Where Have I Been? – From the Bird’s Nest

A couple of days ago, my friend Dave Hamilton posted on Facebook asking his friends how many places they've lived in their lifetime.  Not cities, but actual dwellings.

I answered 27.

Dave's response was "I didn't ask how many press boxes you've been in."  And, I laughed.

And, then I wondered.  Just how many?  So I decided to count em up.  And, the list is below.  There are 128 FBS schools in America.  And, my total is 55.  Now, that's counting years on TV and years hosting Nelson Stokley's TV show where I went on the road but did not broadcast.  I was still in the opposing press box.

Here's the list, by conference

AMERICAN:  East Carolina, UCF, Houston, Memphis, Tulsa, Tulane--Obviously, Tulane was in the Superdome and I'll visit the new place next season.  Tulsa was a TV game on a cold rainy night.  One of my more miserable evenings.  Houston has done a lot of work to their stadium, but it was a dump the last time the Cajuns were there.

ACC--Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh--The drive from Roanoke to Blacksburg is one of the more scenic trips to a stadium that I've witnessed.  Pittsburgh was a long time ago.  I've slept since then.

BIG 12--Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Texas, Texas Tech--K-State's new digs after they refurbished Bill Snyder Family Stadium was outrageously good.  And, broadcasting from the roof at Boone Pickens Stadium is very cool.

BIG TEN--Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska--Minnesota in the old Metrodome.  Illinois has great looking buildings around the stadium.  But, as I've chronicled in earlier blogs, there is no place like Nebraska.

CONFERENCE USA--WKU, Middle Tennessee, FAU, FIU, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, North Texas--You know the old saying "that guy's elevator doesn't go all the way to the top?"  We'll it's true in Bowling Green.  You have to climb up the second deck after the elevator drops you off.  FAU and UNT's new stadiums are quite nice.  I'm wondering if FIU ever finished its press box or if you still have to broadcast outside under a small tent from the end zone.

MID-AMERICAN--Ohio, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Akron, Eastern Michigan--Only Akron is anywhere close to new.  Ohio was strange because we broadcasted from a broadcast booth that served as a coach's office.  EMU and Kent State were old, as was NIU...but to be fair, I haven't been to DeKalb since the Cajuns left the Big West 20 years ago.  Eastern Michigan was eerily quiet, mainly because Michigan was playing Notre Dame just eight miles away

MOUNTAIN WEST--Utah State, Boise State, Nevada, San Jose St, UNLV--Obviously the blue turf was an interesting experience.  So was Utah State.  Again, no visits since the Big West days, but you had to walk up a hill and a lot of steps to get to the booth.  And, with that altitude around 5,000 feet, I was ready for a nap (and lots of oxygen) by the time we got to the booth.

PAC-12--Washington State, Arizona State--I liked Arizona State better.  Especially after Ryan Leaf hung 77 on the Cajuns in Pullman.  I did not make the trip to Arizona a few years back.  I was with basketball.

SEC--Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn--I guess it would have been easier to just say all of them except Vandy and Mizzou.  My first radio broadcast was at Tennessee and it's still the best place ever.  Checkerboard end zones and the fans arriving by boat on the Tennessee River make Knoxville like no other.  Dinner at "Ye Olde Steakhouse" courtesy of UT media relations makes it that much better.  And, the Aggie War Hymn and opening fanfare from the LSU band are both very very very cool.

SUN BELT--Arkansas State, Georgia State, New Mexico State, South Alabama, Louisiana, Texas State, Troy, Idaho, UL Monroe--I'll add Appalachian State next week and Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina at some point.  Idaho's Kibbie Dome is, well, interesting.  New Mexico State has a great view of the mountains, but not much else.  Texas State has a nice facility but I don't think anyone in San Marcos has noticed, judging by their crowds.

INDEPENDENTS--None.  Though Touchdown Jesus and Michie Stadium (Army, in October, please) are on my bucket list.

So that's 55 collegiate press boxes.  Not quite half.  Number 56 is next week.

Oh, and I was wrong on the number of places I've lived.  The answer is 30.