The Country's Best College Football Stadium?
The answer from a Bleacher Report blogger last week delighted some, angered others.
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Want to start a fight, talk college football.
Want to start a brawl, talk about college football history.
Want to start a war — apparently — talk college football atmosphere and stadiums.
A freelance blogger for Bleacher Report posted his ranking of all 124 college football stadiums last week, and the results excited and thrilled many and upset many others. More than 500 comments have been left on the piece.
Clemson University's Memorial Stadium, better known as "Death Valley," was given the distinction of the nation's top football stadium by Alex Callos, a Cincinnati native and Ohio State grad. The honor for the orange and purple delighted Tiger fans everywhere, who know how exciting it is to be in Clemson on a fall Saturday afternoon.
But less than three hours down the road, the opinions of Mr. Callos weren't nearly as fond.
For Williams-Brice Stadium, home to the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, was ranked No. 55 on the list. Half of the top 10 stadiums are in the SEC, but the USC football team was only ranked higher than a couple of other SEC schools.
The discussion boards have now been lit up for days, with people questioning the rankings on both sides. Which is, of course, what such rankings are best used for.
"South Carolina's Williams Brice Stadium at number 55? are you kidding dude? have you ever been to that stadium? lol," wrote one reader.
Just four months ago, another blogger on Bleacher Report released a list of the top 50 stadiums. Michigan Stadium topped the list, while Clemson ranked 15th and USC ranked 29th.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, we suppose.
What's your take on the battle of the stadiums? Let us know in the comments.
Chris Winston
2:18 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Please tell us about your experiences in Death Valley, Williams-Brice, Sanford Stadium in Athens, Neyland Stadium in Knoxville or any of the rest of the list.
Does Clemson deserve the No.1 spot? If not, what does?
Does USC deserve higher than No. 55? How much higher?
Andrew Moore
3:17 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
I don't know that I'd put Clemson at No. 1 on the list. I'd say Clemson is one of the top 10 stadiums around on a big game. Likewise, South Carolina is at least in the top 25, IMO.
John H
7:51 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I went in there a couple a years ago to a Ga Tech game wearing a gamecock shirt and actually was treated with a great degree of civility by those around. The small college town atmosphere creates a very family friendly environment. After the game the kids had free run of the playing field. They had a fun running down the ramp and touching Howard’s rock. With the pregame and during game traditions, it’s tough to beat. South Carolina is a good one also.
Cheryll Woods-Flowers
9:05 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I can tell you, without question, that Clemson's Death Valley is the best place to spend a football Saturday! From the players' rubbing the rock and run down the hill to Tiger Rag amid a sea of balloons, to the sometimes deafening noise level, to the best tailgating in the world, to the incredible sunsets over the hills, to the "family" gathering after the game that includes sliding down the hill on pizza boxes, it does not get any better! If you don't want to fall in love with college football in a wonderful college atmosphere...don't visit!
Richard Basford
4:46 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
There's only one true Death Valley football venue and thats Tiger Stadium at LSU in Baton Rouge. Clemson cant hold a candle to it and I would just love for your Tigers to play my Tigers in either house. It would not be a pretty sight for the Clemson Tigers to be reduced to a bunch of meowing pussycats by some real Tigers !!
Chris Winston
12:58 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I've been to a ton of games at Williams-Brice. A number of games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. A few games at Clemson and Georgia. And two games at Notre Dame (eight years ago against Southern Cal and four years ago against Pitt — six OTs). All five of those stadiums have a lot to brag about.
I would have a hard time putting Death Valley over South Bend in a big game or Lane Stadium on a Thursday night. But I'll admit the games I've seen at Clemson have been boring (with the exception of the Rod Gardner "push off" game of 2000 against USC.
Shawn Drury
10:05 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
This native of the Northeast is going to put in my two cents for Michie Stadium at West Point. The stadium is not the best and it's not the highest quality football, but being along the Hudson River on an October Saturday surrounded by all that history is something every college football fan should experience.
C Williams
5:16 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
If this " Football Fan " actually sat on either side of this football stadium's Upper Decks, I would know this is Fantasy, as just the amount of Lawsuits alone have caused more than one study to find a way to lessen the angle. IE: over 30 % incline causes falls almost every Saturday. I KNOW he wasn't talking about when I had my IPTAY tickets in the GG Section ! That stands for Green Grass !? An entire endzone in grass and someone says it's Ranked ? Rank is more appropiate... Either way, as long as Dabbie Do and Weight Wachers Bad Boy Scott are there, they can HAVE my tickets. Has this guy ever BEEN to a Football Stadium ? Let's see, Notre Dame, Michigan, Southern Cal, Arizona, Texas, Nebraska, Williams Brice, Knoxville, Fl State, Athens...Easy Top Ten...CU ? Top 100 IF they win.
Jessie Gable
7:44 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
I wasn't here when this was posted, but I have to go with Bryant Denny.