I know that people on the message boards are obviously fans, but there appear to be way too many tickets still available for this game Saturday. That is unacceptable folks, which means you need to get there come hell or high water and bring friends or family as necessary. My kid has soccer, blah blah blah doesn't cut it. My kids have soccer too, and guess what they are going to the Bearcat game with Daddy to watch a Top 15 ranked team. Soccer will be there on Monday again for them.

Think of that speech that Mel Gibson gave in Braveheart to the troops and whether you really want to be part of letting this current incredible opportunity to truly establish Bearcat football on the national scene pass us by due to indifference.

Obviously there is some case out there where a true fan just flat out cannot make it for some reason, but don't be that person who chooses to stay at home and then regrets it when Fresno State upsets the Bearcats with a few less thousand fans in the stands in the near term and then the program can't take that next big step in the long term.

And this actually could be the most talented opponent other than West Virginia to play at Nippert all season.

From Lance's blog:

Wow..what is it going to take?
What is the old saying......."When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it's always twenty years behind the times." I think it was Mark Twain who said that. Was he talking about Cincinnati being behind the times with UC football?
It's going to be a struggle to sellout Saturday's home game vs Fresno St.
Noon kick. #14 team in the country. School in session. 35,000 seats is a struggle? Sad.
Let me see....it's the noon kick? it's the opponent? gotta mow the yard? rake leaves?
Wonder if OSU fans call AD Gene Smith to complain about noon kicks?
Hell...you can get a ticket for $20. Go to CATSTIX.COM and when you click your order, enter SOCIAL in the discount area. I expect UC to announce this afternoon that the West Virginia game is sold out....thanks to West Virginia fans.
Just one more thing that Brian Kelly has to shake his head about.

Can't argue with Lance on this one.....he's right.

(09-21-2009 09:08 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Can't argue with Lance on this one.....he's right.

The only thing that makes sense to me is that way too many Bearcat fans are simply spectators in this thing that are enjoying the success as they can schedule it in, well if you don't participate in this thing and show up to sell the place out then your Top 25 football fun may end much sooner than you think so that you can't just enjoy from afar on TV, DVR or listen on the radio while doing something else.

Only in Cincinnati. What a fickle town.

(09-21-2009 09:21 PM)bearcatmill Wrote:  Only in Cincinnati. What a fickle town.

But fickle would seem appropriate if they were unexpectedly struggling and people were not supporting, WTF is wrong with the area alumni, fans or even anyone who likes college football in general who wouldn't want to go watch an exciting Top 15 ranked team at home on a Saturday

(09-21-2009 09:27 PM)bcatwilly Wrote:  

(09-21-2009 09:21 PM)bearcatmill Wrote:  Only in Cincinnati. What a fickle town.

Actually the are a head of last years pace. Why don't we wait and see if they draw more before everyone panics. They only sold out 1 game last year. If they do better then that this year they are moving in the right direction. Also, even if your talking 20 dollars people shouldn't assume that everyone has extra money laying around. I know alot of people that are really strapped.

But fickle would seem appropriate if they were unexpectedly struggling and people were not supporting, WTF is wrong with the area alumni, fans or even anyone who likes college football in general who wouldn't want to go watch an exciting Top 15 ranked team at home on a Saturday

The most comparable game from last season would be the October 11th game against Rutgers at Noon which drew 32,370. Rutgers did not have any fans there, the Bearcats were not ranked yet and Grutza and Pike had already both been injured so that we were operating with some unknown at the QB position. So it would sure seem reasonable that they should be capable of matching or beating this number with a sellout with a Top 15 ranked team a year later.

This is so sad, I am kind of glad I am not living down in Cincinnati right now because if I asked a stranger if they were going to be at the UC game saturday and they said no I would probably punch them in the gut.

I posted this on another thread, but it serves this one better. Bottom line is that too many people try to fit a Bearcat game in when its convenient, not specifically reserving six days out of the year for the team.

No way we sell out. Obviously all of us on this board know how good the Cats are, and how good of an opponent is coming to Nippert. But for the casual fan - no way. Fresno is no Rutgers when it comes to importance or fan knowledge.

Day games here are historically bad in attendance. JV football is played on Saturday, youth soccer, wedding/baby showers, and the ol' "I still got to cut the grass." Welcome to UC football - a couple years of winning doesn't replace decades of disinterest. It's in the culture.

Friends of mine that hold season tickets close by, did not make the SEMO game because they had a 'new neighbor' party. Not all that unusual except that this couple was in charge of scheduling the date and forgot about it being a Bearcat game day. Six homes games, now just five for them.

No one that has access to tickets in Columbus would ever sign their kid up in a league that is played on Saturday. Saturday from late August to late November is reserved for Suckeye football. If they can't get a ticket then its off to a watch party at a local watering hole or over to a neighbors - even for away games. I lived that culture as a kid growing up in Columbus. Saturday in Cincy is definitely not reserved for the Bearcats. Maybe someday, just not this coming Saturday.

Can I use beer school as an excuse this year? I promise that when I start brewing in Cincy I'll go to all the games again(and try to increase beer selection at Nippert as a side hobby).

You didn't hear? The Bengals won a game... no need for the Bearcats now.

(09-21-2009 11:51 PM)faNATIc Wrote:  You didn't hear? The Bengals won a game... no need for the Bearcats now.

While tongue in cheek, this really is true to a certain degree. For whatever reason (media coverage, history, etc)...this is a Bengals town. The sobering reality is that while we are light years ahead of where we were even 4 years ago, we are no where near a fan base level that can overcome any small issue that will affect attendance.....ie. weather, game time (sorry, but Noon games are the absolute worst for our current situation), opponent, alternative games on tv, etc. They Bengals "hype" is bad enough when they suck. If they somehow beat the Steelers, I hate to say it, but it will dominate everything in this town...no matter what we do.

I'm predicting a crowd of 27k-29k for Saturday. If there's bad weather, we'll be lucky to put 25k in the stadium. (Anybody see Auburn/WVU on Sat night? There was a deluge of rain and lightening and thousands of Auburn students refused to evacuate, but instead stayed in their seats and chanted the school's fight song).

Unfortunately,the type of true cultural change that will affect the fan base takes consistent winning over a 10+ year time period. Not 3-4 good years followed by a backslide. I truly believe if this game was at 7pm on Saturday night, we'd have a good chance to sell out.

No matter how you cut it, this is an complete indictment to the progam's potential, alumni, casual fans, and the culture that is Greater Cincinnati. BK has done EVERYTHING to sell this program. Go to the Orange Bowl, speak at 200+ public events, actually have people predicting Cincinnati could play Florida in the BCS championship. When he runs out of the tunnel on Saturday to big gaping holes of empty seats, that may have more impact in cementing his decision to bolt this town than anything to do with buidling the practice facility.

i hope the full court press is out for this game....

- alumni center should be calling everyone they have a local number for and telling them about the $20 tickets
- athletic dept should be contacting kroger, p&g, and any other business that would purchase tickets and give them to local high schools or churches
- WE should be contacting every neighbor, friend, and family member to accompany us down to nippert this saturday

(09-21-2009 11:08 PM)Fanatical Wrote:  Can I use beer school as an excuse this year? I promise that when I start brewing in Cincy I'll go to all the games again(and try to increase beer selection at Nippert as a side hobby).

Yes you can use that as an excuse. Providing I get to sample a pint.

The funny thing is that all of the people who aren't showing up right now will complain when Kelly moves on. I have friends who have not been back to a game since they graduated, and they live less than an hour away! Others have been to 1 or 2 games... all will complain when Kelly leaves.

I have mine. Our group has theirs. Could care less if there are only 56 in attendance. Only folks we have any say in the matter with.

Crying about attendance doesn't do a thing. Nobody in the history of sports has bought a ticket to a single sporting event because they were guilted or ridiculed into it.

The crowd will be outstanding no matter how many attend. Those that are there are dying to be there and will be rowdy as hell. I'll take it.

Fully agree, rath. It does bother me, however, that I have friends who have gone to Ohio State and Wright State that have purchased tickets to more UC games in the last 5 years than a few of my UC friends have in their lives... yet those same UC grads watch every game on TV. Freaking ridiculous, as far as I'm concerned.

(09-21-2009 11:08 PM)Fanatical Wrote:  Can I use beer school as an excuse this year?

Let me try some, then I'll give you my answer :drinky2:

(09-22-2009 07:03 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  I have mine. Our group has theirs. Could care less if there are only 56 in attendance. Only folks we have any say in the matter with.

Crying about attendance doesn't do a thing. Nobody in the history of sports has bought a ticket to a single sporting event because they were guilted or ridiculed into it.

The crowd will be outstanding no matter how many attend. Those that are there are dying to be there and will be rowdy as hell. I'll take it.

Good point - UC fans will be there, as they are at every game. If the number of UC fans that are there has grown from the previous game, then progress has been made.