Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at every FBS college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 113/134
77 points – record. 499 rushing yards – record. 792 total yards – record. Thank you for visiting, Northern Arizona. Mind turning out the lights when you leave?
Arizona used their FCS neighbors to the north to dust off their record book and replace a few old numbers. The Wildcats came out struggling a bit, but then chopped down the Lumberjacks with a forest full of offense.
While some alumni may not be proud of Arizona State’s consistently high party school ratings, the expectations for fun do translate very well on football game days. Tempe is a vibrant campus town that benefits from its big city neighbor, but radiates a character of its own. Eccentrically urban, Tempe is the ideal home for Arizona State.
Perfect timing – Arizona State really needed New Mexico. The Sun Devils have had a sluggish start to their season, and for the past few years, finding the Lobos on your schedule usually signals an opportunity to find success and improve morale.
Stanford – the in vogue pick. I admit that I became swept into the hype by putting them in high regard for a playoff position. Instead, a muggy day at Ryan Field became a potential Northwestern revival.
Pacific 12 northwest weather hit old mountain west country. Utah has assimilated nicely into the new conference and today’s rainy weather had Ute fans hoping it would thwart Arizona’s desert comfort zone. The Wildcats reportedly conducted practices under the sprinklers to better prepare.
Daaaaaaaaaaa Illini. That sure doesn’t have the same ring to it, but with tonight’s game taking place at Soldier Field – it’s quite fitting. Add Ditka administering the pregame coin toss, and it’s practically a scene on SNL. This game really wasn’t supposed to be a threat for the incoming Huskies. But, a surprising 2-0 start had Illinois fans imagining the possibilities. A strong contingent from Seattle filled the south loop bars while Illinois fans combated with their ILL-INI chant.
Driving across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco to Berkeley provides the first indication that you are in for something special when visiting the home of the Golden Bears. Once on campus, you are immediately permeated with a dose of California coolness – that perfect blend of eclectic eateries, shops, and personalities. Driving deeper into town and further up the rising picturesque landscape will make you wish you went to college here.
When it comes to the Cal football team, the vibe in Berkeley has been one of impatience – lots of opportunity and little to show for it. This year fit that same mold. The Golden Bears would have to win out against Washington, #4 Oregon, and #11 Oregon State in order to become bowl eligible – a monumental task for sure. A gorgeous early November afternoon morphed into a chilly Friday evening of football inside Memorial Stadium. Even though the stadium was not quite a sellout, loyalty and pride didn’t take a backseat. The band played with the same passion, the fans cheered with the same energy, and the players fought with the same amount of heart.
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.
