Ohio Football Topic
Topic: What will it take....
Page: 1 of 3
Y-CityCatFan
General User
YCCF
Member Since: 7/28/2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 139
person
mail
Y-CityCatFan
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 8:52 AM
Let me start this off by saying that I am ecstatic about how far our fan base has come from when I was in school, and it is infinitely clear that we have the greatest fans in the MAC... but...

What will it take to...
A) Keep fans the whole game
B) Get the fans more into the game (cheering on 3rd down for instance)

I know that every school, even P5 schools, have the issue of fans leaving early, but it just seems that we have a far greater percentage of fans that do this. The odd thing is, it really doesn't matter what is happening on the field. If we are winning big, they leave. If we are loosing big, they leave. If we are in the midst of a great game, they leave. I just don't get it.

I'm really not trying to find something to complain about, we are having a pretty darn good season, and we are averaging over capacity through the first 3 home games, but this situation is frustrating to me. But hey, at least no one has asked me to sit down this year!!
Gallia Cat
General User
GC
Member Since: 7/11/2010
Post Count: 938
person
mail
Gallia Cat
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 9:24 AM
Y-CityCatFan wrote:expand_more
Let me start this off by saying that I am ecstatic about how far our fan base has come from when I was in school, and it is infinitely clear that we have the greatest fans in the MAC... but...

What will it take to...
A) Keep fans the whole game
B) Get the fans more into the game (cheering on 3rd down for instance)

I know that every school, even P5 schools, have the issue of fans leaving early, but it just seems that we have a far greater percentage of fans that do this. The odd thing is, it really doesn't matter what is happening on the field. If we are winning big, they leave. If we are loosing big, they leave. If we are in the midst of a great game, they leave. I just don't get it.

I'm really not trying to find something to complain about, we are having a pretty darn good season, and we are averaging over capacity through the first 3 home games, but this situation is frustrating to me. But hey, at least no one has asked me to sit down this year!!
Students leaving early is not unique to OU but it's just seems we have a larger percentage and its magnified because they dominate that entire side of the stadium. The tower side of the stadium stays full most of the game unless it's a blowout. I will admit I let in 4th quarter yesterday. I was watching the WVU game last night and notice the upper deck had cleared out by about 50% in 2nd half and that game went to OT. I was pleasantly surprised at how many students on the hill remained during 2nd half.

In a side note OUr last 2 home games have out drawn Marshall's last 2. They drew just over 18,000 vs Old Dominion and just over 22,000 vs Southern Miss.

I feel like next Saturday will be another nice crowd but then the weeknight games hit and the average will take a beating.
Y-CityCatFan
General User
YCCF
Member Since: 7/28/2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 139
person
mail
Y-CityCatFan
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 9:39 AM
Gallia Cat wrote:expand_more
Students leaving early is not unique to OU but it's just seems we have a larger percentage and its magnified because they dominate that entire side of the stadium. The tower side of the stadium stays full most of the game unless it's a blowout. I will admit I let in 4th quarter yesterday. I was watching the WVU game last night and notice the upper deck had cleared out by about 50% in 2nd half and that game went to OT. I was pleasantly surprised at how many students on the hill remained during 2nd half.

In a side note OUr last 2 home games have out drawn Marshall's last 2. They drew just over 18,000 vs Old Dominion and just over 22,000 vs Southern Miss.

I feel like next Saturday will be another nice crowd but then the weeknight games hit and the average will take a beating.
I know it's not a unique situation, it just feels like by percentage, we tend to have more of an exodus than other schools. With the tower side, I just wish they would consistently cheer more/louder. They do fine on big plays, but it's other situations that are lacking

At the same time, I really don't want to complain too much because our numbers are awesome, and we DESTROYED Fiami!!

That Marshall stat is awesome as well!!
BuddyLee
General User
BL
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 686
person
mail
BuddyLee
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 9:51 AM
4th quarter Mcdonalds hamburger giveaways.
Victory
General User
V
Member Since: 3/11/2012
Post Count: 2,519
person
mail
Victory
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 11:54 AM
One side spends the whole first quarter filling up and the other side is half gone by the start of the third quarter. However, for a few glorious minutes in the second quarter OUr stadium is completely full every week.
Gallia Cat
General User
GC
Member Since: 7/11/2010
Post Count: 938
person
mail
Gallia Cat
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 12:48 PM
Victory wrote:expand_more
One side spends the whole first quarter filling up and the other side is half gone by the start of the third quarter. However, for a few glorious minutes in the second quarter OUr stadium is completely full every week.
One major problem with Peden is the stadium is so open and just does not hold crowd noise.
Deciduous Forest Cat
General User
DFC
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: OH
Post Count: 4,559
person
mail
Deciduous Forest Cat
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 1:03 PM
Gallia Cat wrote:expand_more
One side spends the whole first quarter filling up and the other side is half gone by the start of the third quarter. However, for a few glorious minutes in the second quarter OUr stadium is completely full every week.
One major problem with Peden is the stadium is so open and just does not hold crowd noise.
The other problem is no one makes any noise.
That one crazy fan
General User
Member Since: 7/21/2010
Location: Iowa City, IA
Post Count: 491
mail
That one crazy fan
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 1:50 PM
I've noticed students also leave when it is a blowout. Let's face it, yesterday wasn't exactly a nail-biter. If the game is on TV that'll also keep some.

Party weekend + blowout + no TV = no prolonged interest.
Victory
General User
V
Member Since: 3/11/2012
Post Count: 2,519
person
mail
Victory
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 2:26 PM
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
One side spends the whole first quarter filling up and the other side is half gone by the start of the third quarter. However, for a few glorious minutes in the second quarter OUr stadium is completely full every week.
One major problem with Peden is the stadium is so open and just does not hold crowd noise.
The other problem is no one makes any noise.
Yep, but it is getting better
davepi2
General User
D2
Member Since: 7/9/2010
Location: columbus, OH
Post Count: 583
person
mail
davepi2
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 2:35 PM
We could be hosting A&M and leading going into the 4th quarter, many would still just sit there or leave early. Of course we all know the idea of leading A&M going into the 4th quarter is impossible.
MonroeClassmate
General User
MC
Member Since: 8/31/2010
Post Count: 2,325
person
mail
MonroeClassmate
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 3:31 PM
A better opponent than the Redchickens
Alan Swank
General User
AS
Member Since: 12/12/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,375
person
mail
Alan Swank
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 3:44 PM
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
One side spends the whole first quarter filling up and the other side is half gone by the start of the third quarter. However, for a few glorious minutes in the second quarter OUr stadium is completely full every week.
One major problem with Peden is the stadium is so open and just does not hold crowd noise.
The other problem is no one makes any noise.
It's got to be depressing coming out of the locker room after halftime or being in the locker room at halftime and the loudest cheer of the day is for the band. In addition to the number one party school I guess we could claim the title of number one band school in America.
Pataskala
General User
P
Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,465
person
mail
Pataskala
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 4:15 PM
The most crowd noise heard all day was during "OU, Oh Yeah." We could use more stuff like that. Maybe Rufus could ride his motorcycle in front of the student section on 3d downs to get them on their feet.

As for people staying past halftime,that's a longtime problem that usually has something to do with Saturday night partying. Maybe some kind of giveaway for people staying until the last two minutes of the game. If Issue 3 passes, maybe we could hand out medical marijuana. ;)
Monroe Slavin
General User
MS
Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Oxnard, CA
Post Count: 9,121
person
mail
Monroe Slavin
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 4:35 PM
Exciting ball leads to fan involvement.

Exciting ball that beats good teams, all the more fan involvement.


I'd worry more about developing an enthused, rabid core (hopefully of good size) than I would pure crowd size...Well, get the former and the latter will follow.
OUBobcat13
General User
OUB13
Member Since: 12/8/2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 285
person
mail
OUBobcat13
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 5:30 PM
Beer sales.
genessee
General User
G
Member Since: 12/29/2004
Post Count: 74
person
mail
genessee
mail
Posted: 10/11/2015 6:39 PM
Agree with beer.
Casper71
General User
C71
Member Since: 12/1/2006
Post Count: 3,237
person
mail
Casper71
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 9:57 AM
I agree about the noise factor. Most of the time, it is really quiet. Maybe the openness of the stadium, I don't know. We may have the best fans in the MAC that show up but I am not sure how many are really into cheering!

As an aside, it will take a lot of good play to beat WMU. They are one of our nemisses!
Speaker of Truth
General User
ST
Member Since: 1/26/2011
Post Count: 448
person
mail
Speaker of Truth
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 10:41 AM
The length of College Football games is obnoxious. If you look at OU basketball crowds(Which are very impressive), the crowd level is more determined by score. Why? I would venture it has something to do with knowing the game will be 2 hours, as opposed to a game that can easily last 4 hours...
Mike Johnson
General User
Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: North Canton, OH
Post Count: 1,756
mail
Mike Johnson
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 10:44 AM
the123kid wrote:expand_more
The length of College Football games is obnoxious. If you look at OU basketball crowds(Which are very impressive), the crowd level is more determined by score. Why? I would venture it has something to do with knowing the game will be 2 hours, as opposed to a game that can easily last 4 hours...
Although TV timeouts are irritatingly frequent and interminably long, I'm OK with games that routinely last 3.5 hours. Hey, it nicely divides my two 2:45-hr drives from North Canton and back home.
shabamon
General User
Member Since: 11/17/2006
Location: Cincinnati
Post Count: 7,312
mail
shabamon
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 10:48 AM
I think there is still some lingering culture from when we were bad at football that permeates to current students. I remember foolishly thinking this was over in 2007 coming off the good 2006 year. I've also wondered if there would still be a mass halftime exodus if the 110 was not as entertaining as it is. As if the fun factor peaks when they perform and the 1st half football action came nowhere close to equally-entertaining.

The good news is that with our football success, I would believe there are more students keeping a passionate interest in the team than those from previous generations, leading to more alumni travelling to games, season ticket purchases, etc. after they graduate.
Casper71
General User
C71
Member Since: 12/1/2006
Post Count: 3,237
person
mail
Casper71
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 11:36 AM
123kid is correct on this one! I can't get my adult sons to a football game in person because with all the tv timeouts they seem to be never ending. Give them something that is in the 2 hour range to watch in person and it is easy! Even if it is soccer or hockey!
Doc Bobcat
General User
DB
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,421
person
mail
Doc Bobcat
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 12:02 PM
I admit that I watched the 4th quarter on the telly....and the reason was the horrendous music selection between snaps....it started before the game and never stopped...hey I know some students like that crap...but how about mixing in some other decade music...just horrible....thank goodness for the 110.
perimeterpost
General User
Member Since: 7/6/2010
Post Count: 3,165
mail
perimeterpost
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 12:34 PM
Here's where I'm a little conflicted and a little bit of a hypocrite. I, too, wish that we would have a full house for 4 quarters BUT... part Of OU's charm is that its not a place of total jock worship. When I see the students come out, have a lot of fun, watch the band at halftime, and then drift off into the night in the second half I can't blame them, I'd probably do the same thing too. Its a very OU state of mind.
Ohio69
General User
O69
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 3,123
person
mail
Ohio69
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 12:55 PM
I assume the students leave after half time to go drink (and maybe have dinner). It's been going on for all 30 or so years I've been a fan. I have no clue on how to change that culture.

Is there anyone proactively asking the students to stick around?

Also a good point by perimeterpost, even thought I stayed to the end when I was a student:

perimeterpost wrote:expand_more
Here's where I'm a little conflicted and a little bit of a hypocrite. I, too, wish that we would have a full house for 4 quarters BUT... part Of OU's charm is that its not a place of total jock worship. When I see the students come out, have a lot of fun, watch the band at halftime, and then drift off into the night in the second half I can't blame them, I'd probably do the same thing too. Its a very OU state of mind.
Victory
General User
V
Member Since: 3/11/2012
Post Count: 2,519
person
mail
Victory
mail
Posted: 10/12/2015 4:11 PM
perimeterpost wrote:expand_more
Here's where I'm a little conflicted and a little bit of a hypocrite. I, too, wish that we would have a full house for 4 quarters BUT... part Of OU's charm is that its not a place of total jock worship. When I see the students come out, have a lot of fun, watch the band at halftime, and then drift off into the night in the second half I can't blame them, I'd probably do the same thing too. Its a very OU state of mind.
Think freely. Act casually. Have fun.

Most of us were students. One has to wonder if asking a student to stay would have the opposite effect. Its probably in how you go about asking.
Showing Messages: 1 - 25 of 65
MAC News Links



extra small (< 576px)
small (>= 576px)
medium (>= 768px)
large (>= 992px)
x-large (>= 1200px)
xx-large (>= 1400px)