(11-24-2015 04:06 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  As we all know TV and the internet have pretty much screwed us on attendance. Back when I was at NIU 2004-2008, even though NIU was good and there was some games on ESPN, you had to go to the games if you wanted to see them. There were maybe 2 games that were on ESPN and people got excited about going to those because it was a new thing.

But today, every single game is either on TV or streamed for free. So there is is not point in going unless you truly want to be there. You can go to the tailgate and then head home and watch the game. That makes it difficult to keep the students that figured they would stay and watch the game because they wanted to at least be able to talk about it back in my day, compared to today where you don't need to be there to see it.

It's a catch-22 for G5 schools who need attendance to show they are a "big time" program, but also are dealing with every game being televised in one way or another for the first time. I honestly don't know how to fix this, and that's what makes it very challenging to overcome.

I know, it's nuts. I think an outside sports marketing firm could help, but would be $$ to make that happen. Getting the community to go more would be huge. We have to think of ways of getting students more involved, hands on, and feel like they are part of the program. Like ND, having the kids paint the helmets, more rally's on campus, and the like. Not easy, but essential now.