Football: This blew my mind

[nukebull]

The reason they, "live and die by their football team", Joe, is that, "they have nothing to do."  Historically.

What the heck else are you gonna talk about 365 days a year in Alabama and Nebraska?  Soybeans, corn?

I just think it's a lame excuse. I've lived in big cities (Orlando, Tampa, Cincinnati) and really small podunk cities (Little Rock, Statesboro, GA, Charleston) and it's not like people sit around doing nothing waiting for their college spring games to start.

Yes, there is a lot more noise in Tampa, but it's not like people in smaller areas ignore all other sports. It's college football and there are no more committed fans than college football fans (look at our fanbase...the hard cores are COMMITTED); however they still have large interests in other sports.

Florida gets 30,000 from Tampa and Orlando to drive up every game weekend. Somehow the noise doesn't distract those fans. FSU gets about 20,000. Somehow the noise doesn't distract them.

I think the reason people are so committed to their teams like that has more to do with the fact that it is something that identifies them and who they are. Your talking 100+ years of football fans at many of these institutions.

I'm a huge Lightning fan who worked extra hours to get season tix when I got to USF, however, I wouldn't even say they identify part of who I am. I would say USF football does play a big role in who I am. It's just the way it works.

I have spent more time than I should have in Alabama and all over the USA with work and I will be spending more time in Alabama as I have a job there; that being said this is the difference.

In the Tampa Bay area (Pinellas and Hillsborough) on any given spring weekend these are the options I have experienced:

Devil Rays baseball

Lightning Hockey

3 minor league baseball teams that play in great stadiums and put on great show

Tampa Bay Downs horse Racing (derby prep races and betting)

Greyhound dog racing (Derby Lane is premier track in the country)

Hardrock Casino

2 to 3 major concerts

2 to 3 festivals

Beautiful day long golf on any of 100 courses

Some of the best fishing the year has to offer

Tremendous beach weather

This is some of the many options available and does not include day trips to Disney or other resorts or going to UF or FSU spring game and many other forms of family entertainment.

Not all of these things compete directly with the spring game but if you have a family and have a limited amount of time to spend on recreation the choices are sometimes daunting. Joe do not try to compare Alabama with this list not even close I spend too much time there. Bass fishing in fall hunting in fall and Tide football.

If any school in the state were going to pull those numbers it would be UF, as they are coming of the NC and all.

I will take the growth in a scrimmage game every year and the Tide can keep the pressure that makes it less like a game and more like a pressure cooker there IMO

[nukebull]

Perhaps they advertised their game..... maybe we should try that sometime.

There was an ad in my St Pete Times sports page evry day for a week before the game, anymore advertisement and I wonder how many more of those free tickets they could have sold? Spend the advertising on getting people to the games and they will be hooked, spring game is a hard sell to casual fans

[Joe]

nuke,

That Alabama game would have been that full even if they had all the options Tampa had. No doubt. It's just a different type of fan base than USF because they have so much tradition and titles.

[Belle of the Bull]

nuke,

That Alabama game would have been that full even if they had all the options Tampa had. No doubt. It's just a different type of fan base than USF because they have so much tradition and titles.

ok ok so bama had about 100 years of tradition on us. so what - in the history of college football that might be a lot - but in the grand scheme of things - notsomuch. America isn't even 300 years old! It doesn't take a very long time to build tradition - as long as a shared identity - a sense of belonging - is created.

It goes back to admissions. legacies are important as are well rounded students.

it also goes back to marketing. get alums to give $$$ and get them to the games. Once they start seeing themselves and their children as BULLS - they will come.

Create a good college experience for kids while they are still in college- and they will give back. Help them get jobs after graduation - and they will give back. its not that hard people. It just takes a few years and a little patience. We will sell out the lower part of the stadium in 10 years. In 50- we'll have a wait list for tickets. and in 100 - well who knows - I won't be here!  

[Joe]

Haha, No thats my point. We'll get there, but many of those big tiume schools just have UNBELIEVABLE fanbases that are greatly committed.

[Belle of the Bull]

Haha, No thats my point. We'll get there, but many of those big tiume schools just have UNBELIEVABLE fanbases that are greatly committed.

oh!  ;D

[Triple B]

It has nothing to do with the "they have nothing to do" and everything to do with they "live and die by their football team."  It woudn't shock me if some people skipped weddings or other events for the freaking game, they're just THAT committed

Great point.

One thing most folks (UCF/USF fans and many others) is that more than a few people are happy that Shula is finally gone...as I think he only had a 26-23 overall record (6-6 last year), and Bama has lost their last 4 games to Auburn.

And yes...crowds of 35,000-50,000 are almost the "norm" at Bama and many other places...which would be GREAT crowds for either USF and UCF.

Folks live/die/follow their football programs to their death bed...almost regardless of their record.

Now UCF and USF have SOME fans that fit that category...but its such a small number compared to programs like Bama, UF, Penn St, Nebraska, etc...

Also...some teams get HIGH spring attendance because for many of their fans, its the ONLY chance for many to watch a game in their home stadium...as schools like Nebraska (sellout streak dating back to 1962, 280 games in a ROW!) have virtually zero tix available for their regular season games....which is amazing as most posters on this board were not ALIVE in 1962!

For those that have either lived or spent a lot of time in Alabama, Nebraska and a few other places...College Football is basically the ONLY topic talked about 365 days a year.

PS. Here's info from a past thread (probably exactly the same as UCF Alumni) about USF student interest for USF Football: (Might help explain USF's average of only 4,700 students per football game last year).

From JimUSFSig

http://www.thebullspen.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/nph-YaBB.pl?num=1166264775/90

1. Not everyone is a football fan.  Hard to believe, I know.  But there are a lot of people who don't like footall.

2. In 2005, the USF Alumni Association commissioned a study of then-current USF students.  Here are some interesting numbers -- for students at the TAMPA CAMPUS:

- 40% students rate their pride in attending USF at less than 7 on a scale of 10

- 54% campus chose USF for it's location

- Only 7% list sports as their most memorable USF experience (21% say friends, 14% say instructors)

- 6% has the strongest affiliation with USF athletics, 40% with their major/department

- 35% think that USF is mediocre

- 59% have NEVER attended an athletic event

- 17% are not interested in EVER attending an athletic event (64% of those do not like sports, 26% don't have time for sports)

- 26% are not interested in joining Alumni for athletic events

- 60% said joining the Big East ad NO EFFECT on their connection to USF

- 47% said that success in sports would keep them connected after graduation, significantly less than:

    - Access to resources (93%)

    - Help with job placement (89%)

    - Improving the value of the degree (88%)

    - Communication about happenings at USF (74%)

    - Continuing education (71%)

    - Keeping connected with classmates (67%)

- 43% DO NOT regularly wear USF clothing

- 37% are not interested in campus traditions such as Homecoming

Marketing:

- 64% prefer to receive news and info via email

- 82% feel USF does a good, fair, or excellent job of communicating news and info

[smiley=loser.gif]

[Triple B]

If we had a pro style offense we would have 92,000 at our spring game.

Beautiful .......

And Joe, having nothing better to do may not be the biggest factor in the 92K at the Tide Spring Game but you're kidding yourself if you think it was not a factor at all...

[Joe]

I'm just not buying it Trip. That fanbase is starving to get back to prominance and as a result their big boosters threw more money than any college coach by about $1Million. They're excited.

I honestly believe that you could have had the World's Fair, a Beatles reunion, and a moonshine festival in Alabama and they would have had 92,000 fans there. They are that committed.

[nukebull]

nuke,

That Alabama game would have been that full even if they had all the options Tampa had. No doubt. It's just a different type of fan base than USF because they have so much tradition and titles.

They have no other common teams to root for. no pro teams and loyal fans and Alabama is funny, they are loyal as long as they think they have a shot at a NC. This fan base you speak of is not Alumni, but sports fans for the good part. I have met tons of rabid Tide fans and seldom have they taken a class there. They do have great Alumni but they are like a lot of Gator fans never went to the school. If I had to spend the weekend in Birmingham I would have driven to the spring game just to kill time. Instead I went to my sons baseball game out to a good dinner at BD's Mongolian grill and then attended a great Clearwater Threshers game with fireworks and that was just Saturday.

Again this may upset some here but if the Gators can not do it, it can not be done in Florida. Love or hate them they are the Flag school of the state and on a hell of a roll.