That is the official home FB attendence at Eastern Michigan University last year according to Phill Steeles CFB magazine.

EMU has over 18,000 students.

EMU is where our our new AD Dr Gragg was the AD last year.

One of the primary reasons for hiring DR Gragg was to increase attendence - stated in the T World.

Is there something wrong with this picture?


BTW the number posted as the thread title is correct

Gloom and doom!!

But really, I hope not. Since attendance was such a hot button, I'm sure Dr. Upham made it clear about his expecatations of Dr. Gragg in terms of increasing attendance.

Now, I'm in no way defending that number you posted. That is absolutely embarrassing at nearly any level of college football (and most large high schools in TX and OK). BUT, football isn't viewed the same in the north as it is in the south, southwest and midwest. People just don't care as much up there.

We all want to see out stadium packed every game, but I will view it as a victory is we can average 25k this year with out horrible home schedule.

However, starting AAC play in 2014 will be a different story. Dr. Gragg will be on the hot seat to increase attendance with opponents like UC, UCONN, USF and our old pals, UH and SMU back on the schedule.

IMO its worse than embarrassing considering that EMU has almost 20,000 students (18,621 undergrads). Here are the individual home attendence figures for 2012.

Illinois St---------5,006
Kent St----------6,011
Toledo-----------2,837
Army-------------4,252
Central Michigan---4,081
Northern Illinois----1,349

Acouple of thoughts on that.
1. We have a future series with Toledo scheduled
2. Army has a built in fan base and interest level i.e. everyone who has been in the army has some interest in that team and you have to wonder if almost all those fans at that game rooted for the Black Knights
3. Central Mich is a team within that state i.e. a rival
4. Northern Illinois played in the Orange Bowl last year and was a top ranked team when they played.

With a schedule that included Army, a state rival and an Orange Bowl top 20 team at their stadium, that is worse than pathetic. IMO. Numbers say something and the figures don't lie as long as they are accurate and I assume they are if they are in P Steeles CFB.

1349 for a D-1 college football game????????!!! EMU should be more than embarrassed. That's terrible.