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The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:18 am
by George S. Patton
It is what it is. I get the sense that some get the red [deleted] about this so much that if it doesn't get to a great level, Jones is going to leave.

Lack of success or a different challenge is going to lead to Jones' departure over anything else.

Should this program string together consecutive winning seasons, then attendance will build up over time. When your program has had 3 non-losing seasons since its return in 1989 and you had an academic environment that made this program pretty much football challenged, die-hards were the only ones who would come, except if Tech or OSU rolled into town.

I guess the thinking is that 8-5 and a bowl win meant that everybody should automatically come back and Ford should be at 25K every home? Doesn't work that way. Some of you should know that.

Season ticket sales are up so that's a quality step.

Give it some time. A small alumni base doesn't help either, so you have to get the casual HP, UP and Dallas fans a reason to come and invest. They're not there yet.

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:24 am
by NavyCrimson
Well said

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:34 am
by davidpaul123
For once I agree with Patton. Everyone whining about attendance specifically in the downpour on Sat should Shut Up!

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 11:24 am
by Top 25
This year, far more than ever before, has shown that we present a great family outing opportunity. People are coming and bringing their kids...think back to all the kids you've seen in the stadium and on the hillside. The weather on Saturday put a temporary halt to that.

I was told before the game by an athletic department higher up that we expected 28k plus if the weather was good. Had the weather been like it was on Friday or yesterday, we would have had a very full stadium.

It's a shame, but let's move on.

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 12:45 pm
by Hoofbeat83
+1

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:00 pm
by reddevil
I agree with Patton. Consistent winning breeds support. The key being consistent, not just one year.

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:26 pm
by PonyDoh
Better yet, understand that we're never going to truly have good support, and beat disappointment to the punch. Attendance is about so much more than consistently winning in a very average football conference

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:56 pm
by tristatecoog
PonyDoh wrote:Better yet, understand that we're never going to truly have good support, and beat disappointment to the punch. Attendance is about so much more than consistently winning in a very average football conference


It's possible, even in a "very average football conference." Look at UCF and Houston. They're not on BCS levels but they're in large metro areas and have finally achieved area support. ECU, UTEP and USM capture their markets and have had decent success in the past. Houston has really only drawn well this year and it was a slow building process. Like Patton said, SMU has all of the building blocks in place and is making solid strides. In two years, SMU can average 30,000 tickets sold. Two more bowl games, Padron is a senior and other talent rises up the ranks.

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:21 pm
by Mestengo
UCF mirrored our attendance at Ford in early 2000 at the Citrus Bowl.
Once they moved on campus they had 42,000 kids that could walk over…

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:11 pm
by Big Hoss
I go to every game, rain or shine. I hate, HATE missing games, and can literally count on one hand how many I've missed in my 10 years as a STH.

But I am not about to yell at everyone on here about attending, because, by in large, that would be preaching to the choir. I show up, and expect everyone else on this board who lives close to do the same. If you don't, screw you. Go over to AGC and become a toads fan for all I care.

And we should add, quit [deleted] about ticket prices, and donation levels. If you don't like that, go up to Fouts Field and become a green eggs & ham fan.

SMU is my school, the Mustangs are my team, June is my coach, Peruna is my mascot. Now STFU and let's go kick Tulane's [deleted]!

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:34 pm
by tristatecoog
Mestengo wrote:UCF mirrored our attendance at Ford in early 2000 at the Citrus Bowl.
Once they moved on campus they had 42,000 kids that could walk over…


Probably 10% of that 42K cares about football. UCF, like UH, is mostly a commuter school so on Saturday's there aren't 42K that can "walk over." In fact, there may be more SMU students within walking distance of its stadium than UCF students.

Watch for the woeful attendance at Tulane this weekend. SMU fans may outnumber Green Wave fans.

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:08 pm
by Charleston Pony
might help if Sophs are required to live on campus in future; the more students, the better the atmosphere and spirit; the blvd is a good start in creating a great game day atmosphere. Strong student attendance is the next step

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:28 pm
by 450fan
Big Hoss wrote:I go to every game, rain or shine. I hate, HATE missing games, and can literally count on one hand how many I've missed in my 10 years as a STH.

But I am not about to yell at everyone on here about attending, because, by in large, that would be preaching to the choir. I show up, and expect everyone else on this board who lives close to do the same. If you don't, screw you. Go over to AGC and become a toads fan for all I care.

And we should add, quit [deleted] about ticket prices, and donation levels. If you don't like that, go up to Fouts Field and become a green eggs & ham fan.

SMU is my school, the Mustangs are my team, June is my coach, Peruna is my mascot. Now STFU and let's go kick Tulane's [deleted]!



Thank you.

Well played sir.

I'll be in the Big Easy,
rooting for the Ponies!

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:43 pm
by Stallion
George S. Patton wrote:It is what it is. I get the sense that some get the red [deleted] about this so much that if it doesn't get to a great level, Jones is going to leave.

Lack of success or a different challenge is going to lead to Jones' departure over anything else.

Should this program string together consecutive winning seasons, then attendance will build up over time. When your program has had 3 non-losing seasons since its return in 1989 and you had an academic environment that made this program pretty much football challenged, die-hards were the only ones who would come, except if Tech or OSU rolled into town.

I guess the thinking is that 8-5 and a bowl win meant that everybody should automatically come back and Ford should be at 25K every home? Doesn't work that way. Some of you should know that.

Season ticket sales are up so that's a quality step.

Give it some time. A small alumni base doesn't help either, so you have to get the casual HP, UP and Dallas fans a reason to come and invest. They're not there yet.



You do realize that your entire post is simply a "'point of view" which can be described as rationalizing or downplaying what is a very serious attendance problems and which is gonna be a long term drag on our future if it is not addressed proactively. Your "point of view" is Just as much a BEATING. Your post is basically saying that your "point of view" is all that matters and others shouldn't be allowed to disagree. I don't have to wait for 3-5 years to conclude that we aren't reaching the fans we need after hiring a 2 Million dollar coach, building a new stadium and having our best season in 25 years

Re: The constant whining about attendance is a BEATING!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:46 pm
by Mestengo
tristatecoog wrote:
Mestengo wrote:UCF mirrored our attendance at Ford in early 2000 at the Citrus Bowl.
Once they moved on campus they had 42,000 kids that could walk over…


Probably 10% of that 42K cares about football. UCF, like UH, is mostly a commuter school so on Saturday's there aren't 42K that can "walk over." In fact, there may be more SMU students within walking distance of its stadium than UCF students.

Watch for the woeful attendance at Tulane this weekend. SMU fans may outnumber Green Wave fans.



You sir are an idiot.