JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Before the lights go on and the crowd fills the seats, a small army of dedicated perfectionists descend onto Everbank Field. It's their job to make sure the lines are painted, the numbers are put down, and the logos are etched into the field.
Nick Fedewa runs the grounds crew at Everbank each week, and three days before a game, he'll organize his troops and start the process of mowing and painting. It's a process that begins new with each game, be it the Gator Bowl, Florida-Georgia, or the Jags home games.
Using water based paint makes it safe for the environment and allows for any mistakes to be wiped clean with a cloth. All the lines are painted with troughs and the rest is painted with templates. The only thing that is done freehand is the Jaguars logo.
Each day begins early and ends late, but without this crew the field wouldn't be safe for play. That gives Nick some solace when Sundays roll around and the players run out and destroy his work.
"When they come out and tear it apart, that's our job security," says Nick. "Our number one job is their safety."
So the next time you watch a game at Everbank, think of Nick and crew. It doesn't grow like that on it's own.
