Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium becomes a “ZOU” on gamedays. Throngs of fans extend the perimeter of its walls with black and gold. Tailgates are adorned with tiger stripes and tails. The atmosphere flickers with festivity while passersby greet each other with an “M-I-Z!” call and a “Z-O-U response. A towering statue of Don Faurot welcomes fans into the stadium where the field bears his name. Faurot coached at Missouri and left a great legacy during the mid 1900s. He would be proud of how Mizzou continues to grow as a college football hotspot.
Continue reading “MISSOURI – FAUROT FIELD AT MEMORIAL STADIUM”Game #342: South Carolina @ #20 Missouri
Missouri and South Carolina – the annual battle to determine which is the better Columbia. The top 20 Tigers have the record and ranking as evidence that Mizzou is the 2023 title holder of this unofficial contest. But, that didn’t stop several fans to collaborate and paint letters that spell out “MIZ – BETTER COLUMBIA” on their chests. It’s a young rivalry, but already has a celebrated trophy – The Mayor’s Cup. The mayor of the winning Columbia awards the prize.
Continue reading “Game #342: South Carolina @ #20 Missouri”VANDERBILT – FIRST BANK STADIUM
Set away from downtown Nashville, the campus of Vanderbilt is quaint and cozy. The same can be said for First Bank Stadium. Beautifully situated amongst the buildings on campus, the venue does not possess the capacity power of its SEC brethren, but its fanbase is definitely loud and loyal.
Continue reading “VANDERBILT – FIRST BANK STADIUM”Game #331 – Hawai’i @ Vanderbilt
Dare to Grow. These three words encapsulate the initiative to boost the athletic facilities on campus. An improvement on the gridiron is the hopeful byproduct of this investment. In his third year as Vanderbilt, head coach Clark Lea is hoping to continue the upward trend in the win column. The future begins with the Rainbow Warriors.
Continue reading “Game #331 – Hawai’i @ Vanderbilt”Game 328: Florida @ #16 Florida State
The Sunshine Showdown caught fire in the 1990s when both teams combined for three national championships in a six year span. The Spurrier and Bowden years firmly planted the Gators and Seminoles into the upper crust of the college football planet. While there have been a flurry of ups and downs for both squads, these two teams have not lost their powerhouse status. This season, Florida State has surged back into the top 25, thus dropping their cloak of irrelevancy.
Continue reading “Game 328: Florida @ #16 Florida State”AUBURN – JORDAN-HARE STADIUM
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”Game 317: Mercer @ Auburn
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”MISSISSIPPI STATE – DAVIS WADE STADIUM
Starkville, home of Mississippi State, has been nicknamed StarkVegas. Originally, the moniker stuck as a sarcastic insult toward a town viewed as small and sleepy. But, the rise in Bulldog athletics has transformed the name into a badge of honor. Coincidentally, gamedays in Starkville are an outstanding event when this town with old southern charm becomes a cauldron of cowbell cacophony.
Continue reading “MISSISSIPPI STATE – DAVIS WADE STADIUM”Game 313: #9 Ole Miss @ Mississippi State
Hail State or Hotty Toddy?
This is the 118th meeting between Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
This is the 94th meeting played for the Golden Egg trophy.
This is the 30th meeting played on Thanksgiving night.
A New Year’s Day bowl is on the line for the Bulldogs.
A New Year’s Six bowl is on the line for the Rebels.
These two teams split the last 20 meetings.
The stage is set.
GEORGIA – SANFORD STADIUM
Quintessential gamedays are characterized by gorgeous settings with iconic on-campus stadiums. Passion and pageantry are on full display with traditions that cross generations. Vibrant downtowns adjacent to campus strengthen the community and keep the energy level running high on a football Saturday.
Athens, Georgia checks all of these boxes.