Autzen Stadium presents major challenge for CU Buffs

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BOULDER – Last Saturday the Colorado Buffaloes paid a visit to the Big House in Ann Arbor. They would go on to drop that contest to the heavily favored Michigan Wolverines. Yet even for a stadium that holds 109,000, the Buffaloes felt that the Big House’s noise wasn’t what phased them.

Come Saturday, conference play begins for the Buffs as they’ll face the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Despite having roughly half the capacity of the Big House, it has been recognized as one of the loudest and toughest places to play in the country. This is something the program has been preparing for all week.

“Autzen is a tough place to play,” remarked Coach MacIntyre. “Of course they’ve got a good crowd. They sit right on top of you like Folsom and Utah does. They’re right on top of you, so the sound stays in there. The other thing that makes it a tough place to play are the dudes on the field.”

Autzen’s history of being a boisterous fortress for the Ducks has been well documented.

J. Brady McCollough, A Michigan Daily reporter thirteen years ago covered a Wolverines game in Eugene. He mentioned that “Autzen’s 59,000 strong make the Big House collectively sound like a pathetic whimper. It’s louder than any place I’ve ever been, and that includes ‘The Swamp’ at Florida, ‘The Shoe’ in Columbus and ‘Death Valley’ at Louisiana State. Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die.”

Michigan, who was ranked third in the nation at the time, would go on to lose to Oregon 31-27 that day in 2003. Lloyd Carr coached the Wolverines that year, agreed with McCollough’s assent that Autzen was the loudest stadium he had ever been too as well. Even Lee Corso from ESPN’s College Gameday had similar remarks.

In October of 2007, USC took on the Ducks in Eugene. The crowd of 59,000 was loud enough to record 127.2 decibels, which is almost as loud as a jet engine from only 100 feet away. Oregon made work of the Trojans that day winning 24-17

Colorado, who just visited the Big House, may feel battle tested after playing in front of 109,000 people. But quite frankly, they have yet to play in an environment like Autzen. The Colorado coaching staff needs to be prepared and have their players mentally up to the task.  The reason, this time, is any different for MacIntyre and CO is the Buffs have an actual shot at coming back to Boulder with a win. Expect an emotional roller coaster Saturday in the Pacific Northwest.