Tulsa Attendance

[tristatecoog]

Scout's rankings show clear progression this year (ranking over last 4 yrs, 2016 first):

SMU -- 55, 79, 75, 75
Memphis -- 99, 86, 82, 102
UH -- 45, 83, 86, 62
Temple -- 89, 95, 74, 87

UH is showing the most recruiting progress vs. the last couple years but SMU is very strong as well. A key question is how Temple and Memphis have turned things around so well without higher rated classes. Maybe they've kept more of their 3-stars on campus, gotten some notable FBS transfers and developed some 2-star and lower rated recruits. SMU's one four star player over the last four years was Traylon Shead who I believe was injured and had fumbleitis. Jabryce Taylor was a 3-star that ended up at Navarro and is now having a decent year as a Jr at UTSA.

Anyway, the progress is apparent in the year over year losing margins. This year, SMU has only lost three games by 20 or more. Last year, the first seven games (all losses) were each by 21-56 points.

[sbsmith]

Coach Morris will produce a winning product here, the fans need to stick with him. When we have an exciting and winning product on the field we will have no problem getting 25K in the stands every game.

That won't be enough to keep Morris.

[smusic 00]

The key to keeping the next (maybe CM) big coach will be a chance at the championship. That's it. If we stay relegated we will be a doormat, but being the nicest doormat could be fun.

[longbuzzer]

sbsmith

Okay, upward trajectory doesn't resonate with you. 1-11 seasons look like no progress. We'll see in the next two years.

In the meanwhile, we need some improvement in attendance.

Morris reaches out to the students on a regular basis to come to the games. I can see that if a student has an organic chemistry exam the next week, and wants an A to get into medical school, that student is not likely to dress up like peruna and be on the front row of the game. But, when you drive by the frats, and walk by the tents in front of Dallas Hall on game day, it doesn't look like the students are studying reactions of organic compounds between each beer.

[PonyKai]

I for one am most disappointed in the lack of student support, especially the Greeks. Yes, yes, we attract students for academics and such, not football, but we also brag about attracting leaders. We are not showing it.

The Greeks are a big puzzle. If the Greek turnout was 80% of their total student population, that would make a very loud group on the east side to complement the hard core fans on the west.

Complaining about approx. 33% of an undergraduate student body of ~7,000 and demanding an absurdly high turnout from a certain group of students that would far exceed that of any other campus in the country. Okay, cool.

[couch 'em]

I don't care what you do, most people won't sit through awful games where they don't see a chance of victory

[Charleston Pony]

It would be huge if we could get 33% of our undergraduate population to attend regularly. Putting 2k in the student section each week would be a big plus for the program. I still think having those new dorms adjacent to the stadium will payoff long term in building support for the program. Getting them involved as FR & Sophs creates a better chance they remain connected as upperclassmen and as graduate

[couch 'em]

Dorm location boosting attendance on our tiny campus is like saying a new stadium will boost recruiting.

[RGV Pony]

So does this mean selling beer in Ford wasn't the answer ?

[PonyKai]

It made my viewing experience more enjoyable. Therefore, I declare it to be THE answer.

[couch 'em]

Imagine attendance without beer!

[mrydel]

I imagine a lot of things with beer.

[03Mustang]

I don't care what you do, most people won't sit through awful games where they don't see a chance of victory

Agree with this. You can't expect many people to show up with a poor product, no matter what the circumstances are.

That's magnified tenfold in a market like Dallas.

[smupony94]

We don't need fans

Don't bother cheering your team, it WON'T help them win: Shouting fans have no impact on match results, study claims
Study finds no direct correlation between decibel level and goals scored
The research was carried out by University of Nebraska
It concluded shouting insults or encouragement has no benefit or impact

[mrydel]

It seems logical since Nebraska is probably selling out and they cannot win.