Keys to home field edge

Florida coach Urban Meyer talks about defending The Swamp. And he has, going 15-0 there as Florida's head coach.

California recently showed Tennessee what a difference home field can make.

And some people believe Nebraska could upset Southern Cal on Saturday because the Huskers get the Trojans in Lincoln.

Home field advantage is one of the biggest intangibles in college football. But what makes it such a huge edge? Is it crowd noise? Is it visiting teams being uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings?

Coaches and players say it's a combination of all those things.

"There's a lot more to it than just the field," said Cal coach Jeff Tedford, whose Bears recently beat Tennessee at home after getting crushed in Knoxville last year. "It's the comfort level of being here on Friday. Not having to travel. Staying in a hotel you're used to. The gameday routine in your own locker room. Those types of things can make a difference."

A big difference. Last year, SEC teams won 67.4 percent of their home games. A look at most major conferences shows similar figures. Big 12 teams won 67.9 percent of home games, Pac-10 teams won 66.7 percent, Big Ten teams won 64 percent while the ACC won 60.2 percent.

This week, top-ranked Southern Cal will go on the road to face No. 14 Nebraska in front of 75,000 fans at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. There's no question a packed stadium will motivate the Huskers.

"That's why they call it home field advantage," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "There's something to that.

"You're going against 80,000 people. Sometimes that feeling does motivate you. It could intimidate you, too. Hopefully you play them well enough to keep them quiet."

Gators quarterback Tim Tebow said simply having so many fans behind you is a motivator.

"Just seeing your fans and having someone behind you can give players an extra sense of confidence," Tebow said. "When you're at a place like Tennessee and you're on offense, having that crowd so loud, that can mess up some calls."

There are other comforts, too. Teams typically stay at the same hotel the night before each home game. There is also a lot to be said for being in your home locker room, where each player has his own plush locker.

Many stadiums featured cramped, dark visiting dressing rooms with metal lockers and very little space. One of the worst in the SEC is Mississippi State, Florida center Drew Miller says. Miller was at Mississippi State during Florida's loss to the Bulldogs in 2004.

"That thing is just tiny," Miller said. "The coaches don't even have a separate locker room. You're just packed in together. You have about 10 players sharing the same locker. It's rough. You just want to get out of there."

For home teams, the advantage is comfort. Teams have the practice routine for home games. Friday is not spent busing and flying around the country. And players know what to expect at their hometown hotels the night before a game.

"Not having to travel, being able to stay in the same hotel, going through the same week of practice, it gives you a sense of comfort," Tebow said.

Contact Brandon Zimmerman at 374-5051 or

zimmerb@gvillesun.com.