Loading ...Not everyone has been able to claim that they’ve had the benefit of attending a New York Giants home game. Some never make it to a game, period. How many are (sometimes) brave enough to make plans and do a Big Blue road game? No matter where one does choose to travel to, there will be some form of animosity for the Giants fan who is "All In" – there’s just different levels.
Some examples:
Tampa Bay (Raymond James Stadium) is more of a Disney-like attraction with the animated Buccaneer ship and multiple characters walking around, one doesn’t feel much in the way of intimidation. Maybe it’s worse for NFC South rivals.
Jacksonville’s Alltel Stadium/Ever Bank Stadium is slightly worse. If the stadium is half to three-quarters full. Almost everyone has heard the “Black Hole” in Oakland. Although fearful-looking, many stories are of being embraced as a football fan first. Passionate bunch there.
Same goes for Indianapolis. Colts fans are pretty friendly and have been known to buy drinks.
One would think that Cowboys Stadium would be a rough go for the die-hard blue fan, but the reports are of a happy, club-like atmosphere where the trash talk is sub-par.
Lastly, recent accounts from Giants fans that trekked to Wisconsin were of a very hospitable tailgating (some were invited into Packers fans’ homes), game and (believe it or not) post-game experiences. Giants fans, for the most part, were congratulated in quite the sportsmanlike manner. Old school respect.
Many local Big Blue fans who, at the very least, tailgate in the Meadowlands know the local atmosphere. Since shortly after 1976, Game Day is like another day of work in order to make it as enjoyable (as well as memorable) as possible pre-game. Rituals are at stake. Sometimes, this does include crackin’ on the opposing team’s fans. How hard depends on what team is being played that day (or what team that fan is representing—some folks decide to wear jerseys of players/teams not even playing that game), the other fan’s response, and the level of disdain for their colors, players, coach, etc. – oh, and possible alcohol intake.
Few times in the recent past, Giants Stadium has been referred to as hostile territory, but less often than one would think for the region.
Everyone has their own stories and most of them have a list of correlating factors, many of which can change in the blink of an eye—biggest one being what actually plays out (no pun intended) on the field. The pure fanatic’s emotions dictate immediate action. Basic inertia has no place inside the stadium, so when an opposing/ outside force is added to this “mass”, yeah, that action and experience is going to change.
That’s where Part II comes in…
Also…
- Be sure to "like" Giants 101 on Facebook and to follow Giants 101 on Twitter
- Get your tickets to meet Brandon Jacobs at "The Man Show" January 29th
- Text "oneteam" to 20222 to donate $10 to the One Team for the Lights charity initiative.
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Interesting stats from the ESPN NFC East blog worth sharing here…..
Regarding sacks:
“The NY Giants are averaging a sack every 7.0 pass attempts when Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka are on the field together. When they aren’t, the Giants get a sack every 15.6 pass attempts.”
Regarding SF’s Red Zone Efficiency:
“The 49ers’ offense has struggled in the red zone this season. Quarterback Alex Smith has completed only 40 percent of his red-zone passes, which is the second-worst figure in the league. But when he targets tight end Vernon Davis in the red zone, he has more success. Smith has targeted Davis nine times in the red zone this season, and five of those targets resulted in touchdown catches. Smith has thrown a total of five touchdown passes to all of his other red-zone targets combined this season.”