Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at every FBS college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 113/134
Homecoming in Ypsilanti had parking lots filled with green-clad Eagle fans eager to celebrate a victory. Hopes have grown in these parts with a shocking win over Arizona State just two weeks earlier. Couple that with a team that has seen more recent post season action, the expectation to win more frequently is soaring.
Continue reading “Game 321: UMass @ Eastern Michigan”
Husky Stadium lies on picturesque Lake Washington in Seattle. Home to the Washington Huskies, the scene has become one of the most iconic in college football. The purple and gold have reigned in the Pacific Northwest since 1889, and it’s a program abundant in tradition. Autumn Saturdays in the Emerald City provide a gameday saturated with passion and pageantry.
Continue reading “WASHINGTON – HUSKY STADIUM”
Washington stormed into this contest boasting a surprising 3-0 record. Having just defeated #11 Michigan State, the Huskies are beginning to see a season full of promise ahead. Today began their Pac-12 journey as Stanford rolled into Seattle. The Cardinal were not experiencing the same success as the Huskies, but conference games are never to be taken lightly.
Continue reading “Game 320: Stanford @ #18 Washington”
Washington State’s upset over Wisconsin last weekend exposed the Badgers and their predictable rushing-based offense. Four-star QB recruit, Graham Mertz, seemed to only have one or two stars lit on the field. Overall, the defense played well, but the offense had many errors to correct, especially when it came to fundamental execution. While this outcome was phenomenal for the visiting Cougars, it was probably the worst case scenario for this week’s opponent, the New Mexico State Aggies. Wisconsin would come out well-practiced and angry. The Aggies were the punching bag.
Continue reading “Game 319: New Mexico State @ Wisconsin”
Expectations for maintaining a consistently strong program is an annual outlook for the Badgers. Coming off a strong shutout of Illinois State, Wisconsin was set to host Washington State, a team coming off a less impressive victory over Idaho. In the off-season, Camp Randall Stadium had undergone a facelift with upgraded seating in the south end zone and the renaming of the field after coaching legend, Barry Alvarez. These improvements only add to the expectations for a successful season and increase the hype for an even brighter future.
Continue reading “Game 318: Washington State @ Wisconsin”
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”
“Out in the west Texas town of El Paso, there is a team that they call the Miners.”
This eclectic border town is home to the University of Texas El-Paso. Originally founded as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy, UTEP’s nickname of Miners is a perfect fit. The school has embraced its Miner identity with a swagger-filled mascot (Paydirt Pete), pickaxe icons that engulf campus, and a historic stadium carved into the mountains.
Continue reading “UTEP – THE SUN BOWL”
A sold out Sun Bowl highlighted the anticipation for UTEP’s home opener against instate foe, North Texas. This is Coach Dana Dimel’s 5th year leading the Miners and expectations are soaring. The Mean Green come in with much to prove, as well. In many ways, this game was setting up to be a pickaxe in the road forcing the winner and loser on alternate paths.
Continue reading “Game 316: North Texas @ UTEP”
The foundation of college football culture is constructed on small campus towns that swell to ten times their size on gamedays. Locations like Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Norman, Oklahoma attract most of the spotlight. But, more impressive are the dots on the map that are typically less hyped, but emit the same passion and pageantry as universities that are consistent gridiron thoroughbreds. Hattiesburg, Mississippi qualifies as one of these special campuses. Located one hour from both the Louisiana and Alabama borders, the University of Southern Mississippi is an underrated hot spot in college football that deserves more of that spotlight.
Continue reading “SOUTHERN MISS – M.M ROBERTS STADIUM”