Notre Dame releases design details for new FieldTurf playing surface

Notre Dame has released the details of the design for the new FieldTurf playing surface the team will be installing at Notre Dame Stadium before next season.

The field will contain two key differences from the old grass surface: the school's interlocking "ND" logo at midfield, and small green shamrocks at the kickoff spots on each 35-yard line.

One key holdover is the nine diagonal stripes in each end zone, which will be oriented at 42-degree angles to point to the school's Basilica and Golden Dome. The 18 total stripes and 42-degree figure represent the year of Notre Dame's founding in 1842.

The new FieldTurf surface is scheduled to arrive next week and will be installed over the ensuing weeks. It will be completed in time for the beginning of the 2014 season.

The athletic department announced the plans to install FieldTurf in April. Notre Dame Stadium has had a natural grass field since it opened in 1930, but the program decided maintenance of the field had become too difficult.

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Ten most-anticipated non-league games in 2014 season

- Ben Estes