Goal: To thoroughly experience gameday at every FBS college football stadium. STADIUM COUNT: 113/134
Homecoming in Boone featured unseasonably warm temperatures and clear skies. The Blue Ridge Mountains often receive varied forecasts, so an appreciative App State crowd arrived in Boone ready to party. Southern Miss strode into Kidd Brewer Stadium playing the underdog role and hopeful spoiler of the Mountaineer festivities.
Continue reading “Game #344: Southern Miss @ App State”
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”
This game had a must-win feel to it for Charlotte. Coming in with just two victories, the 49ers couldn’t afford many more losses before facing bowl ineligibility. Florida Atlantic couldn’t give away wins either. Seeking the postseason, both teams were set to clash on this Friday night of Halloween weekend.
Continue reading “Game #343: FAU @ Charlotte”
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”
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”
Torrents of rain crept into West Point canceling much of the pregame pomp that traditionally precedes kickoff. But, soggy turf and slick stands didn’t keep the sizable crowd from filling Michie Stadium for Boston College’s visit to Army. Even though favored to win, the Black Knights would require a formidable effort against the scrappy Eagles.
Continue reading “Game #340: Boston College @ Army”
Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois is known as the “Wrigley Field” of college football. It doesn’t quite have the history of the Cubs, but it boasts a very classic and old-school stadium atmosphere. For a while now, NU has been calling themselves Chicago’s Big Ten Team. Attempts to market this slogan are popping up around the city, and the evidence is beginning to show with more rumps in the seats in Evanston – perhaps because Chicagoans are slowly realizing that Northwestern is no longer The Big Ten’s little brother.
Continue reading “NORTHWESTERN – RYAN FIELD”
A summer of tumult in Evanston set the football program on shaky ground. Hazing allegations resulted in the ousting of legendary head coach, Pat Fitzgerald and the hiring of interim coach, David Braun. However, the Wildcats have already exceeded expectations. After suffering a 12-game losing streak, Northwestern has notched impressive victories over UTEP and Minnesota. But, highly ranked Penn State stood as a formidable obstacle on this Saturday.
Continue reading “Game #339: #9 Penn State @ Northwestern”
Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel brings you to Norfolk, Virginia, home of the Old Dominion Monarchs. The Commonwealth of Virginia is known as “The Old Dominion” because it was the original colony and first dominion of England. In those early days of the New World, King Charles II coined this nickname because of Virginia’s loyalty to the crown during the English Civil War. Of course, that would change in the years ahead, but the name “Old Dominion” still stands as a time capsule of these early colonial days. The irony is that Old Dominion is one of the newest dominions on the terrain of college football having just established a team in 2009.
Continue reading “OLD DOMINION – S.B. BALLARD STADIUM”
Plans for homecoming in Norfolk were stunted as Tropical Storm Ophelia swept through the east coast. The parade and tailgating were cut from pregame activities due to the high winds in the area. Rain had fallen, but all precipitation ceased by kickoff and the game remained overcast and dry. The result on the field also didn’t go according to plan as Old Dominion struggled mightily against their FCS guest.
Continue reading “Game #338: Texas A&M-Commerce @ Old Dominion”