Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at every FBS college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 113/134
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.
Fresno State should have no concerns entering this big matchup. The Bulldogs have been to enough high-intensity college football stadiums to start their own college football tour. Camp Randall Stadium? They are not anxious about this stadium that is considered to be one of the most daunting in the country.
Early evening summer kickoff in Madison = perfect day. The day begins with a stop around the Capitol to experience one of the Midwest’s finest and largest farmer’s markets. Fans draped in red herd over to the terrace to enjoy a beverage by the lake and take in a peaceful afternoon. From here, your choice of tailgates are endless finishing with the pregame band concert near Camp Randall Stadium.
On this late November day, the curtains closed on a very historic college football trophy. Northwestern and Illinois have played for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk trophy for over six decades. However, the Illini had recently been stripped of their mascot due to its perceived disrespectful nature to the surrounding tribal nations. Anything bearing any reference to Indian culture had to be removed from the campus or they would suffer probation. Included in this cleaning process included the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk trophy. This would be the last game where the trophy would be awarded and even if Illinois won, they were not allowed to keep it.
It has been ten years since I last visited Iowa City and despite the frozen temperatures, I was reminded of how fantastic the atmosphere is at Kinnick Stadium. One week after the Hawkeyes’ enormous victory over #3 Penn State, the aftershock still shook the area. It certainly was the hot topic of conversation. At Purdue, the hot topic is coach Joe Tiller’s departure. The Boilermakers aren’t going to a bowl this year, but they sure played like a bowl team…
With the big presidential election coming up, so many vital questions are nagging the nation: Will America have its first African-American president in Barack Obama? Is Sarah Palin enough to lift John McCain’s numbers in the polls? Will the Wisconsin Badgers end their four game losing skid on homecoming to Illinois? I’m happy to say I was able to report on one of these highly anticipated questions this past Saturday…
A week after the Badger band was suspended from playing at Camp Randall Stadium, the fire and excitement returned as “On Wisconsin” blasted proudly while the Badgers entered the stadium. For this prime time contest with white towels waving, fans foaming at the mouth, and the band high stepping again, that fire would be put out quickly by a powerful Penn State squad.
The t-shirts worn by the Notre Dame student section this year read, “Notre Dame will rise again.” That’s a bold statement considering the tumultuous season the Irish experienced last year. However, a couple of early season wins this year, including one over rival Michigan, has allowed hope to trickle back into South Bend. Will the Boilermakers hammer a dent in the railroad that leads to Notre Dame’s anticipated ascension to greatness? The classic college football setting in South Bend coupled with a perfect autumn Saturday afternoon served as the backdrop for this exciting battle…