GeauxTo
08-10-2006, 03:18 PM
The toughest and most intimidating college football stadiums in America!
#1 LSU – Tiger Stadium- Baton Rouge, LA
“Death Valley”
-Built 1924
-Attendance: 91,209; Largest: 92,664 vs. Auburn 2005
-LSU home record: 347-138-18 (.708 ); Since 1990: 70-35; Since 2000: 35-6
-Rivals ’05 rank: #2
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #3
-What Rivals said: "Once inside the stadium, LSU fans don't sit on their hands. With the seats wrapping completely around the field, 'Death Valley' is arguably the loudest venue in college football."
-Legendary 'Bama coach Bear Bryant once remarked that Tiger Stadium is the worst place in the world to be a visiting team because playing there is "like playing inside of a drum."
-During a nationally televised game against Auburn in 2003, ESPN recorded a noise level of 117 decibels.
-"It was like being in the Colliseum in Rome and we were the Christians." -long time Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dowd.
-“The Earthquake Game:” Crowds reaction to a game winning TD against Auburn in 1988 registered on a seismograph in the LSU Geology Department.
-ESPN sideline reporter Adrian Karsten said in 2001, "Death Valley in Baton Rouge is the loudest stadium I've ever been in. There are very few stadiums in America worth a touchdown, but the Bayou Bengals certainly have that advantage in Tiger Stadium"
-What you said: “I can vouch for the Saturday night game at LSU... you may call it a myth - BUT I witnessed my undefeated #1 ranked Gators who had beaten 25 straight SEC opponents come in to LSU in 1997 for a Saturday night game and completely lose it. Sure it wasn't the stadium that won, but I was there and it was loud and nuts... after the win my date (he went to LSU) stormed the field and broke his arm, I sat alone in the stands crying. Good times. But you can't tell me that it's only a myth - that stadium and those Saturday night games are REALLY tough on opponents.” – TSN member Krisearl
#2. Ohio State- Ohio Stadium- Columbus, OH
“The Horseshoe”
-Built 1922
-Attendance: 102, 329; Largest: 105,565 vs. Texas 2005
-OSU home record: 334-101-20
-Rivals ’05 rank: #3
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #2
-What Rivals said: “Gamedays at Ohio State have it all – the tailgating, The Best Damn Band in the Land and the tens of thousands of frenzied fans build one of the richest traditions in American sports. And when it all comes together inside the stadium, the Buckeyes' have one of the largest and most intimidating home crowds in college football.”
#3 Florida- Ben Hill Griffin Stadium- Gainesville, FL
“The Swamp”
-Built 1930
-Attendance: 88,548; Largest: 90,707 vs. Wyoming 2005
-Florida home record: 262-90-13 (.717); Since 1990: 81-11-0
-Rivals ’05 rank: #4
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #1
-What Rivals said: “It's possible that no college football venue is more intimidating than the house that Steve Spurrier built… the stadium has seen more home victories since 1990 than has any other stadium in the SEC. In fact, the Florida Gators rank third in the nation with a .880 home winning percentage during that span.”
-Playing surface is below ground and field temps can accede 100 degrees
-Has sold out every home game since 1979
-68-5 at The Swamp under Spurrier's from 1990-2001, including a 30-game win streak (Oct. 29, 1994 - Sept. 18, 1999).
-What you said: “The best is THE SWAMP…only gators come out alive. At the end of the third quarter, we sing and sway you actually get woozy looking at the fans going back and forth, it’s the best stadium in all football.” – TSN member Mizzou826
#4 Oregon- Autzen Stadium- Eugene, OR
“The Autzen Zoo”
-Built 1967
-Attendance: 54,000; Largest:
-Oregon home record:118-82-5 (.588 win %)
-Rivals ’05 rank: #6
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #13
-What Rivals said: “The fans at the Autzen Zoo are noisy, wild and obnoxious – in short, they're everything college fanatics should be. With an enrollment of just over 20,000 students, though, most of the Ducks' seats are filled by alums that can be just as jovially hostile as their younger counterparts.”
#5 Virginia Tech- Lane Stadium- Blacksburg, VA
"Home of the Fighting Gobblers"
-1965
-Attendance: 66,233; Largest: 86,092 vs. Florida State 1999
-VA Tech home record:156-63-6
-Rivals ’05 rank: #1
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #5
-What Rivals said: “Every good stadium has at least one end designed for deafening noise levels, and the enclosed South End Zone at Lane Stadium fits the bill perfectly. Holding more than 11,000 screaming Virginia Tech fans, the section amplifies noise and renders audibles useless. That's not to mention the isolation factor. With the nearest major airport nearly 45 minutes away, opponents' fans are never out in force at Lane Stadium.”
#6 Penn State- Beaver Stadium- College Park, PA
“Happy Valley”
-Built 1960
-Attendance: 107,282; Largest: 110,753 vs. Nebraska in 2001
-PSU home record:
-Rivals ’05 rank: #5
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #4
-What Rivals said: “Though Beaver Stadium's attendance numbers are impressive in their own right, the proof of true home field advantage lies in football records. In the last 44 years, Penn State has won 79 percent of their home games. The pregame 'bull in the ring' drill-- performed by defensive backs and linebackers -- always serves to get the crowd rowdy.”
#7 Auburn- Jordan-Hare Stadium- Auburn, AL
-Built 1939
-Attendance: 87,451; Largest: 87,451 vs. LSU 2004
-Auburn home record: 236-59-7
-Rivals '05 rank: #10
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #20
-What Rivals said: "Besides the impressive noise and intensity level inside Jordan-Hare Stadium on gamedays, the Tigers are just downright hard to beat at home, too. Auburn boasts a .798 winning percentage at home over the last 65 years.
-During a game against South Carolina, the Gamecock offense had to burn two timeouts trying to get off one play because of the noise level.
-On Saturdays during the fall in Auburn, Jordan-Hare stadium becomes Alabama's fifth-largest city.
-Team enters to 'Eye of the Tiger'.
-What you said: Auburn hasn't lost a home SEC game in 2 years...and knocked off 3 top-10 teams at home in that span. It would have been 3 straight years had Ben Obomanu not dropped a wide open pass in the end zone against Ole Miss in 2003. No other SEC team has been undefeated at home in conference play over the past 2 years. - TSN member toe34.
#8 Wisconsin- Camp Randall Stadium- Madison, WI.
-Built 1917
-Attendance: 82,368; Largest: 83,062 vs. Minnesota 1972
-Wisconsin home record: Since 1990: 57-28-3
-Rivals ’05 rank: #8
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #19
-What Rivals said: “Camp Randall was originally a Civil War training ground for 70,000 Union soldiers. Located in the middle of one of the best college towns in America (rated #1 by SI On Campus), Badgerland boasts a fraternity-party atmosphere in a crowd which doubled in size during the Barry Alvarez era.”
#9 Texas A&M- Kyle Field- College Station, TX
"The 12th Man"
-Built 1927
-Attendence: 82,600; Largest: 87,555 vs. Texas 2001
-A&M home record since 1990: 76-14-1 (.830 win %)
-Rivals '05: #7
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #11
-What Rivals said: "Where else can you find 40,000 students gather at midnight before the game for yell practice?"
-Traditions include "The Aggie War Hymn", Silver Taps, Farmers Fight and the Elephant Walk.
#10 Clemson- Clemson Memorial Stadium/ Frank Howard Field- Clemson, SC
“Death Valley”
-Built 1942
-Attendance: 81,473 ; Largest: 86,092 vs. Florida State 1999
-Set ACC record for home attendance in 2001
-Clemson home record: 227-88-7
-Rivals ’05 rank: Unranked
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #23
-During 2005 game vs. Miami, the crowd noise reached 126 decibels.
-What Musberger said: “When Clemson players rub that rock and run down the hill, its the most exciting 25 seconds in college football."
-Former FSU QB Chris Rix called it the loudest place he’s ever been.
-"I came here knowing it would be loud and that Clemson would hit me hard, but to me, the noise was the biggest factor. I know I didn't concentrate as well because of it."- HOF RB Herschel Walker after in 1981 after his only regular season loss at Georgia.
The next 10:
11.Iowa- Kinnick Stadium- Iowa City, IA
12.Notre Dame Stadium- South Bend, IN
13.Nebraska Memorial Stadium- Sea of Red- Lincoln,
14.Tennessee- Neyland Stadium- Knoxville, TN
15.Florida State- Doak-Campbell Stadium- Tallahassee, FL
16.Oklahoma Memorial Stadium- Norman, OK
17.USC- LA Memorial Coliseum- Los Angeles, CA
18.Georgia- Sanford Stadium- Between the Hedges- Athens, GA
19.Alabama- Bryant-Denney Stadium- Tuscaloosa, AL
20.West Virginia- Mountaineer Field- Morgantown, WV
Link:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/gobucks7/26876
#1 LSU – Tiger Stadium- Baton Rouge, LA
“Death Valley”
-Built 1924
-Attendance: 91,209; Largest: 92,664 vs. Auburn 2005
-LSU home record: 347-138-18 (.708 ); Since 1990: 70-35; Since 2000: 35-6
-Rivals ’05 rank: #2
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #3
-What Rivals said: "Once inside the stadium, LSU fans don't sit on their hands. With the seats wrapping completely around the field, 'Death Valley' is arguably the loudest venue in college football."
-Legendary 'Bama coach Bear Bryant once remarked that Tiger Stadium is the worst place in the world to be a visiting team because playing there is "like playing inside of a drum."
-During a nationally televised game against Auburn in 2003, ESPN recorded a noise level of 117 decibels.
-"It was like being in the Colliseum in Rome and we were the Christians." -long time Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dowd.
-“The Earthquake Game:” Crowds reaction to a game winning TD against Auburn in 1988 registered on a seismograph in the LSU Geology Department.
-ESPN sideline reporter Adrian Karsten said in 2001, "Death Valley in Baton Rouge is the loudest stadium I've ever been in. There are very few stadiums in America worth a touchdown, but the Bayou Bengals certainly have that advantage in Tiger Stadium"
-What you said: “I can vouch for the Saturday night game at LSU... you may call it a myth - BUT I witnessed my undefeated #1 ranked Gators who had beaten 25 straight SEC opponents come in to LSU in 1997 for a Saturday night game and completely lose it. Sure it wasn't the stadium that won, but I was there and it was loud and nuts... after the win my date (he went to LSU) stormed the field and broke his arm, I sat alone in the stands crying. Good times. But you can't tell me that it's only a myth - that stadium and those Saturday night games are REALLY tough on opponents.” – TSN member Krisearl
#2. Ohio State- Ohio Stadium- Columbus, OH
“The Horseshoe”
-Built 1922
-Attendance: 102, 329; Largest: 105,565 vs. Texas 2005
-OSU home record: 334-101-20
-Rivals ’05 rank: #3
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #2
-What Rivals said: “Gamedays at Ohio State have it all – the tailgating, The Best Damn Band in the Land and the tens of thousands of frenzied fans build one of the richest traditions in American sports. And when it all comes together inside the stadium, the Buckeyes' have one of the largest and most intimidating home crowds in college football.”
#3 Florida- Ben Hill Griffin Stadium- Gainesville, FL
“The Swamp”
-Built 1930
-Attendance: 88,548; Largest: 90,707 vs. Wyoming 2005
-Florida home record: 262-90-13 (.717); Since 1990: 81-11-0
-Rivals ’05 rank: #4
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #1
-What Rivals said: “It's possible that no college football venue is more intimidating than the house that Steve Spurrier built… the stadium has seen more home victories since 1990 than has any other stadium in the SEC. In fact, the Florida Gators rank third in the nation with a .880 home winning percentage during that span.”
-Playing surface is below ground and field temps can accede 100 degrees
-Has sold out every home game since 1979
-68-5 at The Swamp under Spurrier's from 1990-2001, including a 30-game win streak (Oct. 29, 1994 - Sept. 18, 1999).
-What you said: “The best is THE SWAMP…only gators come out alive. At the end of the third quarter, we sing and sway you actually get woozy looking at the fans going back and forth, it’s the best stadium in all football.” – TSN member Mizzou826
#4 Oregon- Autzen Stadium- Eugene, OR
“The Autzen Zoo”
-Built 1967
-Attendance: 54,000; Largest:
-Oregon home record:118-82-5 (.588 win %)
-Rivals ’05 rank: #6
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #13
-What Rivals said: “The fans at the Autzen Zoo are noisy, wild and obnoxious – in short, they're everything college fanatics should be. With an enrollment of just over 20,000 students, though, most of the Ducks' seats are filled by alums that can be just as jovially hostile as their younger counterparts.”
#5 Virginia Tech- Lane Stadium- Blacksburg, VA
"Home of the Fighting Gobblers"
-1965
-Attendance: 66,233; Largest: 86,092 vs. Florida State 1999
-VA Tech home record:156-63-6
-Rivals ’05 rank: #1
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #5
-What Rivals said: “Every good stadium has at least one end designed for deafening noise levels, and the enclosed South End Zone at Lane Stadium fits the bill perfectly. Holding more than 11,000 screaming Virginia Tech fans, the section amplifies noise and renders audibles useless. That's not to mention the isolation factor. With the nearest major airport nearly 45 minutes away, opponents' fans are never out in force at Lane Stadium.”
#6 Penn State- Beaver Stadium- College Park, PA
“Happy Valley”
-Built 1960
-Attendance: 107,282; Largest: 110,753 vs. Nebraska in 2001
-PSU home record:
-Rivals ’05 rank: #5
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #4
-What Rivals said: “Though Beaver Stadium's attendance numbers are impressive in their own right, the proof of true home field advantage lies in football records. In the last 44 years, Penn State has won 79 percent of their home games. The pregame 'bull in the ring' drill-- performed by defensive backs and linebackers -- always serves to get the crowd rowdy.”
#7 Auburn- Jordan-Hare Stadium- Auburn, AL
-Built 1939
-Attendance: 87,451; Largest: 87,451 vs. LSU 2004
-Auburn home record: 236-59-7
-Rivals '05 rank: #10
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #20
-What Rivals said: "Besides the impressive noise and intensity level inside Jordan-Hare Stadium on gamedays, the Tigers are just downright hard to beat at home, too. Auburn boasts a .798 winning percentage at home over the last 65 years.
-During a game against South Carolina, the Gamecock offense had to burn two timeouts trying to get off one play because of the noise level.
-On Saturdays during the fall in Auburn, Jordan-Hare stadium becomes Alabama's fifth-largest city.
-Team enters to 'Eye of the Tiger'.
-What you said: Auburn hasn't lost a home SEC game in 2 years...and knocked off 3 top-10 teams at home in that span. It would have been 3 straight years had Ben Obomanu not dropped a wide open pass in the end zone against Ole Miss in 2003. No other SEC team has been undefeated at home in conference play over the past 2 years. - TSN member toe34.
#8 Wisconsin- Camp Randall Stadium- Madison, WI.
-Built 1917
-Attendance: 82,368; Largest: 83,062 vs. Minnesota 1972
-Wisconsin home record: Since 1990: 57-28-3
-Rivals ’05 rank: #8
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #19
-What Rivals said: “Camp Randall was originally a Civil War training ground for 70,000 Union soldiers. Located in the middle of one of the best college towns in America (rated #1 by SI On Campus), Badgerland boasts a fraternity-party atmosphere in a crowd which doubled in size during the Barry Alvarez era.”
#9 Texas A&M- Kyle Field- College Station, TX
"The 12th Man"
-Built 1927
-Attendence: 82,600; Largest: 87,555 vs. Texas 2001
-A&M home record since 1990: 76-14-1 (.830 win %)
-Rivals '05: #7
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #11
-What Rivals said: "Where else can you find 40,000 students gather at midnight before the game for yell practice?"
-Traditions include "The Aggie War Hymn", Silver Taps, Farmers Fight and the Elephant Walk.
#10 Clemson- Clemson Memorial Stadium/ Frank Howard Field- Clemson, SC
“Death Valley”
-Built 1942
-Attendance: 81,473 ; Largest: 86,092 vs. Florida State 1999
-Set ACC record for home attendance in 2001
-Clemson home record: 227-88-7
-Rivals ’05 rank: Unranked
-NCAA Football 07 rank: #23
-During 2005 game vs. Miami, the crowd noise reached 126 decibels.
-What Musberger said: “When Clemson players rub that rock and run down the hill, its the most exciting 25 seconds in college football."
-Former FSU QB Chris Rix called it the loudest place he’s ever been.
-"I came here knowing it would be loud and that Clemson would hit me hard, but to me, the noise was the biggest factor. I know I didn't concentrate as well because of it."- HOF RB Herschel Walker after in 1981 after his only regular season loss at Georgia.
The next 10:
11.Iowa- Kinnick Stadium- Iowa City, IA
12.Notre Dame Stadium- South Bend, IN
13.Nebraska Memorial Stadium- Sea of Red- Lincoln,
14.Tennessee- Neyland Stadium- Knoxville, TN
15.Florida State- Doak-Campbell Stadium- Tallahassee, FL
16.Oklahoma Memorial Stadium- Norman, OK
17.USC- LA Memorial Coliseum- Los Angeles, CA
18.Georgia- Sanford Stadium- Between the Hedges- Athens, GA
19.Alabama- Bryant-Denney Stadium- Tuscaloosa, AL
20.West Virginia- Mountaineer Field- Morgantown, WV
Link:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/gobucks7/26876