Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at every FBS college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 113/134
Last year’s San Diego State coach is this year’s Michigan coach. Finding each other on the schedule made for a potentially awkward situation. It’s like bumping into your recent ex-significant other with a new one on your arm. Aztec players would not have any time to have hard feelings with chasing Michigan QB Denard Robinson all over the place.
Continue reading “Game 186 – San Diego State @ #21 Michigan”
Riding the red line in Chicago on this day took an entirely different meaning. Badger fans who crossed the state line, and alums living in Chicago who had yanked their favorite Wisconsin tee off the hanger, all packed the el train with red as it zipped its way downtown and unloaded a steady red stream at the Roosevelt stop. Fans from both sides began to merge near Grant Park and banter back and forth while walking under Lake Shire Drive to get to Soldier Field. This home to the Chicago Bears became “Huskie Country” for the day.
Continue reading “Game 185 – #7 Wisconsin vs. Northern Illinois”
The Badgers are one game in and already rolling much thanks to QB phenom Russell Wilson. The Beavers are one game in and already sunk. An embarrassing loss to FCS team, Sacramento State set the bar very low for Oregon State. Starting the game with a negative four yard punt didn’t help matters. Punter, Johnny Hekker, proved that the Beavers were a bit off their game when an early drive stalled and his punt awkwardly shanked to the right four yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Fear the Turtle. This slogan may not appear daunting, but upon entering a packed Byrd Stadium on Saturdays in the fall, it becomes quickly clear why the turtle holds so much power. Built in 1950, Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium houses an authentic and classic college style. Constructed as a horseshoe with a triple deck on one side, the arena certainly holds the capacity to intimidate.
Continue reading “MARYLAND – CAPITAL ONE FIELD AT MARYLAND STADIUM”
Maryland is so the new Oregon. Thanks to UO grad and Nike CEO, Phil Knight, The Ducks have recently been known as the team with a variety of uniform combinations containing loud neon colors. Well, Maryland grad and UnderArmour CEO, Kevin Plank, must have thought that two can play at this game. Prior to the home opener against Miami, the Terrapin players were donning tortoise shell helmets with matching uniforms. Nobody, not even the players, knew what would happen next. After the team went into the locker room after pregame warmups, the Terps reentered Byrd Stadium with wild and wacky uniforms splattering the Maryland state flag’s emblem all over in various ways. Even though these uniforms received much nationwide criticism, it charged up the packed house in College Park.
On a night hot enough to make a jalapeno sweat, Badger fans didn’t have to sweat through a nailbiter. Camp Randall Stadium was the scene for a rare Thursday night contest to open the 2011 season. Although fans were anxious to see the defending Big Ten co champion Badgers, all eyes were on senior transfer quarterback, Russell Wilson. A legend had hit Madison and he hadn’t even taken a snap yet.
Both Wisconsin and TCU had magical seasons that led them to a unique Rose Bowl matchup on New Year’s Day. Our trip to Pasadena turned out to be less than magical. We left on New Year’s Eve ready to connect in Kansas City, then Phoenix, then Long Beach en route to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, our flight from Chicago was delayed and upon arriving Kansas City, our connect to Phoenix was gone. Panic stricken, we found ourselves in a deserted airport seemingly destined to ring in the New Year 2,000 miles from the Rose Bowl.
Continue reading “Game 179 – #5 Wisconsin vs. #3 TCU (2011 Rose Bowl)”
Points are to the Wisconsin offense as butter is to Paula Deen’s recipes…neither can get enough. In their final three games, the Badgers piled 83 points on Indiana, 48 on Michigan, and 70 big sticks of butter on Northwestern to solidify a Big Ten championship and a trip to Pasadena. Northwestern had lost their star quarterback two weeks earlier and were scrambling to redefine themselves as they walked into a red and white blender set on frappe. With all that was motivating Wisconsin, the Wildcats didn’t stand a chance, and now, the Rose Bowl awaits. The Grand Marshal for this year’s Rose Bowl is Food Network Star, Paula Deen. See how it all comes full circle?
As soon as the announcement was made that College Gameday would be live from Wrigley Field, my mind began to create signs for this historic matchup. The best I could come up with was “Go ‘Cats!” with the “C” being the Cubs logo. The magnitude of my sign’s creativity decreased once gameday arrived. We hopped the Clark Street bus at around 6:30am and began to venture toward Addison. The bus stopped at the corner and the College Gameday stage and bus appeared at the right, while the classic “Wrigley Field” sign came into view at the left. Only this time, its red hue had been replaced with purple.
Continue reading “Game 177 – Illinois vs. Northwestern (Wrigley Field)”
Purdue or Purdont? Well, it’s quite simple. The Boilers Pur”did” in the first half and Pur”didn’t” in the second. The Badgers came into West Lafayette carrying all the pressure. With Wisconsin ranked 9th nationally and still holding a great hand to collect the Rose Bowl bid, the nerves may have caused this team to come out flat in the first half.