(09-19-2016 06:45 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 06:39 PM)Ranger Wrote:  No, not the game, the student bodies.

I have read posts here that the current Rice student body simply does not care for football and that is the reason for poor student attendance at the games. I think someone posted that today's students are more international and less Texan and therefore less inclined to know and care for football.

I generally watch Stanford football broadcasts. I generally see full stadiums with energetic and enthused student sections. And it would seem to me that the student body demographics are fairly similar to ours, drawing from brainy kids from throughout the world. The atmosphere seems electric.

I would think the attendance and excitement is generated by having a good team and playing good ball, as well as playing top competition.

Or perhaps the admission forms have a question - Do you enjoy watching football. And the Admissions Office rejects anyone who answers in the affirmative.

Nope, don't think so.

Maybe Rice students don't care to witness a crappy product on the field. (I call it a crappy product based on your numerous disappointed comments during the games. It sure sounds crappy to me.)

The Stanford student body is also gigantic compared to Rice. 3X the size of Rice. But to the point about opponents the student section looked good against Baylor.

That underestimates the difference. Much of Stanford season ticketholders are alumni of their grad schools (like my brother), having gone to the Ivies or elsewhere for their undergraduate studies. Counting grad alumni, Staford students and alumni outnumber Rice by better than a 10 - 1 margin, and probably closer to 25+ - 1. Almost everyone seated around us at the Stanford - USC game this past Saturday (or eating at the alumni tailgate) were alums of the various grad schools.