Best and worse FCS college towns?

[andy7171]

Besides the allure of the big city schools like UMass, Nova and the like ,who has the most to offer its students and recruits ?.

I don't know if anyone posted this, but Umass(Amherst) is not in a big city and either is Villanova(Villanova-Radnor)

Northeastern University is in the big city of Boston, and Nova is near the city of Philadelphia, but Umass is way outside of Boston.

I do not think any of the current CAA football School is actually in a BIG City(absent outgoing North Eastern). Unless you consider Richmond as a Big City???

Incoming football program Georgia State, however, is in the Big City of Atlanta.

Towson's campus is less than a mile from Baltimore city boundary.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I will never understand how anybody can think that playing in a dome is a good thing. I will never look to him for credible advisement on an issue in the future due to that post alone.

Unfuckingbelievable.

In BSF's defense, I don't think he was saying that playing in a dome is a good thing at all. He said the 'only redeeming quality is they play in a dome, so you're out of the cold.' That doesn't sound like a sterling review to me, it sounds like he is saying "well....at least you aren't freezing your ass off outside while you have to watch that pathetic excuse of a football team". Nary of mention in his post of ISU being a 'great atmoshpere' or a dome being a 'good thing'. And he did rank ISU #8 out of 9....

Well then, in that regard I guess I'll have to go along with it.

[COBBLESTONE]

I can't say that I've ever spent any time at Maine or UNH so I will have to leave them out...

CAA (in order IMHO)
UMass - absolutely loved trips to Amherst
Delaware - Now that Chrysler is gone, the UofDel is #1 and #2
W&M - not sure why so many people hate it, one of my favorite CAA trips
JMU - quiet, like a college town should be
URI - only been once and was more inclined to go to Newport than stay in Kinston
Villanova - had fun the couple times I was on campus
Richmond - beautiful campus, but ugly city, will have to see how new stadium affects visit
Towson - not really a town at all, good parking though

Kingston is basically farm country although I see some subdivisions going up these days.

What you really should have done was just gone south for just a few miles and hit the beaches of Narragansett. They're much closer than Newport and the water is much better. You also have the Block Island Ferry down that way and could have taken a 50 minute ride to Block Island which is easily the most beautiful place in RI. Kingston itself doesn't have much to offer but the rest of South County does.

[andy7171]

I can't say that I've ever spent any time at Maine or UNH so I will have to leave them out...

CAA (in order IMHO)
UMass - absolutely loved trips to Amherst
Delaware - Now that Chrysler is gone, the UofDel is #1 and #2
W&M - not sure why so many people hate it, one of my favorite CAA trips
JMU - quiet, like a college town should be
URI - only been once and was more inclined to go to Newport than stay in Kinston
Villanova - had fun the couple times I was on campus
Richmond - beautiful campus, but ugly city, will have to see how new stadium affects visit
Towson - not really a town at all, good parking though

Kingston is basically farm country although I see some subdivisions going up these days.

What you really should have done was just gone south for just a few miles and hit the beaches of Narragansett. They're much closer than Newport and the water is much better. You also have the Block Island Ferry down that way and could have taken a 50 minute ride to Block Island which is easily the most beautiful place in RI. Kingston itself doesn't have much to offer but the rest of South County does.

That's what I remember from my two trips up there. Not a crack on URI, just that there was a whole lot of farm fields(sod?) and no real main street feel with shops, restaurants and bars, which Towson certainly does have.

[89Hen]

no real main street feel with shops, restaurants and bars, which Towson certainly does have.

I'm gonna have to revisit. I always thought of Towson as George Mason. Near a main street, but not surrounding one. Main St in Newark is literally in the center of the campus. Same for UVA. We're not talking about I-A, but I'd put Charlottesville up there with any "college town".

[andy7171]

no real main street feel with shops, restaurants and bars, which Towson certainly does have.

I'm gonna have to revisit. I always thought of Towson as George Mason. Near a main street, but not surrounding one. Main St in Newark is literally in the center of the campus. Same for UVA. We're not talking about I-A, but I'd put Charlottesville up there with any "college town".

The section of York Rd between Burke and the big 6 street circle at Joppa.
It's a big reason why Tiger games are so well attended.

[polsongrizz]

In BSF's defense, I don't think he was saying that playing in a dome is a good thing at all. He said the 'only redeeming quality is they play in a dome, so you're out of the cold.' That doesn't sound like a sterling review to me, it sounds like he is saying "well....at least you aren't freezing your ass off outside while you have to watch that pathetic excuse of a football team". Nary of mention in his post of ISU being a 'great atmoshpere' or a dome being a 'good thing'. And he did rank ISU #8 out of 9....

Well then, in that regard I guess I'll have to go along with it.

But he also put the "Jacks" at #4. His first reason being the following...comfortable stadium (dome)

[mcveyrl]

no real main street feel with shops, restaurants and bars, which Towson certainly does have.

I'm gonna have to revisit. I always thought of Towson as George Mason. Near a main street, but not surrounding one. Main St in Newark is literally in the center of the campus. Same for UVA. We're not talking about I-A, but I'd put Charlottesville up there with any "college town".

Yea, Charlottesville might be tops for me (as much as I hate to admit it).

[ASUG8]

I'm gonna have to revisit. I always thought of Towson as George Mason. Near a main street, but not surrounding one. Main St in Newark is literally in the center of the campus. Same for UVA. We're not talking about I-A, but I'd put Charlottesville up there with any "college town".

Yea, Charlottesville might be tops for me (as much as I hate to admit it).

Seemed like a very cool town a couple of years ago on my way through to DC - if we're going to derail to ALL college towns, I have to throw Chapel Hill in there. From what I understand Ann Arbor is very cool as well.

[andy7171]

I nominate College Park,MD as the worst.

[89Hen]

I nominate College Park,MD as the worst.

Second.

[clenz]

I nominate College Park,MD as the worst.

Bubba Sparxxx, Colli Park





Wait...wrong College Park. Sorry.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Well then, in that regard I guess I'll have to go along with it.

But he also put the "Jacks" at #4. His first reason being the following...comfortable stadium (dome)

Well then, in that regard I guess I'll have to reverse my former reversal and go back against it.

[Bostonspider]

My take on the CAA towns I have been to.

URI - I love South County, but Kingston not so much. Also tailgate scene seemed dead for URI-UR game a few years ago

UNH - I really like Durham, and also the close proximity to Portsmouth

UMass - Amherst is a nice town, but I strongly dislike the UMass campus, and felt like I was really out in the sticks.

UD - As stated great place to see a game, and UD has a pretty campus, though I did not really like the indistrial quality the former GM Plant added.

JMU - Harrisonburg never did too much for me, though I liked JMU's campus and stadium.

W&M - I found Williamsburg to be pretty and somewhat boring. Campus and stadium are nice though

Have not been to Towson, VU or UMaine

Interesting to see other's takes on RIchmond, as I really liked my four years in that City. For the most part if you know where you are, and what you are doing, it was pretty safe. The area closest to UR is more of a lovely suburb than the city. But I really enjoyed going out in Shockoe Slip and Bottom, relaxing in Maymont Park, driving down Monument Avenue, tooling around the Fan, hanging out in the James River. The neighborhood that UR Stadium resides is not pretty at all, though it is only a few blocks from Carytown, which has lots of fun shops and restaurants. It will be interesting to see if people's impressions of Richmond change now that they games will be out in the West End on UR's campus.

Shockoe Slip


Shockoe Bottom


Maymont Park


Monument Avenue


The Fan




The James River

[rueful]

If this is a question of the city being the worst city based on gangs and all that junk, then this wouldnt apply, but if its the worst FCS town based off of the relationship between the town and school, I would have to say that the award goes to Bryant University and Smithfield, RI. URI is right down the road, for one, secondly, My wife grew up in smithfield her whole life and didnt know they had a competitive football team ( I agreed and said they dont), you dont see Bryant stuff anywhere, on people or in stores. Its like the school doesnt even exist, and smithfield isn't that big of a town for people to not know about Bryant. Its only like 22,000 people

[∞∞∞]

Towson's a great place. Was there for a basketball game during winter break and the area was awesome. It's also the first time I saw Towson gals, and I do dare say, they were hotter than the diseased, albeit sexy girls at JMU.

[BDKJMU]

I actually disagree with Skyjelly and foa11 about Williamsburg. Since this is in the football page, I'm equating my experience with trips to football games and W&M is one of my favorite road games to go to. The proximity of the stadium to post-game "delis" is great. You can park for the game, tailgate, go hang out somewhere post-game and walk back to your car very easily.

I think your experiences in away towns are going to vary depending on who you're there with. I have a group of close friends that are W&M alums and we try to always go to the JMU-W&M game, so going with alums helps. My guess is that you have a much different experience in Harrisonburg if you go with bandl than if you go with a group of newbies.

I'm not fond of ASU, but I've only been with a group of JMU fans or uncommiteds, so I don't think I've gotten the true "Boone" experience.

Visiting for a W&M game is a good experience for the reasons you cite. With College Delly, Paul's, The Green Leafe and the Hospitality House right across the street from Zable Stadium it makes for a pretty good experience.

Obviously you didn't get to see the Suburban Propane truck on your visit to Boone. My second favorite experience there was the Army/Navy Store, which was a survivalist's dream!

What. No mention of Pierce's Pit BBQ? http://www.pierces.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[93henfan]

I stopped at The U's bookstore in Coral Gables earlier this week. I was amazed how small Miami's campus is. It's not a college town at all. The campus is completely secluded from the town and accessible only via gated checkpoints. For a school with a big-time football program, the campus is tiny.

[93henfan]

Towson's a great place. Was there for a basketball game during winter break and the area was awesome. It's also the first time I saw Towson gals, and I do dare say, they were hotter than the diseased, albeit sexy girls at JMU.

We usually hire a female intern or two from Towson each summer; for their intellect of course.

[BDKJMU]

(JMU) Harrisonburg Va isn't a city or even a big town but it has a lot offer; JMU draws from Wash DC and Richmond with easy interstate access from both, 2 hrs each. H'Burg has two mountain ranges (Shenandoah Valley)...hotels and especially restaurants are getting better all the time...JMU's tailgate has gotten large and nothing is better than beer/cigar/smoked brats on a cool Fall Saturday morning!

JMU is a city. Either small or medium size depending on who's definition, but a city none the less. It would be considered huge for a town if it was one. One of 39 independent cities in VA, and the 13th largest population of those 39 as of 09' estimates, 45k, more than Charlottesville and UVGay. Micropoilitan area (to include Rockingham County) is 120k.

[89Hen]

UVGay

Who throws purple streamers at football games?

[93henfan]

I have to admit I've never been to Harrisonburg, other than I-81 pass-throughs. It did have a sort of gay feel to it though.

[mcveyrl]

UVGay

Who throws purple streamers at football games?

Yea, but we're not in suits when we do it.

[89Hen]

Who throws purple streamers at football games?

Yea, but we're not in suits when we do it.

UVA students wear blue shirts, blue blazers and rep ties. Get it right.

[BDKJMU]

I nominate College Park,MD as the worst.

Second.

I went to the JMU @ MD game last yr and had a good time - was a good atmosphere. JMU brough more fans to that game (4-5k) than to any other away game I've been to with the exception of the 04' NC, and UR 04', 06', and 08'. Course all I did there is what I usually do- get there, tailgate, go to game, and leave. I usually don't spend time in the surrounding town/city/area.