This week College Gameday takes us to Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, home of the U.S.
Air Force Academy to see the Falcons take on their rival the Army Black Knights.
Falcon Stadium opened in 1962, at a cost of $3.5 million, and has a current seating capacity of 52,480. The first game was on September 22, 1962, when Air Force Falcons defeated Colorado State 24–0.
Falcon Stadium was built into a natural bowl southeast of the center of the academic campus (and 500 feet (152 m) below). As with the rest of the campus, Falcon Stadium lies at the base of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains , providing spectacular views. The design of Falcon Stadium is uniquely unbalanced, with the western side having two large grandstand tiers above the main bowl and the eastern having a single tier bordered by seven separate sections of grandstands.
The playing field is aligned in the traditional north-south configuration at an elevation of over 6620 feet (2017 m) above sea level. Falcon Stadium is the second highest in Division I-A football, exceeded only by Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium, which is 600 feet (183 m) higher. The Walkup Skydome at Division I-AA in Flagstaff is also slightly higher, by 250 feet (76 m).
Falcon Stadium had a natural grass field for its first 44 years. Prior to the 2006 football season, synthetic FieldTurf was installed at a cost of $750,000. Natural grass remains around the perimeter of the FieldTurf surface. Permanent lighting was installed in Falcon Stadium in 2002 at a cost of $500,000, and the video screen at the south end of the field was installed in 2004. A new sound system was also installed for the 2006 season.
This week College Gameday takes us to Provo, UT where the #16 BYU Cougars take on the #8 TCU Horned Frogs. This is the going to be the most highly touted "non-BCS conference" game as both these teams have a chance to burst the BCS bubble once again. This weeks guide takes you to Salt Lake as well as its neighbor Provo.
The City
Set against the snowy backdrop of the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains, Salt Lake City raised its visibility as a top destination for winter sports addicts after hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Area resorts boast of "the greatest snow on earth," and skiers flock to world-class getaways like Snowbird, Alta and Brighton. During summer months, resorts open their lifts and runs to mountain bikers in what is becoming a booming business.
The city also is renowned as the original settlement, and now headquarters, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Temple Square and the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir among the many attractions evocative of LDS history and culture. The arts scene is packed with theater, symphony and opera events, as well as a variety of downtown galleries. And annual events, like Pioneer Day, bring residents and visitors alike out for a week's worth of celebrations and festivities.
The Stadium
The big game takes place in Provo, about 45 miles away from Salt Lake at LaVelle Edwards Stadium. LaVell Edwards Stadium, with its 64,045-seat capacity, huge video scoreboards and immaculate press boxes, is home to legendary BYU football. This emmaculate stadium is one of the most beautiful and loudest in the country. Surrounded by vast mountains and wild crowds, an old Air Force coach called it the loudest and prettiest stadium he had ever been to, noting the loud noise the seats make when the fans are banging on them
Originally known as Cougar Stadium, the stadium was renamed with the retirement of legendary head football coach LaVell Edwards at the conclusion of the 2000 season. Edwards Stadium was built in 1964 with a seating capacity of 45,000 (including temporary bleachers placed at each of the end zones). As a result of increased seating demands, BYU made another renovation in 1982, adding stands to the north and south end zones, lowering the field eight feet and removing the track surrounding the field (home to the 1967 and 1975 NCAA Track and Field Championships).
The stadium expansion increased the seating capacity to over 65,000. The crowd of 64,253 that gathered for BYU's first game in the expanded stadium on September 25, 1982 was reported at the time as "the largest gathering ever in Utah history." Since its expansion in 1982, the stadium has consistently ranked among the nation's top 25 in attendance.
Some of the stadium's well-known features include a box-bowl seating configuration, a grass playing surface and a four-level press box
Not going to find much drinking near a Mormin college, but there are good restaurants near by. Try China Lily, considered by many to be the best Chinese in Utah Valley. When there, try the Salt and Pepper Chicken or the Ginger Beef. This place is a little pricy but the locals make it sound like it is worth it. If you are not in the mood for Chinese, try Tucanos Brazilian Grill. With their fantastic selection of meats, poultry and seafood you are sure to find something that fits your fancy.
College Football's last two National Champions face off this week as the #1 and #4 teams in the Nation in Baton Rouge, LA. If I could pick any sporting event to visit this year, the Florida-LSU battle would be my number one choice. LSU is know for its amazing tailgate experience, awesome drinking experience, deafining stadium and incredible food spots all around.
Most LSU students, alumni, and fans make LSU football games a part of their Saturdays during the fall. Game days normally consist of tailgating, the pre-game show, and of course the game in Death Valley. I wouldn't be surprised if people are out there tailgating right now (Friday at noon), but officially most start at 6am on Gameday. Considering this game starts at 8pm, you have 14 hours to check out the LSU scene. I suggest getting out there early at 6, setting up and starting with a couple brews to remove the hangover from the wild night before. Use these beers to wake you up and head over to Louie's Cafe, a 24 hour breakfast spot. It serves all types of food but is best known for its breakfast which it serves on tables or red stools set on its old-school, black-and-white checkered floor.
Afer that, you have to head over to see College Gameday. If your goal is to get on TV, make Gameday your first stop and head over to the breakfast spot later. With LSU's wild fans this should be one of the best gameday scenes, packed with thousands-and-thousands of people all going wild hoping to get themselves a quick glimpse on TV. Bring a sign and hope you get that glory, maybe even be voted sign of the week!
I would suggest nothing more for the rest of the day than grabbing some brews and finding a tailgate. Baton Rouge locals like to say, "We may have not invented tailgating, but we perfected it." It's hard to argue. Surrounded by wide-open spaces that fit all the RVs, cars and generator-pumped TVs, the LSU campus sees as many as 150,000 fans on game days (expect even more for this game). Tailgate groups cook up jambalaya and indluge in beers, and football all day. These tailgates are open to any and all, just a love of football and an empty stomach and you will be welcome all day and night.
If tailgating is too much for you, check out the many bars in Tigerland around Nicholson street (just south of campus). Fred's, a well populated dive bar, has $2.50 Coors Lights on gamedays when it opens up at 10am and pounds students with $1.50 shots after midnight. Another popular spot is Walk On's, which was opened by former LSU basketball walk on players, is a newer resaurant but hosts coach shows and serves awesome food and drink up until 2am. Pretty much anywhere in downtown is filled with restaurants, theaters and more and is an exciting place to kill a couple hours before gametime.
After drinking, eating and watching football for the better half of 13 hours, head into the stadium early to experience a wild and loud scene and Mike the Tiger. Mike the Tiger is LSU's official (and real) mascot. Mike is a cult like figure for LSU and they believe he affects the teams play. Make sure to arrive about half an hour early to experience Mike. Mike’s trailer is parked next to the opposing team’s locker room until about 20 minutes before the game. LSU’s opponents must make their way past Mike in his cage-on-wheels to reach the field. One of LSU’s traditions is for Mike to parade around the field with the LSU cheerleaders perched on top of his cage-on-wheels. Mike’s trailer stops in front of the Tiger Band and the student section. LSU tradition dictates that the Tigers will score a touchdown for every time Mike growls before the game. Mike the Tiger does not appear to like Mike the Mascot, or any other mascot for that matter. Mike tends to roar at the mascot almost every time he sees him, predicting a touchdown for LSU and exciting the crowd inside Death Valley. Tiger fans watch the large screens located at each end of the field as Mike the Tiger roars at the mascot. Each of the tiger’s roars are followed by the roar of the crowd filling Tiger Stadium.
Make sure to enjoy the game, you are seeing two top 5 undefeated teams battle it out in one of the greatest stadiums in all of sports. Enjoy it, embrace it, and hope LSU wins for the pure noise that will come out of the stadium.
If football is not all you want on your docket. Here are some outdoor adventures to enjoy. Baton Rouge proximity to the Mississippi and bayou (not to overlook New Orleans) means there's plenty to do. Now a museum, the Old State Capital-- mocked as an "atrocity" by Mark Twain in "Life in the Mississippi" -- is studded with castlelike turrets and boastful Gothic Revival interiors. During the Great Depression, the infamous governor Huey Long spent $5 million to replace it with a new limestone state capitol. At 450 feet, it's the nation's tallest, with a great observatory for bayou views. Plus, Baton Rouge has haunted tours and the gator-filled wilds at the nearby Alligator Bayou.
Thursday – Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins 7:05pm
Friday – Cleveland Indians @ Boston Red Sox 7:10p
Saturday – College Gameday in Chestnut Hill 10:00am
- FloridaState @ BostonCollege 3:30pm
Sunday – Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots 1:00pm
Can you think of a better spot for a sports filled weekend? Better take an extra day off! On Thursday, the Boston Bruins opening up the season looking for their first Stanley Cup in 37 years against Alex “the Kid” Ovechkin. On Friday, the Boston Red Sox get ready for the playoffs when they close out the season against the Cleveland Indians. On Saturday, “College Gameday,” the famous ESPN Pregame Show heads to Chestnut Hill which leads to the FloridaState – BostonCollege game. End the weekend up right and head over to Foxboro where the New England Patriots host the 3-0 Baltimore Ravens.
Thursday – Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins 7:05pm
Head over to the Garden to check out the Boston Bruins and get ready for some NHL! Always an exciting time in Boston and with high hopes for the team, look for a rowdy crowd. Before the game, bar hop at some of the most popular bars in Boston, called “Bars on steroids.” Start off at Boston Beer Works, a two story facility that is the oldest and largest brewery and restaurant in the Boston Area. Shoot some pool, play some darts and try one of 50 different Beers, Ales and Lagers. If that is too small for you, head over to The Greatest Bar. Part sports bar part night club the Greatest Bar features a lot of big screens (including a 14 inch projector screen), plus DJ’s and live music. On game nights, the Greatest Bar plays a 90 minute video highlighting the greatest moments in Bruins history, good way to get the people pumped up! Another great spot is Hurricane O’Reillys. This bar is popular not just on game days but other nights, specifically for young to mid 20’s Boston residents. Enjoy these bars before and after the game, but get some rest, its going to be a big weekend!
Friday – Cleveland Indians @ Boston Red Sox 7:10pm
What’s Boston without a trip to FenwayPark! The 2nd oldest stadium in the Major Leagues created in 1912. Fenway has more than history though. It boasts one of the top pre-game bar scenes anywhere in the country. I would recommend starting off at the Bleacher Bar, a bar attached to the stadium that allows you to look into the field through the right centerfield wall. Check out batting practice and grab a beer and some food there but don’t stop! After head over to Game On! Located right down the street. Head down there and check out their top of the line multimedia center. From there walk across the street to the Cask n’ Flagon, the #2 rated bar by ESPN. This bar is one of the most popular pre-game bars by locals and visitors and has both a night club above and outdoor seating right outside the Monster. Like the Garden these bars are also a great place to enjoy before and after the game!
Saturday – College Gameday 10:00am-noon
-FloridaState @ BostonCollege 3:30pm
What can be better than seeing some good ‘ole college football and checking out one of the most popular pregame shows in America “College Gameday.” Get out to BC early (between 8:30 and 9:00am) for a good spot and bring a sign hoping to get on TV. After the game head straight to the Mods and try and see if anyone will let you enjoy a beer with them (they usually do). Once you have a couple in your system, head over to Shea Field, the most popular tailgate spot on campus. Here, alumni and season ticket holders hold large tailgates on the field. After the game, head over to Maryanne’s, the local spot. Mary Ann's is BC's most infamous dive, with beer-sopped floors and just-turned-21 students clutching plastic cups of cheap beer. Meanwhile, it's a cult-like rite of passage to stomach a two-and-a-half-pound burger at Eagles Deli. Portions are more polite at City Side Bar & Grill, the area's nicest bar, with many TVs to watch games, good burgers and pizza, and a roof deck.
Sunday – Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots 1:00
End the trip and go see the three time champion New England Patriots at beautiful Gillette Stadium. Head over there early as parking is tough. Get ther eahd check out the awesome tailgate spots. Patriots and BC fans are usually two different groups of people, so there wont be any hangovers preventing a top notch tailgate. While there, also check out Patriot Place where they h ave tons of food and entertainment such as Davios, 5 Guys Burgers and the Blue Fin Lounge. After the game, go there to grab a bite and let traffic die down before you head home for the weekend.
If you don’t just want to go to sports, here are 5 other top things to do in Boston
Walking the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile signed walk connecting 16 of Boston's greatest revolutionary-era sites, including the 50-acre Boston Common. Note that one of the trail's founders is a BC grad.
Biking the 8.6-mile Charles River Bike Loop, over stone bridges, past esplanades and grassy banks and sculler rallies.
VisitingHarvardUniversity in Cambridge and eating or drinking at Harvard Square.
Toe-tapping at Club Passim, a half-century-old folk-music setting, where Joan Baez once introduced a shy Bob Dylan.
Drinking beer – check out the Harpoon Oktoberfest on Friday or the Samuel Adams or Harpoon Breweries during your time off
Had a great sports weekend? Send me a message at taylor.wishman@gmail.com and we’ll post it on the site!
I need some help. I will be attending the BC-FSU game this weekend in Chestnut Hill meaning I will be out there for the College Gameday Crew. I just found their new "sign of the week campaign" and need some good ideas for what to do. Send 'em over or post in comments below. I think we can beat these
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