Best and Worst place to play

[Silenoz]

Best place for the Griz to play (other than home) is probably MSU's stadium. No track, seats reasonably close to the field, passionate fans. Plus the atmosphere of the rivalry. Should be even better with the expansion this year

Apparently I linked the actual webcam url.... that is currently showing a church or something?

[tampajag]

I'll catch hell for this - but the Fargodome ends up in the middle - the atmosphere in the Dome - especially for big games is electric - and the fans are right on top of the field - better than some FBS games

however - the turf at the Dome - is apparently WORSE than the turf was at the Metrodome in the late 90's - a surface I played on in three playoff games in HS... and was miserable.

I've heard that USD's Dakota Dome turf is even worse - from a buddy who played there for a year... that sounds scary.

Looking at TJ's pics though - leads me to say that MVSU is the worst... yuck.

And, as much as it pains me... Wa-Griz is the class of FCS, the field is top-notch, 25k+ at every game, and they are always in to it...

that place has to be seen in person to truly understand how bad it is. Here's another candidate, PVU's Blackshear Stadium:

[NG33]

Obviously as a Flames fan I think Liberty is a great place to play...



Also the other two FCS places I really did like going too were VMI and JMU. VMI's honestly came as a shocker, but their stadium is no joke.

[ODUalum11]

Obviously as a Flames fan I think Liberty is a great place to play...



Also the other two FCS places I really did like going too were VMI and JMU. VMI's honestly came as a shocker, but their stadium is no joke.

didnt LU make renovations to their stadium?

[danefan]

Yes, NU had a baseball field in the same location, but they moved the stands in over th baseball field during football season. That field sucked to play at as well, especially because Northeastern was actually pretty good when I played. Ranked #1 at one point, and very very tough at home.

Northeastern was a #1 ranked team at one point? When was that????

Of course I may be mistaken, but I know they were ranked very high in the beginning of the 2003-2004 season. They were coming off a share of the A10 championship the year before and had Lliam Ezekial roaming around the defense for them.

The only thing I can find is the Coaches Poll figure which had them at #6 in week 2 (which means they probably weren't #1 unless it was from some crappy poll like Pete's). Of course they deleted everything from the NU website.

So even if not #1 - its fair and conservative for me to say ranked in the Top 10 when we played there.

[andy7171]

I'd be interesting in hearing why people don't like playing at Towson. Visitor parking is better than parking for Towson fans, concessions are good(crab pretzels), you can sit where ever the F you want on that side , uptown Towson is full of bars and restaurants, Towson girls are hot as balls, drunk and extremely easy, andas of the last few years you basically guaranteed a win.

[UAalum72]

Northeastern was a #1 ranked team at one point? When was that????

Of course I may be mistaken, but I know they were ranked very high in the beginning of the 2003-2004 season. They were coming off a share of the A10 championship the year before and had Lliam Ezekial roaming around the defense for them.

The only thing I can find is the Coaches Poll figure which had them at #6 in week 2 (which means they probably weren't #1 unless it was from some crappy poll like Pete's). Of course they deleted everything from the NU website.

So even if not #1 - its fair and conservative for me to say ranked in the Top 10 when we played there.

I think some magazine had Northeastern at #1 in the preseason that year. Didn't last long, though.

[griz8791]

Best place for the Griz to play (other than home) is probably MSU's stadium. No track, seats reasonably close to the field, passionate fans. Plus the atmosphere of the rivalry. Should be even better with the expansion this year

Apparently I linked the actual webcam url.... that is currently showing a church or something?

I think that is the top of Montana Hall.

[Ivytalk]

For the Ivies, I'd say Princeton now has the best stadium, and Brown has the worst.

[SACCAT]

Apparently I linked the actual webcam url.... that is currently showing a church or something?

I think that is the top of Montana Hall.

Here you go. This was from bobcat nation.

[ODUalum11]

While I haven't personally been there I like App. States stadium....

[ASUG8]

While I haven't personally been there I like App. States stadium....

It has a track. It sucks.

[SpeedkingATL]

I'm working my way through the SoCon - still haven't been to Elon, Chatty, or GSU yet, but I'll check off Elon this season. I'll have to give App the homer vote for gameday and facilities so far. Here's a quick rundown of our experiences:

Western Carolina - nice mountain setting, the crowds come out for the ASU/WCU rivalry. Framed in nicely with the Ramsey center at one end, and they've dramatically improved the visitor's side over the years. Had a few drunk rednecks driving through the App tailgate area yelling some things, but a pretty good experience overall.

Wofford - raining when I was there, but Gibbs stadium is a nice venue. The Panthers practice fields are adjacent to the stadium, so there's a ton of available parking for tailgating. The Wofford crowd is a little reserved vs. the App folks, but we tend to travel pretty well and overrun most places.

Furman - Paladin stadium is a great setting, heavily wooded and the campus is one of the most beautiful I've seen. Ample tailgating right next to the stadium and the fans were friendly. It was raining that day too - Furman had planned a "white out" for the App game, but it was a mishmash of different colored raingear and the crowd simply didn't show up for FU. The App folks completely filled the visitor's side.

The Citadel - when it's sunny in Charleston this is a great place to see a game. Parking is easy and close to the field, the fans are loud and it's a great gameday environment. The facilities have been remodeled and mirror the architecture on the campus. I'm looking forward to heading back there this season.

Samford - small stadium (around 8K I think) but we had a great time in Birmingham - very cool town. Samford doesn't get much support being in the heart of Alabama and Auburn territory, but they have a beautiful campus. I didn't get the feeling they've seen much hardcore tailgating on their campus with some of the looks the Bulldog fans had on their faces as they passed through our area. The only problem we had there was that it was 96 degrees at gametime and they ran out of bottled water at the stadium midway through the first quarter.

I try and finish what G8 started concerning SoCon stadiums as I concure with all of the above.

GaSo-One of my favorite places to go for a football game as the ASU/GSU game is always a barnburner and usually has SoCon if not national implications. Nothing particularly special about the setting or stadium at Statesboro (except for the 6 National Title flags in the endzone) but the place is usually loud and crazy with a few fans of both teams a little over the edge. We hate each other but there is also a healthy respect between the schools. Great tailgating, good looking coeds and lots of friendly brew sharing. Always a 20K+ packed house for us. One of my favorite road trips and not that far from Hilton Head Island if you want to make it a long weekend.

UTC-Prior to last year this was the worst game day experience in the SoCon. Nice big stadium with no home fans. One year we counted less than 200 in the home stands and even with 3K App fans it was like you could hear a pin drop. It was like watching a club football game. Last year UTC got it together both on the field and in the stands with a nearly packed house that was vocal and proud. Still amazed that as a visitor we can pull up right next to the stadium and talegate, even last year. Chatty is a nice place to make it a weekend too with lots to do and see too.

Elon-Only made the trip once and it was for the SoCon Championship and a game that saw App dominate from start to finish so the Elon fans never got into it. Very nice campus, pretty decent small stadium and good tailgate area. Elon and App fans usually are like oil and water but I found most fans that day to be okay, not overly welcoming but not in any way hostile either. Fans a little more vocal than the other private schools in the SoCon, which is a good thing. Not much in Burlington but not far from Greensboro/Winston Salem to the West or Durham/Chapel Hill to the East. Lots of good golf courses in the area to make it a good weekend trip.

[ODUalum11]

While I haven't personally been there I like App. States stadium....

It has a track. It sucks.

If you ask me, it's still not a half bad looking stadium.

[bandl]

While I haven't personally been there I like App. States stadium....

It has a track. It sucks.

Anyways...any stadium in Illinois, Indiana or Iowa has to be in the discussion for worse places.

[ODUalum11]

It has a track. It sucks.

Anyways...any stadium in Illinois, Indiana or Iowa has to be in the discussion for worse places.

Like Illinois State?

[bandl]

Anyways...any stadium in Illinois, Indiana or Iowa has to be in the discussion for worse places.

Like Illinois State?

I'm just going on the premise that outside of a few small pockets in Chicago, all those states are simply dreadful places to visit. Thus, having to play there would be the worst, no?

[Silenoz]

Apparently I linked the actual webcam url.... that is currently showing a church or something?

I think that is the top of Montana Hall.

Its panning

[grizzaholic]

It has a track. It sucks.

Anyways...any stadium in Illinois, Indiana or Iowa has to be in the discussion for worse places.

How can IOWA be in any discussion for Worst of anything? It is fucking IOWA!

[tampajag]

While I haven't personally been there I like App. States stadium....

It has a track. It sucks.

ditto

[ODUalum11]

Anyways...any stadium in Illinois, Indiana or Iowa has to be in the discussion for worse places.

How can IOWA be in any discussion for Worst of anything? It is **** IOWA!

[bandl]

Anyways...any stadium in Illinois, Indiana or Iowa has to be in the discussion for worse places.

How can IOWA be in any discussion for Worst of anything? It is fucking IOWA!

What the fuck ever. Iowa is a farce. Chad was on here saying something about 'flooding' and shit in Iowa not too long ago. A real man wouldn't even acknowledge a flood. Bunch of tough guys, my ass. Iowa is for pansies, always has been and always will be.

[∞∞∞]

Actually, I think Appy's stadium is damn ugly. I have no doubts it's an amazing atmosphere, but it's a hideous looking piece of architecture. But in the end, who cares really? It's just a building. All that matters is the football, and Appy sure does provide in that aspect.

[JMUpurplehazed]

W&M is a fun place to play...however, it is a bit of a downer when their fans get upset about, in no particular order, cheering, the JMU band playing their instruments and tailgating that involves anything in addition to eating Brie and drinking hard cider

[ODUalum11]

Actually, I think Appy's stadium is damn ugly. I have no doubts it's an amazing atmosphere, but it's a hideous looking piece of architecture. But in the end, who cares really? It's just a building. All that matters is the football, and Appy sure does provide in that aspect.

I know for sure that they have a pretty nice locker room for their team, right Appy fans?

Also, I agree as long as the product on the field is a good quality then that is all that matters. Regardless if they play in a stadium like Montana's, JMU's or a stadium like Jacksonville.