We finally have one of the best football programs in the MAC. I fully expect for the program to continue to improve over the next 5 years assuming that most of the key pieces (coaches, players, AD) don't bolt soon. There is arguably no other program in the league that has a better long term outlook.

That said, we still have this nagging problem of student support and most notably: the infamous half-time departure. With the steady improvement of the team, this issue has not subsided. It's seemingly cultural and perhaps reaching a point where students are leaving because they think they are supposed to.

Given that, I think it's time that we have a thread dedicated to how might we solve this problem. I'll go first...

I'm a software engineer, so I'm going to propose a technology solution. The university builds a mobile app that students can download and install on to their iphones/androids. This is essentially a 4-square like application that allows the students to "check in" when they get to the game. They can "check in" at any athletic event or perhaps the scope could expand to non-athletic events.

By checking in at events, students earn points. Perhaps those points can be used to buy things like food or apparel at the games. Or if that's not an option, then students can compete to be Bobcat superfans by attending the most university events (again, like 4-square).

And of course, for football games, you get exponentially more points for checking in during BOTH halfs. Like 100x more points :)

We can use GPS coordinates to make sure they are actually where they say they are. GPS might be a little wonky in the Convo, if so, then you would have to use wifi as a hint that they are actually in the Convo. That shouldn't be too hard.

Anyway, that's the idea. The students in the Computer Science department could probably build it in a Software Engineering course to reduce the cost.

Ok, so what is your idea?

Thanks Alan. That's what I was looking for.

BTW, congrats on the 558'th occurrence of you wasting your time on the Internet writing about college sports.

You mean my guilt trip - yelling at folks isn't working?

We could start by placing some marketing interns/volunteers at gate 4 just before the 3rd quarter and have random surveys.

1) Why are you leaving?
2) What's the top reason for you coming in the first place?

Tabulate the top responses from the year and work from there.

Nice idea, too, shabamon.  Surveys would be a good way to gather data about the nature of the problem and range of issues involved.  I don't think your idea and Paul's are mutually exclusive.  In fact, the survey data might help inform the development of the AttackCat App. 

One idea that's been discussed briefly in another thread is to advertise -- via announcements and video board messages -- several times during the game that the 110 has a great post-game concert planned.  Maybe each week the 110 should save some special song or routine with great student appeal for the post game concert.  This could be "hyped" during the game. 

Have to beat that State St. traffic.

The one game in which there was almost no attrition -- even into the OT -- was the Pitt game.  And, as memory recalls, the UT game that was nationally televised when UT was ranked something like #23 was almost as good on the attrition front.  The keys seem to be national TV and a ranked and/or "big name" opponent.   

DePaul has a similar program for its students. Their IDs are scanned at each event and points are given. There are different levels with better prizes as students level up. At the end of the year the top students compete for grand prizes like TVs or spring break trips.

http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/tickets/depa-student-tick...

They only problem I have with a 4square-type app is you don't have to be physically in the stadium to check in to it. Students would probably find this out quickly and check in from their South Green Dorms or other nearby areas.

Scan IDs as we come in and scan them postgame. You'll get way more points for staying for the whole thing.

DK Jr. is my best character! Once you master sliding, he's unstoppable.

I don't like the app just because not everyone has phone capable of them or wants to cart them everything. Specifically, me. I would've been pretty mad I couldn't get in the special club just because I didn't have the right phone... scanning ID's is a better idea, but it's been tried before with no success.

And we should redirect this thread to trying to be as good as Alan Swank.

This would keep people at the game, no doubt. Only problem is, does the NCAA allow such things? While I believe you were joking, I think this would definitely keep people for the 2nd half.

Yes, UC sells alcohol. Roddy McD would not go for this though.

We should promote the corporations that support Ohio Football, then have a mob of protestors show up in the thousands.  I am sure that Allan could help organize them. They don't appear to be scared of the rain!

We've discussed this before many times. Most of the students don't think the MAC is that exciting and are going back somewhere to watch Ohio State, LSU, etc. on TV. If we had a higher caliber opponent come in to Peden, remember the PITT game a few years back, people stuck around.