The Slippery Floor

[MDCowboy]

Did anyone else see Kirk Wessler's blog on the floor at Carver?

http://www.pjstar.com/php/index.php?/wessler/the_slippery_floor/

It sounds like Dave Reynolds is going to work on a story. Reynolds, Wessler, and Dave Snell had a meeting with the Civic Center staff and they are claiming the players themselves who sweat cause the wet spots.

I don't know if I buy this, since it seems like the warmer weather days are more prone to problems. But doesn't it also seem that because BU brings the bench huddle out onto the floor that some problems always seem to happen around that area? I'm sure Jim does this to get away from the crowd so others cannot hear the huddle. Not saying this contributes, but it does make you wonder.

[PTownHawkeye]

Although this is seems to be a good point about where BU holds their TO huddles, I think that's an excuse not a cause. I've been going to BU games for about 10 years and these slips only seems to occur on warm/muggy days. Remember the SEMO or MSU games this year? No slips. 30 degrees outside. When we played Florida Gulf Coast (or was it UMES?) it was about 60 outside and there were 5-7 bad slips.

Anyone remember that Indiana St. game about 5-7 years back where BU led with about 3 minutes left, but turned the ball over several times in a row due to slips and we lost? That was also a 60ish degree day in late December that year. Something needs to be done.

[Double D]

The funny thing about the floor issues over the last 10-12 years is that I don't remember having a problem with it prior to that.

I was one of the team managers from 87-91, and unless I just don't remember it the floor being slippery due to the ice was a "non issue" during those years.

I don't know what they do today, but then (as I saw the floor taken up and put down hundreds of times) they used to have insulated squares that used to go down over the ice.

I do however remember how sore my "old football injury" knee would be sitting down on that floor with the ice.

[ph]

I've been wondering lately why is there not a temporary radiant heating mat put over the ice mat, but under the floor? (I am thinking of the sort of radiant mat that can be installed under ceramic tile in bathrooms..)
The other option would be the wood floor panels having air channels that allows warm air to be blown through. (No one installs a solid wood floor on concrete for a Gym, you have to build in some gaps to get some bounce)

The floor heating system would only have to run an hour before the players get on the floor, and turned off after the game, to reduce any additional ice stress.

[squirrel]

I could be wrong, but I was thinking they did something about this a few years ago, purchasing some sort of thermal surface, along with improving the air conditioning in the arena.

I think the issue with whatever game it was really bad was that it was unseasonably warm, and I think the CC staff turned the air conditioning on after the stoppage in the 2nd half (there was a noticeable difference in temperature) but by then it was too late; I figured it was more of a management issue (knowing what adjustments to make according to weather/arena temperature).