Comments on: Toughest Venues: #10 Memorial Stadium http://nittanywhiteout.com/2008/05/17/toughest-venues-10-memorial-stadium/ Penn State Nittany Lion Blog Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:55:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt http://nittanywhiteout.com/2008/05/17/toughest-venues-10-memorial-stadium/comment-page-1/#comment-637 Matt Sun, 18 May 2008 22:14:20 +0000 http://nittanywhiteout.com/?p=244#comment-637 I'm an Indiana season ticket holder, living in California, so I get out to see one or two games in Bloomington, but I also go to USC and UCLA games here in LA, so I have some frame of reference of what big time football environments are like. I was at the Penn State game last year in Bloomington. The environment was an improvement over years past, and the game was competitive (also an improvement). Big fun, and all the Penn State fans were cool. It's hard to disagree with your overall assessment, but there are a few points to bring to your attention: 1. IU upset Oregon in 2003, at their place, thanks to 7 (?) turnovers. 2. 2007 was the best season for IU since the early 90's. The final home game versus Purdue was a big time football environment. Watch some of the youtube videos to see the crowd's enthusiasm. 3. Also, in case you missed it, IU did go to a bowl game in 2007. I can't blame you if you blinked and missed it. There was also surprisingly good support at the game in Tempe. I guess if you only get to one bowl every 14 years, people don't want to miss out. 4. "The Rock" name is only unofficial, and has been used since Terry Hoeppner's first season in 2005. 5. 2007's attendance numbers are a bit more impressive (if that word can be used in this context) than it might appear, because it did NOT include an O$U sell-out, which boosts the average by 3k to 4k the years they and their fans take over the stadium. 6. Regarding the loudness of the stadium, there is project to enclose the north endzone, so that will make a difference in the acoustics. Not 100% sure, but I think the exterior might be finished in time for the 2008 season. The stadium is actually quite a good design, with good sight lines. If we could only fill it up on a consistent basis... 7. I challenge you to find a better tailgating experience than at IU, especially in late October with the spectacular rolling hills with leaves in full color. Unfortunately, it's maybe too good. If we only get them to actually go into the stadium, we'd be a lot closer to capacity. I’m an Indiana season ticket holder, living in California, so I get out to see one or two games in Bloomington, but I also go to USC and UCLA games here in LA, so I have some frame of reference of what big time football environments are like. I was at the Penn State game last year in Bloomington. The environment was an improvement over years past, and the game was competitive (also an improvement). Big fun, and all the Penn State fans were cool.

It’s hard to disagree with your overall assessment, but there are a few points to bring to your attention:

1. IU upset Oregon in 2003, at their place, thanks to 7 (?) turnovers.
2. 2007 was the best season for IU since the early 90’s. The final home game versus Purdue was a big time football environment. Watch some of the youtube videos to see the crowd’s enthusiasm.
3. Also, in case you missed it, IU did go to a bowl game in 2007. I can’t blame you if you blinked and missed it. There was also surprisingly good support at the game in Tempe. I guess if you only get to one bowl every 14 years, people don’t want to miss out.
4. “The Rock” name is only unofficial, and has been used since Terry Hoeppner’s first season in 2005.
5. 2007’s attendance numbers are a bit more impressive (if that word can be used in this context) than it might appear, because it did NOT include an O$U sell-out, which boosts the average by 3k to 4k the years they and their fans take over the stadium.
6. Regarding the loudness of the stadium, there is project to enclose the north endzone, so that will make a difference in the acoustics. Not 100% sure, but I think the exterior might be finished in time for the 2008 season. The stadium is actually quite a good design, with good sight lines. If we could only fill it up on a consistent basis…
7. I challenge you to find a better tailgating experience than at IU, especially in late October with the spectacular rolling hills with leaves in full color. Unfortunately, it’s maybe too good. If we only get them to actually go into the stadium, we’d be a lot closer to capacity.

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