Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at oeveryoo FBS (Division-1) college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 101/134
Set away from downtown Nashville, the campus of Vanderbilt is quaint and cozy. The same can be said for First Bank Stadium. Beautifully situated amongst the buildings on campus, the venue does not possess the capacity power of its SEC brethren, but its fanbase is definitely loud and loyal.
Continue reading “VANDERBILT – FIRST BANK STADIUM”
Dare to Grow. These three words encapsulate the initiative to boost the athletic facilities on campus. An improvement on the gridiron is the hopeful byproduct of this investment. In his third year as Vanderbilt, head coach Clark Lea is hoping to continue the upward trend in the win column. The future begins with the Rainbow Warriors.
Continue reading “Game #331 – Hawai’i @ Vanderbilt”
The Sunshine Showdown caught fire in the 1990s when both teams combined for three national championships in a six year span. The Spurrier and Bowden years firmly planted the Gators and Seminoles into the upper crust of the college football planet. While there have been a flurry of ups and downs for both squads, these two teams have not lost their powerhouse status. This season, Florida State has surged back into the top 25, thus dropping their cloak of irrelevancy.
Continue reading “Game 328: Florida @ #16 Florida State”
Auburn is nicknamed “The Loveliest Village on the Plains” taken from a line in the poem “The Deserted Village” by Oliver Goldsmith. The university is lovely and far from plain as it is home to some of the most incredible traditions and one of the best gameday atmospheres in college football.
Continue reading “AUBURN – JORDAN-HARE STADIUM”
Mercer @ Auburn
Concern had been brewing on The Plains as the 2022 season neared. A painfully mediocre 2021 campaign was followed by a loss of many players through the transfer portal, the loss of key members of the coaching staff, and negative allegations against head coach Bryan Harsin causing Auburn to launch an internal investigation.
Lord, have Mercer.
Continue reading “Game 317: Mercer @ Auburn”
Starkville, home of Mississippi State, has been nicknamed StarkVegas. Originally, the moniker stuck as a sarcastic insult toward a town viewed as small and sleepy. But, the rise in Bulldog athletics has transformed the name into a badge of honor. Coincidentally, gamedays in Starkville are an outstanding event when this town with old southern charm becomes a cauldron of cowbell cacophony.
Continue reading “MISSISSIPPI STATE – DAVIS WADE STADIUM”
Hail State or Hotty Toddy?
This is the 118th meeting between Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
This is the 94th meeting played for the Golden Egg trophy.
This is the 30th meeting played on Thanksgiving night.
A New Year’s Day bowl is on the line for the Bulldogs.
A New Year’s Six bowl is on the line for the Rebels.
These two teams split the last 20 meetings.
The stage is set.
Quintessential gamedays are characterized by gorgeous settings with iconic on-campus stadiums. Passion and pageantry are on full display with traditions that cross generations. Vibrant downtowns adjacent to campus strengthen the community and keep the energy level running high on a football Saturday.
Athens, Georgia checks all of these boxes.
Missouri entered a sizzling cauldron. Facing the number one team on the road and favored to lose by more than five touchdowns made confidence a hard sell. The Bulldogs are on a level of their own and had little interest in giving the Tigers a peek at their view from the top.
Continue reading “Game 311: Missouri @ #1 Georgia”
The smoke off the mountains welcomes visitors to Knoxville. These massive natural structures highlight the beauty of this vibrant Tennessee town. The Tennessee River that runs along Neyland Stadium adds to this picturesque venue and is the site of a tradition known as the Volunteer Navy. Here, a bevy of boats of all sizes line up along the river side to engage in pregame tailgating. Neyland Stadium is one of only a few stadiums accessible by boat, and Vol fans have turned this into one of college football’s most unique traditions.