For many people Saturdays certainly have a different meaning. It is a special day for college football. When campuses across the country bus fill with tailgates, bands, cheerleaders, etc. Crowds flood stadiums to witness their favorite teams lace up the cleats.
Coming soon BYU will find themselves traveling to many of those Big 12 stadiums. Each location holds a unique flavor of it's own. They all hold a defined capacity, various school traditions, scenic landscapes, venue feel (look/layout, etc), mobility (accessibility, concourse walkability/movement, etc), tailgating, student section environment/involvement, etc. Thus, here's a quick look ahead to for the visitors and venues that will be encountered in the Big 12.
Baylor
McLane Stadium opened in 2014 with a capacity of 45140. The venue layout is very similar to TCUs Amon G Carter in many ways. It has an open concourse to allow fans view the game as they walk about the facility. The grass end zone (Matrix Turf) is pretty cool, but it's completely closed off unless you have a ticket. The Baylor Line student section and stadium placement is solid breathing down the necks of opponent players. It was founded in 1970 as a spirit organization for first year students. Before each home game the students run across the field to form a human tunnel for the football team as it enters the field. They then head to their special sections in the stands, where the best seats in the house, directly behind the visitor bench-are reserved expressly for them. While visiting enjoy the food on site from Catfish Po'boy Sandwiches, BBQ brisket sliders, and bacon wrapped hot dogs.
BYU
LaVell Edwards Stadium can be certainly described as a diamond in the college football rough. Located on the BYU campus in the heart of Provo Utah, the stadium offers a perfectly functional home for the football program and a solid football watching experience including an incredibly beautiful view of the Wasatch Mountains in the distance as well.
LES opened in 1964 and seats 63,470. The field is covered with a natural grass capable of draining eight inches of rain per hour. The well kept grass field is consistently deemed one of the best in the entire country. In 1982, 1988 and 1997 the Football Writers Association of America cited BYU for its "outstanding press box area" (four-level press box).
Of course, the program has a deep rich history that includes a national title (1984), a Heisman trophy, and a number of football greats, such as Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Ty Detmer and more. The concourses might not be flashy, but there are plenty of viable concession stands and all kinds of food choices. Of note: the BYU Creamery stands, which sell ice cream made on campus and the famous Cougar Tail, an 18 inch rather impressive maple frosted donut. While the built in concession stands also sell the typical stadium staples-hot dogs, popcorn, pizza, and the like-look out for specialty carts throughout the concourses that offer BBQ, loaded hot dogs, Korean BBQ bowls and much more.
Central Florida (UCF)
UCF stadium is known as the Bounce House and is located in Orlando FL on the modern north side of campus. It opened on 15 Sept 2007 and has a capacity of 44,206. Bounce House's current name comes from the facility's longtime nickname "the Bounce House" as it was found to be susceptible to considerable shaking when its crown jumps (most notably when the song Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation is played) in unison. Although, it was stated that the stadium was structurally sound and that this effect would not cause long-term damage to the facility, measures were undertaken following the stadium's inaugural season to reduce these effect. The stadium's50 yard line (natural grass playing surface) is lined up with Launch Pad 39A to symbolize UCFs longstanding partnership with NASA and other space agencies.
Cincinnati
Home of the Bearcats, Nippert Stadium is the second oldest stadium in college football. Football at Nippert Stadium dates back over 100 years and opened in 1915. Whatever the conference over the years, Cincinnati has consistently proven itself a winner and likely will remain highly competitive in the Big 12. In the mid 1920's James gamble provided $250,000 to complete the stadium. The stadium was named after Gamble's grandson, Jimmy Nippert, who died from a spike wound while playing football for the Bearcats.
Houston
John O'Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium serves at the home of the Houston Cougars that opened in 2014 and has a capacity of roughly 40,000 +SRO (standing room only). TDECU Stadium derives is name from Texas Dow Employees Credit Union, the largest credit union in Houston, which had purchased the name rights and had a joint press conference on 8 July 2014 to announce the partnership. The stadium was designed with a corrugated metal exterior skin to allow for optimal air flow and natural lighting. Simultaneously, the orientation allows for a maximized view of the Houston skyline. The eleven yard line (synthetic surface, a slit-film turf blade with a sand/rubber combination for infill) commemorates Heisman winner Andre Ware's retired jersey number. There are a total of 160 concession points of sale throughout the stadium.
Iowa State
Jack Trice Stadium, sometimes referred to as 'the Jack" is located in Ames IA named in honor of Jack Trice, Iowa State's first African American athlete who died of injuries sustained during a 1923 games against Minnesota. The stadium opened in 1975 with a 17-12 over Air Force and holds a capacity of 61,500. The stadium consists of double decked grandstands running the length of either sideline and encompassing the south end zone with the field surface natural grass. Be sure to check out the Crab Rangoon Fries available in the South End Zone (sweet chili sauce, crab cream cheese spread, crispy wonton strings & green onions served over stadium fries) or be on the look out for specialty Bavarian Pretzels available at Victory Bell in concessions.
Kansas
Historically, lets face it Kansas has really been a basketball school. Although, the Jayhawk football team has some some talent over the years (John Riggins, Gale Sayers, Dana Stubblefield, etc). David Booth KS Memorial Stadium located in Lawrence KS opened in 1921 is dedicated as a memorial to KS students who died in WWI. Memorial Stadium is recognized as the first stadium built on a college campus west of the Mississippi River and is the seventh oldest collegiate stadium in the nation. Originally the stadium had only east & west bleachers which were expanded southward in 1925. The north bowl seating section was added in 1927 to give the stadium its horseshoe shape which it retains today with a capacity of 47,000. The field has been artificial turf since 1970 and in the summer of 2009 the old AstroPlay surface was replaced with FieldTurf.
Kansas State
Bill Snyder Family Stadium located in Manhatten KS is the home field for the Kansas State University Wildcats and is named after the family of head coach Bill Snyder. Over the past 31 seasons K-State has gone 164-49 and 1 tie. The stadium opened in 1968 and has a AstroTurf surface. The defensive team does have a nickname "the Lynch Mob" that dates back to the 1990s. The term has historical resonance because Manhatten was well known for lynching horse thieves as a means of frontier justice during the towns brief wild west era in the 1860s
Oklahoma State
Boone Pickens Stadium is home to the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and opened in 1920 with a capacity of 60,000k. It is aligned in an east-west direction since 1920 and the first is the oldest in the Big 12 Conference. The cowboys have quite a rich history that includes (Barry Sanders, Dez Bryant, Thurman Thomas, Justin Blackmon, Dexter Manley, etc). Boone Pickens Stadium (BPS) was named during a halftime ceremony in 2003 versus Wyoming in honor of OSU alumnus T Boone Pickens, a Texas oilman and entrepreneur. It provides a unique game day environment and a roaring home field advantage. Some of the west end zone project now includes a new multilevel football operations center. Some of the features also include: football offices, meeting rooms, speed/conditioning center, locker rooms, equipment room, athletic medicine center, media facilities, hall of fame areas along with a new training table.
TCU
Amon G Carter is an open air style football stadium on the campus of TCU in Fort Worth named after a prominent Fort Worth business, newspaper publisher and city booster. It has several nicknames: The Carter, and Hell's Half Acre (a reference to the site in Fort Worths wild west past located near the stadium, as well as the difficulty of opposing teams in winning there at the stadium). It opened in 1930 and has a capacity of 50,000 with bermuda grass surface. While there be sure to try Riff Ram BBQ (near section 129 behind the left end zone) that includes pulled pork sandwiches, smoked chicken sandwiches and beef brisket sandwiches.
Texas Tech
Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbuck TX was built in the Spanish Renaissance architectural style. It opened in 1947 and seats roughly 60,000 (44th largest college football stadium in the US) with a FieldTurf surface. The playing field runs in the traditional north south configuration and sits 30 feet below grade. There is definitely a rich football history (Kliff Kingsbury, Patrick Mahomes, Mike Leach, Michael Crabtree, etc). Hot items from the concessions include Double Dave's Pizza, BBQ Brisket Nachos, Green Chili Burgers, and the Chocolate Churros.
West Virginia
Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown WV opened in 1980 and seats roughly 60,000. The facility is named for Milan Puskar, a Morgantown resident and founder of Mylan Pharmaceuticals. The FieldTurf playing surface retains the stadiums original name of Mountaineer Field. Fans were surprised when singer John Denver made an appearance and led the fans in the singing of his hit song "Take Me Home, Country Roads". The song has been played at every home game since 1972. It also hosted a notable pre season NFL game back in 1998 between the Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons. When there be sure to try Scrimmage Stand's pulled pork sandwiches (near section 121 next to the end zone) or the Red Zone Grill's Grilled Chicken Sandwiches.
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