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<blockquote data-quote="altgeld88" data-source="post: 1803361" data-attributes="member: 2886"><p><span style="color: rgb(243, 121, 52)"><strong>Great thread, Fighter. </strong></span>Thanks for starting it.</p><p></p><p>OK, Sky, you can slag me, too. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> I grew up in Columbus. Though I find I can only root for OSU football when they're playing Michigan or someone in the Rose Bowl (and I can never root for them in basketball), I have fond memories of Ohio Stadium that go way back to seeing my first game there in 1972 as a first grader. Saw a lot of games there growing up. Before the massive renovation in the late 90s destroyed its classic lines and aesthetics, I thought it was one of the true football cathedrals. Now it strikes me like a narcissistic bodybuilder on steroids. Still a great place to see a game, however. The crowd is overwhelming and the atmosphere oozes tradition.</p><p></p><p>I've always been fond of campuses and stadiums. The only one I haven't visited in the BT is Rutgers. Have been inside all of the BT football stadiums except Rutgers' and MN's new one (but sat in Minnesota's old Brick House, Memorial Stadium, in the late '80s before it was torn down, so that counts to me.) Have been inside all of the basketball arenas except the RAC and Breslin (though I visited Jennison Field House, the old MSU basketball gym, on the same afternoon in '96 when I found Breslin locked.) I even got inside the old Iowa Field House and Carver-Hawkeye on the same day. </p><p></p><p>Haven't been in Kohl but visited old Wisconsin Field House, home to Badger basketball, in '88 long before Kohl existed. Finally got into Value City Arena in Columbus last fall. I found it really generic and sterile. The old St. John Arena, where I grew up watching OSU hoops, is still one of my favorite venues. A fairly steep seating configuration and an aluminum roof like Mackey's. Loud as all get out. A shame that they'll tear it down soon. Visited Nebraska in 1990. Got into Memorial Stadium on a Tuesday afternoon in late September, took a photo at midfield, enjoyed the Husker Strength Museum (I kid you not) and saw their old basketball arena, too.</p><p></p><p>I had the pleasure of seeing a down-to-the wire Iowa-Michigan game in Kinnick in '03. Fighter is spot on: it's a great game-day experience and Kinnick is a wonderful place to see a game. (I've now alienated at least 3/4 of the board by making that observation!)</p><p></p><p>Michigan Stadium is a dump, IMO. An unimaginative, gigantic, featureless bowl placed in the ground. The gameday experience is far inferior to OSu and PSU. Beaver Stadium @ PSU is a fantastic venue. Saw Illinois v. PSU in 2008 there on a Saturday night for a White Out. The stadium has been cobbled together over the years so is a bit ungainly, but you can't beat the atmosphere when it's packed and rocking for a night game. That's the only place I've been for a game that's as overwhelming as Ohio Stadium.</p><p></p><p>IU has a pretty campus for sure. The monotony of limestone buildings wore on me a bit, however. (Just as Georgian brick probably wears on certain visitors to the UIUC campus.) It's hard to beat Madison, however, for its beautiful setting between two lakes. It gets my vote as prettiest BT campus. Agreed concerning Maryland's unfortunate, depressing campus town.</p><p></p><p>BTW, if you've never read it, I recommend a book I stumbled upon last year: <u>Big Ten Country</u> by Bob Wood. In the fall of 1988 the author, who grew up in Kalamazoo and attended MSU, visited every Big Ten campus and attended a football game. The book has 20 separate chapters. For each school he has a chapter about his experience hanging out on campus during the week, and one chapter about the game day experience. It's a really enjoyable read for any BT alum, particularly for those of us who recall that era. It gives such a good flavor of the campuses and their traditions. Mr. Wood is a really nice guy, too; he's now a retired high school teacher in Western Michigan. After I read the book last fall I managed to track him down and exchange some emails with him. Highly recommended.</p><p></p><p>The post is now deep into TLDR territory. Will write another one about basketball arenas and stuff I've seen around the country.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="altgeld88, post: 1803361, member: 2886"] [COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)][B]Great thread, Fighter. [/B][/COLOR]Thanks for starting it. OK, Sky, you can slag me, too. ;) I grew up in Columbus. Though I find I can only root for OSU football when they're playing Michigan or someone in the Rose Bowl (and I can never root for them in basketball), I have fond memories of Ohio Stadium that go way back to seeing my first game there in 1972 as a first grader. Saw a lot of games there growing up. Before the massive renovation in the late 90s destroyed its classic lines and aesthetics, I thought it was one of the true football cathedrals. Now it strikes me like a narcissistic bodybuilder on steroids. Still a great place to see a game, however. The crowd is overwhelming and the atmosphere oozes tradition. I've always been fond of campuses and stadiums. The only one I haven't visited in the BT is Rutgers. Have been inside all of the BT football stadiums except Rutgers' and MN's new one (but sat in Minnesota's old Brick House, Memorial Stadium, in the late '80s before it was torn down, so that counts to me.) Have been inside all of the basketball arenas except the RAC and Breslin (though I visited Jennison Field House, the old MSU basketball gym, on the same afternoon in '96 when I found Breslin locked.) I even got inside the old Iowa Field House and Carver-Hawkeye on the same day. Haven't been in Kohl but visited old Wisconsin Field House, home to Badger basketball, in '88 long before Kohl existed. Finally got into Value City Arena in Columbus last fall. I found it really generic and sterile. The old St. John Arena, where I grew up watching OSU hoops, is still one of my favorite venues. A fairly steep seating configuration and an aluminum roof like Mackey's. Loud as all get out. A shame that they'll tear it down soon. Visited Nebraska in 1990. Got into Memorial Stadium on a Tuesday afternoon in late September, took a photo at midfield, enjoyed the Husker Strength Museum (I kid you not) and saw their old basketball arena, too. I had the pleasure of seeing a down-to-the wire Iowa-Michigan game in Kinnick in '03. Fighter is spot on: it's a great game-day experience and Kinnick is a wonderful place to see a game. (I've now alienated at least 3/4 of the board by making that observation!) Michigan Stadium is a dump, IMO. An unimaginative, gigantic, featureless bowl placed in the ground. The gameday experience is far inferior to OSu and PSU. Beaver Stadium @ PSU is a fantastic venue. Saw Illinois v. PSU in 2008 there on a Saturday night for a White Out. The stadium has been cobbled together over the years so is a bit ungainly, but you can't beat the atmosphere when it's packed and rocking for a night game. That's the only place I've been for a game that's as overwhelming as Ohio Stadium. IU has a pretty campus for sure. The monotony of limestone buildings wore on me a bit, however. (Just as Georgian brick probably wears on certain visitors to the UIUC campus.) It's hard to beat Madison, however, for its beautiful setting between two lakes. It gets my vote as prettiest BT campus. Agreed concerning Maryland's unfortunate, depressing campus town. BTW, if you've never read it, I recommend a book I stumbled upon last year: [U]Big Ten Country[/U] by Bob Wood. In the fall of 1988 the author, who grew up in Kalamazoo and attended MSU, visited every Big Ten campus and attended a football game. The book has 20 separate chapters. For each school he has a chapter about his experience hanging out on campus during the week, and one chapter about the game day experience. It's a really enjoyable read for any BT alum, particularly for those of us who recall that era. It gives such a good flavor of the campuses and their traditions. Mr. Wood is a really nice guy, too; he's now a retired high school teacher in Western Michigan. After I read the book last fall I managed to track him down and exchange some emails with him. Highly recommended. The post is now deep into TLDR territory. Will write another one about basketball arenas and stuff I've seen around the country. [/QUOTE]
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