I saw the first part of the game on TV. I was surprised by the turnout by the MU fans after the Akron game. There were over 40,000 at the game and they stripped the stadium with green and white sections.
I was impressed with that also. Really tremendous community support. If OHIO even had on a percentage basis the support throughout Athens County that Marshall has throughout Cable County, we'd fill Peden every Saturday. Not sure about Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, however. ;-(
Surprised by the turnout? They were playing the #3 team in the country. If we ever had a team in the Top 25 come to Peden, it would be packed beyond belief. Don't care what our record is.
Attendance shouldn't even be a question when you've got a team like that on the schedule. Marshall did what they should have but it's not worth salivating over.
Cabell Co population: 97,133
Marshall v Lville attendance: 40,592
Cabell Co support: 41.8%
Stadium capacity: 38,227
Available seats: -2,365
Athens Co population: 64,681
Ohio v Gardner Webb attendance: 22,265
Athens co support: 34.4%
Stadium capacity: 24,000
Available seats: +1,735
It's true, a higher percentage of the population of Cabell Co attended the Marshall game than Athens Co residents attended the Ohio game, but that's more of a result of stadium capacity than community support. The 1,735 unsold seats in Peden account for 2.7% of the pop of Athens Co.