OT: who is attending a college FB game?

[Montana Tom]

Are you going to a college football game on Saturday?

Tailgating?  Pre-game rituals?  Favorites?

In my state we have no FBS programs, but two historically dominant FCS schools...University of Montana Grizzlies and Montana State University Bobcats.
Last weekend, Montana State got blown out by #6 Oregon in Eugene.

We're going to the first home game Saturday evening...being televised on ESPN+
Annual Blackout Game...black uni's, everyone wearing black shirts, second half will be under the lights.
Pre-game tailgating...an art form in Missoula.  Fans will be far more "tuned up" for an evening game vs. a Noon kickoff.
27,000 seat capacity (6th largest dedicated stadium in FCS) is fully expected, of that 19,000 season tickets were sold out. 
Many opposing FCS coaches have said it is the hardest visiting stadium to play in...115 decibels, noise can be like a jet aircraft on takeoff.  Coaches credits the crowd for opposing team false start penalties (which just gets the crowd amped up even more).

Last year's season opener was against Michigan's Ferris State.  Found it interesting that Michigan has ZERO FCS schools.  So those non-FBS schools can be really competitive...if a high school athlete can't get a starting spot at an FBS school, where do they go (and stay in-state)?  Schools like Ferris State...a really stacked roster for a smallish school. Enrollment is about the same as the University of Montana, but still not in FCS.

Curious to hear your college football plans (if any) this season.

[1VikesFan]

I'm a huge Gophers fan and I live in Iowa. Going to the Gophers at Hawkeyes game in Iowa City. First game I am going to at Iowa (live in Iowa St country). Should be good times and a really good game.

[StickierBuns]

Memphis will be taking on FAU here in Boca at the end of September, I'll be at that one. The stadium is only 3 miles from my house so its so easy to get to and leave from. They hired a young 34 year old kid as HC, Zach Kittley, former offensive coordinator at Texas Tech. The Owls have a cute little 30,000 seat stadium with zero bad seats.

[JimmyinSD]

Those Montana schools are likely the most hated because of their elevation advantage, twice the elevation of fcs teams like sdsu, and ndsu.

[StickierBuns]

Yuck, Michigan played very subpar but I knew this wasn't going to be their year to roar. Growing pains with the true freshman. OU D is the real deal. Was rooting for Troy to hold on over Clemson!

[Montana Tom]

Those Montana schools are likely the most hated because of their elevation advantage, twice the elevation of fcs teams like sdsu, and ndsu.

It's not quite the advantage that you think Jimmy.  Yes, both Montana schools are higher elevation than all four Dakota schools.
Elevation above sea level:

Grand Forks ND (UND): 843'
Fargo ND (NDSU): 906'
Vermillion SD (USD): 1,221'
Brookings SD (SDSU):  1,621'
Missoula MT (UM): 3,209'
Bozeman MT (MSU): 4,817'

For comparison sake:
Boulder CO (CU):  5,430'

Having lived in the Colorado mountains for a decade and seeing elite marathon and distance runners train at 6,000' to 8,000' elevation, I can tell you that 3-4,000 elevation is not the advantage one might think.  I would say that playing indoors at either of the North Dakota schools has a greater advantage to than playing outdoors in either Bozeman or Missoula in late November/December (playoffs!).

And hats off to the SDSU Jackrabbits for knocking off Montana State yesterday in double overtime (in Bozeman!).  I listened to the radio overtime play-by-play on the way home after we left the Griz game (which the Griz won 42-17 over Central Washington).  

No cakewalk next week among the Dakota and Montana schools either.  We have tickets to the UND - Montana Griz game next Saturday (in Missoula).  Despite the score, the Griz have some major holes this year IMHO.  UND handed the Griz loss last season in Grand Forks.

Even though they are in different conferences, but the more frequent scheduling between the Dakota and Montana schools has become quite a rivalry.

[MaroonBells]

Having lived in both Billings and Denver, I can definitely confirm there is a noticable oxygen difference between Billings elevation at 3200 feet and Denver's elevation at 5200 feet. 

Fun fact: Limon, CO, 100 miles east of Denver, is actually higher in elevation than Denver.

[JimmyinSD]

It's not quite the advantage that you think Jimmy.  Yes, both Montana schools are higher elevation than all four Dakota schools.
Elevation above sea level:

Grand Forks ND (UND): 843'
Fargo ND (NDSU): 906'
Vermillion SD (USD): 1,221'
Brookings SD (SDSU):  1,621'
Missoula MT (UM): 3,209'
Bozeman MT (MSU): 4,817'

For comparison sake:
Boulder CO (CU):  5,430'

Having lived in the Colorado mountains for a decade and seeing elite marathon and distance runners train at 6,000' to 8,000' elevation, I can tell you that 3-4,000 elevation is not the advantage one might think.  I would say that playing indoors at either of the North Dakota schools has a greater advantage to than playing outdoors in either Bozeman or Missoula in late November/December (playoffs!).

And hats off to the SDSU Jackrabbits for knocking off Montana State yesterday in double overtime (in Bozeman!).  I listened to the radio overtime play-by-play on the way home after we left the Griz game (which the Griz won 42-17 over Central Washington).  

No cakewalk next week among the Dakota and Montana schools either.  We have tickets to the UND - Montana Griz game next Saturday (in Missoula).  Despite the score, the Griz have some major holes this year IMHO.  UND handed the Griz loss last season in Grand Forks.

Even though they are in different conferences, but the more frequent scheduling between the Dakota and Montana schools has become quite a rivalry.

as an eastern SD guy ( 500-2000')  that spends several weeks a year in the Black Hills ( 3000-6000')  It is a difference that is noticeable for opposing players and fat ass fans that have to climb bleachers!  I dont really follow either of the SD schools much,  but I would love to come out to see a game in MT,  I think the game day atmospheres are awesome in some place and have to think Montana has a pretty unique game day experience.