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Quote:I definitely saw some questionable coaching decisions, play-calling, and game management early in the season.. but I think as is the case with any young, inexperienced coach, he learned some things throughout the season and tightened things up a bit.

I did not see any real improvement. CMU was the 2nd to last game of the season, at home, and we still could not win even with CMU coughing up the ball 5 times. I'll grant you we played close at NIU, but NIU ended the season losing the next two games.

(01-16-2014 11:45 AM)BandBronco13 Wrote:  

(01-16-2014 11:38 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  In the last nine years we have had exactly SIX home games that have drawn 25,000 or more, none in last two.

Three times we have drawn less than 25k when Central came to town.

Hey, look at me... I can spin too!

2013 Nicholls attendance: 24,163
2013 CMU attendance: 22,071 (and that is with a 1-9 football team)

2007 Indiana attendance: 32,129

What do you think MSU in 2015 will look like? My guess is 25k easily, probably closer to 30-35k.

In the last 9 years, we have fielded average football teams and won 0 MAC West divisions.

Now imagine if we win the MAC West, or even a MACC. Like I said, the potential is there.

You are pointing out the exceptions rather than the norms.

Communiversity Night ALWAYS draws more than the average. Its the home opener its a night game, its the BIG push every year. But if you want to spin. It also drew 35k+ in 99 and 2000. So drawing 25k could be looked at as a huge failure compared to that. (I didn't say that was the case, I said you can spin however you want)

CMU is ALWAYS going to draw a bit more of a crowd. Its our only real rival. But even 22k is down significantly from what it used to be. If you go back and look, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the attendance at that game.

And then you had to go back 6 seasons to point out the IU game. Again Communiversity Night if I'm not mistaken. A Big 10 school on CommU Night SHOULD attract a larger crowd.

And obviously, MSU is going to fill Waldo. Heck they filled Kelly Shorts last year and their attendance isn't any better than ours.

So you named 3 or 4 games where the numbers were over 15k. If we are being honest about it, an attendance of 11 or 12k is regularly announced at the games and we all know that those numbers are inflated. Take the 25k and 22k you mentioned from CommU and CMU, then add them to the other home games and find an average. My guess is that you will come pretty close to 15k give or take.

The only reason that PJ should have anything that even remotely shows expanding Waldo is if they are trying to figure out where to set up the portable bleachers for the MSU game. Because that is the ONLY time it will be necessary.

I'm just expressing my views. Not really much of a personal attack of other posters guy.

And for what its worth. If Waldo doesn't come close to an attendance record for the MSU game, it would be a travesty. If ever they are going to put 40k into that place, that is the day to do it.

Damnit, now you reminded me that MSU is coming in 2 seasons. Does that mean I am going to have to change my mind about season tickets so that I can be sure to get the ones I want for that game?

Right now MSU is on the schedule for a future game. Question is will they honor it or try to buy their way out?

They honored the CMU one. It was pretty publicized when they signed the deal as a goodwill gesture around the state so I doubt they'd back out.

Though I'd be slightly worried about EMU losing the 2019 home game, doesn't the big ten go to 9 conference games in 2017?

I know that it was a pretty highly publicized thing when they made that deal with the 3 directional schools. However, that was before the conferences started realigning and the new playoff system was put in place. It will be interesting to see what happens with schedules now.

Personally, I think the Big 10 should play at least 1 more conference game. But that's just me.

I doubt MSU backs out of the game at Waldo.