re: SEC Stadiums

That Vol game at TS was also on a Monday night if I recall correctly. The following year at Neyland was pretty quiet after we scored the go ahead touchdown, except for the Vol next to us who told us to "go home and drown in the swamp".

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Taking into account the size, facilities, fans and location, I'd say the ones I have been to are ranked like this:

1. Jordan-Hare in Auburn: Of course I reccomend Auburn first. I think we have a great combo of electric gameday atmosphere, nice fans, pretty campus, and good traditions (Tiger Walk, Eagle Flight, Rolling Toomer's). There is not quite as much going on in the city as some of the other places, but enough for a fun weekend.

2. The Swamp in Gainesville: The Swamp is loud and rowdy in a good way, and there are lots of bars w/in walking distance. Some good-natured smack-talk from the Gator fans, but nothing bad. I highly reccomend a trip there.

3. Sanford in Athens: Pretty campus, fans are not quite as loud as I expected, but there is lots stuff to do in the city. Everyone acted nice towards me. I'd go back.

4. Williams-Brice in Columbia: nicer stadium and louder fans that I expected, but gets negative points for not being on campus.

I enjoyed all of them. Hope to add some more in the next few seasons. The only "SEC" stadium I didn't enjoy was Legion Field in Birmingham...that place was a dump.

Not sure how to define "best" but I think we're talking overall game experience. Of the ones I've personally visited and seen games in, I'd go in this order:

Tiger Stadium - This is purely on total game day experience. Tailgating is phenomenal. Tiger Band and pregame are great. Golden Girls. Loudness of fans. The stadium itself is big, concrete, old and kind of dirty.

Razorback Stadium - Gorgeous stadium, incredible setting among the Ozark hills.

HUGE GAP

Neyland Stadium - Insanely unattractive stadium. Very uncomfortable trying to squeeze 105,000 asses in a space equipped for 80,000. Surprisingly quiet for 100,000+ people.

War Memorial Stadium in LR - Loudest 55,000 fans anywhere. Incredible tailgating on the golf course. Stadium itself is a dump. The quotient of Civilized college football fan vs Welfare Redneck from Saline/Faulkner County is completely out-of-whack, making your odds of encountering someone vomiting/fighting/cussing/peeing in their seat is just too great.

HUGE, GRAND CANYON SIZE GAP

Vaught Hemingway - Absolutely NOTHING good about going to a game in this stadium. Traffic control is inept. Stadium is Fugly. Standing in line for concessions in the end zone you're guaranteed to get garbage and spilled (flat) Coke spilled on you.