ROUND ROCK, Texas. Feb. 6, 2007 - Middle Tennessee State University is just settling into its new Sportexe PowerBlade turf system, the first Sportexe monofilament synthetic turf system installation in the nation, but it is already being heralded by the Blue Raiders athletic training department as "the best turf system" MTSU has played on.

"It is the first turf that plays like real grass that I have been associated with during my 27 years in the business," said Joe-Joe Petrone, Director of Sports Medicine at MTSU and former athletic trainer to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. "The surface provides great footing and is easy on the legs."

As with many new technologies, Sportexe faced early challenges during the installation process, but quickly attacked any hiccups to provide a playing surface of unparalleled performance and quality.

"Sportexe has been very responsive in dealing with any hurdles we have faced with our new turf system," said MTSU Athletics Director Chris Massaro. "We have received positive feedback from our coaching staff and players regarding quality and performance."

The Blue Raiders, the largest undergraduate institution in the state of Tennessee with 22,863, is coming off its best season in program history. The Blue Raiders had an incredible turnaround from a year ago by going 7-6 overall and winning a school record six Sun Belt Conference games to earn a share of the league title.

"If you would have told me at the beginning of the season we would be conference champs and playing in a bowl game on ESPN I would have taken it in a second," said first-year MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill. "These kids deserve all the credit for a great year because they overcame a lot, believed in each other, and made plays when they had to in order to win games. It was a great year that will help our program immensely in the future."

"I think we are off to a tremendous start," said Massaro, who in just over one year hired Stockstill and spearheaded facility upgrades. "We have made some tremendous strides this season which validates us as a Division I-A program, including three national television appearances."

Middle Tennessee also earned its first visit to a bowl game as a I-A member but an early 14-point deficit proved too much to overcome in a 31-14 setback to Central Michigan in front of 54,113 at the 10th annual Motor City Bowl at Detroit's Ford Field.

The Sportexe monofilament turf system features round edges that give the duo-tone "blades of grass" a softer and less abrasive feel. It is one of the softest and most durable products within the synthetic turf industry.

"Getting the new turf was extremely beneficial to our football program," said Stockstill, who captured both SBC and Tennessee Sports Writers Association coach of the year honors. "The turf provided us an edge at home because our players took a great deal of pride in the new synthetic surface and it has also impacted our recruiting as several players and families we have visited have brought it into the conversation. It is a great addition in the continuing upgrade of our facilities."

"The bottom line is that these kids are going to get hurt and they are going to bounce their heads off the field every game," concluded Petrone. "But the least we can do is give them the safest possible landing pad available and as far as I'm concerned that's Sportexe."

Los Angeles. Feb. 6, 2007 - Westlake Village Oaks Christian head football coach and Sportexe National High School Coach of the Year winner Bill Redell was honored on Monday, Feb. 5 with a lifetime achievement award during the 16th Annual Southern California Sports Broadcasters Awards.

Redell is the first preps coach to receive this honor.

Under Redell, Oaks Christian (15-0) became the first team to win the state championship since Kern County Union High, now Bakersfield High, won in 1927, and only the second team in state history to finish the season 15-0. The Lions also produced the second-highest point total (797) in state history, trailing Bloomington's 880 points in 14 games in 1994.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley was also presented a lifetime achievement award.

Vin Scully was a double winner at the annual awards luncheon at Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake. Scully won awards for best play-by-play announcer on radio and television. Scully was introduced by O'Malley.

It was the eighth time Scully, the voice of the Dodgers, has won both awards in the 16 years the group has honored local sportscasters.

ROUND ROCK, Texas. Feb. 5, 2007 - On March 3 at M&T Bank Stadium, in what could be a precursor to the 2007 NCAA national championship to be hosted at M&T during Memorial Day weekend, the top four teams in the nation will meet in the inaugural lacrosse Face-Off Classic and Sportexe will be right there.

Sportexe will not only be underfoot of the nation's elite lacrosse teams with its Momentum® synthetic turf system at M&T, but it will also be presenting the players of the game honors during both games. Sportexe's involvement with the Face-Off Classic is just one of many relationship-building initiatives spurred by the global turf leader.

What makes this event such a milestone is that every NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship since 1991 has been won by the four teams participating in this event. Virginia, Johns Hopkins, Syracuse and Princeton enter the season ranked 1-4 respectively with Virginia serving as not only the No. 1 seed, but also the defending national champion.

"Inside Lacrosse is excited to have Sportexe involved in the first-ever Face-Off Classic," said Andy Bilello, Director of Business Development. "This event is all about creating new opportunities for lacrosse players and fans to experience this great game on a larger stage. Thanks to partners like Sportexe, our vision will soon become reality."

On Feb. 2, Sportexe announced that former lacrosse standout John Burke, an award-winning player at Guilford College and Greensboro College's all-time winningest coach (1990-1995), was named its Director of Lacrosse.

"I am proud to represent Sportexe for the sport of lacrosse," said Burke, who will present the awards on behalf of Sportexe. "I feel that my 20 years of experience will give me an edge in providing an honest insight into synthetic turf for the sport. There is some exciting news surrounding Sportexe within the lacrosse community and our involvement with the Face-Off Classic is just one example of our commitment to furthering our already strong relationship."

Sportexe turf systems are designed to enhance performance and meet the rigorous requirements for the sport of lacrosse. Clients include National Lacrosse League members Toronto Rock, Calgary Roughnecks, Rochester Knighthawks, Arizona Sting, San Jose Stealth, Minnesota Swarm, Philadelphia Wings Colorado Mammoth, Portland Jax and Edmonton Rush. Other clients include 2005 national champion Johns Hopkins, 2006 No.1-ranked Boys' Latin School of Maryland and University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Sportexe CEO Mark Nicholls recently appeared on American Public Radio's Marketplace program to discuss the Turf TV technology. Click here to listen!