Big Reason to attend the Home Opener, Elon

[nukebull]

Fact is ... we have lots of fans interested in this game. Wish these numbers would come out for ALL the games, like the opener with Elon. Fans need to come to see the BULLS, not who we're playing.

Can't understand that with waiting 8 months without FootBULL, more fans don't come out - guess we just have that many - YET !

Go BULLS !!!

Go BULLS !!!

I have been season ticket holder since day 1 and have gone to many away games, and I find it real difficult to get excited about Elon. Last years first game was the worst I have suffered through so far. If USF wants fans in the seats then schedule quality 1A opponents or move crap games to homecoming. UF and others can schedule powder puffs because they do not have to worry about attendance.

Most people go to football games to be entertained, not watch the Bulls play teams way below their talent level. Unless the 1AA team has a great band (FAMU) we should not open with them IMO.

The above was from another thread and figured it would play well here. No bearing on my post below.

The E/W/C Mich. type teams cost about $500-750K to play ... we don't have a large enough base to afford that. And I don't want to have a 1-1 with these type of teams.

Other type of teams we "want" to see do not want to travel here.

And most don't want to play away games only.

We want to build a fan base HERE ! not on TV.

I don't know the exact figures, but am sure we make more money at home than traveling to an away "pay" game.

Look at our schedule for 2007, I don't see a wimpy schedule ... it's average across the board, but will have about 4 Top 25 teams and maybe 2 Top 10 visiting here !

Everyone would rather see us play a Top 25 team here, but it takes money ... and you get that from fans that donate and attend games ... games like Elon. We need fans that would rather watch their Beloved BULLS than another "Game of the Century" on TV

So it's a waiting game ...

It amazes me that some think we can just go out and schedule a 1-1 . . . currently, we have these 1AA openers, the other avenue would be playing 5 home games every other year.

I prefer a 1AA every year, rather than play E/C/W Mich type schools on the road sacrifising a home game every other year.

And I would not choose a school because of their band, we had to make serious concessions for FAMU. Would rather play a team of equal talent and no band to make more money - which is what we need.

Go BULLS !!!

I think the FAMU game was one of the better attended games, people came to be entertained and they were. FAMU was either 1A or moving up that year(they have since gone back) The object is to get first time fans here to see the game and get them hooked. Elon will not do that. I understand the tune up theory, but that 85% Normal mentions does not include our BE rivals- they play 1A opponents.

Why drop UCF and blame SOS schedule, how does playing a team that as I understand it does not count towards bowl eligibility help?

We will agree to disagree and I will part with this, Normal, Bulliever and anyone else, I am shocked you guys are not flying in for the first game of the season against this fine Elon team If you guys change your mind send me and IM because like last year I know I have no takers for the extra tickets I hold for this game.

[Brad]

If it weren't for the airifare I'd be there.  And all 8 of tickets would be used.  And they will be whether or not I am there.

[NormalBull]

Nukebull:

It's fine to disagree, that's what message boards are for.  But I don't know where you get your information because there are some BIG factual errors in your post.  First, Elon does count toward bowl eligibility.  Second, you state that our Big East rivals don't play D-1AA.  Wrong.  Here are the real facts:

Cincy opens at home against SE Missouri State (I-AA)

Connecticut hosts Maine (I-AA)

Louisville opens at home against Murray State (I-AA)

Pitt hosts Grambling State (I-AA)

Rutgers hosts Norfolk State (I-AA)

Only Syracuse and WVU do not play I-AAs, BUT

Syracuse hosts Buffalo, almost a I-AA

So please, do a fact check before making statements.  Again, nearly 85% of I-As play I-AAs.

Normal

[nukebull]

Nukebull:

It's fine to disagree, that's what message boards are for.  But I don't know where you get your information because there are some BIG factual errors in your post.  First, Elon does count toward bowl eligibility.  Second, you state that our Big East rivals don't play D-1AA.  Wrong.  Here are the real facts:

Cincy opens at home against SE Missouri State (I-AA)

Connecticut hosts Maine (I-AA)

Louisville opens at home against Murray State (I-AA)

Pitt hosts Grambling State (I-AA)

Rutgers hosts Norfolk State (I-AA)

Only Syracuse and WVU do not play I-AAs, BUT

Syracuse hosts Buffalo, almost a I-AA

So please, do a fact check before making statements.  Again, nearly 85% of I-As play I-AAs.

Normal

Could be that I am looking at the wrong schedule but the ESPN national weekly schedule shows:

Elon @ USF

Eastern Michigan @ Pittsburgh

Western Michigan @ West Virginia

Washington @ Syracuse

Connecticut @ Duke

UL plays an in state 1AA

I am talking about home openers, I have said that I do not mind 1 cup cake for homecoming. Just do not think Elon is a good warm up for Auburn or a confidence builder.

As far as whether the game counts I put as "I understand it" in my post not that it was a fact. The rules seems to change a lot and I thought with the addition of the 12th game that a 1AA only counted if they had a certain scholarship level- it is more than likely I am wrong.

How many of you guys were actually at the home opener last year? ET, Bulliever, Normal. It was one of the worst attended games I remember what a horrible atmosphere and the game was too close in the first half and the Bulls really used that as a stepping stone for the next 2 week opponents IMO

Bye the way here is last years BE first week:

Big East Box Scores

Thursday, Aug 31

Rhode Island 7

Connecticut 52

Final

Saturday, Sep 2

Marshall 10

West Virginia 42

Final

Rutgers 21

North Carolina 16

Final

Syracuse 10

Wake Forest 20

Final

McNeese St. 10

South Florida 41

Final

Virginia 13

Pittsburgh 38

Final

Eastern Kentucky 0

Cincinnati 31

Final

Sunday, Sep 3

Kentucky 28

Louisville 59

We can be like Cincy and UConn or like WVU and UL

[Brad]

I'm never in town that time of year anymore.  However, prior to the move to Arizona I never missed a home game - regardless of opponent (and I always found someone to take with me).  But that probably doesn't really matter either.

It's just a different philosophy.  I'm content with playing a schedule similar to most of DI-A football.  I'd rather not open with a big game to start the season.  Maybe that type of scheduling doesn't work for some fans, but I think it works for the program and with that I am confident we are in good hands.

[Mama_Bull]

I believe that those of us who post on this board, for the most part, attend all of the USF home games, if we live in the area.

I don't object to a 1-AA warm up for the first game, however, even Elon can't be taken lightly.

Getting the fans in the stands is a hard sell in Tampa due to UF and FSU supporters.  You have to remember also that USF's football program is very, very young.

As we get more and more recognition and as we win big games we will get more tushes in the seats.

GO BULLS!!!!!!!

[NormalBull]

I guess I just don't follow your logic.  So it only matters when a BE team plays their home opener against I-AA?  If we were to play Elon say the third week that would be okay with you?  That makes less sense to me.  Playing a I-AA is supposed to be 1) a win toward bowl eligibilty; 2) a scrimmage to prepare for the meat of the schedule.  So Uconn plays Maine the second game of the season.  Why does that matter?  Would it be okay to open with UCF and then play Elon?  Why is that better?

Sorry, the whole opening game argument just doesn't make sense to me.  You are right.  We can disagree on the scheduling philosophy of most I-A schools including 75% of the Big East schools.

As to attending....well my attendance at home USF games effectively ended when I moved to Illinois.  I have attended some away games and both bowl games.  I am not wealthy enough to fly into and out of Tampa for the home games.  Prior to Illinois, I lived in Americus, GA and only missed two home games.  I drove down every Friday night and drove back on Sundays.  Oftentimes it was just me and the three young children because my wife was taking college courses on Saturdays.  I used to ride down with el toro for Fan Appreciation Day in August.  We had to leave at 5 am to get there.  Basically there are many things one can question about me, but loyalty and commitment to USF is not one of them.  By the way, I still own 6 season tickets even though I have to give them to my less committed in-laws who live in Brandon.  I know you weren't directly questioning mine or Brad's commitment with the "if you were there" comment, but it certainly has that feel to it.

Normal

[Triple B]

I am talking about home openers, I have said that I do not mind 1 cup cake for homecoming. Just do not think Elon is a good warm up for Auburn or a confidence builder.

If I'm reading this correctly, the only time you want to play a cupcake is for homecoming. Is that philosophy still prevalent in college football? It seems that homecoming occurs during the meat of conf schedule and most homecoming opponents are conf foes these days. As stated, our scheduling is in line with at leat 75% of the BCS teams. The biggest difference, also as stated, is that our program is so young that we haven't built up the huge fan base other programs have that just comes to see the Bulls. Only thing to cure this is time and success .... and with that, there will be more and more fans, like those on this board, that will come to see the Bulls no matter who the opponent is.

Patience, grasshoppah.

[Joe]

Nukebull:

It's fine to disagree, that's what message boards are for.  But I don't know where you get your information because there are some BIG factual errors in your post.  First, Elon does count toward bowl eligibility.  Second, you state that our Big East rivals don't play D-1AA.  Wrong.  Here are the real facts:

Cincy opens at home against SE Missouri State (I-AA)

Connecticut hosts Maine (I-AA)

Louisville opens at home against Murray State (I-AA)

Pitt hosts Grambling State (I-AA)

Rutgers hosts Norfolk State (I-AA)

Only Syracuse and WVU do not play I-AAs, BUT

Syracuse hosts Buffalo, almost a I-AA

So please, do a fact check before making statements.  Again, nearly 85% of I-As play I-AAs.

Normal

There are a lot of D-IAA games last season asd will be the next two. But a lot of that is fallout from the 12 game scheduling.

[nukebull]

WVU has only 1 Div1AA team on their future schedule and it the 3rd game next year, after that they open at home against Auburn, Maryland, FSU, Marshall. UL is playing one of their first 1AA opponents in a while. UM played FSU last year and this year it is Marshall. Pitt has a 1AA this year but goes back to UCF, then UM then Notre Dame for openers. Rutgers has no signed games that are announced with 1AA going forward. UCF opens with Texas.

USF has teams lined up in future years that are 1AA, not just to get through the new 12 game schedule.

75% of teams are not in the top 25 at the end of the season either. I really think that playing this level before a big game like Auburn is worse than a scrimmage. The Bulls Defense has got to be better than Elons.

I am in no way saying that Brad, Normal, or ET are not avid fans, my point is that you were not at the game for valid reasons so you do not know how bad the atmosphere was last year.

I am aware it takes some money to schedule but not for legit 1 and 1, other teams can do it why can't USF? There are 119 or 120? Division 1 A teams surely we can find a couple to sign a deal with. I have always felt there is very little to gain by playing 1AA teams, if you win big you were supposed to if it is close you look bad if you lose heads roll.

I am aware I am outnumbered and outgunned on this one but I have many friends who go to games but do not post here and the div 1AA openers is their number 1 complaint as it is mine. I guess if that is all we have to complain about then things are not that bad.