Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at every FBS college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 113/134
Herds of green and yellow clad fans cross the bridge over the Willamette River in Eugene and follow the winding path towards Autzen Stadium. Over the years, this journey has become a rite of passage for Oregon fans, and it’s a community-building aspect of gameday. Enthusiasm builds with each step towards Autzen as cheers of “Go Ducks!” are exchanged among the faithful.
Continue reading “OREGON – AUTZEN STADIUM”
Amherst, Massachusetts lies about 100 miles west of Boston in the northeast’s open country. Founded in 1863, UMass identifies a bit more as a basketball school than a football school. Action between the endzones began in 1879, and they joined the FBS in 2012. While not widely known as a football school, the Minutemen did capture a national title in 1998 while members of the FCS, and the flag commemorating that title flies proudly atop McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Despite a history deprived of consistent football glory, one thing stands out: Whether hardwood or gridiron, the fan base for UMass is an enthusiastic bunch.
Continue reading “UMASS – MCGUIRK ALUMNI STADIUM”
Central New York is highlighted by the city of Syracuse – home of the Syracuse Orange. Since 1980, the football squad has played their games in the only on-campus dome in the FBS. This structure, once the Carrier Dome and now the JMA Dome, is an iconic cathedral of college football known especially for the high decibel levels it conjures. Housing both basketball and football, this stadium has hosted some of the most memorable moments in sports. The venue is instantly recognizable for Syracuse athletics.
Continue reading “SYRACUSE – JMA WIRELESS DOME”
Madison, Wisconsin is an ideal college town highlighted by the state capitol and surrounding lakes – Mendota and Monona. It is home to Camp Randall Stadium, which is frequently regarded as one of the Big Ten’s wildest and most thrilling venues. Once a Civil War training site, this massive structure is crammed into a beautiful residential area among dorms, fraternity houses, campus buildings, and bars.
Continue reading “WISCONSIN – CAMP RANDALL STADIUM”
University Stadium gazes up at the Sandia Mountains that rest on Albuquerque’s eastern edge. A bustling energy surrounds the perimeter of its walls. New Mexico fans populate its bleachers on autumn Saturdays cheering the Lobos on to victory. It’s a festive and colorful atmosphere that plays well against the blue skies in the Land of Enchantment.
Continue reading “NEW MEXICO – UNIVERSITY STADIUM”
Situated between San Francisco and San José in the famous Silicon Valley, Stanford University boasts a rich athletic history. Technically located within its own community of Stanford, California, the university also calls Palo Alto its home. A short distance from Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto brims with shops, restaurants, and a collegiate flair. Stanford is affectionately known as “The Farm” due to being built on agricultural land, and gamedays here explode with a west coast style of pageantry and panache.
Continue reading “STANFORD – STANFORD STADIUM”
The Hudson River rolls tranquilly near Michie Stadium while Cadets march proudly on “The Plain” prior to kickoff. It’s the beginning of football Saturdays in West Point where history and tradition take center stage. This time-honored pregame march, known as the Cadet Review, attracts Army fans in mass as they salute our brave soldiers in uniform. Statues and monuments of iconic leaders adorn this military museum of a campus. Strolling its grounds also offers gothic influenced architecture along with picturesque views of the Hudson.
Continue reading “ARMY – MICHIE STADIUM”
Named in honor of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison University nuzzles into the Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Rolling mountains rise in the distance framing this campus founded in 1908. As a newer FBS member, JMU has effortlessly transferred their FCS name brand into the highest level of college football. Lesser known before, James Madison is rapidly being recognized as a notable hotspot.
Continue reading “JAMES MADISON – BRIDGEFORTH STADIUM”
Boone, North Carolina is set within the Blue Ridge Mountains which embrace the picturesque Appalachian State University. Few settings can rival the rolling peaks and rising bluffs that beautify Boone. It’s no wonder they are the Mountaineers – a geographically fitting name that equally embodies the spirit at App. The raucous fanbase that crowds Kidd Brewer Stadium on gamedays showcases this fervor for the black and gold.
Continue reading “APPALACHIAN STATE – KIDD BREWER STADIUM”
Founded in 1946, Charlotte was originally the Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina. Its purpose was to serve the academic needs of veterans returning from World War II. In 1949, schools of this nature were closing, but the university’s founder, Bonnie E. Cone, fought to keep it open. Her valiant fight was successful and in honor of the year 1949, the University adopted the 49ers nickname. Today, Charlotte continues to grow, and their football program is the epicenter of that evidence.
Continue reading “CHARLOTTE – JERRY RICHARDSON STADIUM”