The number I'd like to see, and the number we'll never see, is the more useful number, "Dollars from ticket sales". That would give a far better idea as to what games are the best to schedule, and also, as to the health of the program. Here are some possible examples:

1. Let's say EMU sells 15,000 tickets to Pepsi for $1 each, so that they can meet NCAA guidelines by reporting "attendance of 15,000". The $15,000 they get from Pepsi does add to the 2,000 real tickets sold at, say, $15 ea, but the total purse of $45,000 shows the true picture.

2. Let's say that for Pitt, Ohio has 24,500 in the stands. Of those, 8,000 are students, and in free, while the other 16,500 pay $18 average, for a total purse of $297,000.

3. Let's say that for U.Conn, there are 24,500 in the stands. Again, there are 8,000 students, but this time there are 14,500 that paid $18, and 2,000 that paid only $5 because of a last minute drive to "sell out". Now the total gate is $271,000.

4. Let's say that for Marshall they bump the ticket price to $25. Of course, some of the season tickets, like the family pack, drop the average price, so call the average $22. Let's say there are 23,500, again, using 8,000 students. Thus we have total revenue of $341,000.

Figured this way, the record games would be somewhat different than the way they are reported now. I think that the gap between where Ohio is and where most of the rest of the MAC is, in terms of attendance, would appear far wider if you looked at revenue instead of looking at "reported attendance".

Back in the Pitt day, 14,500 people did not buy a ticket for $18. At best we had 5,000 season tickets at about $10 a ticket. You could go to Kroger or Wendy's and get a handful of free tickets. I know I did and handed them out at the Green and White tailgate.