30 Best College Football Stadiums of All-Time
By Duncan Smith
Sep 28, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; A general view of the field prior to the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
16. Sanford Stadium
Athens, Georgia
Capacity: 92,746
What makes it great: Sanford Stadium is the home of the Georgia Bulldogs. It owes much to its rivalry with in-state foe, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. In the 1920’s, because Georgia’s stadium was too small for the crowds that would attend their games, the Bulldogs had to travel every year to Georgia Tech’s home field in Atlanta, Grant Field. In 1927, Georgia took an undefeated 9-0 record into action with Tech in Atlanta, and lost to the Yellow Jackets by a 12-0 score.
Georgia’s university president Dr. Steadman Sanford believed that Georgia Tech had watered down the field to slow Georgia’s running backs down, and swore to build a bigger stadium than Georgia Tech had. He did indeed accomplish that goal.
Greatest game played: In the 2010 meeting between Georgia and Georgia Tech, the annual “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” rivalry game was between two middling teams, but it ended up being a hard-fought game nonetheless. Both teams finished the season with a 6-6 record, and despite 411 rushing yards for the Yellow Jackets, the Georgia Bulldogs defended their home field and came away with a 42-34 win.
Next: Williams-Brice Stadium