Hardest Places to play as of Week 4
I've been looking around a bit on both YouTube and via watching regular TV to figure out which stadiums have seemed the loudest/hardest to play in so far this year. While most of the usual suspects are at the top, the main focus of this was obviously to find where Michigan stands now. Please note that in order to save some space, the video evidence is only linked.
The tops, in no particular order:
1. Clemson - This may seem like an odd pick for a hard place to play because Clemson hasn't done that well in general this season (2-2, 1-1 ACC), it's hard to say that their version of "Death Valley" hasn't been loud; it's been VERY loud, but unfortunately for Tiger fans, it hasn't meant much. Last week's TCU match-up was a very loud game despite only 10 points and a loss for the Tigers.
General Projection for Toughness: Top 5
Video Evidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI2JLpqnTdo
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2. Oregon - They're obviously one of the "usual suspects" that I mentioned in the intro of this piece. The Zoo has definitely met the bar as far as crowd noise goes this season; they managed to beat a quality Utah team and the crowd saw its high point this weekend against #6 Cal in a lopsided affair.
General Projection for Toughness: Top 5
Video Evidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpDGn5jid44
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3. Texas - A season after a renovation of their own, the Horns have a lot to be happy about, since the closing in of one of their end zones has seemed to hold in more noise. Although I couldn't find decent video evidence that wasn't ruined by gratuitous amounts of music that I didn't want to listen to, if you watch a game or two on TV of Texas this year I'm sure you'll notice it for yourself.
General Projection for Toughness: Top 10
Video Evidence:
None, but did anyone see Bevo almost maul one of Texas's WRs? Nothing more gratifying than being gored by a peaceful old cow representing your team.
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4. Michigan - I'm putting us here with a grain of salt. As a student who's been to every game an hour early this year, I've had a great time and personally, I've thought it was pretty loud. The thing is, I'd never been to a Michigan game before this year (trust me, I waited for my chance for a long time) so I don't know how it compares to past years. The luxury boxes do create an echo as others have said, but the stadium was absolutely dead against EMU (rightfully so) and not extremely loud against Indy. However, the WMU and ND games seemed legitimately loud, and after watching some of the replay, I buy it, but only to an extent. From the field, I imagine the Big House is probably one of the top 10 (maybe 15) hardest places to play now. Note that we did cause some delay of games against ND...
General Projection for Toughness: Top 10
Video Evidence:
Compare this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxTAFYU-US4
to this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7zTselUuB8
and you tell me.
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5. Florida/Alabama/Virginia Tech/OSU - Well, whatever. I'm not going to waste my time explaining this one.
General Projection for Toughness: Top 5
Video Evidence: Not needed.
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Places I haven't been Impressed with but Probably will be by the end of the year: Penn State, LSU, Iowa, Nebraska
Places I truly believe are overrated: Boise State
Places I believe still rank ahead of Michigan: Florida, Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon, LSU, Clemson, VT, Alabama, Nebraska (eh, maybe)
Conclusion: That's 8-9 places that still seem ahead of us in terms of noise and "toughness." While Michigan should eventually return to the ranks of the elite, hopefully we can make it to that level, too, in more than just being classy and having a fun overall location to visit. In the end, winning matters more than intimidation factors, but intimidation factors can play a big role in winning as well - just ask the Floridas of the world, whose fans hang their reputation in large part on the Swamp.
Personally, I think the stadium is 30-50% louder than before, but I think most the work will be done as the team keeps up the exciting pace under Rich Rod's offense. I realize it's been said before, but I think we can get there. It'll just take some time.
The tops, in no particular order:
1. Clemson - This may seem like an odd pick for a hard place to play because Clemson hasn't done that well in general this season (2-2, 1-1 ACC), it's hard to say that their version of "Death Valley" hasn't been loud; it's been VERY loud, but unfortunately for Tiger fans, it hasn't meant much. Last week's TCU match-up was a very loud game despite only 10 points and a loss for the Tigers.
General Projection for Toughness: Top 5
Video Evidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI2JLpqnTdo
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2. Oregon - They're obviously one of the "usual suspects" that I mentioned in the intro of this piece. The Zoo has definitely met the bar as far as crowd noise goes this season; they managed to beat a quality Utah team and the crowd saw its high point this weekend against #6 Cal in a lopsided affair.
General Projection for Toughness: Top 5
Video Evidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpDGn5jid44
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3. Texas - A season after a renovation of their own, the Horns have a lot to be happy about, since the closing in of one of their end zones has seemed to hold in more noise. Although I couldn't find decent video evidence that wasn't ruined by gratuitous amounts of music that I didn't want to listen to, if you watch a game or two on TV of Texas this year I'm sure you'll notice it for yourself.
General Projection for Toughness: Top 10
Video Evidence:
None, but did anyone see Bevo almost maul one of Texas's WRs? Nothing more gratifying than being gored by a peaceful old cow representing your team.
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4. Michigan - I'm putting us here with a grain of salt. As a student who's been to every game an hour early this year, I've had a great time and personally, I've thought it was pretty loud. The thing is, I'd never been to a Michigan game before this year (trust me, I waited for my chance for a long time) so I don't know how it compares to past years. The luxury boxes do create an echo as others have said, but the stadium was absolutely dead against EMU (rightfully so) and not extremely loud against Indy. However, the WMU and ND games seemed legitimately loud, and after watching some of the replay, I buy it, but only to an extent. From the field, I imagine the Big House is probably one of the top 10 (maybe 15) hardest places to play now. Note that we did cause some delay of games against ND...
General Projection for Toughness: Top 10
Video Evidence:
Compare this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxTAFYU-US4
to this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7zTselUuB8
and you tell me.
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5. Florida/Alabama/Virginia Tech/OSU - Well, whatever. I'm not going to waste my time explaining this one.
General Projection for Toughness: Top 5
Video Evidence: Not needed.
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Places I haven't been Impressed with but Probably will be by the end of the year: Penn State, LSU, Iowa, Nebraska
Places I truly believe are overrated: Boise State
Places I believe still rank ahead of Michigan: Florida, Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon, LSU, Clemson, VT, Alabama, Nebraska (eh, maybe)
Conclusion: That's 8-9 places that still seem ahead of us in terms of noise and "toughness." While Michigan should eventually return to the ranks of the elite, hopefully we can make it to that level, too, in more than just being classy and having a fun overall location to visit. In the end, winning matters more than intimidation factors, but intimidation factors can play a big role in winning as well - just ask the Floridas of the world, whose fans hang their reputation in large part on the Swamp.
Personally, I think the stadium is 30-50% louder than before, but I think most the work will be done as the team keeps up the exciting pace under Rich Rod's offense. I realize it's been said before, but I think we can get there. It'll just take some time.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:34 PM ^
in the nineties. Said hands down LSU at night was the toughest venue/crowd in the SEC.
I realize this is on your list, btw. Just thought his comment confirmed what I always suspected. Swamp #2 in his opinion.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
penn state and ohio state are 1a and 1b loudest places to play in the big 10. i couldn't believe how loud it got at both those stadiums.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:20 AM ^
when they beat us down there and went to the championship game with Clarette. It was loud. But, it was not louder than Michigan stadium vs. OSU in '97. And it was definitely not louder than ND this year.
So, yeah, we're right up there with OSU/PSU now I'd say.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:40 AM ^
I've been to most Big Ten stadiums, and this is definitely correct. I would put sParty at #2 based on potential, i.e. when they are playing Michigan. I was on the field in 2001 when they beat Michigan, and it was loud like WOAH. Their stadium design does a great job of containing sound. Obviously the rest of the year it's only meh.
Madison does get pretty rowdy in the night games (what stadium doesn't?), but I wasn't impressed with the overall noise.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:06 PM ^
How do you know the stadium is "30-50% louder" if you've "never been to a Michigan game before this year"?
September 28th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
highlight and replay comparisons
September 27th, 2009 at 10:48 PM ^
don't forget neyland stadium, I've been to several games there, it is also very intimidating. I haven't been to a games when they were very good either. I've been told that it is loader than the swamp when the vols are decent. The fans are fairly crazy, but the design of the place is why it is so loud, it is quite vertical and does a great job of 'trapping' sound. That being said, I feel just from watching TV that Penn State looks to be the wildest in the B10, IMHO.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:54 PM ^
I attend most Oregon home games. The stadium, though not the largest, is unbelievably loud. It's all the folks out here have. That and rain.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:50 AM ^
It's no PSU or OSU but I'd rate it above Iowa.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:08 AM ^
Agreed. We always seem to play the Badgers at Camp Randall at night, and it gets VERY hostile in there.
OP: Nice job on the comparisons. +1
September 28th, 2009 at 6:59 AM ^
Just watching the game vs. Iowa, the camera was literally shaking for a few minutes during the 4th quarter. That place certainly has to be top 10 for sure, they essentially have the same capacity as the big house, but with more noise trappers and a rowdy crowd
September 28th, 2009 at 9:23 AM ^
I grew up going to UM games in the 70's and believe me...it was never loud or wild and crazy then, either. It was only intimidating because of it's sheer size and the overwhelming talent of Bo's teams.
Now that larger stadiums are more prevalent, the "size factor" is somewhat mitigated. But I'm guessing (haven't been to a game since 2005) that the noise is actually louder than it's ever been??? (i.e., no "returning to the ranks of the elite") Can any other old timers confirm?
September 28th, 2009 at 10:57 AM ^
To me, toughest places to play takes more into account than just the noise. You could have the loudest crowd on the planet but a shit team which, IME, would not make it one of the toughest places to play. This is why I am wondering about your Clemson pick. If they can't win at home......how is it one of the toughest places for the opposing teams to play? Doesn't add up to me.
The rest of your picks make sense, loud stadiums with good teams playing in them make them a tough place to play. But when you name a place as one of the toughest to play, and the team has a bunch of home losses, I have to disagree with you. It's more than just noise IME.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:18 AM ^
the pontiac silverdome used to be pretty loud back when the lions were competitive enough to make the playoffs (barry sanders era). i used to love going to games there & kind of still wish we could move it to ann arbor for the wolverines to use.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:41 PM ^
There are holes in the analysis, obviously. It's my fault for getting the "hardest place to play" and "noisiest" attributes mixed up - it just seems that they usually just about go hand in hand. PSU shouldn't be in the "hasn't impressed" category I guess.
I left Neyland out because it hasn't seemed that loud there this year. Of course, Neyland traditionally is a very difficult place to play.
September 28th, 2009 at 5:13 PM ^
i really think that Boise may have the best home field advantage in the country. The stadium only holds 32,000 or close to; but that damn field has to be nearly impossible to see Boise players when they wear their blue jerseys.
There is a reason that no one else can have a field other than green now.
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