As we get closer and closer to the start of the 2024 high school football season, our crew wanted to dive deeper into what make football great in our coverage area.
We’ve already done our look at the area’s top returning players, so what’s next?
This piece kicks off our series of drafts leading into the season on some of our favorite topics. Up first, what stadiums are our favorites. We chose these from what we felt were a fan’s perspective and not as media members, and the stadiums were limited to our coverage area only.
In a snake draft order, Cam, Chris, Isaac, Joe, KJ and Scott drafted their favorite area stadiums. Here’s how their drafts panned out and the reasoning behind each pick.
Watch the draft on our YouTube channel (including some honorable mentions at the end), then make sure to vote below for who you think had the best draft.
STATE TITLE PICKS: Cam / Chris / Ethan / Isaac / Joe / KJ / Scott
EA COLLEGE FOOTBALL 25: What area players are rated in new college football game
Round 1
Chris, Gallatin: Few stadiums carry the history and tradition like the Wave Yard. Nestled right in the heart of Gallatin, Calvin Short Field is one of the few off-campus stadiums still operational, and with the county continuing renovations for the 2024 season, that should help maintain the legacy of one of the state’s oldest stadiums. When the Green Wave are playing well, there are few better atmospheres.
Scott, Beech: When you arrive at Shackle Island, you immediately get the sense that it’s no ordinary venue. Immediately you are drawn to the multiple tailgating tents and alumni comraderie and the stadium is abuzz with anticipation. And come hungry, as the concessions offer every savory and sweet concoction you can think of.
Joe, FRA: I’m convinced that there’s not a better view on a Friday night in the entire Midstate than the one you get at FRA. Located high up on a hill, the combination of good football behind that sunset is unbeatable.
Isaac, Mt. Juliet: There’s no way I could pass up on Roger Perry Field with my first pick. The way this stadium is set up, it’s quite a lot like a college stadium. With the sloped stands on both sides of a valley, the sound stays on the field and makes for an intimidating environment.
Cam, Trousdale County: Well, no surprise here. It doesn’t take a Trousdale County alumni to tell you how special the Creekbank can be. It’s just one of those places that seems to give the home team an extra score the visitors have to overcome.
KJ, Page: The Patriots’ fans create an electrifying atmosphere in the stadium, turning every game into an unforgettable experience. Their passionate cheers and synchronized chants build a palpable energy that fuels the team’s performance and intensifies the excitement.
Round 2
KJ, Hendersonville: Hendersonville’s chaotic atmosphere transforms the stadium into a high-octane venue for watching football. The frenzied, enthusiastic crowd creates a whirlwind of energy that keeps the excitement levels sky-high throughout the game.
Cam, Smith County: The second closest high school stadium from my childhood home. The Hole, as most call it, still gives the old small school stadium feel. From the concrete bleachers to the train horn, to the deafening fireworks when the Owls score, this is a great place to catch a game… unless it rains.
Isaac, Macon County: Pat Parker Field is the definition of tradition and creates a stage for some of the best high school football around. The bleachers on both sides are no more than six feet from the field so both fanbases are right on top of the action. The setting off the school campus gives the field a real connection to the city of Lafayette.
Joe, Ensworth: Located in a beautiful area and boasting one of the best looking campuses around, this was an easy choice. There’s not a better natural grass field in the state.
Scott, Pearl-Cohn: The Pearl-Cohn band and dance team are a site to see and the best music performances north of Broadway. No visit is complete without the cheer-inducing, pulse quickening tones of their PA announcer Catfish whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
Chris, CPA: Tight sidelines make the Lions’ den a more intimate atmosphere than most. It’s really bad for a reporter or photographer trying to navigate to the other end of the field, but as a fan, you can’t be much closer to the action than you are at CPA. And there are not many tougher venues to win at, especially when the calendar turns to November.
Round 3
Chris, Ravenwood: Tracks take away from the football atmosphere, but what is taken away from the equation at Ravenwood is almost completely canceled out by the home crowd when the Raptors are cooking. And 2024 could be one of those years where the fence might be a popular viewing spot in November.
Scott, Nolensville: A huge venue that somehow feels intimate due to the overwhelming home field crowd that definitely creates an advantage. The Knights have one of the best student sections in the state, and any time they are playing a rival, it can get intense.
Joe, Green Hill: They’re the new kids on the block, but Green Hill puts together one hell of a show on Friday night. Between the flashing lights after each touchdown and an electric atmospehere, it’s never a bad time on the hill.
Isaac, JPII: JPII’s field is very clean with great sight lines and the student section has its own unique style. Instead of being in the stands, they fill up a hill behind one of the end zones. For big games like the Bishop’s Cup, that hillside turns into an ocean of students raining noise onto the field.
Cam, Westmoreland: This stadium has grown on me with the more games I’m able to catch here. While being the visiting team is no fun due to the very narrow sideline. It only gets worse when the game starts. You want noise? You get plenty of it when the Eagles are playing good football. I highly suggest catching a game at The Rock Pile.
KJ, Summit: Summit’s entrance creates a dramatic and intense atmosphere that gives their stadium a distinct rivalry game feel. The grand, charged procession of players onto the field ramps up the excitement and sets the stage for high anticipated showdowns.
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