And she says much of the environmental ethic she brings to the job comes from the turf grass management program at MSU where she graduated in 1996.

It all starts with the grass.

The MSU field is Kentucky bluegrass, which is the most pest-resistant species of grass that grows in the northern United States.   This means fewer fertilizers, which boost growth, and pesticides, which kill disease, are needed to maintain the grass.

"All the natural-surface playing fields in the Midwest are Kentucky bluegrass," said David Gilstrap, coordinator of the Lawn Care and Athletic Field Management Program at MSU.

When it comes to preventing weed growth, stadiums have some natural advantages that homeowners don't possess. Pesticides aren't commonly needed because an enclosed stadium keeps foreign seeds from blowing in and there's very little risk of disease in the fall.

"I want to keep the field healthy, but not growing too much," Fouty said. "If I can use preventive applications, I do so. Spoon feeding is an important method to keep from over-fertilizing."

Nonetheless, the field requires constant attention throughout the year to ensure it's in top condition. Fertilizer costs are around $10,000 annually. When application rates are calculated across the 75,000 square-foot football field for a year, it amounts to about 375 pounds of nitrogen, 150 pounds of phosphorus and 250 pounds of potassium fertilizers.

That may sound like a lot, but the application rate used by stadium officials is small compared to that used by homeowners who are often prone to excessive fertilizer use.

"It's in our best interest to minimize fertilizer use," Gilstrap said. "Many field managers simply don't have the budget to fertilize heavily and more importantly, they know it's wasteful."

Minimizing fertilizer also helps the environment by reducing the risk of runoff. Phosphorous in the fertilizer causes premature eutrophication - a dense growth of algae and aquatic weeds in bodies of water.   When the excessive growth dies off, the bacteria that feed on it uses up the water's oxygen.

"As professionals, we're educated about the harms over-fertilizing does," said Kendall Grable, an assistant golf course superintendent in Grand Rapids and a graduate of the MSU crop and soil science school. "No one tells homeowners what they're doing to the environment. If a homeowner uses too much phosphorus and it runs into a stream a few miles away, they won't see the damage in their own yard," Grable said.

Additionally, Grable noted that golf courses and professional and collegiate stadiums are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, but it would be impossible to regulate homeowners.

Fertilizer production also puts a strain on limited fossil-fuel resources. The extraction of potassium and phosphorus from the earth requires gasoline-fueled machinery. Moreover, producing nitrogen-based fertilizer requires heat provided by natural gas or other fossil fuels.

Petroleum also has more mundane uses at Spartan Stadium. Fouty has the field mowed an average of three times per week, burning approximately 10 gallons of gasoline in that time span alone. The field is in playable condition from the spring Green and White scrimmage, summer camps and the fall season, which means the grass must be kept trim for over 30 weeks a year, guzzling 300 gallons of gasoline in the process.

Watering is more variable. Depending on weather, the field is dried out prior to each home game and watered heavily after the game. The irrigation system in Spartan Stadium has its own well, which is hooked up to the stadium power grid. The field drains into the stadium drainage system, which Gilstrap, who also is the head of the Sports Turf Management program at MSU, speculates runs eventually into the Red Cedar River.

Even so, Fouty is confident any drainage from the field would be highly diluted before entering the water. Turf professionals try to ensure that all the fertilizer goes into growth so that none is left to contaminate the soil or nearby waterways.

Although she said she was unsure of how much water is used for irrigation annually, Fouty said that it was minimal this season due to steady rainfall.

Artificial turf obviously needs no water. And the relatively new FieldTurf, such as that used by the University of Michigan, is made from recycled tires.

But artificial turf has other environmental costs. Even Darren Gill, marketing manager for FieldTurf in Montreal, agrees.

"As far as the environment goes, you can't get any better than natural grass," Gill admitted. "What FieldTurf provides is cost reduction - $5,000 a year in maintenance compared to $30,000 to $35,000 for a natural field--and playability in all types of weather."

Environmental Business News, a green building and design trade publication, recently reported that artificial turf releases volatile organic compounds, giving off a "rubbery" smell that can cause problems for asthma sufferers. Additionally, artificial turf contributes to the "heat island" effect, causing the field to absorb heat much like a parking lot and not release it. Some researchers have also raised concerns about the soil beneath the turf, which blocks both water and sunlight and can't sustain any form of life.

The environmental publication noted that natural turf managed in an ecologically sound manner is the better environmental choice.  

"By using environmentally conscious management practices, such as limiting fertilizer use and watering, a natural surface can be maintained without leaving a negative ecological footprint," the publication reported.  

Fouty agrees: "The field is a source of pride and I want to it keep that way without jeopardizing the environment or players' health."