Jenny Taft
Reporter and anchor
College soccer is not like another sport when it comes to fandom, pageantry and custom. The distinctive sights and sounds that include attending a recreation each Saturday are what make this sport such a particular expertise for followers throughout the nation.
Earlier this season, I wrote about faculty soccer’s finest traditions, with Wisconsin’s “Jump Around” and Iowa’s “Hawkeye Wave” rating excessive on my checklist. This time I’ll take it a step additional and dive into the very best stadiums throughout the nation.
Our “Big Noon Kickoff” crew had the luxurious of visiting eight totally different stadiums this season, beginning with Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia in week one and concluding with “The Game” in Columbus, Ohio this previous weekend . This manner, I used to be capable of breathe within the ambiance of a number of the most notable locations, which in return helped me formulate this checklist.
Here’s a take a look at my rankings of the ten finest stadiums in faculty soccer:
1. Michigan: The huge home
Both groups enter Michigan Stadium the identical manner, one entrance and one exit, with the locker rooms simply steps away from one another. It’s one in all my favourite points of the Big House. Former Michigan coach and visionary Fielding Yost is claimed to have had Pompeii and the Roman Coliseum in thoughts when he designed the Big House tunnel in 1926. Imagine all of the emotional phrases which were shared between these tunnel partitions all these years.
Jenny Taft takes a tour of the tunnel within the Big House in Ann Arbor
I’ve had the privilege of protecting many video games in Ann Arbor and can always remember a number of the heated moments I witnessed behind the scenes between opposing coaches: Harbaugh vs. Meyer, to call one specifically! No matter the placement, Michigan vs Ohio State by no means disappoints.
2. Pen State: Beaver Stadium
Beaver Stadium is the second largest stadium within the United States with a capability of 106,572. And oh, by the way in which, it is the fourth largest on the earth. It’s uncommon that I’ve to put on each sound-canceling earbuds throughout a recreation, however at any time when I go to Happy Valley, I typically want them to drown out the noise. Add the “White Out” ambiance and it turns into clear: Beaver Stadium is not like another.
3. UCLA: Bowl of roses
The sundown over the San Gabriel Mountains on the Rose Bowl is image excellent. It’s additionally a dream for any faculty soccer official who has the privilege of capturing that shot! This stadium is a National Historic Landmark for a motive. Yes, it might use some updates inside, however you’ll be able to’t prime the overhead pictures and historic moments that unfolded earlier than our eyes on the Rose Bowl.
4. Colorado: Camp Folsom
Prime Time in Colorado did nothing however improve the fantastic thing about Folsom Field. The backdrop has all the time been breathtaking, however the sold-out Folsom Field makes it much more idyllic. The backdrop of the Flatirons makes Folsom appear to be a film. If we add the mountain air and the altitude of 5,360 toes (greater than a mile above sea stage), the air and vitality simply appear totally different.
5. Wisconsin: Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall is iconic for its traditions, but additionally for its historical past. Camp Randall was the positioning of the Union Army’s coaching camp in the course of the American Civil War with over 70,000 Wisconsin troopers making ready there for battle. On a private stage, Camp Randall is the place I fell in love with faculty soccer whereas attending video games with my household. Jumping round? There is nothing higher!
6. LSU: Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium is a stadium I’ve but to expertise in particular person, however its popularity takes care of itself. From gumbo to jambalaya, depend me in! This is a gaming expertise I’d like to have as a fan… possibly even earlier than experiencing it from the sidelines!
7. Ohio State: Ohio Stadium
I generally overlook that Ohio Stadium is not truly referred to as “The Shoe!” The nickname “The Horseshoe” has been in use because it opened in 1922 and has simply over 102,000 followers. I’ve to say, on a private notice, that I’ve watched extra faculty soccer video games at “The Shoe” than wherever else. I obtained to know the great park crew, safety group and everybody behind the scenes, and I am unable to say sufficient about their ardour for this stadium and Ohio State soccer.
8. Texas: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
I really like Austin, Texas. And I really like when Texas Football comes again. There’s one thing about cowboy hats and burnt orange that will get me each time. Add I drink ultimately zone. What a particular place to look at Texas Football at its finest.
9. Our Lady: Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium does not even need to get artistic with its title. They’re merely Notre Dame, and that is all they need to say. The wealthy soccer custom is difficult to prime as top-of-the-line in faculty soccer.
10. Oregon: Autzen Stadium
The Autzen Stadium shouldn’t be solely a unprecedented venue, however a unprecedented expertise. Add in the truth that the Oregon Ducks are enjoying their finest soccer and it is a particular place to be. The low seat design is nice for the Oregon devoted, creating extra noise and a particular house area benefit not like another for the Ducks.
Honorable Mention: Texas A&M: Kyle Campo
The home that Johnny constructed? This is likely to be controversial, however once you’re speaking a couple of $485 million rebuild, that will get my consideration. Also, I’ve to expertise the Twelfth Man sometime. That’s all!
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