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There is a discussion on the MAC board about the best home field advantage in the MAC. Of course, the discussion has centered around NIU and Toledo. The NIU fans say Huskie Stadium, the TU fans say the Glass Bowl.

I was wondering if anyone here has been to both, and which you think is a better home field advantage. I have not been to Huskie Stadium, but from what I heard from players and coaches after BG played out there in 02 and 04, that gets my vote. I have never been to the Glass Bowl when it was all that great of an atmosphere. Just wanted to see what some people, not fans of those schools, who have been to both stadiums thought.

I would also be interested to see if anyone thinks another stadium is better than these two. It would seem to me that Miami's stadium is the only other one that would be in the discussion.

the NIU "fans" in '02 were deplorable at best. It was the worst atmosphere I have ever been a part of and this includes European soccer matches. I had pennies and glass bottles thrown at me while I was in the stands. We also had jagoffs come up and yell in our faces as we walked out of the stadium. The NIU campus police had a row of NIU "fans" in hand cuffs along the outer fence as we left the game.

I don't know if you call that an advantage or what. I call it ridiculous. The Toledo fans are just ignorant. I hate going there cause they don't know how to control parking and their fans say they have the best stadium in the MAC to which I reply that Toledo has 1/2 of the best stadium in the MAC- the press box side is nice, but the opposite side has the conecssions in caged in areas that I sort of expect Ricky the Steamboat Dragon to pop out from.

one could make an arguement that we do because didnt we have like a 19 home game winning streak until miami broke it in the macc game. but other than that i think that niu has the loudest stadium by far and buffalo's is the nicest minus the track.

Toledo has a very cool stadium but other than a big OCC game, the only time there is a great atmosphere is when BG plays up there. In '04 the place was electric when UT made their comback. But I am gonna go with NIU has having the best home field advantage. Having the student section right behind the vistor's bench is awesome. I remember a few years ago when the Huskies beat, I believe it was Maryland, in Dekalb the stadium went crazy. It was on national TV and the announcers were saying as the game went on that the fans were really impacting the game and getting inside the heads of the Terps. As for the Doyt, well when it's an ESPN game or a big OCC game or against Toledo and everyone is in orange and the students are slamming thier thunderstix, the place can get pretty intimidating.

I think we've had this discussion before, but here are my thoughts:

Akron - never been to the Rubber Bowl - I can't imagine that it has much of an atmosphere

Kent - been there twice - both times felt like BG home games in northeast Ohio. At least they sell beer at the stadium.

Miami - incredible atmosphere in 2003 with Big Ben and the students right behind our bench. Last year was different due to the rain, but I'm sure they have a pretty good atmosphere with a good team.

BG - NIU in 2003 was awesome. Too much hit or miss with our fan base for me to consider it the best atmosphere in the MAC.

Buffalo - nice stadium, but no support for a lousy team

Ohio - nice stadium and it looked crazy versus Pitt last year. If/when Solich brings in a MAC-championship caliber team, I think they will have one of the toughest places to play in the MAC.

UT - one of the best in the MAC because they're always good. Obviously, the place is going to be buzzing when it is BG vs. UT.

CMU - drunk students everywhere - similar to OU in that it will be tough to beat them in Mt. Pleasant when they have championship-caliber teams (and they will very soon).

WMU - only time I was there was in 2003 when they stunk

Ball State - even after they jumped up on us in the fourth quarter last year, it didn't seem like they had that much of a home field advantage

EMU - empty stadium + generally bad team = bad atmosphere for college football.

NIU - simply the toughest place to play in the MAC. 2002 was bordering on ridiculous, but their crowd single-handedly took our team out of the game and won it. Even when we switched sides in 2004, their students were crazy and had a huge impact on the game.

My top 5
1. NIU
2. CMU (Go! Fire up Chips! - a little annoying, but kinda cool)
3. UT
4. BG
5. Miami

It is very difficult to make the argument we do.

NIU is the only MAC Stadium I have yet to visit. DD is right...The Glass Bowl is nice on one side. The visitor's side is a dump. But I have never had a problem at the GB other than the rivalry ribbing that goes back and forth. I actually like going to BG games there...just need to WIN there in 2006 and break this ugly streak.

BG can have a great home field advantage when we fill the seats as we won 20 in a row until last year...however, too often, as we all know, they aren't all filled.

CMU has the most obnoxious fans I've ever seen...at least the students. They are an embarrassment to CMU. Sure they get rowdy but they trash their facility...nice. The best thing is beating them there to shut them up. LOL.

WMU has a great home field advantage when they fill Waldo...they can pack them in there.

I would have to say NIU has the best current day atmosphere and home field advantage from what I've seen on TV and heard from others. They fill their seats and get loud.

I would make the arguement for us, because we had the best/toughest atomosphere when we played NIU in 2003. The place was nuts that game and I have never seen it like that at any other MAC home field, especially against another MAC school. We also at one point had like a 33 game win streak, (Miami techinically didnt count) and that makes it a tough place to play no matter who you are. However on a consistent basis we certainly are not #1, but thats part of the fun in being a BG fan knowing that you can help make a difference!

I must go with the Classles Urban liberal trash stadium and fans.

I've been to a few road matches, and there's little doubt that NIU is the toughest place I've seen (out of Miami, Toledo, Kent, and NIU).

Most of the fans at NIU were reasonably nice, on game day my friends and I were on their campus wearing our jerseys, no problems at all. The only part that is somewhat dodgy is that walk from the parking lot around the basketball arena, through the fields and into the stadium. That gives NIU fans every opportunity to get their banter in with you and in some cases, very few, a bit more. The stadium itself I was impressed by the atmosphere, although, on the day they had a lot to cheer about while BG had very little.

Miami I've never been impressed by, same with Kent. Perhaps if I went to see Miami play at night I'd be a bit more impressed.

As far as BG's atmosphere there's certainly room to grow, and with the program on the rise I'm sure that it will. It helps the games can be played at night.

BGSUFootballFan wrote:I would make the arguement for us, because we had the best/toughest atomosphere when we played NIU in 2003. The place was nuts that game and I have never seen it like that at any other MAC home field, especially against another MAC school. We also at one point had like a 33 game win streak, (Miami techinically didnt count) and that makes it a tough place to play no matter who you are. However on a consistent basis we certainly are not #1, but thats part of the fun in being a BG fan knowing that you can help make a difference!

BG has never had a 33 game home winning streak. From 2002 thru the Ohio game of 2005, BG won roughly 20 straight regular season games.
I think with the Sebo Center and all the other improvements made, the Doyt can become THEE stadium in the MAC. Now, we need to make sure the product on the field is consistent as well.

73.....

I son't see how you can make an argument for us, we went 2-3 last year at home, with one of the wins being Temple...doesn't really look like we have a great home field advantage...

BGSUVA wrote:I son't see how you can make an argument for us, we went 2-3 last year at home, with one of the wins being Temple...doesn't really look like we have a great home field advantage...

I agree...it wasn't last year.

Just looking at our home schedule this season....They open at night against Buffalo. I'm making the 2hr drive up from Columbus, that said, it's a questionable opener. Literally BG could potentialy hang 35 on the bufs by halftime and most people are out to Downtown prior to the lights even coming on in the stadium. Then the following match is Kent, a team that BG boat races every time they play against them. That said, 1pm kickoff, beers in the parking lot starting from 11am, it should probably be a pretty nice day. The following home game is Eastern, again, another team that BG should destroy. BG literally doesn't have a strong home game until Miami comes to town.

It's hardly a schedule that you look at and say that a team that generally gets above average fan support can build fervent support around.

I'm going to be going up with around 10-15 people from Columbus, most of them from the alumni club on Friday night to Cleveland that should be a nice away trip. Apart from that it's down to either going to OU or Central to see some action. Is the trip to Central worth it?

MACMAN wrote:I must go with the Classles Urban liberal trash stadium and fans.

Wow, it must have hurt a lot when he left to coach at Florida, huh? The only nice thing you call him is liberal. But this wasn't supposed to be about Mr. Meyer, it was about most intimidating stadium atmosphere.