Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at every FBS college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 113/134
Herds of green and yellow clad fans cross the bridge over the Willamette River in Eugene and follow the winding path towards Autzen Stadium. Over the years, this journey has become a rite of passage for Oregon fans, and it’s a community-building aspect of gameday. Enthusiasm builds with each step towards Autzen as cheers of “Go Ducks!” are exchanged among the faithful.
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Amherst, Massachusetts lies about 100 miles west of Boston in the northeast’s open country. Founded in 1863, UMass identifies a bit more as a basketball school than a football school. Action between the endzones began in 1879, and they joined the FBS in 2012. While not widely known as a football school, the Minutemen did capture a national title in 1998 while members of the FCS, and the flag commemorating that title flies proudly atop McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Despite a history deprived of consistent football glory, one thing stands out: Whether hardwood or gridiron, the fan base for UMass is an enthusiastic bunch.
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Central New York is highlighted by the city of Syracuse – home of the Syracuse Orange. Since 1980, the football squad has played their games in the only on-campus dome in the FBS. This structure, once the Carrier Dome and now the JMA Dome, is an iconic cathedral of college football known especially for the high decibel levels it conjures. Housing both basketball and football, this stadium has hosted some of the most memorable moments in sports. The venue is instantly recognizable for Syracuse athletics.
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Madison, Wisconsin is an ideal college town highlighted by the state capitol and surrounding lakes – Mendota and Monona. It is home to Camp Randall Stadium, which is frequently regarded as one of the Big Ten’s wildest and most thrilling venues. Once a Civil War training site, this massive structure is crammed into a beautiful residential area among dorms, fraternity houses, campus buildings, and bars.
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Rome wasn’t built in a game. On a national level, Wisconsin hasn’t been discussed much in the offseason, and with solid reason. Many new faces dot the lineup on a team that only went 7-6 last season. There seems to be more questions than answers about the 2024 squad. But, that ratio shifts as games are played, and this season, 2nd year head coach Luke Fickell will have plenty of tests that eliminate the question marks.
Continue reading “Game #350: Western Michigan @ Wisconsin”
University Stadium gazes up at the Sandia Mountains that rest on Albuquerque’s eastern edge. A bustling energy surrounds the perimeter of its walls. New Mexico fans populate its bleachers on autumn Saturdays cheering the Lobos on to victory. It’s a festive and colorful atmosphere that plays well against the blue skies in the Land of Enchantment.
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Heading into this season, New Mexico finds itself not to be favored in any game on their schedule. That includes the home opener against Montana State, an FCS team that is predicted to win by double digits. But, the Lobos have hired a program defibrillator by the name of Bronco Mendenhall. While wins are not expected to accumulate in great numbers this season, hope is surging in the Land of Enchantment.
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Situated between San Francisco and San José in the famous Silicon Valley, Stanford University boasts a rich athletic history. Technically located within its own community of Stanford, California, the university also calls Palo Alto its home. A short distance from Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto brims with shops, restaurants, and a collegiate flair. Stanford is affectionately known as “The Farm” due to being built on agricultural land, and gamedays here explode with a west coast style of pageantry and panache.
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The Fighting Irish and Cardinal battle annually for The Legends Trophy, one that Stanford acquired last year with a stunning upset over Notre Dame in South Bend. This year’s Irish, led by transfer quarterback Sam Hartman, have been a formidable force. Stanford has struggled this season under their new coaching regime. However, notable wins over Colorado and Washington State keep the possibility of an upset in play.
Continue reading “Game #348: #17 Notre Dame @ Stanford”
The Hudson River rolls tranquilly near Michie Stadium while Cadets march proudly on “The Plain” prior to kickoff. It’s the beginning of football Saturdays in West Point where history and tradition take center stage. This time-honored pregame march, known as the Cadet Review, attracts Army fans in mass as they salute our brave soldiers in uniform. Statues and monuments of iconic leaders adorn this military museum of a campus. Strolling its grounds also offers gothic influenced architecture along with picturesque views of the Hudson.
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