NC State (ACC) 2018

College:   North Carolina State University

Year:       2018

Game:     NC State 47 Florida State 28

Rating:    8.5
Cost Index:  Mid

Stadium:  Carter-Finley Stadium

If you want to make it part of a larger trip:  Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest
Don't Miss:   Tailgate

Avoid:   Nothing to avoid on this one

Attendees:  Bones

Summary:  I've been wanting to go to NC State for a long time.  It's a difficult spot to plan for because you never know when they are going to be good...and even when they are good they are never that good. At most you have 2 games a year to choose from.  I was going to go to the West Virginia game...glad I didn't because it got cancelled.  I lucked out a bit on this game.  It certainly wasn't marquee because Florida State is down but the atmosphere was pretty good and NC State won.  Weather was good...so overall a good trip. 

Pre-game:  The tailgate was exceptional.  The stadium isn't really on campus, it's part of the state fairgrounds.  That setup generally works really well. North Carolina is great, they still play the music I like down there. The women down there still focus on being feminine.  The attitude is pretty laid back.  Just a good spot all around. 

I didn't spend a ton of time tail gating as I was there solo.  I ended up at a bar not far from the stadium called the Backyard Bistro.  It was fine, nothing special. There are not a ton of bars around the stadium which is surprising because the arena that the Hurricanes and NC State basketball share is in the same complex. 

Game Experience:   It was pretty good.  It always tough to get a feel for a place when the game isn't huge.  Then again, when was the last time NC State had a huge game?  Gameday has been there once, in 2004, for a game against Miami (they lost 45-31). That's tied with Western MIchigan, Williams and Temple.  That should not be the case with NC State, they've had a lot of great players there. 

The atmosphere was decent, but the stadium is small and not completely enclosed so it doesn't get as loud as it does in some other places.

Stadium:   Carter-Finley.  The stadium is really well designed, everything looks like it belongs.  As stated previously, the lots around the stadium make for a great tailgate. It fits the area it's in and it fits the NC State program.  One negative...I was sitting right about the students and had no idea. It was probably the lamest student section I've even dealt with at a game. 

The Wolf Pack statues in front of the stadium are...very cool (pics below)

Post Game:   This was a 3:30 kick and there were a bunch of important games on that day and night. I went to a place called Desy's to watch the games.  When it was clear that Alabama was going to beat LSU I got out of there and went to Raleigh Brewing company.  I'm old, so there wasn't much going on at that point so I went home.

Overall:  Solid college football experience.  Would love to go back if they 

Game Recap:  http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401013164

Air Force (Mountain West) 2018

College:   Air Force Academy

Year:       2018

Game:     Air Force 35 Navy 7

Rating:    9
Cost Index:  Low

Stadium:  Falcon Stadium

If you want to make it part of a larger trip:  Colorado, Denver, Colorado State
Don't Miss:   The Air Force Academy pregame experience

Avoid:   Sitting in traffic trying to get out of the game.

Attendees:  Bones

Pre-game:  It's difficult to describe how unique the Air Force Academy is and, in turn, how unique the game day experience is over there. It starts with the campus.  The AFA campus is about 15 miles long end to end. It includes an airfield, the stadium, a golf course...there is no shortage of land.  The campus sits up against the Rocky Mountains, Pike's Peak is a few miles south.  Norad is somewhere in the area as well.

The stadium sits by itself up against the mountain side.  The tailgate is significant, the scenery beautiful.  The coolest part of the entire experience is the hour or so before the game.  There are planes everywhere and these aren't Cessna's.  They are machines of war.  At one point I looked up and there was an Osprey, a helicopter and a fighter or two.  Here is a summary:

https://gazette.com/news/flyovers-this-weekend-at-air-force-academy-along-with-home/article_c26b998a-c7dd-11e8-9b8b-8bdd514b4d06.html

Note on the tailgate:  You can rent an RV and tail gate overnight.  If I'm lucky enough to return to this wonderful spot I will try to RV for at least one night.  

The campus has only been around since the 1950s so it's more modern than most. 

Game Experience:   Game itself was actually pretty good.  Both of these squads employ a version of the option offence.  The defenses see it every day in practice so it doesn't confuse these teams like it does other squads.  The game was pretty stagnant in the early going.  The Air Force got going and started to impose their will on Navy.  

The pre-game festivities were very cool.  They have a traditional "exchanging of the prisoners" where the cadets that are on semester exchange are exchanged to sit with their home school.  They don't have one flyover, they have one for the anthem, one for the kickoff...it was too windy for this game but they usually have someone parachute into the stadium.  

Stadium:   Falcon Stadium.  It was built in the late 50s/early 60s (like much of the campus) and while it's not the fanciest place I've ever been it's a comfortable spot to watch the game and it gets pretty loud.  You can buy beer in there. 

Post Game: Only problem with the entire game was the way they managed traffic.  I left early and it still took me way too long to get out of there. 

Overall:  GREAT time.  I loved it, the whole experience was great top to bottom.  My only regret is the way the set up is over there it made it difficult to check out the main campus.  I wasn't able to do so.  I suppose I can do that next time I'm there. 

Game Recap:  http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401019504

Auburn (SEC) 2018

College:   Auburn University

Year:       2018

Game:     Auburn 34 Arkansas 3

Rating:    8
Cost Index:  Average
Tickets:  I will no longer comment on tickets....because I am a stupid fuck when it comes to tickets.  I constantly misplay the market.  

Stadium:  Jordan-Hare Stadium

If you want to make it part of a larger trip:  Alabama, Atlanta, Georgia
Don't Miss:   War Eagle!

Avoid:     Fat southerners

Attendees:  Bones

Pre-game:  Auburn is pretty remote, it's only a couple of hours from Atlanta but it feels a lot farther away.  The area is beautiful.

I found a town a few miles away Opeika to hang out before the game because it had a brewpub (Red Clay).  I ended up hanging out there before and after the game.  Town was excellent, brew put was next to a sister distillery (John Emerald).

They had a beer garden set up outside the stadium. Stopped there fore a couple before heading into the game.  People were friendly.

Game Experience:   i didn't pick the best game to go to. I thought Arkansas would be more competitive.  Auburn also had a huge game the week before against LSU, should have made that one happen as that was a little more intense.   It wasn't bad and from past experience I know a big game there is as good as a big game anywhere.

War Eagle is still awesome.  The best tradition in sports.

Stadium:   Jordan-Hare is decent.  Much nicer on the inside than it appears from the outside.   I would not call it memorable or top shelf but it gets the job done. 

Post Game: I went back to Opeika to hang out and grab a bite to eat at Red Clay.  Ended up hanging out there most of the night.

Overall:  Auburn is a great time.  A lot of people and places say they are laid back.  Auburn actually is laid back and it translates.  The area is beautiful and the game day experience mirrors the University.  I was there a few years back and, god willing, will go again in a few years.

Recap:  http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401012285

2018 College Baskets: DePaul, Butler, Indiana

Colleges:  DePaul University, Butler University & Indiana University

Year:       2018

Game:     DePaul vs. Miami of Ohio, Butler vs. St. Johns & Purdue vs. Indiana

Cost Index:  Average
Tickets:  Easy

Stadium:  Wintrust Arena (DePaul), Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butlter), Assembly Hall (Indiana)

Attendees:  Bones

Game Experience:  DePaul is nothing crazy, the team isn't very good and the stadium is not on campus.  It didn't help that Miami of Ohio isn't exactly a top tier opponent.  Butler was great, Hinkle is on the smaller side but that makes it louder than the larger stadiums. Assembly Hall...that place is as intimidating as it gets.  

Stadiums: Wintrust Arena is brand new.  Actually pretty good for a new spot.  Chicago skyline on the basketball court was cool. Hinkle field house is everything I had hoped. The history, the architecture, the crowd is all top notch.  Indiana basketball is as crazy as any football game I've been too.  

Overall:  Solid basketball experience.  Butler and Indiana both had top end atmosphere.  Wintrust Arena at DePaul is worth a take if you need a night out in the cold Chicago winter. 

Texas A&M (SEC) 2018

College:  Texas A&M University

Year:       2018

Game:     Clemson 28 Texas A&M 26

Rating:    8.5
Cost Index:  Average
Tickets:  Moderate

Stadium:  Kyle Field

If you want to make it part of a larger trip:  Texas, Houston, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, Dallas, Houston, Austin
Don't Miss:   Halftime show

Avoid:     Hotels in the College Station area    

Attendees:  Bones, Wrestler, Wrestler's Dad

Pre-game:  Weather was an issue on this day.  I got into College Station in the early afternoon. They have a pretty good bar area on the NW side of campus.  I parked there and met the other guys at the Rebel Draft House.  We sat through a pretty heavy rainstorm a couple of hours before the game.  The storm prevented us from checking out the tail gate.  I don't get the sense that the tail gate is anything special at A&M

Game Experience: A&M is loud.  They put over 100k in Kyle field and they make it difficult on the other team.  Atmosphere was exellent.  Game itself was excellent as well. Texas A&M gave Clemson everything they could handle, losing late on a failed 2pt conversion. It wasn't the game of the season, but it was the game of the week.

The half time show is among the best in college football.

Stadium: Kyle Field. It handles a large crowd as well as anywhere I've been.  It's new so it doesn't have the mystique that some other spots have but it's a great stadium to watch a game

Post Game: None of us were staying in the area after the game so there was no post game to speak of.

Overall:  This is one of the better spots in college football.  I can't put it in the highest level because the fans don't get quite as crazy as some other places (they don't drink as much honestly) and the tail gate could be a little more interesting.

Recap:  http://www.espn.in/college-football/recap?gameId=401012270