Copeland: Getting Students/Fans in the Seats + 5pm Kick-off

[Sonic]

that 5:00 starting time looks fine and dandy on paper but I guarantee you that if we get a bad break with cold late fall weather and a mediocre record it could spell absolute disaster for our attendance. Plus why are we moving to 5:00 as we get in a local conference with travel mates. I am about 300% more likely to drive to Tulsa, La Tech, Rice, UH for a 2:00 game than I would if I had to stay over night for a road game. It will likely destroy visiting team attendance at a time when we are trying to build conference identification. I'll go on record as saying this is VERY shortsighting thinking on someone part in the athletic department. I'd agree if it was an late summer game or even in BB but these games are scheduled for October and November. There is a reason NOBODY schedules at this time in Texas--except for August and September.

First of all, I can't remember a single game in the last five years that I have had to worry about cold weather being an issue. Anyone who lives in Dallas knows that cold weather doesn't hit Dallas till mid to late November. And even if it does hit, that's why you keep plenty of bourbon on hand to "warm yourself". Night games encourage more tailgating...meaning more "rowdy" fans.

Secondly, I think the later kickoff will benefit travel. You don't have to wake up and get on the road as early to get there in time to tailgate before hand...and many people view Dallas as a destination city worth staying over night in.

Personally, I love this move by the Athletic Department! Way to go!

[king_k]

I think everbody is making a bigger deal out of this than it really is. This year only two game times have been affected. We can see what happens and if it doesn't work you can always change back to earlier times. I think the people who have written "winning cures all ills" are 100% correct. If you win, they will come.

After daylight savings time ends its going to be dark when the game starts at 2 or 5. So I don't know what the big deal 3 hours makes for the drive home. Even if you live 3 hours away, you should be home around midnight. Also, I think later start times would attract more students and people who are bored and decide during the day to attend the game.

[jtstang]

I guess I was thinking also that he was worried about the Butts in Seats Rule, and my suggestion would allow you to count the drinkers on the Boulevard as Butts in seats even if they don't make it into the game.

That is a rule everyone SHOULD be worried about, and not a bad approach to addressing it.

[SMUstang]

I think everbody is making a bigger deal out of this than it really is. This year only two game times have been affected. We can see what happens and if it doesn't work you can always change back to earlier times. I think the people who have written "winning cures all ills" are 100% correct. If you win, they will come.

After daylight savings time ends its going to be dark when the game starts at 2 or 5. So I don't know what the big deal 3 hours makes for the drive home. Even if you live 3 hours away, you should be home around midnight. Also, I think later start times would attract more students and people who are bored and decide during the day to attend the game.

Is that the kind of fan you want to attract to the games or would you rather have someone like myself who cares enough about the Mustangs to drive 5 hours one way to see the game? I probably won't be able to make many games if they don't start until 5 PM. Sorry

[SMUstang]

that 5:00 starting time looks fine and dandy on paper but I guarantee you that if we get a bad break with cold late fall weather and a mediocre record it could spell absolute disaster for our attendance. Plus why are we moving to 5:00 as we get in a local conference with travel mates. I am about 300% more likely to drive to Tulsa, La Tech, Rice, UH for a 2:00 game than I would if I had to stay over night for a road game. It will likely destroy visiting team attendance at a time when we are trying to build conference identification. I'll go on record as saying this is VERY shortsighting thinking on someone part in the athletic department. I'd agree if it was an late summer game or even in BB but these games are scheduled for October and November. There is a reason NOBODY schedules at this time in Texas--except for August and September.

First of all, I can't remember a single game in the last five years that I have had to worry about cold weather being an issue. Anyone who lives in Dallas knows that cold weather doesn't hit Dallas till mid to late November. And even if it does hit, that's why you keep plenty of bourbon on hand to "warm yourself". Night games encourage more tailgating...meaning more "rowdy" fans.

Secondly, I think the later kickoff will benefit travel. You don't have to wake up and get on the road as early to get there in time to tailgate before hand...and many people view Dallas as a destination city worth staying over night in.

Personally, I love this move by the Athletic Department! Way to go!

Maybe it's because I'm not a student who likes to party all night and sleep in until mid afternoon. But to me tradition means something and college football games are just supposed to be at 2 PM on Saturday afternoon. Not Thursday night, certainly not Friday night, not even Saturday night. Kern Tips and the SWC never had any problem with that. Screw TV, screw the networks, screw little league soccer. Those people have encroached on the prime time for college sports.

[DiamondM]

The biggest problem with evening games is getting actual SMU students to games. I think that is the group that we should focus on FIRST AND FOREMOST! Not soccer moms and dads who probably are not ever going to make as much difference in attendance as getting a good portion of the students to games will.

And the reality is that if it comes down to a choice between going to the football game and going to that sorority mixer (with alcohol), the latter will always win.

I personally think it is silly to juggle these start times to please one consituency that in reality is not who we need to be pleasing the most.

[Eddie P]

I don't know if it matters to anybody here, but students and younger alumni have reacted very positively to these time changes. Again, for what it is worth. (Let the attacks begin)

[Mike Damone]

Maybe it's because I'm not a student who likes to party all night and sleep in until mid afternoon. But to me tradition means something and college football games are just supposed to be at 2 PM on Saturday afternoon. Not Thursday night, certainly not Friday night, not even Saturday night. Kern Tips and the SWC never had any problem with that. Screw TV, screw the networks, screw little league soccer. Those people have encroached on the prime time for college sports.

OK, let's not get overdramtic here. People on here complain about tradition all the time, and most of the time it is warranted. But if a couple of our games get moved from 2:00 to 5:00, we are not losing tradition.

You probably complained when we built Ford Stadium because it traditionally hadn't been our stadium. You stated that you don't party all night, but a few stiff drinks sure might help you chill out a bit.

[PlanoStang]

I think they're changing the time to 5 because the cafeteria is going to set up a picnic sandwich line at a special gate for students with meal tickets. To get fed on Saturday evening you HAVE to come to the game. NO FOOD LEAVES Ford Stadium either Result, student butts in seats

Remember Copeland's first or second year here when they changed all game times to 7pm. Result nobody in the Cotton Bowl for our last 2 games in November when we had 40 - 50 degree weather, and some misty rain one of those games. Changed it back to 2pm for Oct. and Nov. the next season.

[SMUstang]

Maybe it's because I'm not a student who likes to party all night and sleep in until mid afternoon. But to me tradition means something and college football games are just supposed to be at 2 PM on Saturday afternoon. Not Thursday night, certainly not Friday night, not even Saturday night. Kern Tips and the SWC never had any problem with that. Screw TV, screw the networks, screw little league soccer. Those people have encroached on the prime time for college sports.

OK, let's not get overdramtic here. People on here complain about tradition all the time, and most of the time it is warranted. But if a couple of our games get moved from 2:00 to 5:00, we are not losing tradition.

You probably complained when we built Ford Stadium because it traditionally hadn't been our stadium. You stated that you don't party all night, but a few stiff drinks sure might help you chill out a bit.

For your information I was extatic(sp) when they built Ford Stadium. I had been campaigning for years to move our home games back to campus. And after seeing the Grove at Ole Miss, I was glad to see SMU start the Boulevard. But I don't think it's right for people to come to the Boulevard to party and not go to the game.

[king_k]

SMUstang wrote:

Maybe it's because I'm not a student who likes to party all night and sleep in until mid afternoon. But to me tradition means something and college football games are just supposed to be at 2 PM on Saturday afternoon.

Well SMUstang that means you're going to the games no matter what time they are. What about the other students who do party all night and sleep. Wouldn't you want them to come also to support your team. I think the SEC is doing ok starting games at 7. Look at LSU, there's nothing like a wild night at Tiger Stadium. The Big Ten is the only crappy conference that doesn't play night games.

Earlier I said winning cures all ills, but after thinking I think the problem has more to do with winning. Our sisters over at TCU win, but they can't even get fans in the stands. Winning would help, but I think bringing in some good competion is also a cure. We don't need to soften our schedule, who wants to go see a division 1AA game against SFA. Nobody. I want to see schools like NC State, OK State, Tech, and other big conference schools come to Dallas for a tough game. If we lose, so what as long as we can hold up because we have to win in conference. Nobody wants to go 11-0 against Army, Navy, and USF like TCU. The true fans will come no matter what, we have to attract other people if we want sellouts every game.

[SMUstang]

SMUstang wrote:

Maybe it's because I'm not a student who likes to party all night and sleep in until mid afternoon. But to me tradition means something and college football games are just supposed to be at 2 PM on Saturday afternoon.

Well SMUstang that means you're going to the games no matter what time they are. What about the other students who do party all night and sleep. Wouldn't you want them to come also to support your team. I think the SEC is doing ok starting games at 7. Look at LSU, there's nothing like a wild night at Tiger Stadium. The Big Ten is the only crappy conference that doesn't play night games.

Earlier I said winning cures all ills, but after thinking I think the problem has more to do with winning. Our sisters over at TCU win, but they can't even get fans in the stands. Winning would help, but I think bringing in some good competion is also a cure. We don't need to soften our schedule, who wants to go see a division 1AA game against SFA. Nobody. I want to see schools like NC State, OK State, Tech, and other big conference schools come to Dallas for a tough game. If we lose, so what as long as we can hold up because we have to win in conference. Nobody wants to go 11-0 against Army, Navy, and USF like TCU. The true fans will come no matter what, we have to attract other people if we want sellouts every game.

When I was a student at SMU the students supported the team and went to the games no matter what time they started. Most of them started at 2 PM but occasionally we had night games too. Of course I want the current students to support the team and go to the games too. But I don't think we should change the starting times of the games just to cater to this group or that group. Let the fans sort out their own priorities and I would hope that SMU games would be near the top of their list.

[DiamondM]

Eddie P,

If it's true that the students are reacting favorably, that's good news. But I'll believe it when I see it. Personally, I'd lay money on the fact that even if they do show up for kick off, they're out of there by end of halftime (i.e. 8 pm) to get ready to head to whatever mixer someone has scheduled to conflict with the end of the game.

[Eddie P]

Perhaps. but then their ticket would have been torn and they would be counted for attendance. Call me pragmatic, but I'm happier with that then the students not showing up at all because they are sleeping off their friday night activities. I guess we'll all see if this will be a boost of any sort.
Also, a 5pm start time will not infringe upon any saturday night parties...nobody shows up for those things until 11pm or later. 8-9pm might, just might, interfere with someone's pre, pre party at best.

[gostangs]

they are obviously trying to find the time that equals the best potential attendence - personally I think 5pm is it. I think you lose students if you go to 7:00 pm - but 2 vs 5 does not matter much. Plus you pick up the YMCA sports famiies and the "just eat dinner" at the game crowd - which increases concession income, avoids the "i have something else planned sat night crowd, and the bonus is it gives everyone more boulevard time.