CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: MarqHusker on October 11, 2021, 01:22:19 AM
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As is custom and appropriate, in remembrance of our late friend Gatorama who still inspires many of us to take these types of trips. We're college football fans for a reason, and few could illustrate that as well as he could.
Houston/Colllege Station, TX: a nearly annual visit to a game(s) with my younger brother, a childhood friend, and lately, a mystery guest of two, which we methodically scout 6-9 months out, often looking to pair it with either another game (in this case ALDS Game 2) or some other event (some year's Breeders' Cup) others a fishing spot. I was the only guy in our group that has been to Kyle Field before ('98 Nebraska, '06 Nebraska), two outstanding games, '98 game was #2 v #18, and the A&M 28-21 win broke Nebraska's 40 game regular season conference game winning streak. The '06 game was Billy Callahan's 'best win' a last second(s) 28-27 score. Last night's game, well, certainly in my top 5 I've seen in a sample of over 120 games.
Perhaps more relevant, I've now seen Kyle Field in three different iterations. There have been three significant renovations to Kyle Field since the late 90s, as many of us know ole Dollar Bill Byrne really got the spending going at College Station and it doesn't seem to have slowed down much. The place is enormous (106,000+ last night, 2nd largest crowd) and it is a really nice stadium now. Many of us have a lot we can gripe about without naming stadiums, really don't have much negative to say. Lighting is exceptional. PA sharp. Video replays, and showing them promptly and with multiple views, best anywhere, no matter if controversial. Egress, very good. Concourses comfortable. I didn't buy any food, did get a beer. My brother was able to video stream the N v Mich game from the seats with little latency. out of town scores were fast, stats ribbon accurate and fast. Band: Love the precision of the Fighting' Texas Aggie Band. Crowd: I always tout Kyle Field as my favorite/loudest and that hasn't
changed. Crowd is just relentless, a reasonable balance of Yell Leader inspired noise and of course the obligatory b/t down music. Great flyover, cool surprise seeing K. Middleton hoisting the Bucks' NBA Championship Trophy during pregame. Clearly awkward video shot of JFF, most of crowd embraced that, but it seemed to have been done as quickly as possible. These were easily my worst seats I've had for the three visits, but no less enjoyable.
We talk about how TV experience has surpassed in stadium experience, and often that is accurate unfortunately. Kyle Field's putting on a good defensive. Several 'big time' B1G stadiums could learn some lessons watching how this places operates. We did make our way down to the field afterwards, and no, I wasn't stupid enough to run out there in a sprint towards Saban and his entourage, like that dizzy chick who was pancaked by the trooper.
Some general remarks from my rookies in the group: Man, Walking around here is like Vegas. Everything seems close 'I can see it', but you're still so far away. The place (and Northgate) has exploded since I last was in town. Setting aside, how/who was impacted by this facelift, a really well done re-development of the area, in part getting the pedestrians a reason to stay further north/nw of a very busy road in University Drive. (Question for Aggies: why isn't there a pedestrian bridge or tunnel over or under University, the way there is Wellborn and the Railroad tracks on the west side? ) At any rate, great mix of places and crowds, all three nights we hung around the area.
Tailgate: the Grove or Baton Rouge, this isn't but its still a wonderful place to tailgate, plenty of room, as noted. It was a clear 92 degrees Saturday, and breezy, not that humid. We had an elite tailgate host, guy has won some hardware, and his offerings did not disappoint. featured by the Pork Carnitas. Probably 30 folks at his rather large (tented) spot near the hoops arena. We did cheat on him and hit a bar for the 11 am games, but we were successful in convincing the tailgate crew to switch his one TV over to Penn State v Iowa, as it became obvious Georgia wasn't going to fold. What a production. I marvel that people can do this, all the time. I know why Badge and others have thrown in the towel. It is a labor of deep love.
for the record: maybe I'm lucky, but I saw zero bad fan Ass hat activity, any of the three nights, excepting the Astros/ChiSox Friday afternoon game, which had some to be sure. Great surprise for us this weekend, 18pt dogs, a team that looked like a deadman walking for weeks, to see that upset was pretty special.
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Our 'lousy' seats. Good steepness without being an elevator shaft, but avoiding the miserable deep pitches featured in bowls (Rose, Yale, others) so you don't feel 10 miles away from field. We weren't that high relatively speaking. I try to walk around all these places to take in vantages, pretty good end zone seats here, (Florida Field might be the best I've had). Butt width was no issue here, no seatbacks at this level. I heartily recommend a visit.
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Excellent write up MH. Much appreciated.
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The War Hymn is probably one of my favorite college traditions I've seen live. Even if I think some of the military fatigues are silly.
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Glad you got to see such a fun upset, I'm sure it made the day even more memorable.
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also one of my favorite road games
great write up
as you know I was also at The '06 game
was there for the Husker come from behind win in 02, where many thought Frank Solich saved his job
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good read. unfortunately the game was a stinker, right? right? :'(
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depends on the wind direction ;)
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good read. unfortunately the game was a stinker, right? right? :'(
Only thing I didn't get, Saban not calling timeouts at end of 1sr half. It's as if he wanted to get in the locker room asap or was double parked. I think they gave up a possession there even though they were getting ball to start 3rd.
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Thanks for the kind words. It was definitely a great game.
I was also at the '98 game (10/10/1998), one of my best memories. As you remember NU destroyed us the year before in the Big 12 CCG. This was before Texas/OU took over the conference and there was doubt whether any B12 South team could compete with the Big Bad North in the long run. It's hard to remember now but NU had just won 3/4 MNC's and was just bull dozing most opponents year after year, kind of like Alabama does now. So this was a big win for A&M and we thought was really going to launch a new period of success. How wrong we were! They also had demolished the end zone at the time so the stadium seated a bit less than usual. Do you remember the construction guys getting a FG ball and tossing it back to the ref's? Anyways we went on to win the conference, so we were a really good team then.
The whole area has certainly exploded since my days (graduated 2000). Attendance has went from mid 40K to high 60K. A whole lot more Aggies in this world this last decade or so.
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Oh I remember. Maybe 60k at that 98 game, the whole end zone was a hard hat area. I was working press that day, we were told STFO. Had to handle media interviews post game in some auxiliary building in the SE corner outside Kyle Field.
Toombs was the star of that game.
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Nice write up.
If the crowd was half as loud in person as they were on TV, I'm surprised that you can hear anything today.
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SEC slaps Texas A&M with fine for rushing the field after downing top-ranked Alabama
https://saturdaytradition.com/big-ten-football/sec-slaps-texas-am-with-fine-for-rushing-the-field-after-downing-top-ranked-alabama/?fbclid=IwAR1gXQhrz6yuF3hapsqorRlcmuxdPea1E8HjMlsdllOrIpyqmzFK03U94bw (https://saturdaytradition.com/big-ten-football/sec-slaps-texas-am-with-fine-for-rushing-the-field-after-downing-top-ranked-alabama/?fbclid=IwAR1gXQhrz6yuF3hapsqorRlcmuxdPea1E8HjMlsdllOrIpyqmzFK03U94bw)
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I remember when we beat Nebraska in ‘98 we didn’t storm the field but just simply walked down and entered it in a calm fashion. At least that’s the way I remember it.
The tape of the Alabama play by play guys is interesting. They don’t say the kick is good. Basically a long pause, you can hear the crowd screaming. Then he says the SEC is going to fine A&M big time for that crowd rushing the field.
I’m not sure you can stop something like that in situations like that.
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I remember when we beat Nebraska in ‘98 we didn’t storm the field but just simply walked down and entered it in a calm fashion. At least that’s the way I remember it.
The tape of the Alabama play by play guys is interesting. They don’t say the kick is good. Basically a long pause, you can hear the crowd screaming. Then he says the SEC is going to fine A&M big time for that crowd rushing the field.
I’m not sure you can stop something like that in situations like that.
They shouldn’t stop it. And jimbo should pay for it.
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A&M has plenty of money
along with all other SEC teams
but, I wonder... how is the fine money spent?
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Your recollection of 98 is correct. I remember my OWH buddy telling me they will storm the field. We were informed by an old scribe. He said Most of the Corps consider the field sacred. They will protect it . That's what happened. Things have changed a bit.
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The tape of the Alabama play by play guys is interesting. They don’t say the kick is good. Basically a long pause, you can hear the crowd screaming. Then he says the SEC is going to fine A&M big time for that crowd rushing the field.
Off the foot, it looked like a bad miss....then it straightened up like you did when your mom yells your full name when you're a kid.
Florida doesn't rush the field. In situations that they might, the PD brings out horseback cops with 1-2 min left in the game, and lines them around the field. There's a way to prevent it.
Of course, Florida has rarely been a big home underdog in my viewing lifetime, so there's that as well.
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A&M has plenty of money
along with all other SEC teams
but, I wonder... how is the fine money spent?
I just think it would be funny. The $100 million man rolling in and throwing down.
Per an old story, it goes to scholarship initiatives
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Off the foot, it looked like a bad miss....then it straightened up like you did when your mom yells your full name when you're a kid.
Florida doesn't rush the field. In situations that they might, the PD brings out horseback cops with 1-2 min left in the game, and lines them around the field. There's a way to prevent it.
Of course, Florida has rarely been a big home underdog in my viewing lifetime, so there's that as well.
Damn that kick looked wide left didn’t it? Definitely curved back to the right at the last second.
I’m not sure there would be enough horses and cops to stop 20-30,000 fans from rushing the field. The only objective should be to delay them for 30 or so seconds to allow the opposing teams and coaches off the field.
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D Gordon kick to upset ND in 1993 was a good screwball field goal for BC. That ball started off course and veered back through the uprights. Another all timer.
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D Gordon kick to upset ND in 1993 was a good screwball field goal for BC. That ball started off course and veered back through the uprights. Another all timer.
Great write-up, thank you!
Field rushes have gone on in Iowa City since at least the 1930s. In the old Nickelodeon Bar about two blocks from the east-side dorms the owner displayed part of a wooden goal post taken down after an Iowa victory over Notre Dame with the year and occasion written on the goal post (I think Nile Kinnick's 1939 year, 7-6 over ND).
In 1985, after the Michigan-Iowa game a field rush resulted in the injury to backup QB Mark Vlasic (I think it was an ankle fracture). But Mark Vlasic returned to start the 1986 season.
In 2002, after tying for the Big Ten Championship with Ohio State, Iowa fans rushed the field of the Metrodome, downed the goal posts, and attempted to remove one from the Metrodome. Holly Rowe is the best sideline reporter in history. If you don't want to watch the highlights (which I enjoyed), at least watch her postgame interviews, starting shortly after 11:30, and the disposition of the uprights. Someone was charged with a crime for trying to remove a goal post. That said, if you get charged with removing a goal post and spend a night in jail, pay the fine, pay restitution, you should get to keep the goal post, and display it in your bar with lettering indicating the occasion. It will be a much more valuable on eBay than the fine and restitution.
(98) 2002 #5 Iowa at Minnesota Highlights - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=393AB4LkcS0)
F (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=393AB4LkcS0)inally, my daughter, and I, when she was a kid, emerged from the upper echelons long after the field was initially stormed in 2002 following a 62-10 win over Northwestern, to walk about the field, while I looked for my high school teammate Tom Rusk who was honorary captain. He got off the field. I spoke to him at a high school reunion. The honorary captain (led the Big Ten in tackles in sophomore year) told the team before the game. When I played (1970s) we were not very good. Since we were not very good as a team, I made it personal, each play. Make it personal. Coach Ferentz then said get out there, and make it personal.
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In 1985, after the Michigan-Iowa game a field rush resulted in the injury to backup QB Mark Vlasic (I think it was an ankle fracture). But Mark Vlasic returned to start the 1986 season.
I was on the field for that one
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Looter
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Only thing I didn't get, Saban not calling timeouts at end of 1sr half. It's as if he wanted to get in the locker room asap or was double parked. I think they gave up a possession there even though they were getting ball to start 3rd.
we were getting worked up front in first half. second half was much better, though was more of a stalemate than flipped domination. but still, that half needed to end to get to adjustments quicker. jmo
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Looter
didn't like Schembechler and the "M" men back then
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Nor should you have
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Great write-up thank you for sharing. What a game you got to see!
good read. unfortunately the game was a stinker, right? right? :'(
LoL.
Most everybody who doesn't have a dog in the fight roots for the underdog because it is more fun.