Pick an environment, any environment. Concerts, games, parades, bars, you name it.
All right, I’m done picking. The best is college football.
From the bands, student sections, mascots, bright colors, and, heck, the “College Gameday” pregame show with Kirk Herbstreit, it’s got everything.
That said, if you had to pick the very best environment in college football, what’s your pick?
I won’t lie. This one’s tough. I’m narrowing it down to these five: Michigan, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Florida State, and Clemson.
I have my reasons, just keep reading.
With Michigan, it’s simple: 107,601 people fit. “The Big House” is the largest stadium in college football, and third in the world.
You’ve got navy and yellow filling up the stands, Jim Harbaugh racing up and down in his khakis, and this upcoming season, according to Sports Illustrated, “Michigan Stadium will reportedly feature a new lighting system with color-changing capabilities that will sync up with the new scoreboards – creating an enhanced visual experience for fans.”
And, you’ve got Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports cheering them on – as only he can do. You can’t get much better than that.
Oh boy, I can hear “Rocky Top” from here. When it comes to Neyland Stadium in Tennessee, it’s the ultimate college football experience.
The team runs out of a “T” made up by the marching band, and the stadium delivers its “Checker Neyland” game once a year with the stands looking just like the iconic design of the Vols’ endzones.
Similarly to celebrities attending boxing matches, Tennessee comes with starpower, too. During last year’s game-of-the-year candidate against Alabama, there’s a great picture of Peyton Manning alongside country music stars Morgan Wallen, Kelsea Ballerini, and Kenny Chesney – all diehards.
It’s hard to beat that, but not if you ask Notre Dame fans. Granted, critics might say the Fighting Irish get caught in their own vanity, but sometimes, you can’t beat the classics.
From the gold helmets, slash-marked endzones, backflipping leprechaun mascot, and – by far – the best fight song in all of sports, Notre Dame brings it every Saturday.
On a side note, I can’t believe “Rudy” isn’t everyone’s favorite feel-good movie, but I digress.
My last two picks – Florida State and Clemson – are highlighted by, frankly, perfect college football traditions.
When I see a video of 79,560 (stadium capacity) Seminoles fans doing the war chant – a nightmare for visiting quarterbacks – it’s music to my ears. And I’m not an FSU fan.
As for Clemson, the Tigers running down a hill, through the fans, and onto the field is one of the coolest intros in all of sports (despite its glaring stupidity in terms of player safety).
OK, I’ve made up my mind. First, some honorable mentions: Alabama, LSU, Nebraska, Florida, and Penn State with its whiteout.
But if you’re asking me, go Vols.
