Game report/observations

CivilEngineerDog

Redshirt
Oct 27, 2007
1,154
0
0
Had been on Bama campus numerous times, but it was my first game at Bryant/Denny Stadium. Good atmosphere. Tailgate area is nice-it is set up in a grid with numbered spaces-has electrical hookups, but appears to be assigned places that are likely rented. Everyone was watching AU/Georgia game, and they all were going crazy when Georgia was up early. The area between the stadium and downtown on University Blvd has lots of bars and several places that sell Bama stuff. Lots of eye candy wearing Houndstooth hats, but I never saw the blond haired twin girls.

Came in on field level-very nice stadium, lots of skyboxes and people. Announced attendance was about 101,000-pretty loud, as we were next to the student section in End Zone. Not as intimidating as LSU or Florida. None the less, it is a very nice facility.

Had tickets about 20 rows up on 5-yard line on opposite corner from State section in Bama Section. Kid in front of me was about 12, with a Mohawk haircut died red with roll tide stamped on his head. His Dad and friends stood the entire game, regardless of what was going on, although they were the only ones in the section standing, all of which restricted my view at times-they have 4 TVs, one in each corner, but they are about the size of our old one, and they rarely played replays after each play.

1. Didn’t expect to win, but thought we would play them close and lose late.
2. We were flat. Plain and simple. Lots of obvious distractions last 2 weeks. The offense could move the ball, but we always would find a way to stop ourselves. Although they were stacking the box, we could still run, but not enough to break a big play. A few time we had one man to beat to make a big play, but they always made the tackle.
3. The defense seemed to be trying too hard, and didn’t wrap up, allowing the 3 big plays.
4. Our receivers dropped most of the few accurate passes Relf threw. Also, seems like he would throw into triple coverage when someone else was open.
5. McElroy made some very good throws. Unlike Relf, he is confident and surrounded by some seriously good playmakers, who won the game.
6. We really, really need a home run threat. No, we really, really need someone to hit home runs.
7. Why did Michael Carr run the ball out of the back of the end zone?
8. Anyone who complains about our concessions should see theirs. Went up at halftime to get food. The stand was run by a local church group, but operated more like a third graders kool aid stand.. They were out of Pizza, cookies, Dreamland nachos and foot long hotdogs. Only choices were regular hotdogs and peanuts. Took about 3 minutes for them to fix someone a Coke and find a bag of peanuts. (Take that Bama-Concession stand smack!)
9. Not one to complain about refs, as it would not have changed outcome, but several of the holding calls were away from the play and called late.
10. At the risk of being Captain Obvious, Bama is very, very good. Not sure how they have lost 2 games with the firepower they have. I expect them to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl
 

Topgundawg

Redshirt
Oct 23, 2010
864
0
0
I agree with your assessment. Spent several hours in the Quad before the Game. Bama band comes out at 4:30 to the Library and puts on a nice show for the crowd. The Quad is like our Junction but bigger. Our walk is the highlight and kicks. Our Big screen really stands out and spoils you after getting used to it and then seeing theirs. They have four but like poster said are much smaller and in a stadium that seats 110K you find yourself along way away.

We were in great seats with a older crowd. Very subdued missed the top dog atmosphere. Game wise it is very clear teams can't move on us on the ground so they go to the air and just cut us up. We don't get stingy until the red zone. We will have to do something or Ark will cut us up on the pass. They did go into SC and drop 40 on them two weeks ago.

The one really big thing I noticed: NO advertisements on their screens and NO replays. I realize they don't need the money for advertisements but Replays. Damn if your not paying attention all the time your screwed. Ditto on concession stands and Bathrooms that we went to look like they were for the crowd attending a High School game. Verrrry Small.
 

Barkman Turner Overdrive

All-Conference
May 28, 2006
4,545
2,947
113
The one really big thing I noticed: NO advertisements on their
screens and NO replays. I realize they don't need the money for
advertisements but Replays.
I can hazard a guess as to why they do not have replays. It has something to do with them getting most of the borderline calls anyway.
 

saltslugs

Redshirt
Oct 9, 2009
1,500
0
0
It looks nice from the inside, but that thing is a thrown-together piece of ****. The concourses are far too narrow, the stairs leading up to the stands are extremely small, and there are just ugly flat piece of uniform concrete slabs holding the thing together. As mentioned, the concessions sucked and were really expensive. Nice game atmosphere though. <div>
</div><div>The whole experience was a stark contrast from Starkville in every way--vendors everywhere, huge, but ****** stadium, and everything spaced-out in terms of tailgating.</div>
 
Mar 3, 2008
52
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Maybe I set my expectation too high, but I agree that there are some obvious drawbacks with the new Bryant Denny. It's big and that's about it. The ribbon is a nice addition but the concessions suck and the folks running it are slow as crap. As far as seating, I had seats on the 50 about 50 rows up (gift from a friend) and have never been so crunched in my life. No leg room and knees are dug into the seat in front of you. If someone needs to get up , you have to stand and lean way back to allow room or just step out into the aisle. Literally less than one foot of leg room once you sit down. Stadium never got very loud and fans were very quick to get quiet even after their long scores.
Also noticed when the clock hit 12 minutes to play in the 4th, 40% of the stadium gathered up their stuff and left and the emptying was steady from then on. I've heard Scott field louder and more intimidating and Bryant Denny's got nothing on Death Valley.
 

MaroonedNdaRock

Redshirt
Nov 9, 2010
610
0
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How old is the lower "bowl" of that stadium? I went there for the first time in the early 80s. It was just a bowl then. Hard to imagine that is the same place. Come to think of it, I have seen about 8 games at that stadium.....probably about 8 more than most Bama fans.

Also, dothey still serve hot dogs with sauerkraut? One year, I remember searching and searching that stadium for a plain hot dog. No luck......just suerkraut. WTF is that about?</p>