"Stadium emptied too early" comment by Sherrington

[One Trick Pony]

Last year I was on the field. I moved over to the stairs to go down, when they made that announcement I went out for more lemonade. You do it before the game another of Junes deals.

I guess he can't hug them before the game.

[Stallion]

Those announcements are mandated by CUSA rules. CUSA has repeatedly imposed substantial monetary penalties against schools who fail to follow their protocols on crowd control. I think the fine is about $10,000. They don't fine you if you follow their protocols-and the crowd overwhelms the security

[Pony_Fan]

tons of families and people on the field. No big deal - you could wander around ON THE FIELD and kids were taking pictures with the players.

[Big Hoss]

tons of families and people on the field. No big deal - you could wander around ON THE FIELD and kids were taking pictures with the players.

Would have loved to have been part of it. It would have been a whole lot easier had they made the announcments more specific, consistent, and clear. From now on, I'll assume it'll happen regardless of what the PA annoucner says. Fat lat of good that does me for the next 12 months.

[SMUer]

We waited for about 30 minutes after Varsity but lost interest watching players, coaches and officials milling about doing nothing. If they want fans to watch either have it pre-game or have everything set up so that the ceremony can start soon afterwards. It appeared very haphazardly put together and more for parents than the casual fan.

[mrydel]

I guess I just do not know what I heard or did.

It was very clear to me that after the teams and officials left the field we were free to join the ceremony on the field. I recall one announcement included an emphatic "please" to join the ceremony on the field. I was not there long before they started announcing each senior in alphabetical order with their parents and/or escorts. Presented each with an action portrait of themselves. Kids were getting autographs from the players. Stayed for the entire ceremony, walked to my transportation and was on the road home by 6:00.

[Bergermeister]

If they want each senior to get a big hand from the whole crowd, they'd be better off honoring them before the game like they used to.

Terrible idea. Players need to be ready to play - not walk with mom and have a picture taken. June's way is on target - fans need to get on board. What's 30 extra minutes after the game?

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

It is poorly handled/confusing, but it is and will probably always be more an event for the players, familes, coaches, super-fans, insiders. It's hard enough to get lots of people to not leave in the 3rd quarter. Expecting them to stay after a game for anything is crazy. Personally I like the post-game ceremony, but wonder if sooner or later we might lose an important last home game and I'm not sure that would be a very good atmosphere for sending the seniors off. On the other hand if you have it before the game when nobody has lost yet, spirits are still high. I liked it much better last year when tons of fans were down on the field.

[PonySnob]

Terrible idea. Players need to be ready to play - not walk with mom and have a picture taken. June's way is on target - fans need to get on board. What's 30 extra minutes after the game?

Out of curriousity, when do most "Top 25" programs honor their seniors?

[ReedFrawg]

UTEP's seniors walk down the stadium stairs onto the field prior to the game. Their stats and home towns are announced. Pictures on the scoreboard. They had 26 seniors. It's a big deal for that team.

I have never heard or seen a team do the senior stuff after a game?

[Oldmins]

It is poorly handled/confusing, but it is and will probably always be more an event for the players, familes, coaches, super-fans, insiders. It's hard enough to get lots of people to not leave in the 3rd quarter. Expecting them to stay after a game for anything is crazy. Personally I like the post-game ceremony, but wonder if sooner or later we might lose an important last home game and I'm not sure that would be a very good atmosphere for sending the seniors off. On the other hand if you have it before the game when nobody has lost yet, spirits are still high. I liked it much better last year when tons of fans were down on the field.

I think you're right. I was at the last TCU/SDSU game, and fifteen minutes before the start of the game, they had the senior players parents lined up out on the field, called each senior's name as he entered and ran to his parents, whom they also named. It was really a great tribute to the players AND their parents. If the Frawgs had gone ahead and lost that game, like it looked for awhile they would, it wouldn't have been much fun to do this after the defeat.

[San Antonio Mustang]

I was not at the Marshall game, so I cannot comment about this year. However, I was there last year and it was poorly organized. It was so disorganized that by the time they got it going most of the fans that stayed had left. I don't have a problem doing it after the game, but I do think that whenever they do it they should be ready to move the tables, microphones, TV cameras and people into position immediately. I also would do it on the 50 yard line on the home side of the field. If when the game was over people saw the activity of setting everything up and it got started within 10 min. people will stay. After the ceremony I would let the fans onto the field and also have the other players come back out onto the field with a jersey on so fans could recognize who's who. It would not disrupt the ceremony and fans could get all the autographs they wanted. I also would have the band on the field and stay until after the ceremony. If they are going to have the ceremony after the game and when people get used to being in their seats when the game starts I think they should introduce each senior individually before the team takes the field. I would then have the seniors line up so as to extend the band line and applaud the rest of the team as they run onto the field. It would be kind of a symbolic passing of the baton.

[DiamondM75]

S A Stang is correct.

As soon as the game is over, start moving tables and equipment on to the field. Make the annoucement that we will be honoring our seniors and that fans will be allowed on the field just as soon as the teams and coaches have cleared. Start showing highlight videos of the players with annoucements of each play. Get the thing going immediately after the game.

I like the idea of having the band on the sideline ready to enter the field. You might have to forgo the playing of Varsity for the players after the game. You have to get this thing going immediately and entertain while you wait for the seniors to return to the field.

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

Excellent post San Antonio Mustang.

[mavsrage311]

I'm with Mrydel, I love how this is done after games. I enjoy getting to go down on the field and talk with June for just a minute the past 2 years, and thanking the seniors I get to speak with myself. I do think it'd be a lot less fun if we had lost the game, but thankfully the past 2 years not only have we won, but they've been huge wins. I prefer this a lot more than the old way,I admit sometimes I was barely walking into Ford when it was going on