NCAA Football 2009, Top Ten Toughest Stadiums

I have a PS2. I only play the sports games.

Since 1991, I think I've bought Madden Football every year.

Nowadays, I still buy Madden, I buy NCAA Football, NBA Live, and occasionally college basketball and an MLB game.

I do get into Tiger Woods' Golf every now and then, but I'm more of a Golden Tee fan.

Yes, college football is officially upon with last week's release of EA Sports NCAA 2009.


Again this year's NCAA Football brings us the play-by-play and commentary from Brad Nessler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit. Yeah, I know what you're thinking, why is Chris Fowler left out?

Like previous years, I'm sure the in studio pregame brings us to the much anticipated prediction from Corso and the donning of the Mascot headgear.

With the release of EA Sports NCAA 2009 (which I still haven't purchased), the Notorious DEK asked for my thoughts on this link (the top 10 toughest college football stadiums).

It really got me thinking. A rare occasion, especially in the middle of summer.

Editor's note: I have personally attended each of these stadiums for a prime time game.


10. Nebraska Memorial Stadium (81,067)



We all know how terrible Nebraska has been in recent years. Actually, people outside of the Cornhusker state might be unaware because Husker Football has been MIA.

The much embarrassing Callahan era is finally over and the Huskers have their man, Bo Pelini (yes, the same guy who should be in his 5th year as NU Head Coach) and the football hype and energy in Lincoln has nearly reached the same level of the previous century.

The 'Skers were 4-3 in 2007, highlighted by a 49-31 shellacking in Lincoln by USC. The game was far more unbearable than what the score says. The best thing about this defeat was the fact Nebraska fans finally realized (and admitted) Bill Callahan was the biggest bust since Ryan Leaf.

Memorial Stadium is known as being the 3rd largest city in the state of Nebraska on Gameday. The Stadium also boasts an impressive streak of 288 consecutive sellouts.

From 1991 to 1998 Nebraska held a 47 game home win streak.

After a 17-13 opening game lost to Florida St. (9/7/1985), the Cornhuskers were an astounding 111-6 at home from 1985 to 2002 (losing 27-24 on Nov. 2 at home vs. Texas).




That's 111 wins to 6 loses in 17 years! Holy Shit!

Go back and check my research, I couldn't believe it either.



9. Virginia Tech Lane Stadium (66,233)


In 2007, the Hokies finished 6-1 at home. Their only setback was a Thursday night loss to (at the time) unbeaten Boston College, 14-10. As you all remember, Va Tech was up 14-0 late in the 4th quarter when Matt Ryan somehow, someway lead BC with a Flutie like comeback.



Had Virginia Tech not blown this game, they may have been in the National Championship game.

If you've ever been to a Hokie home game, you know the adrenaline flowing throughout the stadium as the Hokies emerge through the tunnel to "Enter Sandman."











8. Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium (76,129)


On a personal note, Mad Town ranks as my favorite Big 10 Tailgate school (Definitely top 10 overall). During timeouts and between crucial plays, the PA jams to House of Pain's "Jump Around." The entire stadium jumps up and down, you can't hear yourself think and at the same time you worried about the entire stadium collapsing. Freakin cool.

The Badgers were perfect at home in 2007 (7-0). They're currently on a 14 game home winning streak since a 2005 home defeat to Iowa (20-10).

Since 2004, Wisconsin has been jumpin around at home with a 25-1 record.

7. Oregon Autzen Stadium (53,800)




Autzen Stadium may not have a large capacity, but with the upper tier hanging almost directly over the field, the fans' cheers land directly on top of opposing teams.

Compared to other major schools around the country, Autzen Stadium may lack in quantity, but with the noise on the field, quality is like no other.

Eugene, Oregon may be famous for Nike founding father Phil Knight, but also was the location for every fraternity member's favorite movie, Animal House.

In 2007, the Ducks finished 5-2 at home with losses to Cal and Oregon St.

Oregon has not been undefeated at home since 2000.



6. Oklahoma Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (82,112)


The Sooners protected their house in 2007, going 7-0.

OU has won 19 in row at home since a shocking 17-10 opening season loss to TCU (9/3/05).

Norman is crazy on Gameday. The Chicks are freakin hot! But the only thing holding Norman back is the state law of beer being only 3.2%! Yeah, you really can drink a case of beer.



5. Tennessee Neyland Stadium (102,037)


Good ole Rocky Top! If you're not wearing orange and white on Gameday in Knoxville, or any other day for that matter, you're probably not alive to be reading this. This is SEC country. You know you're on UT campus when all the streets are named either Pat Summit or Peyton Manning.

2007, the Volunteers were perfect at home (7-0).

2006 they were a shocking 5-2 with home losses to LSU and Florida.


4. Penn St. Beaver Stadium (107,282)


For those of you who think JoPa and the Nittany Lions are washed up, Penn St has finished 6-1 at home the past two years. They were perfect in 2007 (7-0), making them 19-2 at home in the last three years.

Beaver Stadium may be one of the most intimidating stadiums in the country and when the "White Out" occurs, look out! Definitely one of the most intimidating sights in all of college football.

Students camp out in front of the main gate weeks before a home game attempting to get the best seat in the house, aka Paternoville. JoPa has even been known to show up to the campsites delivering pizzas.

3. Ohio St Ohio Stadium (102,329)



Buckeye Mania is rampant in the state of Ohio. We've all heard about the riots which occur in Columbus, win or lose a big game. I don't think I've ever seen a town so passionate about their hometown team (which makes it so fun to see the Buckeyes lose in two straight National Championship games.)

I've personally seen a female Buckeye fan punch the lights outta of a male Michigan fan, at 6AM!

Upon leaving the Columbus Airport, I've seen a sign that says, "Thanks for visiting Columbus, unless your from Michigan."

Ohio St was 6-1 in 2007, a 28-21 upset by Illinois.

Since 2008, the Buckeyes are 40-3 at home with losses to Illinois, No. 2 Texas (2005), and No. 16 Wisconsin (2004).

2. Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)


Home to "The Swamp", "Gator Bait", and "The Chomp", this may be the only campus in the country where the mascot roams freely on campus. Yes, there are real live alligators present.

I can't wait to get my hands on NCAA '09 so I can run wild with Superman, um, I mean Football Jesus, um, I mean Tim Tebow.

In 2007, the Gators were 6-1 losing a heartbreaking game to War Eagle and the Auburn Tigers, 20-17.

Since 2004, Florida is 24-2 at the Swamp.




1. LSU Tiger Stadium (91,600)

Nicknamed "Death Valley", the stadium's nickname derived from "Deaf Valley." No explanation needed here. It's freakin loud!

Last year's epic 4th quarter comeback against Florida the crowd's noise measured at 129.8 decibels!

The reigning National Champions were 6-1 at home in 2007, losing the overtime to thriller to Darren McFadden and Arkansas, 50-48.

Since 2003, the Tigers are 32-3 at Death Valley.

One and Done!

It took the Tennessee Volunteers 99 years to be the number one team in college basketball. It took them less than 30 hours to lose their lose number 1 ranking. The Volunteers lost on the road to in state rival Vanderbilt 72-69. Some might not call it an upset, everyone was picking the Commodores to upset Tennessee at home.

The Vols were a 3 point favorite. As for Vandy, their last nine games against the number one team at Memorial Gym (yeah the one with the weird benches), they are 6-3. Their last win against a number one team came just last year when the Commodores upset the top Florida Gators. Tennessee is really a basketball state!

Memphis Gameday Recap

Wow! What a freakin weekend! Whenever you have No. 1 vs. No. 2, regardless of the sport, there will always be plenty of excitement and energy. But when it's in state rivals and two programs facing the biggest game in their history, the stakes are even higher. Needless to say, plenty of buzz in Memphis last weekend.

Thursday, the Fed Ex Forum hosted two Cirque du Soleil shows, followed by a Friday night home NBA Grizzlies game (I know, probably the least exciting event of the weekend, except they were playing Jason Kidd and the new look Dallas Mavericks), capped off by Saturday night's epic showdown. I will admit, it was pretty cool watching some of the Mavs Friday afternoon shoot around with Kidd, Dirk, Stackhouse, Josh Howard and Mark Cuban bumpin around.

Oh yeah, and Saturday night Priscilla Presley and Peyton Manning! (Note: JT didn't show up because he didn't want to take too much attention away from the game and he thought there would be too many people in his suite. Eli wasn't there, well, I guess because he didn't attend any of these schools.)


Penny Hardaway also made an appearance wearing an old Memphis #25 letter jacket. (I know, Penny, no big deal, but it's nice to know he's still alive.
As for the game itself, pretty awesome! Rumor was court side tickets were going for $5,000 on Ebay. I think both these teams will be there at the end come tourney time, they're both nice. I was on the court two hours before tip off for the shoot arounds. I mean, it was a bunch of brothers out there shooting the rock and having fun. Robert Dozier for Memphis is an absolute beast! Derrick Rose really came of age. Anytime a freshman can play that well in a game of that magnitude, remember him. J.P. Prince came off the bench and scored 13 second half points for the Vols. Big surprise, the game basically came down to free throw shooting and Memphis is horrible.
Bruce Pearl made the best coaching decision of the game when Tennessee fouled Rose with under 5 seconds left and made him go to the line instead of having a chance to tie the game with a three. Sounds pretty elementary, but you rarely see teams or coaches execute this way.
The highlight for me was easily Beale Street.

Beale St. consists of nothing but bars with cheap booze, live blues music, great barbecue and hot chicks. Our hotel was a block away from Beale Street and two blocks from the Fed Ex Forum, what a great set up! Beale Street was rocking all weekend!


I have to give props to Silky O'Sullivans. Was there Friday night and actually met Silky himself. Silky was a cross between Boss Hogg and Fog Horn Leghorn. He's also been the Grand Marshall for Mardi Gras the last three years. Yeah, he's a pimp. Check out the pictures, he's the old guy in the cowboy hat. Silky hooked us up all night with dry rubbed ribs falling off the bone, Divers (Silky's signature drinks, basically like a fishbowl but in a bucket.), and Silky knew every chick in the joint. He had my buddy and me parked in front of the women's restroom and introduced us every hot chick he deemed worthy. "If you can't get laid at Silky's, you are a certified queer." "Come back tomorrow and it will be like clubbin seals with an oar." Oh, I wish Memphis would have one. Enjoy the pix!