2010 Tour of Stadiums: UVA - Scott Stadium

This post is coming a little late, but as you all know I'm going on an east coast tour of stadiums.  And yes, that tour included a trip to Charlottesville to visit all the Hoos down in Hooville.  

Scott Stadium Stats:

Name: Scott Stadium (aka Enemy Territory...no for real, when people found out I was going here for Homecoming I was told the following: Give back your diploma, Traitor & OMG! GET OUT OF MY LIFE!)

Date opened: 1931

Largest crowd – 64,947 (vs. Southern California in 2008.  UVA lost 7-52, ouchie.)

Renovated in: 2000

Okay, so here's the deal.  These are my friends Tom & Sarah.  And I happen to love them both so much that I'll go to UVA homecoming just to spend time with them.  And they happen to love me enough to still be my friend when I show up wearing a UNC shirt......

Here's what I learned about "how to be cool" at UVA:

• There is no need to get into the stadium in time for kickoff.  I was freaking out when it was after 6pm and the tailgate party showed no signs of slowing down.  I was informed that no one gets to the stadium in time for kickoff.  Oh, okay.  When we got there, UVA was down 17-3.
• There is no need to stand up and cheer for the team as loudly as I do at Ohio State or Virginia Tech.  Yes, I did root for UVA, but I was actually in the way for the people behind me and asked to sit down.
• All the cool kids stand on "The Hill" to watch the game.  I've actually always wanted to do this and almost didn't get a chance, but I forced Tom & Sarah to take me over there so I could say I watched a game standing on the hill.  The truth is that it's a little difficult to stand on a decline, but all in all I'm glad I got the chance to do it.
• When UVA scores a touchdown (keep in mind I only got to witness this one time since they only scored once) everyone puts their arms around each other and sings a song.  I didn't do this.  Sorry people, I have to draw the line somewhere.
• And finally, UVA kids actually know how to tailgate.  Hard.  At Tailgate #1 Dave Tesh showed me his special Tailgate Chest which contained shot glasses, mixers and 2 bottles of alcohol.  At Tailgate #2 there was a massive amount of pre-game beverages, beer pong, flat screen TV's and most importantly a dance party.  (So what if the dance party was sometimes a single dance party just by me?)

All in all, it was a great trip with great friends!

Dave & his Tailgate Chest

UVA Band @ halftime (We left shortly after this...)

The Hill

Me watching the game from The Hill - in a UNC t-shirt, OSU Sweatshirt & Jeggings.  I was popular....

Upset Saturday

Yes, I am upset.  I'm not going to lie and say that Ohio State losing to Wisconsin on Saturday didn't feel like a huge sucker punch to the gut.  Because it did.  

I do have a couple of redeeming points that make it hurt a little less:

1. I don't think anything could sting as much as Virginia Tech blowing it against Boise State in the last 3 minutes.  (It was that evening when I was still awake around 2am thinking about the game that I realized I might have a problem...)

2. I didn't have to sit through the agony of watching Ohio State get smoked by the Badgers as I was pre-occupied trying to cheer on poor UVA to score at least one touchdown.  (More on that to come later this week in 2010 Tour of Stadiums)  Someone told me that my "optimism was inspiring."  UVA lost 44-10.  Ouchie.

3. At least Ohio State didn't lose to an un-ranked team....

     Unranked Teams beating Ranked teams re-cap from Saturday:

            #5 Nebraska lost to un-ranked Texas

           #10 South Carolina lost to un-ranked Kentucky

           #19 Nevada lost to un-ranked Hawaii

           #22 Florida lost to un-ranked Mississippi State

           #23 Air Force lost to un-ranked San Diego State

           #24 Oregon State lost to un-ranked Washington

4. I don't have to get all heated about the fact that BCS wasn't going to put Ohio State at #1 anyways.  But for those that are ready to start following the ridiculousness of the BCS rankings, they came out last night...in all their glory:

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings

2010 Tour of Stadiums: Ohio State - The Horseshoe

I'll be spending the next few weeks on a tour of of Football stadiums.  The best way for you to get your stadium on here is to invite me to a game.  Ready? Go!

Last weekend was my annual birthday trip to Columbus to see the Ohio State / Indiana game.  It was an amazing weekend, as always, and I loved every second of being in the CAPITAL of College Football.  If you've never been to a game at Ohio State, there is nothing else like it, and it's sort of hard to describe, but I will try:)

Ohio State Stadium Stats:
Name: The Horseshoe

Date opened: October 7, 1922

Renovated in: 1999-2001

Largest Crowd: 2006 game against Michigan - 105,708 in attendance (and an additional 1500 watching the game outside of the stadium...me being one of them)

My actual FIRST trip in "The Shoe" was back in 2003 during a Spring Break trip to Ohio.  Someone left the gates to the stadium unlocked and well....you can guess what happened next.  (Let's just say there's a picture that exists of me ON the field)

My first game in "The Shoe" was in 2004 against Wisconsin.  We lost and my dad didn't talk to me the whole ride home, so I'd rather not talk about it.

Since 2006 I've been back every year for my birthday.  Ohio State fans LOVE their Buckeyes and never  disappoint welcoming me & dad back to Columbus.

Entrance to The Horseshoe

The Stadium...on the banks of the Olentangy River

Script Ohio - Brings a tear to my eye every time!

The "curve" of the 'Shoe 

Our AMAZING seats this year on the 50-yard line.  Thanks Joe & Rhonda!!