Taken from the growing popularity of the "Best College Stadium" thread, BikeJocks suggested this idea. To recap, I've put in a vote for the Orange Bowl (just the first that came to mind), and DCBucky has suggested the Cotton Bowl. We both agree that "size isn't everything." (well, maybe I can't speak for Bucky wink ).

Your thoughts? Be specific - not just because "their team sucks."

GatorJ

[ July 02, 2003, 11:18 AM: Message edited by: GatorJamie ]

Havent been in the Cotton Bowl but just by seeing the outside makes it look like crap.

Another for the list is Duke University's stadium. Its made more for their track team than for football.

Death Valley at Clemson University is rather odd as well. Someone mentioned it goes straight up. Thats an understatement! The visitor's side is 3 levels high and is the biggest thing in the whole area. I went there for a Panthers game their first season in the NFL. Luckily I won tickets in the 20th row on the home side.

I don't think I'd be qualified to say which is the worst college football stadium...I've only been to five or so in my lifetime. But reading this reminded me of something I saw on the internet a few months ago, just before March Madness. Somebody (sorry, can't provide a link, author, or a direct quote, it's just a memory now) said that in the SEC there are ten football schools, one academic school (Vandy) and one basketball school (UK). Since UK is my alma mater, I would tend to agree with that, at least somewhat. I had a good time at Commonwealth Stadium each time I went, since winning isn't everything , although I sat through a game that ended in a tie in '86 and felt ripped off. Anyway, back to the point, it's probably one of the smaller stadiums (stadia?) in the conference, but it seemed massive since I've never been there when it was full. And it was, well, dull. Nothing much noteworthy or spectacular about it, very little tailgating out in the lots, not a whole lot of atmosphere of any kind. If somebody ranked all the division-I schools by football stadium, I'd start looking for UK down around the middle, if that. Now if the topic was college basketball arenas, I'd read that list from the top down!

Technically, I don't think the Cotton Bowl is a "College" Football Stadium anymore since SMU moved back on campus.

It is pretty decrepit, but highly electrifying during the Annual Red River Shootout played in October during the State Fair between the Texas Longhorns and OU Sooners. The Bowl is split at the 50 yard lines equally between the Burnt Orange and Crimson.

My first Cowboys game to see in person was against the NY Giants at the Cotton Bowl (Don Merideth was the QB).

There may be hope (someday) for the Cotton Bowl or Cotton Dome .

http://www.cottondome.org/indexoriginal.html

I'll have to put my vote in for Birmingham's Legion Field. Not for Bama/Auburn games, but as home field for UAB. It's a behemoth of a stadium which makes the Blazer's small crowds look even smaller. It's a civic stadium with no character that is way too big for the needs of UAB football.

Jim

Georgia Tech must have one of the ugliest stadiums ever. Luckily I have not been to a game there but looking at pictures just makes my stomach turn.
pic

Actually, their stadium is better in person. The Stadium at the Naval Academy...now that's ugly.

I vote The University of Minnesota. Not because I root for Wisconsin, but for the fact that the Metrodome is a piece of crap! The atmosphere is sterile and totally non-collegiate.

Also, Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. is kind of weak.

I always thought Stanford's stadium was pretty ugly, along with Cal's.

Both need replaced.

Navy-Marine Memorial Stadium is being renovated now. Before and after comparison pic-links at bottom of page:

http://www.usna.com/Features/2002_2003/Sta...ium/Stadium.htm

Old pic of Stadium, list of battles commemorated and great moments in Stadium history, including Bellino/Staubach/Dorsett:

http://www.sfo.com/~csuppes/NCAA/Independe...?Navy/index.htm

Our home games against Air Force are now held in pro football (Redskins) stadiums on account of crowd size. Home games against Notre Dame are never in Annapolis. We played ND in Ireland a few years ago, and it was supposedly a home game for us. Roger that one.

Cool, it was about time. We used to drive up from College Park to watch Navy play football and Lacrosse! Whether they were playing the TErps or not.... wink

I went to see my school, Texas A&M, once play T.C.U. at awful Amon Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. I do believe that a stadium can be built pre-WWII, and keep its charm (i.e. Kyle Field--Texas A&M), but this place just looked ancient. There are many poles that block your vision (think of the old Tiger Stadium in Detroit). The bathrooms did have plumbing, which was a surprise.

Yeah, but they definitely have the best view inside The Sea of White -- I love seamen!

[ July 10, 2003, 06:01 AM: Message edited by: DCBucky ]

I think I found the scenery more delicious when I've gone up for Lacrosse games. Those boys are H-O-T!

In the olden days, long ago...a young AU Tiger (pre-LA) visited FSU. Think it was late 80's.

Back then, Doak Campbell Stadium appeared to have been constructed from popsickle sticks. It was an eye sore, and quite a joke. Its only saving grace was its loud crowd and monotonous war chant.

I assume FSU has made dramatic improvements since then.

Skip ahead many years...an older AU Tiger in LA goes to an UCLA game. The Rose Bowl is hands down the worst college stadium I've ever witnessed. And I mean "witnessed" in the context of "accident."

1. Driving into and out of the Rose Bowl area is a NIGHTMARE beyond description.
2. Imagine crowds of people trying to squeeze through a small slit in the concrete. Those are the portals into the stadium. Can't miss 'em...just don't blink.
3. The fans are a quiet lot. Makes for a boring game.
4. Did I mention the Rose Bowl traffic?
5. Interesting architecture on the outside. Unpleasant, drab on the inside, in my snobby opinion.

Want to improve it?
1. Build a freeway entrance right up to the sucker, with an exit that feeds right into a REAL parking lot. f**k the neighbors. LA did it in Chavez Ravine...they can do it again.
2. Pump around $100 million into a MAJOR overhaul of the stadium itself. Demolition would be a good start.
3. Pump around $100 million into UCLA football. LA fans need winners in order to actually work up any noise.

Tonka, you might know Navy and Maryland haven't played football since 1965 on account of act of disrespect by Terp player on field in 1964 game.

But after 40 years we'll play one-time game on Sept. 3, 2005 at Ravens Stadium. Bring'em on!

And some of the Navy lax players definitely know guys are looking at them. I heard some of them talking how they hated "the DC fags" in the crowd at an away game-----and how they dealt with those guys.

If a Navy lax guy comes on to you, especially with body language, it's probably a setup.

A few of the lax guys are cool though.

ihtfp

Okay, so our stadium doesn't hold 80,000 fans. We got some great traditions---some more popular with fans than with mids.

Fly-over by F-14s
http://www.usna-nevada.org/TulaneTrip/Jets.gif

March-on
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/patterson04.jpg
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/patterson06.jpg
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/zets04.jpg

Marines
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/patterson08.jpg

Seals
pix omitted to protect their identity

Plebes forced to do push-ups in endzone after every Navy TD.
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/patterson21.jpg
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/patterson20.jpg
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/patterson17.jpg (during PAT vs NCSU)
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/patterson23.jpg (Again, Sir?)

Don't ask me to explain this tradition
http://www.usna-net.org/football02/patterson19.jpg

Blue and Gold (alma mater)
http://www.usna-nevada.org/TulaneTrip/19.jpg

Tailgating
pix omitted to protect the guilty

They haven't had to do too many over the past few years, have they? wink

AU Tiger,

Not popsicle sticks... Doak Campbell was a tinker toy stadium. If anyone had watched the ESPN Classic reshowing of FSU beating AU in 1989 22-14, you would have seen the old girl in all her golden girder glory. (We won't talk about the 1984 game, which undoubtedly is the one you're referring to - but FSU has won the last three meetings, including a Sugar Bowl matchup.)

Yes the stadium, is immeasurably improved now. IF you had been paying attention to the "best stadiums" thread, you would have heard this discussion already! (just teasing) Here are some pictures.

The one thing I remember from our trip to Auburn was the poor band members having to run from the field to the stands after pregame and halftime. The reason: there were not enough seats for the whole band, and they went on a first-come basis... if they didn't get a seat, they had to wait under the stands during the game. Hopefully that situation has been remedied.

Jim

Correction Bike Jock; FSU didn't win the last three meetings vs. Auburn. AU beat FSU in their final meeting in 1990, in Auburn, courtesy of a FG in the waning seconds. I was left hoarse after that game, and 50% of the crowd developed tennis elbow after the game. The entire AU crowd mocked FSU right out of the stadium as we all did the war chant and spear motion.

There was only bad blood between the schools after that game. Apparently FSU fans didn't care too much for an entire stadium to be mocking them with their own war chant.

I stand corrected: blame the format of my source. That particular game was the last one on the page... not very conspicuous. As for the mocking... hey, it's a price of success. I've been at enough games lost to the Gators to feel any animosity towards anyone else.

Open question: Besides FSU's tomahawk chop, and Florida's Gator Chomp, is there any other school that has a distinctive physical participation cheer? (If that makes sense) UCF has an FSU style musical chant with a side to side arm motion that is slowly catching on (however I always feel like I'm a baptist revival concert). I'm not talking about gestures like "hook 'em horns" or occasional arm pumps during the fight song. I'm talking full arm motions that occur continually during a game.

Jim

USC pops to mind, in context of repetitive arm movement coupled with an annoying fight song/cheer.

The one that comes to mind is Oregon State's Reser Fine Foods Stadium. I could sum up their stadium in 4 words: Glorified High School Stadium. The stadium apparently seats 20,000 which is not very much considering most of the Pac10 schools house about 40k+ stadiums. What's even more mind boggling is the fact they can charge $55/seat in that stadium.

I'm just not a huge fan of it. But i guess you can't complain when the games there are the most exciting thing to happen to Corvalis, Oregon.

While at a Cal/SC game years ago, my buddies and I came up with a nasty theory about the USC Song Girls and that two-finger hand motion...

[ July 14, 2003, 05:00 AM: Message edited by: GatorJamie ]

thank you! Their song has been permanently etched into my brain.

"It's ... the only song you know ... it's boring and it's slow ... we wish that you would go ..."