Look at the stadium I put in as the picture for this blog. Look real close. Tell me what do you see? You know what I see? Perfection. I see what should always be in college football. What is it you ask...?
STOP PUTTING MARQUEE GAMES AT NEUTRAL GAME SITES!!!
I cannot express how much I hate big time college football games being played at a neutral game site. These games belong on the campuses of the university's involved in the game! Who in their right mind could actually tell me that the Georgia v. Clemson game isn't better off in Athens or in Clemson, SC instead of Charlotte?
Neutral site games are beyond stupid. You're removing teams from where their core fanbase is to play in stadiums that have no association with either side. THAT'S WHAT BOWL GAMES ARE FOR! What makes college sports special compared to professional? The student section. There's nothing better than a bunch of rowdy, raucous, (mostly) drunken college students creating an atmosphere unlike no other.
Moving the games to neutral sites makes it nearly impossible for students to commute to the game in mass quantity, and even afford the game. College students are a notoriously broke class of people. I was lucky that my University let students into football games for free. But most big time programs have either some kind of lottery system, or they charge for tickets. The price of these tickets usually aren't too astronomical, so imagine what would happen if they're charged NFL stadium prices. You're either banishing them to the nosebleeds or they won't get in the stadium at all; nosebleed seats for students are absolutely unacceptable too. They need to be right next to the field causing mayhem with chants, cheers and jeers.
I'm going to list a few games and try and tell me if you really think these games are better off in a neutral stadium:
- Alabama v Miami (FL)
- Arizona v. BYU
- UNC v. Georgia Tech
- Notre Dame v. Wisconsin
Do any of these games really feel like they'd be a better product at a neutral site? If you answered yes to that question I simply cannot trust you. There are two, and only two, games that are acceptable for neutral sites. The Army/Navy and Southern/Grambling games are it. What makes them special?
The Army Navy game deserves to be played on larger stadiums than what the service academy campuses have. I've been to Annapolis several times, it's not a large stadium, and I'm sure that West Point is pretty similar. The game means more because you have service members literally all across the world, which means you have fans with personal ties everywhere. The game means more than football. It's for bragging rights, yes, but the focus to me has always been more about celebrating the next generation of military leaders we'll have defending the country. Not to mention every student at the academies that are not on the football roster gets transported to the game regardless.
Grambling and Southern isn't a football game, it's a cultural event that just so happens to have a football game being played at the same time. LSU is king of Louisiana, even the most dense of people recognize this. But Southern and Grambling's marching bands are the kings of culture and history for the Louisiana community at large. The battle of the bands is one of the best spectacles offered in a college football stadium. The attention to detail, pageantry, and flare that come with the performances is off the charts. They deserve the Super Dome as their stage, and they should get it.
No other games have enough justification to not be played on their campuses. Not even Oklahoma v. Texas or Florida v. Georgia. I don't care if you're a full grown adult and want to go to Jacksonville or Dallas for these games. Suck it up and make the drive to Austin, Norman, Gainesville and Athens. You have a much better chance to afford it than the students do, don't cost them the opportunity to see these rivalry games in person when they already pay ridiculous amounts in tuition each year.
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