Growing up, we watched Auburn Football on our TV in Japan, Tennessee, Illinois, and Virginia.

My family eats, sleeps, and bleeds football. With the sport being so present in our lives growing up, it's no wonder that my little brother would be a star player (said with no bias whatsoever).

He was invited to visit different campuses to check out their football stadiums. As an Auburn student, I had to tag along with him this summer to compare the stadiums. The only college football field I had ever seen in person before our trip was Jordan-Hare, so I already had a very high standard going in.

Yale

One of the first places we visited was Yale. Now, just the sound of Yale intimidates me— considering it is an Ivy League school. We drove from Virginia Beach, Virginia all the way to New Haven, Connecticut in a single day. I was excited to be living my Gilmore Girls moment— until I found out it was never even filmed at the college.

You could tell that the stadium had a lot of history behind it. From the outside, it looked like a high school stadium— until you went inside, and the whole field was dipped into the Earth. All the seats are wooden and coated with paint, with a lot of spots peeling or flaking off. I’m not going to lie, some paint is missing because of me. There were no concession stands or restrooms on the inside of the stadium. Instead, they were located directly outside of the stadium. It was an interesting concept, but I prefer the setup that Jordan-Hare has to offer.

My brother was fixated on getting a Yale bucket hat, so after the camp ended, we explored the shops on campus. The one thing I admire about Yale is the buildings’ architecture. It felt like I was on the set of a Harry Potter movie. One thing that I felt uneasy about was the casual cemeteries chilling on campus grounds, which probably did add to the Harry Potter aesthetic as well.

University of Pennsylvania

Two weeks after Yale, my brother was invited to the University of Pennsylvania! The fact that my brother is a prospect of another Ivy League is scary. The drive there wasn’t as bad considering Pennsylvania is closer to Virginia than Connecticut. Franklin Field is placed in the middle of the city, which was very foreign to me. Just like Yale Bowl, Franklin Field is miles away from the campus itself. It isn’t located in the heart of the campus like Jordan-Hare.

When I stepped on Franklin Field, it felt like I was on a baseball field. It was also interesting to see that there was a track built around the field. There were concession stands, cafes, and restrooms built into the stadium. They also had statues of veteran football players decorating the halls. The benches were all metal, but the steps were so thin and steep that I felt like I would trip or fall forward.

Villanova University

The next day, we headed to Villanova University. It wasn’t far from UPenn, so the drive was easy. Villanova Stadium was near the campus, unlike the other schools I had visited. The architectural style of the buildings reminded me of Yale’s; however, it was a little underwhelming to me. Its bleachers, scoreboard, and the track around the field could be compared to that of a high school. While nice in its own way, Villanova’s field doesn’t have the same college vibe that Jordan-Hare offers!

By the end of summer, I had a new perspective on other schools and a new appreciation of the beauty of Jordan-Hare! Auburn is where home is.

War Eagle, and remember to
Be Well, Auburn.

(Photography of Villanova Field credited to The William and Mary Sports Blog)