Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at every FBS college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 113/134
Finish. That was the theme of the matchup between San Jose State and Wisconsin. There were signs of this all over Madison. The band finished its tribute to the fallen and heroes of 9/11 with power and pageantry. The cloudy skies and rainy weather finished around halftime of the game. Even the fans seemed to finish every gameday brat served on this football Saturday. The Badger football team, however, failed to get the message.
Continue reading “Game 167 – San Jose State @ #12 Wisconsin”
T-shirts around the stadium proclaimed, “Fill the Bill,” and the purple followers came through. The crowd sent rumbles through the Great Plains as Kansas State took the field in front of a record opening day home crowd. As if there wasn’t enough roar in the crowd to start the game, Harley Day in Manhattan sent more noise bouncing off the walls of Bill Snyder Stadium. With Snyder’s return to the sidelines, much anticipation has grown for the Wildcats and having UCLA as an opponent only increased the excitement.
In 2009, Northwestern has made a living stumbling to victories versus lesser opponents. Perhaps I am the only one noticing, but the Wildcats also appear to being trending toward seasons where they lose to a team that they have no business losing to and defeating a team that they have no business defeating. Well, the ‘Cats have already notched their loss against paltry Syracuse. However, the unsuspecting victory had not yet been categorized. Enter #14 Wisconsin to Ryan Field with a target on their back.
If you bought Michigan stock, I hope you sold it early – like after the fourth game of this season because the Wolverines have been in a tailspin since. Actually, dumping it after Lloyd Carr retired two years ago probably would have been better seeing that the Rich Rodriguez era has only ushered in frustration and disappointment.
Halloween. Tricks. Treats. The night was set for a major Big Ten matchup. Northwestern was hyping this game up calling it Purplepalooza and calling on all Wildcats fans to purple it up. Purple ponchos placed at every seat ensured this, as well. But, a ghostly white would be the most frightening color on the field this evening.
Homecoming looked to be doomed. The Hoosiers picked Evanston as the place to showcase their talent this year. Luckily for the Wildcats, the show lasted only one half. Indiana stormed out to a 28-3 lead in the second quarter sending a few Cat fans packing. But, if Wildcat fans have been paying attention over the past decade, Northwestern has a knack for concocting thrilling comebacks and exciting finishes. “Cardiac Cats” is an apt moniker.
Since 1924, Minnesota had been playing on campus in the rustic, yet deteriorating Memorial Stadium. Due to its need for renovation and the lack of state funding, the university chose to abandon the classic old stadium and move the Gopher football program into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome being built in downtown Minneapolis. Since 1982, Minnesota has been playing its games in the oversized bubble surrounded by steel and concrete.
The only part missing to Minnesota’s sparkling brand new TCF Bank Stadium is Paul Bunyan’s Axe in the trophy case. Wisconsin has owned this series since 1995 and would love to tarnish the inaugural season in the Gopher’s new digs by keeping the Axe in Madison.
Northwestern has been that annoyance on Minnesota’s schedule the past few seasons. Last minute heartbreak seemed to be Minnesota’s game plan against the ‘Cats. However, this season would be different. Northwestern made certain to keep the game close enough to palpitate hearts in the stands.
A new stadium just christened last week with a victory and a Big Ten team coming in this week has injected new life into an Akron program that could use a lift. It appeared that any kinks in the new setting have been ironed out. The Akron band marched in the main quad toward the stadium and stopped to salute the fans with the fight song and other festive tunes.