Some might say that Lane Stadium, bouncing as “Enter Sandman” plays and the Virginia Tech football team runs in, is the best atmosphere in college sports. Others might claim that it’s Bryant-Denny as the Crimson Tide runs onto the field, and even others might claim it’s Williams-Bryce as “Sandstorm” echoes off the walls and rally towels swing through the air.
I would counter every single one of them: Scotland Yard on Homecoming weekend is the greatest atmosphere in all of NCAA sports.
The sun setting in the background, the auburn and crimson rays hitting the surrounding mountains. Paul the bear, nestled in his home on the front railing where he resides at every home game. Blue-painted bodies and screaming fans, packed in like sardines, losing their minds with each supposed foul, screaming at the top of their lungs for “mustard.” Flags waving and players jumping into the stands as Whitt Tisdale ‘26 finds the back of the net.
Pure pandemonium, absolute chaos—it’s the beauty of sports. Rasping voices as students scream at the top of their lungs, attempting to lead an approximate two thousand fans in a beloved rendition of “Oh When the Scots Go Marching in.” The silence, frustration and heartbreak when our opponents score an equalizer in the 63rd minute.
It’s electric. It’s the feeling of pure bliss when Mercer Stout ‘23 dives for a ball, whipped into the box by Griffin Felton ‘23, redirecting it into the goal to go up by one with four minutes left in the game.
It’s the ensuing chaos when Tisdale finds the back of the net, putting the nail in the coffin with 60 seconds left. There is no comparable feeling. No atmosphere compares to the one we have on the mountain.
I challenge you to find a more thrilling environment to watch any college sport, let alone soccer at the Division III level. You won’t. Your search will prove fruitless. None compare to Scotland Yard, let alone on Homecoming weekend. Because, after all, We Are The Scots.