College Football 2011: Power Ranking the 50 Loudest Stadiums
From the burning couches of Morgantown to decorating Toomer's Corner with toilet paper, every college football fanbase has its own way to celebrate.
No matter how you choose to party after the game, nothing compares to how loud the fans get inside the stadium.
It has almost become an art form.
There's the cowbells at Mississippi State and the kissing at Texas A&M.
So if you're looking for the nuttiest, loudest fans in college football, here we go.
50. Clemens Stadium (Saint John's)
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For the true college football fan, Saint John’s University is a must-see. The Johnnies normally lead all Division III football programs in attendance, as the community rallies around their football program.
According to the Saint John's website, Sports Illustrated listed Clemens Stadium as one of the top 10 “Dream Destinations” in all of college football. The stadium holds a little less than 8,000, but it is a raucous fanbase.
49. Bulldog Stadium (Fresno State)
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Bulldog Stadium may seem pretty small for some of the big-name football programs that have ventured west to take on the scrappy Fresno State team.
The student section has a special bond with the team, and many of them watch practice during the week to get ready for Saturday.
There are very few locations where 41,000 fans can make so much noise, especially when the opponent is ranked.
48. Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium (Kansas State)
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Ranking the Top 50 of almost anything is going to give you a few "should it really be on the list?"
Kansas State at No. 48 is the first.
During Bill Snyder's first run with the Wildcats it would have been more acceptable to see the eponymous stadium on the list.
Kansas State fans can be a rowdy bunch, but no one is mistaking this 50,000-seat facility for Saturday night at LSU.
47. Floyd Casey Stadium (Baylor)
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When Baylor plays Texas or Texas A&M at Floyd Casey Stadium, the band seems to play a little louder and the Floyd Casey Stadium crowd gets a little louder.
Baylor fans know how to raise their game to be counted among the best fans in the Big 12.
Of course, winning seasons help create even more buzz in the stands.
46. Washington-Grizzly Stadium (Montana)
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If we could have a Division III stadium there's no reason not to include a FCS program.
The best lower division game-day experience occurs at Montana's Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Montana likes to cram 26,000 into Washington-Grizzly and almost every one of them is a feisty type.
That means opponents get an earful from the loyal fans.
45. Boone Pickens Stadium (Oklahoma State)
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Boone Pickens Stadium is a state-of-the-art facility, but without a winning team and great fans it wouldn't much matter.
However, Mike Gundy's great offensive teams score tons of points and the fans seem to always be cheering.
Boone Pickens holds around 60,000 and it now boasts a special game-day experience.
44. Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (Louisville)
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Thanks to a great coaching hire in Charlie Strong, Louisville's fans are starting to flock back to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
They lost interest during the Steve Kragthorpe years, but if you can remember back to when Bobby Petrino was leading the Cardinals you should also remember that Papa John's used to be rocking.
Probably the greatest home game in history came at night when No. 5 Louisville knocked off No. 3 West Virginia, 44-34, in a battle of undefeated teams.
43. Alumni Stadium (Boston College)
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Boston College football ranks about 10th on favorite sports teams in the greater Boston area.
Whether the 44,000 fans who fill Alumni Stadium care one iota whether the Eagles win or lose, they sure find a way to generate some good noise.
Probably the loudest games include those with rival Notre Dame.
42. Sun Devil Stadium (Arizona State)
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One thing you can count on at any Arizona State game at Sun Devil Stadium—the student section is going to be dressed for the event and yelling the entire game.
It's a nice home-field advantage, but it seems like the rest of the stadium is filled with retirees from Connecticut who are wondering why the TV is so loud.
All 73,000 fans may not be chanting in unison, but the Sun Devils get some credit for a fun (and usually good-looking) student body.
41. LaVell Edwards Stadium (BYU)
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BYU has never been afraid to take on any team in the top 10, and the Cougars love it even more when they venture out to the mountains of Utah.
Normally when the Cougars pull off a big upset, the TV pundits give a lot of credit to the altitude change. Of course that is a factor, but don't overlook the noise that 63,000 Mormons can make when it comes to cheering on BYU.
Now that the Cougars are playing as an independent it's likely BYU may get a few more of these big-time games in Provo.
40. Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue)
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The fans at Ross-Ade Stadium have seen better days, but they are a loyal group.
Back in the Drew Brees' days, the crowds would exceed the 62,500 listed capacity and created a hostile environment that even had to impress the best in the Big Ten.
Since it's summer, Purdue's fans are dreaming of better days again and hoping to rock Ross-Ade again in 2011.
39. Rice-Eccles Stadium (Utah)
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Utah fans are ready to welcome Pac-12 foes to Rice-Eccles Stadium.
While it only holds about 45,000, Rice-Eccles is a special place. The noise levels exceed the size of the crowd.
With great coaches like Urban Meyer and now Kyle Whittingham leading the Utes, the fans have had plenty to get pumped about.
38. Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame)
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Notre Dame fans are among the friendliest in the nation.
It's almost like they realize Notre Dame Stadium is a college football shrine and there's no reason to sully it with insults directed at opposing fans.
When the game starts the Irish fans are not quiet in their support of Notre Dame, but the decibel level isn't going to make a team jump offsides.
37. Bobby Dodd Stadium (Georgia Tech)
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While the team in Athens is usually No. 1 on most Georgia football fans' lists, Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium has a loyal and loud group that loves to root for one of the ACC's best teams.
You can see the Atlanta skyline and when you get one of those Thursday night games, the crowd seems to be have "prepared" themselves for a some early weekend action.
Young and old, Tech's fans are legit.
36. Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati)
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Nippert Stadium is the fifth oldest in college football and with a seating capacity of 35,000, it's the smallest in the Big East.
But the fans pack some serious punch.
As the Bearcats were winning back-to-back conference titles in 2008 and 2009, The Zoo earned a reputation as being the toughest place to play in the league—outside of WVU.
35. Falcon Stadium (Air Force)
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Air Force is the lone military academy is these rankings.
Why? That's not clear.
What we do know is that 52,000 screaming fans at Falcon Stadium is a special group that can get even louder when facing another military academy.
34. Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (East Carolina)
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After a few expansion projects, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium now holds 50,000.
The fans love to dress as pirates or wear lots of purple and yellow garb.
They also show up ready to cheer loudly for East Carolina in another Conference USA game, or even a showdown with a BCS program like North Carolina State or West Virginia.
33. Arizona Stadium (Arizona)
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When Arizona Stadium hosts a big Pac-12 game (formerly Pac-10), the 55,000 fans are usually chomping at the bit to be heard.
And when they think the Wildcats are about to pull a major upset of, say, a team like Oregon, the fans will even charge the field a little too early.
It's another one of those stadiums that isn't designed to contain the noise, but don't underestimate the fans.
32. Folsom Field (Colorado)
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Until Colorado fell on such tough times, Folsom Field was easily a Top 25 stadium.
Just the noise that is generated when Ralphie the Buffalo is led around the field as the team enters Folsom Field is enough to create some chills.
Then when you think it's just around 54,000 fans, it's even more impressive.
If Colorado can start winning again in the Pac-12, look for Folsom's blues to end.
31. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (USC)
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Very seldom do you hear an opposing player say the USC fans made it difficult to play at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
Of course, 90,000 fans wearing Matt Leinart jerseys and chanting Lane Kiffin's name is going to generate some traction.
It just seems the California noise just isn't as intimidating as, say, equivalent fans in the Big Ten.
30. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Mississippi)
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When you talk about great SEC fans, too often Ole Miss fans get overlooked.
Sure you hear about the great tailgating scene at The Grove, but no one talks about Vaught-Hemingway Stadium being intimidating.
But the passionate 61,000 fans in the stadium love the Rebels and flying the Confederate flag. One out of two ain't bad.
29. Faurot Field (Missouri)
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Affectionately called "The Zou," Faurot Field's crowd got a chance to show off to a national audience last fall as Missouri upset Oklahoma at night.
Since Gary Pinkel took over the Tigers, the fans have had plenty of reasons to make some noise.
The Zou is a great, big-game environment.
28. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (Arkansas)
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So maybe the open end of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium allows a lot of the fan-generated noise to escape, but Arkansas' fans are as rabid as any in the SEC.
More than 72,000 fans have plenty to be excited about too, as Bobby Petrino is building a serious SEC contender.
If Arkansas hopes to win the SEC West, the fans will play a role in that achievement.
27. Bronco Stadium (Boise State)
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Most college football fans have seen the small, but vocal, Boise State crowd during two Fiesta Bowls and even against Virginia Tech last fall.
But there's a good reason why Boise is 59-2 at Bronco Stadium since 1999. OK, the caliber of opponent hasn't always been the best and the blue turf throws off the visiting team, but don't overlook the 33,000 fans who sit in special color sections for blue and orange only.
26. Mountaineer Field (West Virginia)
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West Virginia fans are among some of the most vocal inside the stadium, as well as outside of it.
Mountaineer Field, which is also called Milan Puskar Stadium, has been the site of some great games with Penn State, Virginia Tech, Miami and of course Pittsburgh.
Almost every time, the stadium exceeded capacity and the WVU fans didn't sit often as they cheered.
On game day, Morgantown becomes the largest city in the state. Even the governor flies in on a helicopter to be a part of the cheering section.
25. Husky Stadium (Washington)
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Don't believe anyone who says the fans at Husky Stadium have lost their edge.
Sure, there were some dark years, but that should be over now that Steve Sarkisian is in charge.
The place holds 72,000 and opponents have actually said they thought the stadium was swaying because of the noise and movement of the fans.
This is one of the best home-field advantages in the Pac-12.
24. Williams-Brice Stadium (South Carolina)
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The 80,000 or so fans start getting loud when the beginning notes of "2001: A Space Odyssey" begins and they never seem to let up.
Williams-Brice Stadium has always been a great crowd, but now that the Gamecocks are considered a top-tier SEC program it has gotten even better.
Steve Spurrier's yelling from the sideline helped move South Carolina up about two spots.
23. Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn)
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During its championship season in 2010, Auburn's rabid fans made Jordan-Hare more like a Top 10 stadium.
An expansion in 2004 increased the capacity to 87,000, which of course made life just that much tougher on the opponents.
Like many of its SEC brethren, Auburn's fans love to tailgate outside Jordan-Hare. So naturally, they can be real loud at the beginning of the game.
22. Davis Wade Stadium (Mississippi State)
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More cowbell. That's what Mississippi State fans want during games at Davis Wade Stadium.
Mississippi State's website says the tradition was started in the 1930s and has continued ever since.
Last year may have been the loudest at Davis Wade in 30 or 40 years, as the SEC gave them a one-year waiver to ring the bells.
21. Carrier Dome (Syracuse)
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Orange fans go crazy in the Carrier Dome for basketball, but when Syracuse football is winning they get pretty vocal then as well.
It may be just 50,000 fans (and sometimes less), but there's nowhere for all that excitement and energy to go.
During the dark days of Greg Robinson, the Carrier Dome was almost silent. With Doug Marrone coaching, the Orange faithful are getting fired up again.
20. Spartan Stadium (Michigan State)
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Spartan Stadium offers just one of many great game-day atmospheres in the Big Ten.
Of course, it gets overlooked by many who point to Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and now Nebraska as key locations to see a game.
Put 75,000 fans clad in Michigan State green and you are in for a good ride.
19. Sanford Stadium (Georgia)
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When you hear the TV announcer talk about playing between the hedges, the reference is a tip of the cap to the fans inside Sanford Stadium.
Georgia's fans love them some Bulldogs and they prove it by filling the stadium and cheering loud. So loud that Georgia has been almost unbeatable during Mark Richt's time.
18. Jones AT&T Stadium (Texas Tech)
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If you watched Texas Tech's fans in 2008 when the Red Raiders upset No. 1 Texas, then you know the fans can ratchet it up a notch at AT&T.
Even if you were listening to this game on the radio, it was clear the fans played in a role in this victory.
Tech fans don't get the respect of those in Austin and at Texas A&M, but don't overlook this loyal group.
17. Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Oklahoma)
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Thanks to major donors, it is now called Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium.
However, a name change doesn't deter from the energy that builds up inside the stadium.
Since Bob Stoops took over in Norman, Oklahoma has been one of the nation's most consistent programs.
Naturally the fans have responded by being relentless on opponents.
16. Doak Campbell Stadium (Florida State)
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Doak Campbell Stadium is one of the ACC's best venues with a capacity of more than 83,000.
The fans seemed to get a little divided in the final years under Bobby Bowden, but the Seminole Nation has reunited under Jimbo Fisher.
The party atmosphere in Tallahassee is legendary, along with some of their female fans.
15. Texas Memorial Stadium (Texas)
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Officially known as Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, it gets filled to 100,000-plus with some of the most savvy football fans around.
Of course, it's hard to tell sometimes if they are cheering for the Longhorns or yelling for Matthew McConaughey to turn around for another photo as he holds up the Hook 'em Horns.
14. Lane Stadium (Virginia Tech)
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Lane Stadium joined this list some time in the 1990s as Frank Beamer built a consistent winner and the Hokies recruited in some big-time talent that included the likes of Michael Vick.
The fans responded, and have been both loyal and vocal.
ACC foes do not enjoy going into the stadium that holds 66,000.
The South End Zone is legendary. Tech crams more than 11,000 fanatics into that part of the stadium and they create some deafening sounds.
13. Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama)
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Crimson Tide football fans are some of the most ardent and passionate in the country.
They love to scream and yell for Nick Saban and his team, and while Bryant-Denny doesn't have the best acoustics, the fans are plenty loud.
When Alabama hosts Florida, LSU or Auburn, the stadium is blanketed in crimson and the cheering doesn't stop for hours (that includes both before and after the game).
You'll also hear a lot of people say, "Roll Tide!"
Also, if you want to go to the mall or the Publix in Tuscaloosa, game day is a great time if you are in a hurry.
12. Memorial Stadium (Clemson)
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While LSU's Tiger Stadium is called Death Valley, the term actually originated at Clemson.
Legend has it that an opposing coach called Clemson Death Valley because his team rarely scored at Memorial Stadium. Also, the stadium is located in a valley.
All of those orange shirts create an interesting look for opposing players, and the noise gets started as the Tigers enter the stadium by touching Howard's Rock.
11. Michigan Stadium (Michigan)
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More affectionately known as "The Big House," Michigan Stadium is filled to the brim with 109,000 fans for every home game.
In the past, the crowd was loud but because of acoustics it didn't seem like it.
Michigan's fans are a little more highbrow than many contemporary fanbases. So the Wolverines don't come across as a rowdy group.
Watch a little closer and you'll see a loud, dedicated group. Think they weren't loud in their disapproval of Rich Rodriguez?
Wait until that first game this fall when Brady Hoke leads the Wolverines onto the field.
10. Memorial Stadium (Nebraska)
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When the Cornhuskers play at home there's nothing else that matters in the entire state of Nebraska.
While the defense is called the Black Shirts, the home crowd on Saturday's is known as the Sea of Red.
Memorial Stadium's design is intimidating, as the bleachers seem to rise forever into the sky with all of that red.
And the Nebraska fans just love the corncob headgear.
9. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin)
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The noise that 80,000 fans create in Camp Randall is one of the best home-field advantages in college football.
Many Top 10 teams have fallen into the trap only to leave a loser.
While most Big Ten opponents find the tradition lame, the Wisconsin fans get extra fired up when they play Jump Around by House of Pain.
It's not just the student section. Every Wisconsin fan appears to be jumping and singing.
8. Kyle Field (Texas A&M)
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You know you have a crazy-loud stadium when about 40,000 fans show up at midnight the day before for "Yell Practice."
The A&M fans have been called "The 12th Man" since 1922, and you don't earn a term like that because you remain quiet all game.
Texas A&M's student body actually stands the entire game and they get rowdy, and when the team scores they get randy with their dates.
7. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa)
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Have you ever wondered why Kirk Ferentz hasn't bolted Iowa for one of those high-profile jobs he's been rumored to be a finalist for?
Maybe he just loves the atmosphere at Kinnick Stadium.
It's obvious opponents don't like it.
Iowa's fans are fiercely loyal and they live and die by the Hawkeyes. So on Saturdays the 70,000 or so fans pay homage by getting crazy loud.
6. Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)
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Can you hear Rocky Top playing?
If not, it's probably playing on some Tennessee fan's cell phone or doorbell right now.
When you walk into Neyland the place is packed with about 102,000 fans wearing that Tennessee orange and they are ready to root on the Vols.
5. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Florida)
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More affectionately known as The Swamp, Ben Hill is a great place to be on a Saturday in the fall.
The pregame revelry is special, but when 88,000-plus fans start doing the Gator Chomp during the game the place is just electric.
The noise gets trapped in The Swamp, much like the muggy Florida weather, which wears down opposing teams.
4. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)
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Game day at Ohio Stadium is legendary.
Even when John Cooper coached the Buckeyes, the loyal fans always packed the place.
There was even a recent story that said despite all of the off-field issues surrounding Ohio State and coach Jim Tressel, season tickets are still in high demand.
The Horseshoe is now enclosed, and all of that Buckeye energy gets trapped inside, which creates a rock concert atmosphere.
3. Beaver Stadium (Penn State)
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Beaver Stadium is an example where bigger is better. After a few expansions, this place holds well more than 100,000.
The erector-set looking stadium has been a great home-field advantage for all of Joe Paterno's 51 years on the sidelines as a head coach and assistant.
The Nittany Lion roar over the PA system just gets the crowd fired up, and Penn State has one of the most underrated, but best, student sections in the nation.
Penn State also perfected the "White Out" games, which have been copied by many others around the nation.
2. Tiger Stadium (LSU)
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SEC fans love to support the conference, but the rivalries are fierce.
However, it's hard to find a real SEC fan that doesn't agree that a night game at Death Valley is the toughest environment any of them face.
Tiger Stadium packs in 92,000-plus for every home game, even when LSU plays Nicholls State. The deafening crowds have certainly meant a few extra wins for the Tigers over the years.
1. Autzen Stadium (Oregon)
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Undoubtedly hundreds of thousands of SEC fans are throwing their hands in the air and saying, "Has this guy ever seen an SEC game before?"
Yes, but it doesn't matter.
With the resurgence of Oregon football, Ducks fans literally shake the girders at Autzen Stadium.
Who cares that the place holds less than 60,000? Sometimes smaller is actually better. The most ardent, hardcore Oregon fans squeeze into the place to create the loudest, most-exciting in-game experience in all of college football.
If Autzen held 100,000 like an SEC stadium, who's on top wouldn't even be a debate.
