Gavin Shytle changes the game with UGA Grounds Crew

It's a special moment to step inside Sanford Stadium and walk across that sprawling green field between the hedges. While the grass beneath your feet may not always be your first thought at the Freshman Welcome or Commencement, it is for Gavin Shytle.

Keeping the turf safe, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing is the sworn duty of Shytle and his fellow turfgrass management majors. Before athletes even hit the ground running, he makes sure the ground is prepped for them.

How did Shytle get drawn to the world of turfgrass? That's a question he is constantly ready to answer. After all, it's not every day you hear about a passion for grass.

"It's really cool to be around players, but a lot goes into it behind the scenes. There are a lot of pretty views, and you get to take a step back and be like: 'I did that,'" he says.

He chose this career path during a transformative summer as a greenskeeper at White Columns Country Club near his hometown of Alpharetta. A job connection from a friend, a knowledgeable golf course superintendent, and a season of perfecting the green for every type of golf club helped make his transfer from Kennesaw State University into UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences a smooth one.