The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

This topic has been on a few threads and I believe it to be a serious enough issue that it deserves its own thread.

I understand that people have reasons to leave a game early, things happen. But when 25% of the fans leave the game in the 3rd quarter of a close game for no apparent reason, something is very wrong.

To many wine and cheese fans that don't want to sit in traffic after the game and the students think they are too cool for school. I know you cant make people stay but I think Chandler and co need to get a plan to make people want to stay.

First time I was embarrassed by our fans at a game. Leaving early reflects poorly on our fan base, team and school. Lets get it together and cheer loud for our team for 4 quarters!

(10-19-2015 11:57 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  This topic has been on a few threads and I believe it to be a serious enough issue that it deserves its own thread.

I understand that people have reasons to leave a game early, things happen. But when 25% of the fans leave the game in the 3rd quarter of a close game for no apparent reason, something is very wrong.

To many wine and cheese fans that don't want to sit in traffic after the game and the students think they are too cool for school. I know you cant make people stay but I think Chandler and co need to get a plan to make people want to stay.

First time I was embarrassed by our fans at a game. Leaving early reflects poorly on our fan base, team and school. Lets get it together and cheer loud for our team for 4 quarters!

Sadly I've had to leave early. Nobody wants to sit next to my threenager throwing a fit because it's well past bedtime. We're slowly breaking him though. Next season he'll be 4 so can probably hang for the evening games till the end, but those 7pm games are tough.

(10-19-2015 12:00 PM)Old Dominion Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 11:57 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  This topic has been on a few threads and I believe it to be a serious enough issue that it deserves its own thread.

I understand that people have reasons to leave a game early, things happen. But when 25% of the fans leave the game in the 3rd quarter of a close game for no apparent reason, something is very wrong.

To many wine and cheese fans that don't want to sit in traffic after the game and the students think they are too cool for school. I know you cant make people stay but I think Chandler and co need to get a plan to make people want to stay.

First time I was embarrassed by our fans at a game. Leaving early reflects poorly on our fan base, team and school. Lets get it together and cheer loud for our team for 4 quarters!

Sounds like we don't need fans like you in the stands if you cant be interested in a close game in the 3rd quarter to support your team. Its just mind boggling....

(10-19-2015 12:01 PM)Cr8n Wrote:  Sadly I've had to leave early. Nobody wants to sit next to my threenager throwing a fit because it's well past bedtime. We're slowly breaking him though. Next season he'll be 4 so can probably hang for the evening games till the end, but those 7pm games are tough.

No worries, its not an individual issues, things happen. Just disappointing that thousands of fans left in the 3rd....

I don't begrudge anyone for leaving early; certainly it's tough for people with kids. (luckily i'm able to leave mine at home) We have recruits at every game and I'd like to think the atmosphere on gameday plays a role in what colleges players choose. Its a shame when so many of the fans leave early on a beautiful Saturday 3:30 game. Its not like people needed to leave to get to bed. Having said that, we do have amongst the best fans in CUSA when you see how some of our competitors are.

Also, I got the sense people left because they gave up on the team. I just had to hear whining all game long about how over his head Wilder is and how no one can understand why this team isn't better than last year...yada yada yada. I guess the good thing about fans leaving early is I only had to hear that for 3 quarters until they left.

The silver lining is that to leave early, you have to attend. We could be Georgia State. We are pretty bad and still filling the stadium. To my defense, I was one of the few that saw the UNH 700 yard passing comeback through to the end.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

(10-19-2015 12:10 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  The silver lining is that to leave early, you have to attend. We could be Georgia State. We are pretty bad and still filling the stadium. To my defense, I was one of the few that saw the UNH 700 yard passing comeback through to the end.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I was there to the end too and that was the best game I've ever seen. So many people missed out on a classic. I pity them.

I believe a lot of it is caused by a good chunk of our season ticket buyers having more allegiance to other teams first; mostly VT and UVA. The fans who remain are the true hardcore ODU football fans (not discounting those like Cr8n who need to leave early for legit reasons.) It will take a while for our hardcore fanbase to get to a point that more of them will stick it out. I hope and believe that the new stadium will help greatly in this area. Meanwhile, I appreciate that so many local VT and UVA (among other teams) fans support ODU football with their hard earned money, and whatever attention and enthusiasm level they provide.

(10-19-2015 12:02 PM)cmett003 Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:00 PM)Old Dominion Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 11:57 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  This topic has been on a few threads and I believe it to be a serious enough issue that it deserves its own thread.

I understand that people have reasons to leave a game early, things happen. But when 25% of the fans leave the game in the 3rd quarter of a close game for no apparent reason, something is very wrong.

To many wine and cheese fans that don't want to sit in traffic after the game and the students think they are too cool for school. I know you cant make people stay but I think Chandler and co need to get a plan to make people want to stay.

First time I was embarrassed by our fans at a game. Leaving early reflects poorly on our fan base, team and school. Lets get it together and cheer loud for our team for 4 quarters!

Sounds like we don't need fans like you in the stands if you cant be interested in a close game in the 3rd quarter to support your team. Its just mind boggling....

Interesting you'd jump to the (erroneous conclusion) that I left early. I always stay til the bitter end, no matter the score. I just don't presume to know any of the many, many reasons others leave early and I don't let it eat my lunch. I have a great time regardless of others leaving. Maybe you need to focus on yourself and not so much on others.
My friend who has season tix beside me was not there Saturday. He gave his tix to a VT fan who left at half time. What do you propose to do about that? We stunk the jo8int out in the first half. Casual fans are not about to sit on cold aluminum benchs with no back rest to watch a team get creamed. You can't control others, don't try. You'll be a lot happier.

(10-19-2015 12:12 PM)FTW ODU Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:10 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  The silver lining is that to leave early, you have to attend. We could be Georgia State. We are pretty bad and still filling the stadium. To my defense, I was one of the few that saw the UNH 700 yard passing comeback through to the end.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I was there to the end too and that was the best game I've ever seen. So many people missed out on a classic. I pity them.

In some ways it was the best comeback win to me since the New Hampshire one when it was so hot and, on my side, sunny.

I will take the "glass half full" approach. When folks leave early, I have room to prop my feet up on the seat in front of me and the folks who stick it out are the ones who are truly into the game - cheering on the team instead of chatting about what they had for breakfast...

Certainly showing up and leaving is better than not showing up at all. I think its due to a large portion of our "fanbase" that thinks the tailgate is the main dish and the football game is just a couple hours to sober up so they can drive home.

I do say that they fans that were left were very loud the last couple of series that UNCC had the ball.

I can tell you from experience that when I was a student most of my friends wanted to leave at halftime because they wanted to get their party on (and this was during the Heinicke years for Christ's sake). It was inevitable, it didnt matter if we were winning, losing, or tied that was the M.O. It bothered me because I liked staying the whole game no matter the outcome and ended up sitting by myself in the second half of many games. Even when I cheered I would always look for my friends in the stands to share looks at, throw t-shirts to, etc and they would be gone most of the time. It's just a culture for the students and the recent losing doesn't help either. It frustrates me that we have been a great program since we brought football back with a great home atmosphere but it never lasts the entire game. There has to be a way to keep the students in the stands all game, because if they do, it makes us look better and I know it will trickle into the rest of the stadium.

(10-19-2015 12:14 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:12 PM)FTW ODU Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:10 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  The silver lining is that to leave early, you have to attend. We could be Georgia State. We are pretty bad and still filling the stadium. To my defense, I was one of the few that saw the UNH 700 yard passing comeback through to the end.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I was there to the end too and that was the best game I've ever seen. So many people missed out on a classic. I pity them.

In some ways it was the best comeback win to me since the New Hampshire one when it was so hot and, on my side, sunny.

That year was my second year cheering and my first game back because I had to sit out the first few games that season. I remember after the game I went out with friends and I was beet red from the sun and absolutely exhausted, but it was so worth it. One of the best sporting events I have ever attended, and I was lucky enough to be on the field that day

(10-19-2015 12:21 PM)MonGNARch Wrote:  I can tell you from experience that when I was a student most of my friends wanted to leave at halftime because they wanted to get their party on (and this was during the Heinicke years for Christ's sake). It was inevitable, it didnt matter if we were winning, losing, or tied that was the M.O. It bothered me because I liked staying the whole game no matter the outcome and ended up sitting by myself in the second half of many games. Even when I cheered I would always look for my friends in the stands to share looks at, throw t-shirts to, etc and they would be gone most of the time. It's just a culture for the students and the recent losing doesn't help either. It frustrates me that we have been a great program since we brought football back with a great home atmosphere but it never lasts the entire game. There has to be a way to keep the students in the stands all game, because if they do, it makes us look better and I know it will trickle into the rest of the stadium.

Good perspective since I was a student prior to football. It's odd because some games the students are great. Thought they were awesome for Marshall last year and even NC State this year. But, for some reason the student section was emptied at halftime. Does level of competition play a role? Was it because it was homecoming? Can never figure out which student section is going to show up.

(10-19-2015 12:25 PM)MonGNARch Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:14 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:12 PM)FTW ODU Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:10 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  The silver lining is that to leave early, you have to attend. We could be Georgia State. We are pretty bad and still filling the stadium. To my defense, I was one of the few that saw the UNH 700 yard passing comeback through to the end.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I was there to the end too and that was the best game I've ever seen. So many people missed out on a classic. I pity them.

In some ways it was the best comeback win to me since the New Hampshire one when it was so hot and, on my side, sunny.

That year was my second year cheering and my first game back because I had to sit out the first few games that season. I remember after the game I went out with friends and I was beet red from the sun and absolutely exhausted, but it was so worth it. One of the best sporting events I have ever attended, and I was lucky enough to be on the field that day

I was wearing an ODU hat which helped some but but my ears took a real beating on the sunburn. You are right though, it was so worth it. What a comeback and what a game. Most scoring in a game I expect I will ever see in person.

(10-19-2015 12:35 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:25 PM)MonGNARch Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:14 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:12 PM)FTW ODU Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:10 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  The silver lining is that to leave early, you have to attend. We could be Georgia State. We are pretty bad and still filling the stadium. To my defense, I was one of the few that saw the UNH 700 yard passing comeback through to the end.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I was there to the end too and that was the best game I've ever seen. So many people missed out on a classic. I pity them.

In some ways it was the best comeback win to me since the New Hampshire one when it was so hot and, on my side, sunny.

That year was my second year cheering and my first game back because I had to sit out the first few games that season. I remember after the game I went out with friends and I was beet red from the sun and absolutely exhausted, but it was so worth it. One of the best sporting events I have ever attended, and I was lucky enough to be on the field that day

I was wearing an ODU hat which helped some but but my ears took a real beating on the sunburn. You are right though, it was so worth it. What a comeback and what a game. Most scoring in a game I expect I will ever see in person.

If you were there, you had to recognized that something special was happening. I hope as I mature that I be blessed to always remember that game. Greatest thing I personally witness without me being involved.

(10-19-2015 12:25 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-19-2015 12:21 PM)MonGNARch Wrote:  I can tell you from experience that when I was a student most of my friends wanted to leave at halftime because they wanted to get their party on (and this was during the Heinicke years for Christ's sake). It was inevitable, it didnt matter if we were winning, losing, or tied that was the M.O. It bothered me because I liked staying the whole game no matter the outcome and ended up sitting by myself in the second half of many games. Even when I cheered I would always look for my friends in the stands to share looks at, throw t-shirts to, etc and they would be gone most of the time. It's just a culture for the students and the recent losing doesn't help either. It frustrates me that we have been a great program since we brought football back with a great home atmosphere but it never lasts the entire game. There has to be a way to keep the students in the stands all game, because if they do, it makes us look better and I know it will trickle into the rest of the stadium.

Good perspective since I was a student prior to football. It's odd because some games the students are great. Thought they were awesome for Marshall last year and even NC State this year. But, for some reason the student section was emptied at halftime. Does level of competition play a role? Was it because it was homecoming? Can never figure out which student section is going to show up.

It was homecoming. Large groups come to support their friends on the court. As soon as the winners of king and queen are announced, they mostly bail. It was like that every year I was an undergrad. For much of those group members, I would bet it's the only game they attend all season.