Your favorite college football gameday experience not at Michigan Stadium
WD's post of records at other B1G stadiums got me to thinking...what's the best gameday experience you've had at another B1G school? Or outside the B1G?
I haven't been to all the other B1G schools, but I'm close. Iowa and Wisconsin have to be my favorites, with Iowa a slight advantage because their fans were great. I think Iowa City is a little underappreciated, and Kinnick is an awesome venue.
Outside the B1G, Tennessee stands out - even though they're still bitter about the Heisman - among a number of SEC, ACC, ND and PAC## stops. (Is it just me, or does a BIG12 visit other than Texas seem like a waste of time?). I will add, any college football should try to see one game at ND - it is a great experience too though I know the view here is THWND.
The top of my list to still visit (outside my last couple B1Gs) are 'Bama, LSU, Texas, and Washington. I'm curious to hear of favorites from the board to add to my list.
Thanks in advance.
we were 4-0 in those games away from the Big House in the 90s...and 2-11 since...yikes. Let's start winning some road games?
As for non-B1G venues, I've been to a couple of night games in Baton Rouge and those have both been incredible. LSU won both against undefeated teams (Auburn's only loss in 2013, and the 2014 10-7 slobberknocker against Ole Miss in the so-called Magnolia Bowl). I wore a maize M shirt to I blend into the color palate in Death Valley, but folks there had a lot of kind words for M in general. Baton Rouge also has a beautiful campus in a sort of Spanish Mission style that is very reminiscent of Stanford. Great bars to go to pre-game, and everyone is walking around with a drink in their hand.
I've been to a few non-Michigan, non-bowl games:
1. Tennessee at Bama (2015) - I was not terribly impressed with Tuscaloosa overall and especially the stadium. I felt like I was going to a generic NFL stadium. The game, though, was INTENSE. Tennessee was a few missed field goals and a final drive away from pulling the upset.
2. Florida at Tennessee (2000) - I really, really enjoyed the Neyland Stadium atmosphere. My dad is a huge Tennessee fan, so growing up we would listen to John Ward and watch Tennessee football games (when it didn't conflict with me watching Michigan). This was a Top 10 matchup and I would put this at #1 if I hadn't left at halftime to watch the rest of Michigan/UCLA. Both Michigan and Tennessee lost that day.
3. Bama at LSU (2016) - The tailgating was top notch and it felt like it would be a great atmosphere... and then the game was 0-0 going into the 4th. It did not feel very electric, but you could feel the pressure mounting as each drive came up empty.
4. MTSU vs Memphis (2009) - I mean, it's a smaller D1 school and I didn't expect much. I was able to easily bring in a bottle of Jack Daniels and I was in a "suite" (it felt more like a dugout with random chairs and tables), so there was that. This was a year in which MTSU won 10 games (only losing to Clemson, Miss St, and Troy).
I've probably been to a couple more Tennessee games, but I don't remember the specifics. I'm trying to make it to more B1G stadiums. I've only been to Michigan vs Illinois (2011), but trying to get to Bloomington, Happy Valley, and/or Madison this year.
Drove up to Michigan vs. Minnesota in 2003, which was the game that got moved from Sat to Friday due to the Twins being in the playoffs. This was also the biggest 4th quarter win in UM history.
On the way back from Minneapolis the next day, my friend and I saw the sign for Madison, and knew the Badgers were hosting undefeated OSU that night, so we said, why not? We stopped in, figured we'd just tailgate and hang out, and maybe get lucky with some cheap tickets. About 5 mins before the game, we get $50 tickets, literally row 1 of the endzone. Score.
As the game went on, UW took the lead with a couple mins left, the ENTIRE section behind us begins pushing their way down to rush the field. With about 2 mins left, we're literally pressed against the fence with a couple thousand people anxiously behind us. We asked the security guard standing in front of us what to do.
He responds "You should probably run as fast as you can".
We did. I ran into an OSU coach by mistake. Got to be on the field. Saw a monster UM comeback and OSU upset in the same 24 hour span, in person.
Most memorable was the 2003 Outback Bowl against Rex Grossman's Gators. I was surrounded by Gator fans and they whined the whole game. They are the fairest of fair weather fans. Not obnoxious like Sparty or Buckeye fan, but just whiny with that "whoa is me" attitude. I rank them right behind our big 3 most hated in my most hated teams list.
I also got to attend a night game at the Swamp when LSU came to town. I think it was 2007 when Tebow was still playing. It was a very "commercial/NFL" type of atmosphere. I thought it sucked compared to a Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Bucket list of stadiums I would like to see a game at:
- Clemson, Texas, Tennessee, Rose Bowl, Wisconsin.
1990 16-13 Michigan victory: U of M takes advantage of bonehead Cooper call to go for it on his own 29 on a Fourth and 1. Michigan D stuffs them for no gain. Cooper goes to 0-3 against Michigan and instead of O$U going to the Rose Bowl they end up in the Liberty Bowl against Air Force. It was a pretty hostile environment, but I did not have my life threatened even after the close finish. Game day atmosphere was pretty crazy, but it was not as deafening as it was hyped up to be. Nothing like walking out of the shoe with all my Michigan gear on after winning a close fought battle. The refs even had enough guts and integrity to call the home team QB short on a play that dramatically affected the outcome of the game. Go figure. Go Blue.
Best Michigan away games I've attended are 2015 Penn State (great gameday atmosphere) and Citrus Bowl vs. Florida (sold out game, was a good crowd too).
Haven't been to much else. The best game I otherwise attended left me a very sour taste in my mouth:
2011 Wisconsin at Michigan State, when the Spartans came back to win on a Hail Mary. Spartan Stadium is whatever, but that was a great game.
My full Michigan list (started out pretty rough...but I would be on a nice winning streak if only we had survived in Columbus last year):
- 2013 MSU - L
- 2014 ND - L
- 2014 MSU - L
- 2014 OSU - L
- 2015 Maryland - W
- 2015 Penn State - W
- 2015 Citrus Bowl vs. Florida - W
- 2016 Rutgers - W
- 2016 OSU - L
Besides 3 MSU games against teams other than Michigan (the only notable opponent being vs. Wisconsin), the only other college football game I've attended where Michigan wasn't a participant was Cal at USC last year in the Coliseum, which was horribly lame and an absolute snoozer. Stadium was 2/3rds empty.
This year, in terms of non Big House games, I'm going to go to:
- Texas A&M at UCLA in the Rose Bowl
- Michigan at Wisconsin
- And potentially a USC game (maybe Texas at USC if I can find something reasonable).
Tortillas flying, the crowd booming, a masked chick on a horse and my kid on the field at halftime. Plus, a kick-ass, exciting game (except for the final score).
I will say, though, the only Christian thing about TCU is the name. Their fans were OK, but that band (behind me and up a level) were full of jackassery and trolling, especially for visitors/an official school group. Their chants were about 3 syllables short of fighting words. Maybe it's a Texas thing.
At the time of the game at Autzen, Oregon was just starting its rise, and the stadium was electric. The Autzen crowd was significantly order than the Big House despite being much smaller.
Beyond that, the Miami Orange Bowl (the stadium, not the bowl game) was an incredible place to see a big game once the Hurricanes got good in the 80s.
that was a great game. braylon almost pulled that one out for us. dan fouts crying over the official not giving O a TD right before UM returned the FG attempt for a TF was classic. i remember kieth jones teling him to calm down.
Had a great game day experience....War eagle
i know it has a reputation as being ... inhospitable, but I have never ever experienced it. Everyone I tailgate with and sit near are always good natured. the 2006 game was epic. i was on two hits of x which didn't suck. the 2004 game while not close was also a great time. it's a great stadium and the loudest place i have ever been but i have not been to seattle.
Harvard/Yale is surprisingly fun. Camp Randall is great. Rutgers is the worst, by the way, in case anyone was asking.
Being out west I don't get to go to games too often as I am really only interested in Michigan games. Couldn't get the day off for the Utah game. Outside of Michigan games I have only been to one game which was the Las Vegas bowl. I believe it was UCLA - Wyoming. Atmosphere sucked, there was hardly a crowd and I ended up leaving at halftime. I went to Kinnick last year but we all know how that turned out.
2006 Penn State was an absolute blast. That stadium was about ready to explode by gametime. Great (but long) trip, would do it again in a second.
The 97 PSU game tops it for me - great atmosphere, great fans, great little college town. Horrid erector set stadium, though... This was pre-childrape, so no guilt, either! The students/fans were awesome before, during, and after the game. Friday night bars were rocking, and Michigan fans outsang PSU in the battle of fight songs (I mean, thats a given...). The Gameday crowd was excellent. And it didn't take long for them to realize UM came to play. Third play from scrimmage, I believe... The hit ended all hope for them - after that play, there was nothing left in the crowd. After the game, everyone that talked to me said UM was clearly better and that Nebraska should have lost on that call.
Another good one I was at was Saginaw Valley SC (Jerry Kill) vs Grand Valley SC (Brian Kelly), the winner went to the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Eggplant's team won, but a really good game nonetheless!
Nov 2013 Orlando. Houston vs UCF. UCF QB Blake Bortles, Houston QB John O’Korn. UCF won 19-14 The Cougars drove to the UCF 10 in the final minute, but came up empty on back-to-back passes from John O'Korn into the end zone. The first went off star receiver Deontay Greenberry's finger tips and the second was dropped by Wayne Beadle in the endzone. Blake Bortles was 17-24-210-1. John O’Korn was 24-46-231 and had 56 yards rushing