Attendance was 32,663 in the Metrodome for Minnesota vs. defending Big Ten champ Illinois last night. Additionally, Minnesota was 4-1 heading into last night's Thursday night ESPN game.
While true that MAC games may generally be singled out for weak attendances, info like this is good to have in your back pocket. So much for "BCS" style crowds.
(Thanks goes to "horseshooz" on the Bronco board for pointing this out)
I don't blame people for not showing up. I wouldn't want to watch the Illini either. <img border="0" alt="[Puke]" title="" src="graemlins/puke.gif" />
The thing is that Minnesota is more like a MAC school, then teams that we like to compare ourselves.
We like to compare our games to OSU, UM, FSU, and TENN games. 3 out of 4 of those teams have 100,000 seat stadiums and fill them every game.
Minnesota does not. The MAC is not the Big Ten. It is dissapointing that some games are not sell-outs, but compared to C-USA and other similar conferences, we are making headway.
I've been doing a "Nert" and have already looked at the Big Ten records and schedules to see what looks likely for the MAC opponent for the MCB, and I'm very nervous that we might end up with Minnesota.
Even though they are 5-1 now, I expect them to go 7-5 tops and maybe even 6-6 with a losing record in the B10, and we could get stuck with them in Detroit (as no other bowl ahead of us would want 'em). Minnesota is not a big draw for the upper midwest, and won't bring many fans to Detroit, either. If BG ends up playing Minnesota I'd say we'll get 40-45K tops for attendance.
If, OTOH, we could get a 7-5 Purdue, we'd do much better, and obviously MSU would give us a near sell out at Ford Field.
I'm hoping that the "freshness" of Ford Field will draw a lot of casual Metro Detroit fans down to the game, just to see the new digs. The Lions games are all sold out, so, for many, this may be a good chance to wander around relatively cheaply and see a B10-MAC matchup at the same time.
Hopefully that will work for our benefit... and I'm assuming that we only get this one-year gift of casual onlookers, given as the years go by the novelty of F.F. will wear off.
File this one under: Grass Always Greener, Etc.
<a href="http://www.startribune.com/stories/506/3344641.html" target="_blank">LINK--Dan Barreiro, today's Minneapolis Star-Tribune</a>
Minnesota needs it's own stadium on campus, IMO. I envision something like the Carrier Dome...
So, according to this article once the newly proposed NCAA attendance requirements (i.e. the "butts" in seats rule) go "into action" in 2004 the crowd would've been listed at 23K, eh? Gee, our 26K for Iowa doesn't look so bad after all.
Ahhh...very good article.
I guess our 22k vs Mizzou in thunder and lightning doesn't look too bad either.
GO BFG!! GO MAC!!
I'd love to see a Minn/UT rematch in the MCB. Bastards owe us one. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
Well, Oddy, first the Rockets gotta get to Detroit, but I do hope we're wrong about Minnehaha being in the MCB......I'd be surprised if they would bring 5K to the game!
Mark this down, though, we will see either Purdue or Minnesota in this game. One of eCK's "famous last words"!
I wouldn't waste my money on either of those Big 10 teams. They both suck!
<img border="0" alt="[snore]" title="" src="graemlins/snore.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[snore]" title="" src="graemlins/snore.gif" />
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by exCincy Kid:
Well, Oddy, first the Rockets gotta get to Detroit, but I do hope we're wrong about Minnehaha being in the MCB......I'd be surprised if they would bring 5K to the game!
Mark this down, though, we will see either Purdue or Minnesota in this game. One of eCK's "famous last words"!</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm by no means counting my chickens before they hatch. Just stating what I'd love to see. Yeah, Michigan or MSU would be best, but we won't get either. So, for me, a little payback would be nice...provided my team even makes it that far. And, I believe your prediction is correct.
I want Purdue for a game when the Big 11 team doesn't have 18 on the field especially in the last minute