My brother and I have vowed to attend a Michigan game at every B1G stadium. We've been to Indiana, Northwestern, and OSU, so far, and will attend the game @Purdue this year and @ Penn State next year.
First, any suggestions/warnings/thoughts about Purdue and PSU? Also, not including OSU or Michigan, those of you that have gone to games within the B1G, how would you rank each stadium based on overall experience?
Just as a quick reference point:
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin
Purdue is rather bad. Very plain, not much character, and few amenities. It will be fun for you as a M!chigan fan, you'll outnumber Purdon't fans
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
I've been to both stadiums and enjoyed my game day experience in West Lafayette much more than I did in Happy Valley. I'd have to imagine that the recent events at Penn State would humble their fanbase. I was at Purdue for the 2007 game. It was a nationally televised night game that had the Bucks ranked #4 and the Boilers at #20. The atmosphere was electric. The Buckeyes prevailed 23-7. I was in Happy Valley for the 1999 Ohio State-Penn State game. The Nittany Lions were ranked #2 at the time and handled the Bellisari led Buckeyes 23-10. The fans were pretty in your face. I was also only 12 at the time. This was also pre-"white out" from what I remember at Penn State, fwiw. I'm pretty sure the outcomes of the games had something to do with how much I enjoyed each trip haha.
Purdue is mellow atmosphere because, like 703 said, your fans will probably outnumber theirs.
Penn State atmosphere is similar to OSU. Lots of drunk, obnoxious people and it will be loud. The "roar" is even more annoying in person than on tv. The drive into town SUCKS. Best to get there early and plan on staying late.
I've been to all of the stadiums except Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. Out of the ones I have been to, I would rate atmosphere as:
1. OSU
2. Wisconsin
3. Penn St
4. Michigan St
5. Michigan
All the others were equally boring.
Ive been to every B1G stadium except for the new one in Minnesota, and have had decent experiences in every one. The only one I will never go back to is PSU. I went in 03 and had a fine time save for getting out of the parking lot after the game, went back in 05 and it was an entirely different story. It was the only time in my experiences at away games where I feared for my own saftey. I'm a pretty big guy, so usualy that plays in my favor when people decide which visiting fans to mess with, but not that day. I had glass bottles thrown at me multiple times and had guys much smaller than myself try to pick fights with me, including the guy in my row that thought grabbing me by my shirt and telling me " you arent leaving, youre watching every mother******* last second" when Troy fumbled to pretty much seal the deal was a solid idea. I calmly explained to him that if he wanted to leave with all of his teeth, removing his hands from me was the smart play. Will never go back to PSU, period. But as with everywhere else, cheer for your team without being over the top and avoid being an ass and 99 times out of 100 you will have a good time.
Northwestern atmosphere feels like you're at a high school game.
I will be going to the Wisky @ Penn State game this year. I'm going to wear white and blend in; I will see how badly Badger fans get treated.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
Appreciate the insight guys. My other brother lives outside of Harrisburg (about an hour south of Happy Valley) so we'll probably go up with at least one PSU fan. Here's hoping that helps. I expect it to be a night game as it's in early October.
@Tenn, I have to agree with you. Denard's 3 INTs in the first half made it a game for the first 3 quarters, so the NW fans were making themselves heard. The maize and blue faithful drowned them out shortly afterward.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
I went to wisky in 2010 when we were ranked number 1. The game we got down by like 20 early to come back and make it a game. Best atmosphere I've seen besides OSu texas at osu. I went to the bathroom in their dungeon restrooms and was quickly surrounded by 20 guys pounding on the walls screaming at me. Felt lucky to get out of their unscathed. I believe I was helped by my brother in law being a badger.... Anyway, they are crazy up in madtown, but it is a fantastic atmosphere.
Outside of the 'Shoe, I've been to Happy Valley, Spartan Stadium, Michigan Stadium, Purde Ross Aide, and Northwestern's Ryan Field.
Penn State fans are nasty. It was 2007 and a "white out" and a night game. I was shoved, people attempted to trip me (like 3 times), had two beer cans thrown at me and this was just walking from where we parked to the stadium - I didn't talk shit or anything, just ignored the fans. The stadium looks like an erector set but I had a great time minus the a-holes.
Michigan fans were nasty too - but in a verbal way - but I can take verbal abuse.
Michigan State was a fun time - they have a nice stadium. Went in 2006 and fans were friendly.
Northwestern is crap.
Purdue isn't much better than Ryan Field
My parents (and grandparents) were Purdue grads, and I dated a Penn State guy, so I may be a little biased here.
As for Purdue, if you're staying overnight, book your accomodations well ahead of time. In the fall the Agriculture department sells fresh cider and cheese as a fundraiser, and its delicious. If you can get your hands on some, its worth it. I was there with Block O in 2002 (a la "Holy Buckeye") where we were asked (told?) to pass out bags of Tostitos in NC game/Fiesta Bowl packaging, since they were a sponser of the trip. I got pelted several times with bags I handed to people. All the other times I went were incident free. So basically, dont hand out free food that boasts that you're planning on going to the National Championship game, and you'll be ok.
Penn State, on the other hand, comes with lots of warnings. I've had friends who were just wandering down the street (in tow with some of their PSU friends) had beer cans thrown at them. I had friends who were in the band in 2005 who talked about having bags of urine thrown on them. My ex-boyfriend (the Penn State guy) refused to take me to a game b'c he didn't think he could assure my safety. So just lay low, and as a M*ch guy, just wear your navy blue.
Penn State fans are awful, hands down the worst fans. Been going every year since I can remember; even as a grade schooler/middle schooler I was yelled at, and then when I went as a student-- beers thrown at me and guys trying to fight me for no reason. Older PSU fans apologize everyonce in a while, but still pretty bad. Wisconsin/Michigan fans, it's all verbal and overall nothing bad to say about either. Indiana they do not care about football so it's a good time tailgating, inside it feels like an OSU spring game. I've heard great things about Nebraska, missed the boat last year and now we aren't playing them for a while outside of maybe B1G Champ game.
I've been to Purdue and Penn State twice apiece. I didn't care much for West Lafayette but did manage to have some fun on campus with some friends that were Purdue attendees. PSU has a cool campus and significantly better tailgating, however their fans are much bigger A-holes. Well, I should say they're either really welcoming or they will flat out try to fight you depending on who you come across. My first trip to PSU was '05 when they had their resurgance and it was a night game with College Game Day and everything. I'm not exaggerating when I say I got in 7 different fist fights that day where PSU fans (mostly just students...mostly) would just walk up to me and start fighting me. We literally couldn't go anywhere by ourselves. A cop had to come help me out at one point because about 10 PSU fans surrounded me and starting pushing me and dumping beer on my head. They also like sucker punching from behind and throwing bags of piss at our band. The second time I went was also a night game but this time we stayed out on the periphery of the tailgate area and didn't venture too far deep into the heart of it.
Holy crap, PSU fans sound like a classy bunch...
Was at the infamous tOSU-PeeSU night game in 2005. It's my only source of judgment and as with all accounts of the night, it was a wretched place to be and I had never felt more unsafe as a visiting fan. scUM was a trip to the petting zoo in comparison. I'd like to think the insanity that night was the perfect storm of events and it's not the norm there...but I can't say for sure.
I want a fall Saturday in Ohio Stadium..
Just depends on who you meet. Everyone I've met is one extreme or the other. They either welcome you into their tailgate if they see you walking by and tell you they want you to enjoy Happy Valley and offer food and booze to the heart's desire. The others....See above.
Best thing to do at PSU is find a friendly area to tailgate and don't go wandering. If you do go wandering don't do it by yourself. Be careful walking around campus itself as well as student will throw eggs at you from their dorm rooms. The second time I went we found a group of OSU fans and friendly PSU fans to tailgate with and just stayed put for the rest of the day. That wound up being a fun day (especially since we got the win).
I really liked this thread. I haven't been to any other stadiums, but I liked hearing about your experiences. When I hear how fans are treated at PSU, it makes me burn. Be loud, be verbal, but never get physical.
This thread precisely explains the reason why I try to be as curteous as possible to all visitors to Columbus.
Right. In my younger (college) days it would make me fume and I'd want to give it back to them when they came to Columbus...But I still never would be physical, just verbally abusive I suppose. What changed my perspective altogether was visiting Austin for the '06 Texas game. They had the best and most curteous fans I've ever come across both before the game and in defeat. I enjoyed my trip there and the hospitality I received so much that I wanted to pay THAT back to anyone who visited Columbus in the future.
I didn't find PSU fans any worse than OSU fans are to visiting fans (though that doesn't say much). I went to an OSU-UM game at the shoe with a UM fan, and we had things thrown at us the entire time and drunks who thought they were tough trying to pick fights with us. I stopped going to college and nfl games a couple years ago because I got tired of dealing with all the drunks.
@Ausmos
You should return to the shoe. Things have greatly improved lately. Worst I have seen in the last 3 years is someone berating an Iowa fan about the long drive after a narrow victory with their starting QB out for the game. You can't cure stupid or drunk.
Kevin
OH!!!!!
Proud parent of a Senior at The Ohio State University
I honestly feel OSU fans have gotten a lot better in the past couple years when it comes to treating opposing team's fans. I think maybe the students and older fans were tired of getting such bad press. Aside from the people at one or two houses that it seems opposing fans inevitably walk by most fans I see are fairly restrained. Last year at the Penn State game I was especially proud of how 99.9% of the fans I saw were fairly cordial to the PSU folks when it would have been so easy to kick them when they were down, especially after we lost the game.
Now as far as going to a game at PSU, from most accounts I've heard you'd have a better time hanging out in downtown Tehran wearing an American Flag jumpsuit.
"Anything easy ain't worth a damn." - Wayne Woodrow Hayes
Drank at Eddie George's last year with 4 Penn State fans. They were hammered but well behaves.
Kevin
OH!!!!!
Proud parent of a Senior at The Ohio State University
And my vote for worst visiting fan goes to Wisky fans, drunk and obnoxious seems to be the norm.
Kevin
OH!!!!!
Proud parent of a Senior at The Ohio State University
I dont know I went to the PSU game last year, and the way PSU fans were treated in the student sections was pretty bad.
I've been to at least 5 games a season for the past 7 or 8 years.
I really don't see visitors mistreated but I always park around Summit and 17th, walk to campus to the area by St. John's then to the game and back to my car. Only time I see our visitors mistreated is on Lane which is easily avoidable and it's just verbal.
I've even had friends of visiting teams walk with me and have no problems.
Hodge -- Exactly. My worst nightmare is to hear other fans in the Conference say that they were treated badly in Ann Arbor. What I want is for people -- even opposing fans -- to say that the experience was like going to Lambeau or Wrigley Field or Fenway. And that other than the fact that they lost, they had a good time...
Except the opposing fans rarely lose at Wrigley.
I'll be here all week.
...I thought of that [Re: Wrigley]. The Cubs; welcoming opposing teams for 100 years.
That's why I threw in "Lambeau" as another example. ;-)
I've been to a bunch of college football games over the years including last year's OSU at Miami and nothing compares to the thug behavior displayed by PSU fans. PSU fans are the polar opposite of Nebraska fans.
I'm not saying PSU will get kicked out the B1G because of their recent legal issues, but they won't be missed if they ever do get booted out.
Purdue is terrible... stadium is small and really out of date, youll be lucky if the stadium is even 3/4 full and West Lafayette is crap IMO... Penn State is nice, state college is a unique place because its in the middle of nowhere but the scenery and the town is quite pleasant, Beaver Stadium isnt visually appealing because it is just a bunch of steele beams, but the atmosphere in the stadium is great and u really get a old school sense from the fans and the stadium (on the inside)... I would definitely encourage a visit to Wisconsin, really liked it there...but if you had to choose between PSU or Purdue...it is PSU and not even close
I had the honor of being at Purdue for the Holy Buckeye catch and I enjoyed it. The stadium was full and the fans were not all that bad. I was there two years later when Orton came off the bench to beat OSU and I hated every second of it. The fans are unbearable when Purdue is good (Well good by their standards. In Ohio, I believe we call that 'slightly above average). They really don't know their place...
Happy Valley was cool. We tailgated near the alumni area and they were some of the nicest people we met in HV that weekend. Now I did go there for an Illinois game, not an OSU game. I'm not a U of I fan despite being from the state but my friends and I went to a stadium each season (Been to Rocky Top, The Swamp, & Happy Valley) sometimes as fans, sometimes not. We decided to pull for Illinois despite no one in my group being from the school. The alums were cool. Gave us a hard time but offered up anything they were serving, foor or beverage wise.
Walking to the stadium we almost got into a few fights with the students. They have their little "WE ARE" "PENN STATE" thing and really don't appriciate it when they yell "WE ARE" and we yelled "MARSHALL!!!!". Apparentley they consider it an insult...
At any rate, campus wise I'd give the nod to Purdue. It was my home away from home when I was at OSU because my best friend went there so I have a soft spot for it. Stadium wise-Penn State by a million miles, even if its in the middle of the creepiest state in America.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
M Man: Those Packer fans in your pic are greeting Packer players; they were wearing "throwback" uni's for that game.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
Pennsylvania fans are just bad in general. Living in DC, I deal with all the Philly fans on a regular basis, they are just awful, even as visitors. Pittsburgh fans are bad when it comes to football; I went to a Steelers/Seahawks game last year and saw multiple Seattle fans get beat for no reason.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
Michael Irvin was no saint but when a man is getting cared for after suffering what would eventually be a career ending injury and an entire stadium worth of fans stand up and cheer, you sort of set your bar high as the biggest douches in sports. Philly fans can shove it.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
I live in Minne so I routinely go to see the beatdowns there. The new stadium is pretty sweet, and the fans here are so beaten down by mediocrity or horribleness in all sports since the '91 Twins that they are really nice and polite. Even the student section.
I actually had good experiences at both Wisconsin and Michigan as well. Wisky has a stellar atmosphere, and they all love drinking so much they gladly provide/encourage even enemy fans
When told OSU set school record for 50+ games this year, UFM said "That's good. We're gonna break that next year."
IMO, MSU has a pretty crappy stadium as well and reminds me of an oversized highschool field. MSU fans are about as obnoxious as it gets too. Mostly drunken college kids who have a hard time remembering where they're at. Other than the endless sh!# talking, I've never had anything thrown in my direction or anything in that regard.
"Love my State, hate the football"
Just watch out at Penn State. I'd recommend dressing modestly, and try not to attract attention. Their fanbase along with Wisconsin's are two of the worst in the country.
http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2010/11/01/penn-state-fans-beat-up-one-...
newJigNSwig15 on 9 July 2012 - 11:40am #I've been to both stadiums and enjoyed my game day experience in West Lafayette much more than I did in Happy Valley. I'd have to imagine that the recent events at Penn State would humble their fanbase. I was at Purdue for the 2007 game. It was a nationally televised night game that had the Bucks ranked #4 and the Boilers at #20. The atmosphere was electric. The Buckeyes prevailed 23-7. I was in Happy Valley for the 1999 Ohio State-Penn State game. The Nittany Lions were ranked #2 at the time and handled the Bellisari led Buckeyes 23-10. The fans were pretty in your face. I was also only 12 at the time. This was also pre-"white out" from what I remember at Penn State, fwiw. I'm pretty sure the outcomes of the games had something to do with how much I enjoyed each trip haha.
@"newJigNSwig15" - I was at that '99 PSU/OSU game, too. I was sitting up in the PSU alumni section, mostly 45-70 year olds - not kids. Anyways, near the end of the game, LaVar Arrington literally closelined Steve Bellisari & all I did was point that out by yelling "Nice closeline, LaVar". They all booed me and starting giving me a bunch of garbage about not being "classy" like the PSU fans. Have despised that place ever since. They have a whole "holier than thou art" aura about them -- they think they're above everyone else.
*******
new703Buckeye on 9 July 2012 - 5:50pm #Pennsylvania fans are just bad in general. Living in DC, I deal with all the Philly fans on a regular basis, they are just awful, even as visitors. Pittsburgh fans are bad when it comes to football; I went to a Steelers/Seahawks game last year and saw multiple Seattle fans get beat for no reason.
@ "new703Buckeye" --- I live in PA, and I agree --- with a lot of what you said. Some Steelers are fans pretty annoying, and a little too in-your-face. But, I have to say: Eagles & Flyers are the worst. But, the part about the Steelers/Seahawks game....you saw "multiple Seattle fans get beat for no reason." Really? If so - I hoped you at least called the cops. I don't know about that last line, man haha
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
43201: The cops were there and broke things up pretty quickly. Also, this wasn't in the stadium, these fights occured walking up to Heinz.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
I've heard too many personal accounts about how absolutely horrible Wisconsin fans are to brave going up there quite yet. Some day I'll make it up there, as I'd like to visit all the B1G stadiums as well...but not yet. The worst I've come across is PSU but I've heard from people who've been to both that Wisconsin fans are far worse.
Most annoying fanbase I've come across is a dead tie between Florida and LSU. One older Florida fan at an ATL bar at the Final Four in '07 reminded me of 41-14. I said, "You really should be excited for your school's second national championship. It's a big deal! I wish I could remember how excited I was for ours but it was like 60 f'n years ago. The 7th was pretty nice though." I didn't even consider that a strong comeback but it was apparently enough to force his two friends to restrain him from trying to attack me. Florida fans talk soooooo much garbage and lose their mind if you say anything back. LSU fans are just dumb. If I had to hear "Ohao State, Tahger bait" one more time I was going to lose my mind. I mentioned to LSU fans, first of all, you stole that directly from Florida and it's ridiculously dumb because it implies that you, as the tigers, are being hunted and trapped. This did the trick with LSU fans because 9 times out of 10 they'd look at you blankly with no idea how to make sense of what you've just said to them.
Went to PSU in 2007 for a nightgame - Agree with rzrback16 that it's best to not draw attention to yourself - State College allows open containers and the tailgating fields next to the stadium are particularly rowdy. But the atmosphere of the stadium is awesome, and there's plenty to see/do around the campus (the creamery, shrine of the nittany lion, etc). My friends and I parked, walked to the main street bordering campus, and tailgated there before walking back to the stadium.
Wisconsin is a blast - Camp Randall is just a really fun, fun place. The Union South has a great rally with the band prior to the game, and the terrace overlooking the lake at Memorial Union is one of the most beautiful places in the country (they serve beer too). Safe travels!
"You win with people "
Thanks everyone for chiming in. It's pretty cool to get personal accounts. It will be interesting to find out how they treat Michigan fans.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
@703Buckeye
wow, that's terrible...hope that doesnt' happen again
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
you got it, Hail
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
@Hail, just wondering, are there specific posters from rival sites on mgoblog that come to have rational discussions? Like you and m man's OSU counterparts haha. This is for anyone who reads the blog
There are. Mgoblog is blocked at my work, so I'm actually not there much except on weekends and I rarely post. 247 sees a few regulars from Bucknuts that are pretty decent, but none that I recall off the top of my head.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
I've been to every B1G stadium except for Nebraska and Minnesota. Some as a fan, some in the pressbox.
Best Pressbox:
1. Illinois (multiple courses: breakfast before 10am, stadium food such as hotdogs, popcorn, chicken fingers during the game, italian beef sandwiches after the game, dessert after that)
Best experience as a fan:
1. Indiana (it was 80% Ohio State fans and felt like a home game except 1/2 the size)
2. Michigan (last went in '09 when the stadium was nearly 50% OSU fans and a stadium O-H-I-O went down, usually rough unless you stay with OSU fans)
3. Wisconsin (the students come in the 2nd quarter, so if you have a student GA ticket, you can sit up front)
4. Purdue (easy to get to, easy to get a ticket, 50% OSU fans, no hassle from opposing fans)
5. Northwestern (same as Purdue, but not as good of a game, at least you're in Chicago before and afterwards)
Worst Experience:
1. Michigan State (We were probably dumb for being the only OSU fan in the student section, but we got physically abused with bottles, towels, spare change, etc.
2. Penn State (don't go anywhere near the fraternities before the game unless you want to get beer cans thrown at you)
3. Iowa (boring drive from Columbus, nothing to do afterwards)
The norm in Happy Valley...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDiRPUiQZHc
I have never seen any one physically threatened at the 20 OSU games i have attened over the last 4 years...
Been to Purdue. First time I ever saw a 6-year old bashing buckeyes on a block of wood with a hammer. And whatever you do, don't tell any of their fans that Illinois has a better engineering program...woowee, that gets 'em started!
Nice list, David. Have you been to Michigan's pressbox? I always heard it was old, small, and awful before the rennovations. I hear it's superb now.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler