News 91-Year-Old Groundskeeper Preps Football Field for Super Bowl LV George Toma has prepared the fields for every Super Bowl since Super Bowl I. By Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep has more than a decade of writing and editing experience for top publications. Her expertise extends from weddings and animals to every pop culture moment in between. She has been scouring the Internet for the buzziest Southern news since joining the team in 2017. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on January 28, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images George Toma, 91, has prepared the fields for every Super Bowl ever played. As Super Bowl LV approaches, the "Sultan of Sod" is on hand at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, making sure the grounds are ready for the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Toma, who is involved in everything from stripping the previous field, to laser grading and bringing in new sod, recently spoke to KMBC about this year's preparations. "When you have a Super Bowl on natural grass, you have to start the sod 18 months ahead of the game," Toma explained. "So, this sod has been growing on the farm in Georgia for 18 months." The man known as the best groundskeeper in sports has been honing his craft since his early teens, with the vast majority of his work taking place for MLB teams in Kansas City, Missouri—first for the Athletics, then the Chiefs (1963-1991), and finally for the Royals (1969-1999). WATCH: Darius Rucker Says There Are Two Seasons a Year: "Football Season and Waiting for Football Season" Toma also oversaw Atlanta's Olympic Stadium for the 1984 and 1996 Summer Olympics. According to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, he has prepared fields for 37 Pro Bowls, several fields of the 1994 World Cup Soccer, and in 2005 readied Louisiana State's Tiger Stadium after Hurricane Katrina. Toma officially retired in 1999, though he continues to work as a consultant for sports facilities around the United States. "He's the guy who was at Super Bowl I. None of us were," Ed Mangan, NFL Field Director, told KMBC. "He is just a walking history book." Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit