Coach LaRose was my position coach at the U of MBisons football program, for one year after his retirement. A gem of advice he gave me was that in playing at Calgary mcMahan stadium on their artificial turf, that the traction was unbelieveable. Nike had used their 1976? Waffle trainer platform of 1/4 ? inch "cleats" for a turf cleat. (This might have been their first generation artificial,turf cleat)
Coach LaRose said that the turf was so gripping he recommended Cutting off the front couple of nubs /cleat bottoms off the shoe(under the ball of the feet)-and making the first couple of nubs flat. Why, apparently so many receivers,when trotting out to their wide-out position were catching front end of the shoe/cleat and as they stuck, the guys literally tripped and face planted and looked pretty goofy. I tried it on the walk through and sure enough the cleat was catching just as he said. I cut off a few of the nubs immediately after the walk through.
Interestingly enough Nike still uses that tread pattern on some of its air max models,today. And. Of course I buy a new pair every year for use in everyday life, and reffing adult touch football games at IGF. SoCoach LaRose' advice is still with me to pick up my feet on carpeted areas!
Thanks Coach! R.I.P.
Great story!! Will be sadly missed.
