(12-03-2016 11:41 PM)jmufan2008 Wrote:  Just searched my emails and couldn't find what they did for Montana. I think we got out there in the early afternoon (2-3ish maybe?), but I can't remember. I would imagine somewhere between noon and 2pm would be a good bet.

For Montana, lots opened at 3pm. Here was the email from back then:

"All Duke Club reserved parking lots, except for the DECK, will be open at 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoon for game-day parking. Due to student exams and faculty/staff parking, the parking deck will be available at 6:00 p.m."

Hate to look ahead in any way, but if we win on Friday does anyone know the possibilities of when we could play next? Is that listed anywhere or was it just known for this week once JMU said 9th/10th? Hoping like hell that Saturday evening isn't the only possibility, a noon game or somewhere around there would be great... Of course we've got to win first.

(12-04-2016 02:21 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  Hate to look ahead in any way, but if we win on Friday does anyone know the possibilities of when we could play next? Is that listed anywhere or was it just known for this week once JMU said 9th/10th? Hoping like hell that Saturday evening isn't the only possibility, a noon game or somewhere around there would be great... Of course we've got to win first.

Depends on the NDSU/SDSU game outcome:
If we win, and NDSU (#1 seed) wins, we play at NDSU. If SDSU wins, we would host the semifinal.

NCAA doesn't list semifinal game dates, but JMUSports has it shown as Dec. 16. Game times are likely determined by ESPN preference.

Yeah for Montana '08 they were real good about letting us in early. That was also the last year they allowed open fire pits. It was cold as nuts that day I'll never forget multiple groups of people stopping by our tailgate after the game to see if the party was on and my buddy and I just packed everything up. No partying that night. Delvin HOLD ONTO THE BALL

Not a fan of Friday night, but whatever works.

Tickets bought (x6) and hotel rooms booked.

(12-04-2016 07:49 AM)jmu007 Wrote:  Not a fan of Friday night, but whatever works.

Tickets bought (x6) and hotel rooms booked.

I really dislike it as I'm in Europe and the game starts at 1am for me.

How will the weather affect the offense for a team from way down south?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using CSNbbs mobile app

(12-04-2016 08:11 AM)91Dawg Wrote:  How will the weather affect the offense for a team from way down south?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using CSNbbs mobile app

I think weather could become a question for both teams that like to throw. This is a game that the weather will challenge both teams to hold onto the ball.

(12-04-2016 02:21 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  Hate to look ahead in any way, but if we win on Friday does anyone know the possibilities of when we could play next? Is that listed anywhere or was it just known for this week once JMU said 9th/10th? Hoping like hell that Saturday evening isn't the only possibility, a noon game or somewhere around there would be great... Of course we've got to win first.

According to the NCAA bracket pdf, the semifinals are Friday 12/16 at 7pm on espn2 and Saturday 12/17 at 6:30pm on espnu.
If ndsu wins and we have to travel there, I can guarantee we'll play the Friday game on the bigger network.
If we host, it depends on who else is remaining as the other host team. I would think probably still Friday on ESPN2 since we'd be the most prominent remaining team in the field that is hosting.

As long as it remains dry, I doubt it has all that much impact. With the gloves, etc the players wear now I feel like rain is really the only thing that hurts anymore. My 2 cents.

Well, not to be a wet blanket but I think the Friday night option is about the worst one we could've gotten. If we only drew about 13,200 yesterday I would be shocked if we get much more than 10,000 on a Friday night, subfreezing game with only six days to market it. And it'll be on national TV to boot.

(12-04-2016 08:38 AM)Madison 91 Forever Wrote:  Well, not to be a wet blanket but I think the Friday night option is about the worst one we could've gotten. If we only drew about 13,200 yesterday I would be shocked if we get much more than 10,000 on a Friday night, subfreezing game with only six days to market it. And it'll be on national TV to boot.

Our sample size of one season is that attendance improves as we get deeper into the season. You will also see that trend among every other school nationally.
I agree though that Friday doesn't help promote attendance and people on Facebook seem to be saying they can't come due to it being on Friday.

JMU ought to promote the Study break theme:

Free HOT Cider and donuts for students attending the game. Free handwarmers. etc etc

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index...Id=1307318

I remember the Montana game and how the student side had people standing in the aisles because it was so packed so that gives me hope. But I'm still worried that attendance will be much less than it should be.

How many Dakota's are in this thing? Is the FCS a Dakota league now?

The road to Frisco goes through the badlands?

(12-04-2016 08:38 AM)Madison 91 Forever Wrote:  Well, not to be a wet blanket but I think the Friday night option is about the worst one we could've gotten. If we only drew about 13,200 yesterday I would be shocked if we get much more than 10,000 on a Friday night, subfreezing game with only six days to market it. And it'll be on national TV to boot.

A lot of things at play in these last several posts. '91 has some valid concerns. For the National Semi Final against Montana in a 15k stadium we only sold out 90 minutes before kickoff. While I love Friday night ESPN2 it will make it more challenging to get to the game. I've got some struggles myself.

Yesterday I was in the club - I would guess it was about 60% sold. I never got a good view of our side of the stands, but I thought we were likely over 15k. Keep in under reporting is the norm for 1AA playoffs.

As much as this won't make sense to some/most, if we hosted NDSU for the National Semifinal it would not sell out our 25k stadium.

Take heart in this one fact - the fans that will come will have their heart and loudness in the game.

Thank the lord we did not have to bid this year

(12-04-2016 09:12 AM)Dukester Wrote:  I thought we were likely over 15k. Keep in under reporting is the norm for 1AA playoffs.

Yeah, I thought we would likely come in around 18K, though I didn't get a look at the upper deck. I continue to question whether they use those scanners to count attendance; again when I entered yesterday the line to the right of me had somebody who was simply marking through the barcode with a magic marker. I've noticed that at at least two other games this season; if those folks aren't being "counted" then it will affect the attendance numbers.

Dukester, I don't understand your comment about underreporting being the norm in the playoffs. Are you saying that schools purposefully or knowingly underreport in the playoffs? Why would they do that?

(12-04-2016 09:56 AM)Madison 91 Forever Wrote:  

(12-04-2016 09:12 AM)Dukester Wrote:  I thought we were likely over 15k. Keep in under reporting is the norm for 1AA playoffs.

Yeah, I thought we would likely come in around 18K, though I didn't get a look at the upper deck. I continue to question whether they use those scanners to count attendance; again when I entered yesterday the line to the right of me had somebody who was simply marking through the barcode with a magic marker. I've noticed that at at least two other games this season; if those folks aren't being "counted" then it will affect the attendance numbers.

Dukester, I don't understand your comment about underreporting being the norm in the playoffs. Are you saying that schools purposefully or knowingly underreport in the playoffs? Why would they do that?

Schools have to pay the NCAA a percentage of gate receipts. If you report fewer tickets sold, you pay the NCAA less $$$. Pretty much every playoff game I've ever seen has underreported anywhere between 10-50%. It's never accurate.

I wish I could be up there and sit in the student section right behind Keeler. They need to be shouting at him from start to finish. I also like the idea of the band playing until the snap on defense until they get a warning for it. Make Keeler whine about the MRDs to get the crowd fired up.

(12-04-2016 09:12 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(12-04-2016 08:38 AM)Madison 91 Forever Wrote:  Well, not to be a wet blanket but I think the Friday night option is about the worst one we could've gotten. If we only drew about 13,200 yesterday I would be shocked if we get much more than 10,000 on a Friday night, subfreezing game with only six days to market it. And it'll be on national TV to boot.

A lot of things at play in these last several posts. '91 has some valid concerns. For the National Semi Final against Montana in a 15k stadium we only sold out 90 minutes before kickoff. While I love Friday night ESPN2 it will make it more challenging to get to the game. I've got some struggles myself.

Yesterday I was in the club - I would guess it was about 60% sold. I never got a good view of our side of the stands, but I thought we were likely over 15k. Keep in under reporting is the norm for 1AA playoffs.

As much as this won't make sense to some/most, if we hosted NDSU for the National Semifinal it would not sell out our 25k stadium.

Take heart in this one fact - the fans that will come will have their heart and loudness in the game.

Thank the lord we did not have to bid this year

Upper deck was very sparse. The upper wings were mostly empty.