menu
Logo
99+
Bobcat Attack Menu
Logo
99+
Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Thoughts on midweek games
Page: 2 of 2
L.C.
General User
LC
Member Since: 9/1/2005
Post Count: 10,584
person
mail
L.C.
mail
Posted: 11/17/2014 12:10 PM
settings_applications edit_note
There was an appreciable jump in recruiting when the mid-week MACtion games began, back in 2009 or so. That, I think, has been reflected in more top NFL draft choices from the MAC, more MAC bowl teams, and more competitive MAC teams against P5 teams in recent years, plus a MAC team in a BCS bowl. This year, however, is an off year for the MAC. Has MACtion worn off, and become just another non-event on a boring Tuesday/Wednesday in November? Or, is this just a down year?

If the Tuesday/Wednesday night games do help the MAC continue to become increasingly competitive, and more relevant, then maybe they are a good thing. If the newness wears off of Tuesday/Wednesday night football, and the MAC simply drops back where they were, with the addition of less attendance to November games, it's clearly a bad thing.
Casper71
General User
C71
Member Since: 12/1/2006
Post Count: 3,237
person
mail
Casper71
mail
Posted: 11/17/2014 1:12 PM
settings_applications edit_note
L.C., I believe in the no longer relevant theory. There is so much football on now during the week that even I find it too much. Every night has games on now including the NFL. I think the tv is now so saturated with FB that I doubt there are the benefits that once existed.

Anybody got ratings results from way back when this started to today to prove or disprove the theory that not as many folks are watching MACtion?
OhioCatFan
General User
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 15,697
mail
OhioCatFan
mail
Posted: 11/17/2014 1:17 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Casper71 wrote:expand_more
L.C., I believe in the no longer relevant theory. There is so much football on now during the week that even I find it too much. Every night has games on now including the NFL. I think the tv is now so saturated with FB that I doubt there are the benefits that once existed.

Anybody got ratings results from way back when this started to today to prove or disprove the theory that not as many folks are watching MACtion?
Calling anorris! ;-)
L.C.
General User
LC
Member Since: 9/1/2005
Post Count: 10,584
person
mail
L.C.
mail
Posted: 11/17/2014 7:06 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Casper71 wrote:expand_more
L.C., I believe in the no longer relevant theory. There is so much football on now during the week that even I find it too much. Every night has games on now including the NFL. I think the tv is now so saturated with FB that I doubt there are the benefits that once existed.

Anybody got ratings results from way back when this started to today to prove or disprove the theory that not as many folks are watching MACtion?

I tend to agree, Casper, but without ratings to back it up, it's all just speculation. My anecdotal evidence is that when I went to a large sports bar during the Ohio-Buffalo game, of the 100 odd screens in the place, only 1 was tuned to MACtion, and it was on the NIU-Ball State game. They did change one for me, and then there were 2 sets tuned to MACtion. Sadly, more people were focused on a trivia game they were playing than on MACtion.
Casper71
General User
C71
Member Since: 12/1/2006
Post Count: 3,237
person
mail
Casper71
mail
Posted: 11/18/2014 3:55 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Hey Tyler, it is gonna be upper 50s on Saturday! Woyuld your girlfriend go to a game then rather than the one tonight?

I'm out of town too and I know I would!
OhioCatFan
General User
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 15,697
mail
OhioCatFan
mail
Posted: 11/18/2014 6:54 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Casper71 wrote:expand_more
Hey Tyler, it is gonna be upper 50s on Saturday!
Yes, my wife never fails to point this kind of thing out to me. It's uncanny the number of times it's happened -- crappy weather on our game night and much better weather on the following Saturday. My wife gives me the same ten minute lecture every time this happens. She also still talks about NIU's shuttle bus, too . . . but that's another story. I'm sure BTC will have some zinger for me on that one, but I can take it. ;-)
L.C.
General User
LC
Member Since: 9/1/2005
Post Count: 10,584
person
mail
L.C.
mail
Posted: 11/19/2014 6:06 PM
settings_applications edit_note
I was in a smaller Sports bar last night, and of nine screens, two were on Ohio, and one was on the Akron game. Thus, some are still watching mid-week MACtion.
Alan Swank
General User
AS
Member Since: 12/12/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,375
person
mail
Alan Swank
mail
Posted: 11/19/2014 10:08 PM
settings_applications edit_note
It just dawned on me while watching BG - Toledo, this is an amateur production. The announcers are second rate and the crowds are non-existent. Camera work and technical direction is fine but it just has the feel of a second rate broadcast. This isn't big time football like we see on Saturday.
Last Edited: 11/19/2014 10:36:11 PM by Alan Swank
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: 11/20/2014 11:20 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
It just dawned on me while watching BG - Toledo, this is an amateur production. The announcers are second rate and the crowds are non-existent. Camera work and technical direction is fine but it just has the feel of a second rate broadcast. This isn't big time football like we see on Saturday.
Part of the problem with the "look" of the game was the unis. Toledo had god-awful charcoal gray and BG had bright orange. The contrast just made Toledo's unis look even darker, and gave the impression that the lighting at the field sucks, which it might. Plus, ESPN's Wednesday announcers just aren't that good. I've noticed this on several games.

The Blade has some pics: http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/449261?referrer_id=9... The one where Corey Jones is being tackled near the goal line is a shade or two lighter than what it looked like on TV.
Last Edited: 11/20/2014 11:29:28 AM by Pataskala
Tyler
General User
Member Since: 7/7/2010
Location: AZ
Post Count: 894
mail
Tyler
mail
Posted: 11/20/2014 11:30 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Casper71 wrote:expand_more
Hey Tyler, it is gonna be upper 50s on Saturday! Woyuld your girlfriend go to a game then rather than the one tonight?

I'm out of town too and I know I would!
She probably would!
Tyler
General User
Member Since: 7/7/2010
Location: AZ
Post Count: 894
mail
Tyler
mail
Posted: 11/20/2014 11:56 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Casper71 wrote:expand_more
L.C., I believe in the no longer relevant theory. There is so much football on now during the week that even I find it too much. Every night has games on now including the NFL. I think the tv is now so saturated with FB that I doubt there are the benefits that once existed.

Anybody got ratings results from way back when this started to today to prove or disprove the theory that not as many folks are watching MACtion?
http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2014/8/20/6049027/...

I can't find old ratings, but the numbers last year were just ok. NIU's three weeknight games had the most viewers by far with ratings of 0.7, 0.7, and 0.6. All of their games were broadcast on ESPN2. The other three ESPN2 games had ratings of 0.4 (Ohio-Buffalo), 0.4 (CMU-Ball State), and 0.3 (Ohio-Kent State). All of the ESPNU games had a 0.1 rating.

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/college-football-tv-ratings/

The first week of MACtion this season is about the same as last year. The ESPN2 games (BGSU-Akron and NIU-Ball State) had 0.3 and 0.4 ratings. The ESPNU games (Toledo-Kent State and Ohio-Buffalo) both had 0.1 ratings.
Last Edited: 11/20/2014 3:43:23 PM by Tyler
Alan Swank
General User
AS
Member Since: 12/12/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,375
person
mail
Alan Swank
mail
Posted: 11/20/2014 12:05 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Ohio69
General User
O69
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 3,124
person
mail
Ohio69
mail
Posted: 11/20/2014 12:21 PM
settings_applications edit_note
For a good 3-4 weeks in the MAC students, athletes (and their families), and fans don't matter.

Tuesday was senior night? In front of dozens of fans? That's sad. (By the way, why not move senior recognition to another game? It doesn't need to be the last game.)

At first, "MACtion" may have boosted the MAC. But, that has worn off in my experience. Most of my fellow alums and friends send me texts during weeknight games laughing about how small time Ohio and the MAC look with all the empty seats (and not so great football).

Oh well... This is one thing I know I can't change, but I think I'll still complain about.....
Pete Chouteau
General User
Member Since: 11/17/2004
Location: You Can't See Me
Post Count: 1,696
mail
Pete Chouteau
mail
Posted: 11/20/2014 1:47 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Why mess with a classic.
Kinggeorge4
General User
Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Guysville, OH
Post Count: 1,086
mail
Kinggeorge4
mail
Posted: 11/20/2014 2:40 PM
settings_applications edit_note
I do not mind the midweek games, even though I'm tired for work the next day. Wish we had higher attendance, but the tv exposure is good. I've been able to get quite a few people to join me at games the last few years after they watched the MAC on weeknight tv. They never watched a game from our conference until it was the only option. I would like to see senior night moved to the last Saturday game.
Kinggeorge4
General User
Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Guysville, OH
Post Count: 1,086
mail
Kinggeorge4
mail
Posted: 11/21/2014 8:04 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Saw some of the WVU game last night on FOX. It was cold and a weeknight, stadium looked near full.
Tyler
General User
Member Since: 7/7/2010
Location: AZ
Post Count: 894
mail
Tyler
mail
Posted: 11/21/2014 8:38 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Kinggeorge4 (George Cheripko) wrote:expand_more
Saw some of the WVU game last night on FOX. It was cold and a weeknight, stadium looked near full.
They were playing the #12 team in the country.
Athens
General User
A
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,454
person
mail
Athens
mail
Posted: 11/21/2014 8:40 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Tyler wrote:expand_more
Saw some of the WVU game last night on FOX. It was cold and a weeknight, stadium looked near full.
They were playing the #12 team in the country.
Morgantown metro has 3x the population of Athens metro. Thursday night games are much easier to deal with for fans as many get Friday off or can work a 1/2 day.
bobcat695
General User
B695
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Parkersburg, WV
Post Count: 1,345
person
mail
bobcat695
mail
Posted: 11/21/2014 8:50 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Mountaineer Field had around 40,000 (out of 60,000 seats) show up last night based on reports from several friends that went. They had 20,000 empty seats, just like we did Tuesday. I heard a lot of people say they just didn't feel like going because the game was on TV and it was going to be cold. Sound familiar?
Recovering Journalist
General User
RJ
Member Since: 8/17/2010
Location: Cleveland, OH
Post Count: 1,864
person
mail
Recovering Journalist
mail
Posted: 11/21/2014 9:02 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
For a good 3-4 weeks in the MAC students, athletes (and their families), and fans don't matter.
This is a great point, and it's what bothers me most about the mid-week games. Beyond that, I don't think the deal with ESPN is paying off anymore. The novelty has worn off, and I think recruits know the difference between a 0.1 rating on ESPN cinco and a game that has actual engaged viewers.
Kinggeorge4
General User
Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Guysville, OH
Post Count: 1,086
mail
Kinggeorge4
mail
Posted: 11/21/2014 1:06 PM
settings_applications edit_note
It doesn't matter which day we play on, if the weather is rough or OSU plays we have low attendance.
Alan Swank
General User
AS
Member Since: 12/12/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,375
person
mail
Alan Swank
mail
Posted: 11/21/2014 1:51 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
Saw some of the WVU game last night on FOX. It was cold and a weeknight, stadium looked near full.
They were playing the #12 team in the country.
Morgantown metro has 3x the population of Athens metro. Thursday night games are much easier to deal with for fans as many get Friday off or can work a 1/2 day.
I bet there are lots of folks on here who would sign up for that work schedule.
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: 11/21/2014 2:28 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
[QUOTE=Alan Swank]http://m.toledoblade.com/DaveHackenberg/2014/11/16/Fans-t...]



Tuesday was senior night? In front of dozens of fans? That's sad. (By the way, why not move senior recognition to another game? It doesn't need to be the last game.)
I wish they would move the Senior game to earlier in November or even the end of October, depending on scheduling (NIU plays four of its last five games on the road). Just about any game in the last two weeks of the month -- especially on Black Friday -- is merely a "friends and family" game because of exams or school being out. This might not matter at EMU, but it does most anywhere else. Give the seniors a day/night where there's likely to be a decent-sized crowd. Make the last game a "Fan Appreciation" game (as in, "we'd appreciate it if any fans show up").
Showing Messages: 26 - 48 of 48
reply
vertical_align_top
vertical_align_center
vertical_align_bottom
add_comment
chevron_backward
MAC News Links



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