‘Field conditions did not look up to par’: CBS Sports questions FL/GA field conditions

Jacksonville, Fla. — Update: Mike Kenny, the ASM Global General Manager released a statement to Action News Jax on the conditions of the field during the Florida-Georgia game:

“The field was 100 percent playable and safe, meeting stringent NFL standards. To say otherwise is false. We used the same type of grass and process that Georgia and football programs across the country use. While we would have liked some of the edges to look better visually, there was never a safety issue for players.”'

CBS Sports Public Relations also released a statement on the conditions of the field:

“Nothing additional to add beyond the initial on-field report at the beginning of the broadcast.”

Original: Visible sod lines on the field at EverBank Stadium caught the eye of fans and national media at Saturday’s annual Florida-Georgia Game.

Florida Gators Linebacker Shemar James left the field before the game after a misstep during warmups, prompting CBS Sports Reporter Jenny Dell to report that it appeared the seams of the sod hadn’t taken and that parts of the field appeared uneven.

Action News Jax reached out to the City of Jacksonville for an explanation.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Read: Family of missing boaters hire private pilots, United Cajun Navy joining search

We received this statement:

“Our top Florida-Georgia game priority is the safety of players and fans. The field at EverBank Stadium was resodded after the BCU-Southern game last weekend for the second time this year and in accordance with NFL standards. While the sod faced a week of warm Florida weather and was dry upon arrival, the field was tested and passed prior to the game and there is no safety issue for players. We stand by our experienced team of turf professionals who have prepared fields for games at all levels from college to the Super Bowl.”

Read: Former US Vice President Mike Pence suspends presidential campaign

We also asked who was responsible for the resodding. A city spokesperson said, “ASM Global manages all City entertainment venues, including EverBank Stadium’s field. Last year they handled eight resodding for Jaguars games. There aren’t any timing decisions on the horizon given that there is no safety issue with the 2023 Florida-Georgia game and that field preparations follow NFL protocol.

Read: LIST: Halloween events taking place in the Jacksonville area

James did return to the field to play the game. The Georgia Bulldogs walked away with a win with a score of 43 to 20.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.