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We rank 'em. You react. That's how the Daily List rolls.8/15/2007 09:08:00 AM Dennis Erickson's Top Five Stadiums
By Arash Markazi, SI.com
The Orange Bowl was hell for opponents, but the Miami Hurricanes won't play there after this season.Photo by AP
Dennis Erickson laughs when he thinks about how many stops he's made during his 25 years as a head football coach. "I was looking at the press guide and reading my biography it started to look like an obituary," he said. While Erickson's travels have taken him around the map from Idaho to Miami, and many points in between, it has allowed him to roam the sidelines of some of the most storied college football stadiums in the country. Here's his list of the top five college football stadiums:
1. Orange Bowl (Miami): We won a lot of games there in a row. Probably the biggest memory was in 1989 when Notre Dame came in ranked No. 1. I've never been in a stadium quite like that. That was probably the biggest memory of the Orange Bowl.
2. Notre Dame Stadium: Just the atmosphere that the Notre Dame fanatics provide. If you've ever been to mass, you're a Notre Dame fan. I guess the atmosphere of the fans is what makes it so special.
3. Doak Campbell Stadium (Florida State): The rivalry, of course, with Miami is what made it so great. The atmosphere, the horse, the spear, all those different things made it a great place to play. That was an unbelievable place.
4. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (USC): I played there when I was at Washington State and their horse, Traveler, almost died, they scored so many points. But you have to love a place with that much history and tradition.
5. Beaver Stadium (Penn State): Any field Joe Paterno calls home is special but that place is something else. I mean, I don't know where all those fans come from. They fill up that stadium, 80,000 for every game and I don't even know where they come from. We stayed in Harrisburg when we played there and they were coming from everyplace. We couldn't even get there. That was a real experience.
What college football stadiums would make your list?posted by SI.com | View comments |
Comments:
University of Colorado, Folsum Field...Beautiful weather, beautiful views...beautiful coeds...It was easy to go to games in the mid 80's when the Buffs were not so good.How can you not include the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They fill up 104,000+ every game.Um, Beaver Stadium holds up to 110,000 people.TIGER STADIUM..BATON ROUGE HANDS DOWN..WHO DOESNT LIKE DRUNKEN CAJUNS??The Shoe - Columbus, Ohio
105,000 of either your closest friends or your worst enemies, depending on who's colors you're wearing.
...and thats just for the preseason schedule. just wait until Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, Iowa, or Michigan comes to town. people talk about some schools having a great "gameday" atmosphere.
bah...in columbus, you can feel it on a wednesday.Death Valley in Clemson!! I wouldn't say it's the best but it has to rate up there in the top 25.It's hard to think that the big house isn't atleast an honorable mention, and I'm an OSU fan saying that.Husky Stadium at the University of Washington in Seattle was a great site back in the day. When eventual national champ Alabama visited in 1978, they brought thousands of fans, many wearing Bear Bryant hats. Riding to the stadium on the bus with them was an eye-opening culture shock, and the game was pretty good as well.When people discuss traditions in college football, "Rubbing the Rock" at Clemson is routinely near the top of the list. It also the tip of the iceberg for one the greatest gameday experiences,and stadiums, on Earth. To get educated on it, tune in Sept. 3rd against FSU.What about Memorial Statdium in Nebraska? 282 consecutive sellouts and they never get mentioned. Why? Because everyone is jealous.Whatever.
No Neyland Stadium. No Swamp. No Death Valley (either one). No Shoe. No Big House.
Erickson really needs to expand his horizons. While I agree that Notre Dame Stadium and LA Memorial Coliseum belong on the list, there is no way Doak Campbell or even the Orange Bowl belongs over any of the stadiums listed above.1. Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)
2. Ben Hill Griffin (Florida)
3. LSU
4. Georgia
5. OregonHey, Where's the Kibbie Dome JERK?!?!?!The Horseshoe baby. Watching OSU run over michigan last year was unbelievable. Every time I see it I think of the ColliseumUh... missing a big one here... What about The Big House? That place is just incredibleIt doesn't get much better than Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge! Geaux LSU!i had season tickets for the 1997 national championship year at Michigan. I thought it was the lamest, most reserved set of 105,000 people sitting on their hands. Michigan appropriately not on this list.Sanford Stadium should definitely be included. Nothing better than SEC football Between the Hedges with 93,000 red clad fans.There is nothing like being down at Lane Stadium on a Saturday night! 70,000 fill thay stadium, alongside Metallica's "Enter Sandman" playing to energize the stadium!!Dotting the I. The mighty olentangy. The 105,000 screaming Buckeyes. And of course O-H-I-O.
THE HORSESHOE BABY!!!! GO BUCKSApparently, the Kibbie Dome in Idaho was nowhere near the top of his list... that might explain alot(1) Notre Dame Stadium
(2) The Coliseum
(3) The Big House
(4) Neyland Stadium
t(5) The Swamp
t(5) The Horseshoe
These are the top five stadiums, not the biggest or the loudest. Notre Dame Stadium is the most pure, and stands for everything that college football is about.KYLE FIELDDoak Erector Set...gimme a break. That stadium is a JOKE!Lets not forgot The Swamp in Gainesville.Michie Field at West Point overlooking the Hudson.You have to add Kinnick Statium for the Iowa Hawkeyes. the fans there are just insane at every game. no matter which team we play, we always sold out for the last 4-5 years.does anyone read the title, "Dennis Erickson's Top Five Stadiums"? He coached at Miami and in PAC Ten so obviously those stadiums are the ones he saw. Miami(then an independent then Big East) never played at a Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, SEC school that often and the only time Miami & Oregon would meet those schools school would be in a bowl game. Back in the 80's Miami played at ND and of course still play FSU. They also played Penn ST before they went Big 10.If you want all round experience, try West Point. the cadets, cannons and the Hudson River backdrop...1. The Swamp - UF
2. Tiger Stadium Death Valley - LSU
3. Neyland Stadium - UT
4. Beaver Stadium - PSU
5. Big House - UMGot to have Camp Randall on the list. Michigan plays before 20,000 more people at home, and they couldn't handle Bucky's NOISE.YOU ALL HAVE TO BE OUT OF YOUR MINDS , LANE STADIUM AKA HOKIE NATION IS ONE OF THE BEST IF NOT THE BEST ATMOSPHERE TO BE IN ESPECIALLY AT A NIGHT GAME THE ORANGE AND MAROON EFFECT IS ONE OF THE BEST IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL , WHEN THE HOKIES GET TO HOPPING WATCH OUT IT'S BEAMER BALL , WHEN CLEMSON CAME IN LAST YEAR SO PUMPED UP AND THE HOKIES SHUT THEM OUT , DONT LET THE"D" GETA GOOD HIT OFF OR TURNOVER , ITS ABOUT TO GET REAL CRAZY , PLUSE EVERYONE IS SO DRUNK ITS THE BEST HANDS DOWN !!!!i can't believe dennis erickson, former oregon state coach, would leave off autzen stadium... the only time he has played in that building is when the civil war game was happening; as if the u of o fans needed any more riling up!These are only stadiums where Coach Erickson has coached. I have been all over the country watching college football games. My best five (that I have been to)
1. Tiger Stadium (LSU)
2. Notre Dame
3. Doak Campbell (FSU)
4. Death Valley (Clemson)
5. Kyle Field (Texas A&M)
honorable mention Michie Field (ARMY) The most beautiful setting by far.I'd give an honorable mention to UGA's stadium. I made it to many road games while at Auburn, and Georgia by far had the best stadium, atmosphere, and girls.The Air Force Academy. Beautiful setting, the flyovers, the cadets ... can't beat Falcon Stadium, especially when the other service academies come to town.Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, how do you not mention the best place to watch college football?Camp Randall in Madison, start of the fourth quarter, House of Pain!I'm a Michigander, but I vote for Ohio Stadium with dotting the i, OH-IO, and the Olentangy River rolling by, along with majestic Michie Stadium along the Hudson River with the Corps of Cadets standing the entire game to cheer Army on to victory...There is no question that Folsom Field in Boulder Co. is one of the best stadiums and places to watch a game. Every seat has a great view... Oh and remember, the biggest stadium doesnt mean its the best!!!
My list -
1. Folsum Field - Colorado
2. Death Valley - Clemson
3. Orange Bowl - Miami
4. Memorial - Nebraska
5. Camp Randall - WisconsinMichie Stadium at West Point. You may not have the rowdy co-eds, but the parades, the uniforms, the scenery, the history.... breathtaking!I agree with your pick of PSU's Beaver Stadium but the attendance at the last game I went to was 109,839 not 80,000They said nothing about the quality of football. Check out The Grove for an Ole Miss-Alabama football game. There is no event in the country with better looking women. Hands down, no arguments. You have to see it ot believe it.1. Notre Dame
2. Neyland Stadium-Tennessee
3. The Horseshoe-Ohio St.
4. The Swamp-Florida
5. The Big House-Michigan
Before this current USC run, they couldn't sell out more than 1 game a year. People forget that USC was terrible for 20 years.for me, its Yale & Harvard, at the Bowl of course!Texas A & M and the whole college experience down should at leasst be ranked i still havent sat down at one of the gamesThis FSU alum has to say......
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium @ FLorida Field.
It's the only stadium that is partially built below ground.
You walk into the stadium and go downward. The noise just stays in that stadium.
Special mention to the Orange Bowl. Why? 58, Super Bowls, Orange Bowl games, National Championship games,and JFK! Besides, it is the only stadium that I have been to that runs East-West, not North-South.Memorial Stadium (Cal). California sunshine overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Too bad it is falling apart and has not been touched in 50 years, but hopefully that will change next year.Jordan-Hare Stadium (a.k.a 'The Jungle")in Auburn. Nobody has a pregame show like they do!Between the Hedges and Death Valley (LSU). A night game at either place is beyond intense.Autzen (home of the Orygun Dux) "pound for pound" is the best ever. Though I concede comparing it to the "big boys" UT, UM, the Rosebowl is silly. Still for a small stadium that housed a lousy team for years its a great place to watch a football game.Madison = Best college town in America and Camp Randall is one of the most electric stadiums anytime of year.You can't forget Lavell Edwards Stadium at BYU, with the cool mountain air, 66,000 of your closest friends, and the majestic Wasatch mountains overlooking the field.
As Kirk Herbstreit remarked, "you guys will agree that Lavell Edwards Stadium is one of the prettiest settings in college football. This stadium is just unbelievable."Get Notre Dame outta here...That place is a joke...
Top 5
1) Kyle Field-Texas A&M...The entire student section stands the entire game, who else is that loyal to their school?
2) Neyland Stadium-Tennessee
3) Death Valley-LSU
4) The Horseshoe-OSU
5) The Swamp-Floridawhat about the rose bowl?Gotta be the Horseshoe. Great gameday atmosphere. Great structurally as well. Beaver Stadium has a great gameday atmosphere. Wisconsin as well. The Big House is the quietest 110,000 people you will ever hear. Wine and cheese crowd....If you've never been to Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium in Madison you have not experienced the "Jump" the 5th quarter etc, etc.What about Bill Snyder family stadium at Kansas State. Obviously it does not have the prestige, but Sports Illustrated does have it on a list of 101 things to do before you die.80,000 at psu...try 110,000!!!!Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia!
With the stands nearly on top of the field and the stadium shaking with the HOKIE NATION hopping, it's euphoric! Even the visitors get goose-bumps. The sound and vibe just resonates throughout Appalachia. Go Hokies!The University of Tennessee's Neyland stadium and game day has no peer!The earlier post mentioning Autzen Stadium at Oregon as the best "pound for pound" is absolutely correct.
Michigan Stadium is the worst stadium for a "big program" I have ever been in for a game. Fans are lame and the sight lines are horrible. Just because it is huge doesn't make it a great venue.
Finally, leaving the Swamp off the list is ridiculous (and I'm a FSU alum). It is definitely the loudest stadium in the country - primarily due to the design which has two upper deck endzone sections that hang over the field and serve to hold in the noise.The "shoe" baby. Chills run up and down your spine when the "i" is doted It's also a blast in Morgantown WV on Saturday afternoons. The kegs get tapped Wednesday morning...Believe me, six minutes into the first quarter at the "shoe" and I was ready to leave, and did.Recent Posts
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