From Lincoln Logs to football stadiums: Jim Wilson’s thoughts on each of the Pac-12 venues …
Note to readers: Jim Wilson will serve as occasional guest columnist on my website. The Oregon State broadcaster’s latest is a look at the football stadiums in the Pac 12.
Jim Wilson
Wilson, who played both football and baseball at OSU, has been watching Beaver sports since his childhood growing up in Corvallis in the 1960’s and ‘70s. Mike Parker’s popular analyst for football and baseball is in his 17th year on the OSU radio crew.
By Jim Wilson
It is a strange feeling to watch a football game without fans in the stands. It is even stranger to watch college football on Saturdays knowing that Pac-12 football stadiums are sitting idle.
Through these unprecedented times, I’ve learned how much I appreciate all the pageantry and build-up around the stadiums and the energy that college football fans bring to the overall atmosphere.
And I miss the stadiums themselves.
I have been fascinated with football stadiums my entire life. When I was five years old, I would erect elaborate stadiums out of wood blocks and Lincoln Logs. When I had children of my own, I talked my daughters into playing Legos and then hogged all the pieces to build stadiums. I once constructed a Parker Stadium replica that was a dead ringer for the real thing.
Parker Stadium replica by Jim Wilson
My rendition of Parker out of snow wasn’t as elaborate.
I am interested in all facets of a stadium — the structure, the setting, amenities, sight lines, tradition or anything else that a building can offer. Now that I work in the media, the press box food even rates a mention.
Through my college and professional baseball career, I played in iconic Yankee Stadium, the Tokyo Dome, LSU’s Tiger Stadium and Texas Stadium. Though I was much younger and focused on the games, I would always take extra notice of each venue’s unique setting.
Ohio Stadium
Now, as radio analyst for the Beaver football team, visiting each stadium is one of the great pleasures of my travels. In 16 years working games, Oregon State has played at the Big House (Michigan Stadium), Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium, Penn State's Beaver Stadium, the Alamodome, Qwest (now CenturyLink) Field, Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium and Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium, just to name a few.
Oregon State also played in two baseball-only stadiums rearranged to host bowl football games — Pac Bell Park in San Francisco (now Oracle Field, for the 2007 Emerald Bowl) and Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix (now Chase Field, for the 2004 Insight Bowl). The Beavers revisited Pac Bell in 2011 when California used it for a season as its home field while its on-campus stadium was undergoing a massive renovation. The downside to the baseball-only stadiums is the vantage point from the press box behind home plate, which ends up being in the end zone in the football configuration.
I have been to every Pac-12 site. The conference’s two most iconic stadiums reside in the southland; UCLA’s Rose Bowl and USC’s Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum are massive bowls with great tradition. Combined, the two sites have hosted seven Super Bowls, several Olympic events, a World Series and countless more international events.
The newest venue in the Pac-12 is Stanford Stadium. In 2005, the Cardinal razed the old stadium and built a new one on the same site. Today’s version is much smaller than the old one and has much more architectural design, which wasn’t hard to do considering the old Stanford Memorial Stadium was a cavernous bowl with little or no design.
No fewer than nine other Pac-12 stadiums have undergone significant upgrades in the last decade — Washington’s Husky Stadium (2013, $280 million), Washington State’s Martin Stadium (2014, $141 million), California’s Memorial Stadium (2011, $321 million), Colorado's Folsom Field (2016, $181 million), Arizona Stadium (2012, $72.3 million), Sun Devil Stadium (2019, $314 million), Southern Cal’s LA Memorial Coliseum (2018, $315 million), UCLA’s Rose Bowl (2012, $170 million) and Oregon State’s Reser Stadium.
The Beavers’ last upgrade in 2016 wasn’t as big as the 2005 east-side makeover, but it included the $42 million “Victory Through Valley” project aimed at the west end zone and improving the Valley Football Center.
Following is a snapshot of the Pac-12 Conference’s football stadiums:
• Arizona: Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., was built in 1929 with an original capacity of 7,000. The stadium now holds 50,782 and offers a tremendous view of the Santa Catalina Mountains as a backdrop. It has a nice feel to it and the size is a good match to the university. The press box is adequate (as is the food), with a very nice patio off the back of the press area to get some fresh air and take in the views.
In 2012, the Wildcats invested heavily in the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, an end zone structure housing locker rooms and coaching offices similar to Oregon State’s Valley Football Center.
Like several stadiums around the country, Arizona Stadium has student housing within the stadium’s belly. Part of the 2012 renovation included a change from a Bermuda grass playing surface to FieldTurf. I absolutely love Bermuda grass and always prefer natural surfaces, so that change is a negative.
Arizona Stadium Memory: The Beavers have had a good run in Tucson during my tenure on the Beaver radio crew. Since 2004, the Beavers have played in Tucson eight times and have won six of those games, including last year’s 56-38 victory.
• Arizona State: Sun Devil Stadium was built in 1958 between two mountain buttes. The stadium has hosted four national championship games and the 1996 Super Bowl. It was also the home site of the Arizona Cardinals for 17 years and hosted the Fiesta Bowl for 35 years. Capacity crested at 74,865 in 1989, but now seats a cozy 53,599.
Sun Devil Stadium is the site of my first college football start and where the Beavers’ historic 2000 Fiesta Bowl romp over Notre Dame took place. Because of those great memories, I have always enjoyed returning there.
If only the press box food wasn't so lousy; ASU is one of the few programs in the country that charge media members for meals and offers only hot dogs.
Sun Devil Stadium Memory: It is visible from a distance and sits between several major roadways. Because my travels have often taken me to the greater Phoenix area, I have driven by the stadium hundreds of times and it never fails to bring a smile to my face.
• California: Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., was built in 1923. The stadium capacity has been reduced to 63,186 and it nestles perfectly in Strawberry Canyon to create one of the most beautiful college football settings in the country. It can be seen from Charter Hill, which overlooks the stadium and is referred to as “Tightwad Hill” and is always littered with non-paying fans.
Cal’s Memorial Stadium
From behind the press box, there is a spectacular panoramic view of the San Francisco skyline that is illuminated by the sunset. The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the TransAmerica building are all plainly visible from the back stadium perch.
One of the lasting impressions of a game at Cal is the cannon shots fired after every touchdown. It is much louder than you would expect and startles me every time.
Memorial Stadium Memory: The Beavers’ 31-28 win in 2007 was unforgettable. The Bears entered the game as the No. 2 team in the land and, by game time, were de facto No. 1 after top-ranked Louisiana State lost earlier in the day. The game featured an incredible goal line stand, a fourth-down Yvenson Bernard touchdown leap and a bonehead scramble by Cal quarterback Kevin Riley that prevented the Bears from attempting a game-tying field goal on the final play.
• Colorado: Colorado Stadium was opened in 1924 and renamed Folsom Field in 1944. It is listed as the third highest (in terms of elevation) stadium in the country at 5,360 feet above sea level, behind only Wyoming (7,215) and Air Force (7,200). The original capacity was 26,000. After several renovations, the stadium now seats 50,183. The football complex sits on the east corner of the stadium and is similar to Oregon State’s Valley Football Center.
The stadium is mostly gold in color and sits atop the Colorado campus in a scenic setting with fantastic mountain scenes from the press box.
An interesting aspect of the stadium is the location of Balch Fieldhouse. The one-time basketball facility was built in 1937 adjacent to the football stadium’s west side and media members must travel through the fieldhouse to get to the press box. The one-time 7,000-seat arena is used for assorted parties and gatherings on game days, but to see the old facility with a track around it, basketball hoops and old grandstands is a great sight.
Folsom Field Memory: It is impossible to talk about it without mentioning the Ralphie run. Since 1967, five brave souls have guided a wild buffalo around the football field just prior to kickoff in a pre-game ritual that gives me chills every time. As of this moment, the great tradition has been canceled as Ralphie V retired last November.
Another great memory was Oregon State’s come-from-behind victory over Colorado in 2018. First-year coach Jonathan Smith’s team trailed Colorado 21-3 at the half and then surrendered a long touchdown run on the opening possession of the second half. The Beavers won the game 41-34 in overtime in what was a momentous win for the program.
Autzen Stadium
• Oregon: Autzen Stadium was built in 1967 and currently holds 54,000. The 2002 improvements added 12,000 seats and 34 luxury boxes. Oregon made smaller upgrades in 2007, 2008, 1010 and 2014, which included the playing surface, scoreboards and cosmetics.
Autzen is one of the top facilities in the league. It is large enough to give the impression of a big-time stadium, but small enough to keep everything cozy. It also is one of the loudest stadiums in the league. The press box is top of the line and the press box food is among the best in the Pac-12.
Another feature of Autzen that I enjoy is the view of the walking bridge over the McKenzie River. Opened in 1970, the bridge provides a scenic shortcut from the campus and downtown area to the stadium.
As for negatives, getting in and out and parking at Autzen is a nightmarish proposition. Additionally, I am not a fan of the current playing surface. I don’t like the alternating shades of green every five yards, inserted to emulate mowing patterns of professional baseball fields.
Autzen Stadium Memory: My last college football game and play was at Autzen and I can recall almost every aspect of the play vividly. I was playing left guard in the waning moments of a 47-17 loss to Oregon. Quarterback Ed Singler threw a long pass that was intercepted. Now a defender, I could see a wall of Ducks forming and it wasn’t long before the interceptor got behind his convoy of blockers. The only real play I had was to become a wedge-buster so I slammed into two or three of the blockers and got up very slowly. I slowly stumbled off the field as Head Coach Joe Avezzano yelled at me to hustle off the field.
A better memory was the Beavers’ 38-31 double overtime win over the rival Ducks in 2007. James Rodgers scored on a 25-yard fly sweep and the defense held Oregon on fourth down to secure the win.
• Stanford: The new Stanford Stadium opened in 2006 and holds only 50,000 people, just more than half of the old stadium's capacity of 90,000. The old Stanford Memorial Stadium was a relic, but had some great tradition, having hosted Olympic soccer matches in 1984 and the 1985 Super Bowl as well as a dual track meet between the United States and the Soviet Union.
That was the rub with the old stadium — the track. The stadium was too big and the track put another 100 feet between the enormous structure and the playing surface. Add to that the fact that Stanford never drew well and it always seemed empty no matter what the crowd.
The new stadium is much cozier and has an octagonal shape similar to Pro Player Stadium in Miami. The seats come within 15 feet of the playing field and arches were added in the end zone to give the stadium a unique feel. Unfortunately, the Cardinal still don’t draw well and the smaller stadium still seems empty.
Stanford Stadium Memory: In 1980, when I was playing offensive guard for Oregon State, Stanford QB John Elway scrambled for nearly 30 seconds of game clock before throwing a 50-yard touchdown (estimate) pass to Kenny Margerum. The pass itself traveled almost 70 yards in the air; Elway kept reversing his field and retreated nearly 35 yards before unleashing one of the longest passes I have ever seen. Stanford squeaked by us 54-13 in that one.
• UCLA: The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., was built in 1922 and has been home to the UCLA Bruins for the last 28 seasons. The legendary stadium has been the host of the annual Rose Bowl game since 1923.
The “Granddaddy” sits in one of the more picturesque settings in all of sports. Nestled in the Arroyo Seco, the stadium is not visible from one mile away, whereas most stadiums can be seen from a distance. The setting is beautiful, the tradition is rich and the playing surface is immaculate. It really does stand up to its reputation.
In 2012, the Rose Bowl upgraded its press box and locker rooms, both sorely needed makeovers aimed at increasing the experience for the media and the players.
A knock on the Rose Bowl is its off-campus location more than 25 miles from Westwood. Of the 12 conference stadiums, only UCLA and Oregon have off-campus facilities, but Autzen is less than three miles from campus.
Rose Bowl Memory: Watching the actual Rose Bowl games on television. I have broadcast four or five games from the Rose Bowl and there has not been anything resembling a full house.
Last year’s 48-31 win over UCLA in Pasadena was one of my favorite OSU games played in the Rose Bowl. The Beavers had one of those days where everything was clicking offensively and led 21-0 after just six minutes of game action.
LA Memorial Coliseum
• USC: The LA Memorial Coliseum was built in 1923 and has a rich history. The Coliseum was used in the 1932 Olympics and was also home for the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1984 Olympics. The all-time attendance record is 104,953, but now lists 92,516 as capacity.
At one time or another, the Coliseum has been the home site for the Trojans, UCLA, the Raiders,
Rams and even the Dodgers. Like the Rose Bowl and California's Memorial Stadium, it seems too big and distant; all three are huge, single-bowl stadiums.
LA Coliseum Memory: My personal visits to the Coliseum have been generally lackluster USC wins.
But I love the columns and the flame in the west end zone.
• Utah: Rice-Eccles Stadium went through a major rebuild in 1997 in anticipation of the 2002 Olympics. The renovation was almost an entire rebuild and the stadium was temporarily renamed Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The all-red stadium seats 45,807 and, like many Pac-12 facilities, offers tremendous views of the Wasatch Mountains (part of the Rocky Mountains) from the press box vantage point. Everything feels new in the stadium and I’ve only seen full houses on my visits.
At 4,600 feet above sea level, the altitude can be a factor, particularly in the kicking game.
In 2008, the Beavers visited Utah for a non-conference game in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Down 28-26 late in the game, Utah was lining up for a two-point conversion attempt to tie the game. On the attempt, Beaver safety Greg Laybourn apparently made a game-saving break-up of a pass in the end zone. But Utah got a home-town pass interference call and ended up winning 31-28. The Utes finished the season 13-0, crushing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 31-17.
Rice-Eccles Stadium Memory: In 2013, Oregon State visited Utah and won a 51-48 overtime thriller that was an instant classic. Sean Mannion threw for 443 yards and five touchdowns; 210 of those yards and three of the TDs were hauled in by Brandin Cooks. Despite the heroics of Mannion and Cooks, the Beavers had to overcome a 21-point fourth-quarter rally by the Utes to win.
Husky Stadium
• Washington: Built in 1920, Husky Stadium celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. It offers a spectacular view of Lake Washington through the east end zone and provides some of the best aerial shots from any stadium. It is one of two stadiums in the country that is accessible by boat, the other being Tennessee's Neyland Stadium.
Prior to 2013, Husky Stadium was not a good football venue. There was a track circling the field, the
stands were rickety and the press box was downright scary; when the fans started jumping up and down, the press box would shake.
Lake Washington from Husky Stadium
After a major renovation, it is among the most stunning stadiums you will ever see. The field was lowered and the track removed, so fans are now closer to the action and the press box is all new. The latter is too high, however, and the pitch of the seats near the top of Husky Stadium are still scary. It does provide incredible views to the east toward Lake Washington and Mount Rainier.
An interesting side note: the tunnel walk from Alaska Airline Arena where visiting teams dress to the playing field is very cool.
Husky Stadium Memory: On a recruiting trip as a high school senior, I visited the Husky locker room before walking through the tunnel to the stadium. I ended up walking right behind Arizona State quarterback Mark Malone. At 6-4, 220 pounds and all padded up, Malone carved an imposing presence. I remember thinking to myself, “If he’s the quarterback, this might not be the right league for me.”
• Washington State: The Cougars inhabited Martin Stadium since 1972. It is the smallest stadium in the Pac-12 with a capacity of 32,952 and is tucked tightly into a cozy spot in the middle of campus.
It is one of my favorite stadiums in the league. It wasn’t always that way. When I first started doing radio in 2004, Martin Stadium was far and away the worst venue in the Pac-12. Just getting to Pullman is tough enough, and the weather in the late season is harsh. Add to that a stadium in dire need of repair and it added up to a mess.
Starting in 2006, the Cougars began updating Martin through four phases of renovation projects.
The first two phases began at the end of the 2006 season and focused on everything around the stadium — public areas, plazas, concourses, ticket offices and concessions. At the time, it didn’t make much sense, but after the third and fourth phases were completed, it all added up to a unique and well-designed stadium.
Phases III and IV added a new press box, club seats and luxury boxes. The Cougars also included an end zone structure with locker rooms, weight rooms and coaches’ offices.
Now, the setting is very comfortable and almost everything feels new and improved. The press box is top of the line and so is the food. The Cougars averaged 28,541 fans per game last season so the size makes it feel like a full house.
Martin Stadium Memory: Surviving a Nov. 8, 1980 game as a player in Pullman. The weather was frigid cold, the winds were gusting about 35 miles per hour and the rain gave me an idea what people mean when they talk about sleet. The Cougars won 28-7 before a crowd of 15,561, and I survived.
Last year’s 54-53 gut-wrenching loss on the last play of the game was the best game I've seen in Martin.
Readers: who are your favorite Pac 12 stadiums? Share your comments below.
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