Gallion's Sports Bar

Fanatical
by: Popeye

Generally speaking, sports writers talk about which teams are hot, which one's are not, and upcoming games for the week. I'm breaking tradition this week for a special report on the atmosphere surrounding the game.

Hell, most of the time the atmosphere is actually better than the game.

As I cruise around the world of college football looking for the best places to see a game on Saturday, several things stick out as invaluable to a game. A Stadium has to be big, full, loud, and surrounding by a rich history. Here's a look at some intimidating place around the country:

#5 Memorial Stadium (Nebraska)

Year built: 1923

Capacity: 74,031

Nebraska's continuing NCAA record of consecutive home sellouts passed the 200-mark in 1994 and reached 247 with eight home sellouts in 2001. On Homecoming, Oct. 29, 1994, against the University of Colorado, Nebraska celebrated its 200th consecutive sellout.

On Sept. 8, 2001, Nebraska set a single-game home attendance record with 78,118 fans watching the Huskers defeat Notre Dame, 27-10. In 2001, Nebraska set a single-season home attendance record by totaling 622,436 fans for the second-best average home attendance in school history with 77,804 fans per game, trailing only the 77,878 fans per game in 2000.

The streak of consecutive sellouts started on Nov. 3, 1962, when 36,501 attended the Homecoming contest against Missouri. The last non-sellout came Oct. 20, 1962, when the Huskers and Kansas State drew 30,701.

The only strike against Nebraska is the relatively small size of Memorial. 74 K does not stand up to the mammoths located in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. But I'm sorry, THAT many sellouts is impressive, especially in the Midwest.

#4 Michigan Stadium (Michigan)

Year built: 1927

Capacity: 107,501

Michigan Stadium completed in 1927 at a cost in excess of $950,000, originally had seating available for 72,000 fans. Numerous renovations and additions over the years have increased the seating to the current 107,501 capacity.

The Wolverines played their first game at Michigan Stadium on October 1, 1927, defeating Ohio Wesleyan, 33-0. The stadium dedication game was played on October 22, 1927, with U-M defeating Ohio State 21-0. Michigan enters the 2001 season with a 333-101-15 (.758) record in its 437 Michigan Stadium games.

Fans have turned the Michigan Stadium turnstiles at a record-setting pace. The Wolverines hold both the NCAA regular-season single-game and season attendance marks, and have led the nation in season attendance 26 of the past 27 seasons. U-M has played 160 consecutive home games in front of crowds in excess of 100,000 through the 2000 season. The last time Michigan did not have 100,000 in attendance in Michigan Stadium was on October 25, 1975, vs. Indiana. A crowd of 93,857 was on hand for the 55-7 Michigan victory.

#3 Kyle Field (Texas A&M)

Year built: 1927

Capacity: 80,650

Quickly gaining the reputation as one of the nation's most intimidating road venues, Texas A&M's Kyle Field has been the home of the Aggie football team since the mid-1920s.

The Aggies have always been tough to beat at Kyle Field with an all-time record of 235-112-12 (67.1 winning percentage) on their home field. But under the direction of head coach R.C. Slocum, the Aggie football team took the home field advantage to another level during the decade of the 1990s.

In the 1990s, Texas A&M was dominant at Kyle Field with a 55-4-1 (92.5 winning percentage) record. During that span, the Aggies put together two of the longest home winning streaks in school history.

While I hate the aggies with a passion, Kyle field is the hardest place to visit in the country! But I could definitely do without the fucking corps.

#2 DKR-Memorial Stadium (Texas)

Year built: 1923

Capacity: 74,031

One of the largest sports facilities of its kind in the Southwest, The University of Texas' Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is a standing legacy to the rich tradition of Longhorn football. Opened in 1924, Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium has undergone several facelifts to maintain itself as one of the finest football facilities in America. Although its capacity is listed as 80,082, Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium has been the site of standing room-only contests hundreds of times over the last 79 seasons, and on 29 occasions has accommodated more than 81,000 fans. The support peaked in 1999 as a record crowd of 84,082 turned out for Texas' victory over No. 3 Nebraska. Success has been a big part of the tradition. The Horns have won nearly 77 percent of their games (301-87-10) within the confines of Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

On game day, many rich traditions are present, everything from Smokey the cannon, to the running of the horns. The pre game tailgate atmosphere is the top in the country with plenty of beef and Shiner.

#1 Neyland (Tennessee)

Year built: 1921

Capacity: 104,079

Even though I consider Tennessee, "the other UT," Neyland is as good as it gets in college football.

The present day Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field, had its beginning in 1919. Col. W.S. Shields, president of Knoxville's City National Bank and a UT trustee, provided the initial capital to prepare and equip an athletic field. Thus, when the field was completed in March 1921, it was called Shields-Watkins Field in honor of the donor and his wife, Alice Watkins-Shields.

The stadium, apart from the field it grew to enclose, came to bear its own distinguished name - Neyland Stadium. It was named for the man most responsible for the growth and development of Tennessee's proud football tradition. General Robert R. Neyland served as head coach from 1926-1952, with two interruptions for military service.

After retiring from the coaching ranks, Neyland was athletics director until his death in 1962. He was the guiding force behind several additions to the stadium's capacity and is the man most responsible for the winning tradition that Volunteer fans have come to expect through the years.

The latest addition to the facility is the 78 East sideline skyboxes in 2000, bringing capacity to 104,079.

Last Week's Scores:

USC (11)	20	Florida (10)	30
K State (23)	27	Tennessee (4)	13

Notre Dame (12)	21	Houston	11
Michigan St	17	Texas (2)	41

Popeye's Picks: Week 5
	Straight	Line
Last Week:	3--2	3--2
Season to Date:	15--5	12--8

Week 6 Top 10 Rankings
	Last wk	record	result
1. Miami	1^st	4--0	W 38-6 vs. Bos Col
2. Texas	2^nd	4--0	W 41-11 vs. Houston
3. Oklahoma	3^rd	3--0	Idle
4. Virginia Tech	6^th	3--0	W 37-27 vs. Alabama
5. Florida State	7^th	40	W 48-17 vs. Duke
6 Georgia	5^th	4--0	W 45-7 vs. Northwestern
7. Oregon	Unranked	3--0	W 41-0 vs. Portland
8. Florida	Unranked	3--0	W 30-13 at Tenn
9. Notre Dame	Unranked	4--0	W 21-17 at Mich St
10. Ohio State	Unranked	4--0	W 23-19 at Cincinnati

Match up of the Week

University of Nebraska

Vs.

Iowa State

Who would have thought that this match up would mean anything to the college football world? I mean let's face it; Iowa State hasn't beaten Nebraska since 1992 and hasn't come within three touchdowns since Dan McCarney became head coach in 1995, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Iowa State has stormed out of the gates this season. In week one, the Cyclones lost to the Seminoles by a mere seven points. Not bad against such a national power. Many chalked it up to Florida State overlooking an overmatched opponent. This argument definitely has merit.

We're just one year removed from the Cyclones going 7-5 for their first bowl game EVER, hardly something for a proud Nebraska program to be scared of. After all, the last time Nebraska didn't go to a bowl was the year Nixon resigned! Yes it was THAT long ago.

The mighty have fallen this year. The famed black shirt defense has given up huge numbers in their last three games versus ranked opponents. Dating back to last year they gave up 62 to Colorado, 37 to Miami, and 40 to Penn State this year. This is not the usual bright spot for this storied program.

Saturday's game is just as important to Iowa State, which has enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons but must prove it can defeat a long-time nemesis. Nebraska has won the last nine meetings since the last win by Iowa State, 19-10, in 1992. The Cornhuskers own a whopping 80-14-2 edge in the all-time series.

But Nebraska has yet to play a Cyclones team with a player as talented as the 5-10 Wallace, who nearly rallied Iowa State to a victory over Florida State in the season opener before losing, 38-31. Iowa State will play very disciplined ball, their trademark, and give the Huskers a tough game.

When picking this game, one must balance the past and present. If you subscribe to the theory that history repeats itself, pick Nebraska. But if you are in the school of thought that all that matters is the present, Iowa State is your team.

I believe Iowa State will fall victim to the unfamiliar national spotlight and lose to the very intimidating Huskers.

Popeye Says:

Nebraska (21) 28

Iowa State (19) 24

Week 6 Matches: (favorites in bold)		Popeye's Pick
	Straight	Line
Texas at Tulane (+30.5)	Texas	Texas
Nebraska at Iowa St (Pk)	Nebraska	Nebraska
Oregon St (+3) at USC	USC	USC
Michigan at Illinois (+7.5)	Michigan	Illinois
New Mexico St (+28.5) at Georgia	Georgia	Georgia