Your favorite college football gameday experience not at Michigan Stadium

Submitted by mi93 on

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.

CJRockford

July 15th, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^

2008 Capital One Bowl in Orlando. Coach Carr's last game. We beat Heisman winner Tim Tebow in their own back yard. We tailgated next to Jake Long's family and they invited us down after the game to meet Jake.

Mr. Yost

July 15th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^

In no order...

(Gun to my head...that Lousiville/Clemson game from last year and that 2012 Bama/LSU game were two of the best experiences of my life).

  1. Virginia Tech (night game vs. FSU)
  2. Louisville @ Clemson last year
  3. UF vs. UGA in Jacksonville
  4. Death Valley at LSU (night games though, they don't care about day games unless it's Bama or a top 15 team)
  5. Wisconsin in Camp Randall vs. OSU (with a Badger win) - incredible



    Honorable mention:

    Tennessee OR Georgia (I've only done day games at each...Georgia was the better pregame, Tennessee was the better in-game...they're both ahead of Florida. HOWEVER, I'm going to Florida/FSU this year so that could change).

I really want to do the Cotton Bowl, the Iron Bowl (at Bama), night game in Happy Valley, and a big game at Autzen Stadium and Husky Stadium out west. I've promised myself I'll do Army/Navy before I die.

I've done the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Orange Bowl's...but I don't think bowl games have the same umph as a meaningful regular season games with a true home team. So that means I have to go back to the Rose Bowl and do USC/UCLA.

Mr. Elbel

July 15th, 2017 at 12:36 PM ^

Damn. The only ones I have are UVA and Liberty, and LU is actually way better atmosphere than UVA imo. But neither is like UM. So... none of the above?

UM Fan from Sydney

July 15th, 2017 at 12:38 PM ^

I have actually never been to another college stadium. A bucket list item is a night game in Baton Rouge, preferably against a really good SEC opponent. I love watching those. That place is electric.

Mr. Yost

July 15th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^

Their home schedule isn't great this year...but I highly suggest it, maybe moreso than any other stadium in the country. A night game at LSU is incredible. 

They get Bama at home next year. Probably Florida and/or Tennessee as well.

gronostaj

July 15th, 2017 at 1:27 PM ^

As a Utah student when Urban Meyer was there (UM post grad), and now working at BYU, I've been to about 10 "holy war" games. It is the most toxic football environment I've ever been in, and I've been to two OSU/UM games and three MSU/UM games. True hatred between the two teams and fan bases. On the outside in, it might be an interesting environment, on the inside, it's pretty viscious. 

BeatOSU52

July 15th, 2017 at 2:36 PM ^

There's always some rivalry games that the national medical and general college football fanbase dont get how much fan bases hate one another , and sounds like that's obviously one of them . I would put Michigan vs MSU as another, as non-MSU/UM fans that live outside the state of Michigan generally don't see how much our fanbases don't get along , at least within the last 20 years .

TrueBlue2003

July 16th, 2017 at 2:55 PM ^

games you've been to?  Because they are veeeerrrrrry different in Columbus than they are in Ann Arbor.

Michigan games in general are amongst the most pleasant, least hateful gameday experiences in the country.  We're called a wine and cheese crowd for good reason.

Not sure if still the case, but I went to C-bus when I was a student 15 years ago, and while wearing Michigan gear it was the scariest place I've ever been, and I've been to some pretty dangerous central and south american cities, right in the favelas and barrios.  It was pure trash (and it was the game they clinched their BCS title game berth in 2002 and they literally trashed their city).

Watch out for flying batteries, stray elbows, and people screaming right at your face.

I was also at the UCLA-USC game a few years when there was a brawl with 50-75 people and a couple guys got stabbed. That's a very chippy rivalry being crosstown rivals.

Bobby Thomson

July 15th, 2017 at 7:45 PM ^

I've been to about a dozen holy war games, and I've now been to OSU vs. Michigan in the big house. lots more cursing and alcohol for The Game. lots more genuine dislike and loathing at the holy war. my opinion is that the religious appreciate introduces a nastiness that cannot exist in another rivalry

O S Who

July 15th, 2017 at 12:46 PM ^

I've been to many notre dame games, and the atmosphere there is great.



I have been to Alabama vs Ole Miss at Alabama and that was also very cool.



I've been to OSU and didn't think it was anything special but the horseshoe looks cool from the outside.



I've been to MSU for a couple games and nothing special really



I saw Alabama vs OSU playoff game, that was cool because it was NOLA and New Years.



I went to Michigan vs Alabama in Dallas, but missed the pregame festivities, so didn't see the tailgate action but watching the game was cool

lhglrkwg

July 15th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^

That was fairly cool, but kind of overrated. The whole game atmosphere gave off a little bit of a mid-major vibe

I was at the Utah game in SLC too a few years ago. Utah fans are cool and their stadium was pretty nice. A good amount of crowd noise too.

Spartan Stadium sucks and the people in it suck.

Smashville

July 15th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^

2010: Wisconsin hosted #1 OSU in a night game. David Gilreath took the opening kickoff back 97 yards, and the party was officially on. Some dude named J.J. Watt terrorized Terrelle Pryor throughout. To top it all off, we got to enjoy this game from the Varsity Club seating. This is still the single best (non-Michigan) football game day experience I've ever had. Still brings a smile to my face.

The Baughz

July 15th, 2017 at 12:54 PM ^

Hate PSU but attended a few night games there. One being a white out. The atmosphere is electric. It was fun for the most part. Fans are drunken assholes, but i think that's everywhere. The idolization of JoePa made me sick to my stomach but all in all it's a great atmosphere for a football game.

Mr. Yost

July 15th, 2017 at 12:54 PM ^

But as a CFB junkie, every year for the past 4-5 years I've made it my mission to go to a "dream" non-Michigan CFB game. I'm going to FSU @ UF this year, I'm trying to figure out one more, but it'll depend on if I can afford the Michigan game in Dallas.

I put together this list at some point this spring of potential games to keep on my radar for this season. Some games (i.e. Texas v. Maryland) are more to see the home stadium and team than anything else. Some have to do with players (like seeing the Heisman Trophy winner). Some of these also have to do with location.

Michigan

Sept. 2 vs. Florida (Dallas)
Oct. 7 vs. MSU
Oct. 21 @ PSU
Nov. 8 @ Wisconsin
Nov. 25 vs. OSU

Florida
Sept. 2 vs. Michigan (Dallas)
Oct. 7 vs. LSU
Oct. 28 vs. Georgia (Jacksonville, FL)
Nov. 25 vs. FSU
 
Penn St.
Oct. 21 vs. Michigan
 
Washington
Nov. 25 vs. Washington St.
 
Oklahoma
Sept. 9 @ OSU
Oct. 14 vs. Texas (Dallas)
 
LSU
Oct. 7 @ Florida
Oct. 14 vs. Auburn
 
Auburn
Sept. 9 @ Clemson
Oct. 14 @ LSU
Nov. 11 vs Georgia
 
Wisconsin
Nov. 18 vs. Michigan
 
Georgia
Oct. 28 vs. Florida (Jacksonville, FL)
Nov. 11 @ Auburn
 
Louisville
Sept. 9 @ UNC
Oct. 5 @ NC State
Oct. 21 @ FSU
 
Texas
Sept. 2 vs. Maryland
Oct. 14 vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)
 
Why no Bama this year? Because I'm determined to see them NEXT year with so many returning players. I've GOT to be at that Bama/LSU game in Death Valley next year.

TrueBlue2003

July 16th, 2017 at 2:56 PM ^

in 2000 when Brees brought them back from an 18-point halftime deficit and they won on a last second FG.  We moved to the aisle before the kick went up (it was a fairly easy kick) so we could run out of there immediately when we saw it go through.

Pretty nice fans the whole time though, and that's when they were good and had expectations (went to the Rose Bowl that year).

Oregon Wolverine

July 15th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^

Nasty rain, losing to NW seemed imminent and we pulled one out of our keister. Much better than the two losses I witnessed in So Bend in 1990 and a couple of years ago. Also much better than losses I witnessed at Huskey (nice scene, JV stadium) and the game Braylon blew with greasy fingers at Autzen.



Hurts to have witnessed Bo's last loss, Rose Bowl, but seeing the win in the same venue in 1998 was pretty special.

ATC

July 15th, 2017 at 1:13 PM ^

Was in Chicago with two German colleagues.... thought I would introduce them to college football. They highly approved of the Sheboygan Brats. The plan was to run out to Evanston and leave at halftime when the game would be academic. OT wildcat victory caused tremendous bottleneck waiting for trains back to city. Up until then, it was unusual for crowds to actually stay till the end. Randy Walkers biggest win before his untimely death.

scanner blue

July 15th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^

The atmosphere has got to be so consistent excepting the colors in half of the stadium change from week to week. Sorry this has to be my choice because it's the only stadium besides Michigan that i've been to. The Jayhawks lost to the Rockets on that crisp fall afternoon but the tickets were cheap.

M Go Cue

July 15th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^

Ole Miss is something to behold. Although you can leave once the game starts.
Red River Rivalry is great too, if you're into fried everything, which I am.

Mr. Yost

July 15th, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^

Forgot about this one as well...I've got to do Ole Miss and Utah, no question.

I wish I could've did Ole Miss when they were a top 10 team. Ol' Hugh may not survive the next couple of years.

thejive84

July 15th, 2017 at 1:41 PM ^

Sanford Stadium. From the dawg walk pregame to the raucous crowd during the game. I'm not gonna lie: I actually had more fun at that stadium than the Big House. Too many uptight people at that stadium.

KennyHiggins

July 15th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^

Hottest Women you'll see on gameday Saturdays, and the tailgating food is what you'd expect from fans that have nothing much to do all week but get ready for the game.

Brick in The Wave

July 15th, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^

Wyoming is awesome, the football is mediocre one of the only stadiums I know that allows re-entry. Of course they are going to sell beer and wine in the stadium this year.

bsgriffin1

July 15th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^

Been to a bunch of UF games (sister goes there)... at the swamp vs LSU and also the Gamecocks have been epic. Gotta go at night, amazing atmosphere. Also Gators vs Bulldogs are always great in Jax

UNCWolverine

July 15th, 2017 at 2:11 PM ^

Here is my list of Michigan away games:

1997 IU W

1997/8 Rose Bowl W

1998  NW W

1999 Wisky W

2000 UCLA L

2000 Purdue L

2000 NW L

2001 Washington L

2004 ND L

2006/7 Rose Bowl L

2009 Iowa L

2012 Alabama L

2012 Purdue W

2012 ND L

2013 NW W

2014 ND L

2015 Utah L

This is all while essentially living in North Carolina and California for the majority of my years since graduating in 1998. I’ve also been to many other non-Michigan games including (5) LSU home (Bama @ LSU 2012 included), many at USC/UCLA/UNC, Texas A&M, (2) Purdue @ ND, UGA vs. Florida, UGA, Florida @Tenn 2016, LSU vs. Wisky @ Lambeau 2016,  WMU, Hope, Albion, etc. 

This year I plan to go to LSU @ Mississippi State, Auburn @ LSU, and probably USC @ ND, as well as most likely flying back for the OSU @ UM game over thanksmas.

As you can see, I do college football. My boss knows that I am taking off numerous Fridays in the fall, I'm lucky to have a job with that flexibility and it's obviously easier without a wife and/or kids.

 

Tough to pick a favorite as I've had a blast at nearly every game. Madison sort of stands out. LSU is always amazing because my best friend lives there and he likes to go big. A&M was cool. UW has an amazing location on the lake. I'd say UGA/UF cocktail party was a bit overrated. Tennessee was pretty damn cool as well. But nothing beats the big house.