and what you like. John [ Sorochan ] says,‘ Work like labor and think like management.’ This is a management degree, and it requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When you leave our program, you’ re ready to lead.”
Gibbons, who was unsure of what she wanted to do with her life between finishing community college and moving to Tennessee, is now president of the Tennessee Turf Club. She’ s enjoying working on the hybrid grass system, and is championing the message of“ safe and uniform playing surfaces” that the FIFA project emphasizes. She expects to enroll in the master’ s program after graduating this fall.
“ There are so many benefits to being here,” said Gibbons.“ I get to be outside and work with people I like. Our professors can connect us with any turfgrass person in the world in a five-minute phone call. The sky really is the limit.”
38 SportsField Management | March 2026 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com