Who among us have been to Autzen Stadium?

[DawgatAuburn]

I went for our game in 02, and I must say, I could not disagree more with this column. It was a nice enough place to watch a game, but the stadium had little to nothing to do with the outcome. Perhaps other games are different as mentioned in the column, but nothing about Autzen gave me an intimidating feeling.

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[DawgatAuburn]

I went for our game in 02, and I must say, I could not disagree more with this column. It was a nice enough place to watch a game, but the stadium had little to nothing to do with the outcome. Perhaps other games are different as mentioned in the column, but nothing about Autzen gave me an intimidating feeling.

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[dawgstudent]

so maybe we didn't get the true Autzen experience but I agree with you. The one thing I was amazed with was the # of State fans that went.

The stadium reminds me of a rich man's Liberty Bowl.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Other than that, it's may be just a case of being the loudest stadium between the PAC-10 and Big-10.

 

[MSUCostanza]

And I've been to 7 SEC stadiums that were louder. A 80% full Neyland Stadium in a 50-point blowout of State was louder. Commonwealth Stadium in 1998 - louder. Scott Field vs Florida in 2000 or LSU a few weeks ago - louder. Autzen - meh.

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

w/Dawgstudent about the game being pretty much over before it got started good.
I was sitting on the aisle in the EZ that seperated the State section from the O section and of course I get the a-hole O fans near me that start talking s%!t about my cowbell, etc.
That was a wkend full of weird and intersesting things to occur.
1> was a member of our athletic staff talking about having to play w/out Fant and our backup QB. (York) Told me and a buddy of mine during team breakfast that we would get beat by 50 and KY couldnt play dead at a a funeral.
2> Picked up jorts w/ a mullet Swindoll on campus that morning as he was walking around lost trying to find his way back to the hotel.

 

[buddawg]

Heard all the hype going in about the noise. I did not think it was all that loud. Very nice stadium though.

On the way, we caught a connector in Houston. Fant's parents where on the plane. Little did they know or anybody else what was coming down. We were out on the coast doing the tourist thing, when the phone rang.

Only place I have visited that I would move to.

 

[JimC1097]

Ain't no Tiger Stadium or even Davis Wade (when bells are rockin), but it was a very good atmosphere. It was louder and more intense than when I went to our game in '02. Probably because it was a conference game and Cal was ranked 6 when they came in. Spanked 'em 42 - 3....

 

[Agentdog]

Impressed with the State fans there. Smaller but much nicer Liberty Bowl.

I remember being unimpressed though. Maybe it had to do with how much we heard about it all summer and expecting something more. Maybe I have just been to bigger and louder stadiums down here. I don't know. But I can see how in a tight game that place could be loud. The seats were very close to the field. The Ducks were pretty supportive of thier team too. So, it has some atmosphere.

All in all, not a bad stadium for being off campus in the middle of park but certainly nothing head and shoulders above the rest.

 

[Agentdog]

I am no expert on NCAA rules. However, I have never understood why we did not go ahead and play him. What is the worst that could have happened? Forfeit a game we were going to lose anyway. It was a long shot to win with him. No way we were without him.

By the way, I tell people that trip was the epitome of being a State fan. Fly across country to watch your team. Receive news that night at dinner that your starting QB is not going to play for some ******** reason. Hail State!

 

[Fletch Fletcher]

I went. The stadium was nice, but I didn't like that half of it was surrounded by parking lots. I prefer the feel of a college stadium being within the confines of a campus. I didn't think it got all that loud either, but as others have mentioned the games wasn't very competitive. I do remember the motorcycle idiot that almost took out our guys during the coin toss.

 

[benatmsu]

I was there in '02... Aside from the constant "Go home, redneck!" type taunts, it wasn't overly impressive. It wasn't especially loud and wasn't too intimedating. LSU on a Saturday night is 1000X more intimedating...

 

[grayghost.sixpack]

Went there two years ago for the USC game. That place was the loudest place I have ever been to. Louder than the Swamp, Death Valley, The Coloseum, and Bryant Denny. Of course the Nike field house outside the stadium is top notch. Beer, Music, and Big Screens.

 

[FlabLoser]

I am no expert on NCAA rules. However, I have never understood why we did not go ahead and play him. What is the worst that could have happened? Forfeit a game we were going to lose anyway. It was a long shot to win with him. No way we were without him.

By the way, I tell people that trip was the epitome of being a State fan. Fly across country to watch your team. Receive news that night at dinner that your starting QB is not going to play for some ******** reason. Hail State!

In hindsight, playing him would have been best.

NOW HEAR THIS - The NCAA never suspended Fant. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mississippi State suspended Fant</span>. The procedure, by 'Ole Larry I'm sure, was to suspend him and immediately apply for his reinstatement. I believe the suspension happened so close to game day, there wasn't time to get him reinstated for the game. In all likely hood, the NCAA never would have suspended Fant for a game.

Thanks Larry! You *******.

By the way - I was there too. Very nice city. Very nice campus. I would live there in a heartbeat. The people were very nice too - nicer than anywhere else I have ever been. I would not hesitate to go back there. The stadium wasn't the least bit intimidating - maybe because because the game was over before it started. Maybe because were were in the top corner of the endzone and the sound just didn't get to us.

 

[The Big Slick]

1/3 of the fans ride their 10-speed to the game and a common tailgate menu consist of tofu dogs and fruit smoothies.

 

[vhdawg]

....it's nice, but it's no Alabama or LSU.

 

[Mr Meoff]

1. You're right, it's not as loud as everyone writes about. It is, however, 'West Coast Loud'. The people who write about Autzen have most likely never been to Death Valley, but it's probably as close to an SEC atmosphere that the PAC-10 has.

2. My favorite part of the pre-game atmosphere was the Pep Rally they hosted in what I guess was their indoor practice facility. It's a great idea, and basically took the place of tailgating for quite a large number of people. There were about a dozen or so in our group, but they welcomed us in, and we had a large time. Key point: they served alcohol, which made everyone quite happy. (Of course, this was all before the game and the post-game shouting matches and near-brawl.)

and

3. At some point late one night on that trip, we ended up at a "strip" club. Although, I'm not sure they actually call them strip clubs up there, since no one ever actually "strips"... That's right -- the girls KEPT THEIR CLOTHES ON the whole time... They danced in bikinis. Needless to say, we bolted fairly soon after discovering this tidbit. Very strange.

 

[FlabLoser]

At some time after the game ends - probably 10-15 minutes after, they sound a horn and everybody is allowed on to the field. Its an orderly thing. Not like rushing to tear down the goalposts. Some coaches and players hang around to glad handle and sign autographs. It was a very cool thing.

 

[JimC1097]

Don't know where you went, but here in Portland the clubs are shoe bars. They wear NOTHING. maybe start with bikini but quickly comes off. Top and bottom.... of course Portland has more strip clubs and micro-breweries per capita than anywhere in country. Nice

 

[1549 miles away]

Got the word about the QB situation while catching a connecting flight. I thought the stadium was pretty decent. I would say it was loud for a PAC-10 venue. Not fair to compare it to the SEC stadiums, because nothing really compares. The folks were nice (it's easy to be nice when you are beating the living crap out of the visitor). The amount of State fans was impressive. The campus and area were beautiful, but before you consider moving there, just understand that it is one of the most liberal areas in the nation. I didn't like having to ride a shuttle bus back to the car. I thought the indoor "tailgate" thing was lame. An outside setup would have been more fun, especially since the weather was so nice.

 

[Oregon-Tiger]

Their hatred for USC is as intense as any SEC rivalry. It gets pretty loud for USC or Oregon State.

 

[Bigedawg23]

All summer long we heard how it was the most intimidating atmosphere in the country, blah, blah, blah. I have been to every SEC venue and can assure you that it does not come close to any besides Vandy and possibly Ole Miss. I believe this is just a myth that has been created on the west coast since the fans aren't as rabid as they are here in the south. I know the game was a blow out, but this was the first game of the season and they had an SEC team in their house. I would think that Autzen would have been rocking for that. Pregame tailgating, etc. was average but nothing spectacular either. From all of the talk, I was expecting a Saturday night in Baton Rouge type atmosphere but I was sorely disappointed. For good measure, we got our asses thoroughly handed to us. It just was not a great time, but Oregon is a very naturally beautiful state and they do have some of the hottest cheerleaders ever as witnessed in Little Rock two years ago at the NCAAs.

 

[Faustdog]

Don't know where you went, but here in Portland the clubs are shoe bars. They wear NOTHING. maybe start with bikini but quickly comes off. Top and bottom.... of course Portland has more strip clubs and micro-breweries per capita than anywhere in country. Nice

They must have changed the law since the 2002 game then. I was amazed that such a liberal place had such restrictions on its strip clubs. We went to two in Portland. The girls had to wear g-strings and pasties, and couldn't come within something like three feet of the customers. So no lap dances, etc.

And Autzen is hugely overrated. The area is spectacular though.

 

[Sutterkane]

one sided hatred and one sided decisions.

 

[Frances Drebin]

and there are at least nine stadiums in the SEC that is louder. I couldn't agree more.