Not that I owe anyone an explanation, but I won't be there because my 10yo has pre-season basketball games for league seeding at 3:00. We both hate it, but his team needs him and he made a committment, so sometimes parenting and adulting is hard.

(11-28-2017 11:20 AM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:02 AM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  I know I'll get flamed for this but for me December is tough not for the weather but for the other plans that come along with it. Lots of family commitments and friends' parties. I'm sacrificing the Stony Brook game to make sure I can be there for the Semis and Quarters. That will backfire if we lose, but I'm confident against babbling brook.

I have some serious calendar conflicts this weekend between my wife’s work and my work, but we plan to be there for any other games. My daughter got her student ticket yesterday, but sadly, is having a hard time finding other students who plan to go to the game. All of her suite mates are into the upper convo scene but not into actually going to the game. I am baffled by that but can’t judge.

That's disheartening. I mean, you can tell me to get off your lawn, but you get to tailgate because there's a football game; you don't get to football because there's a tailgate.

errr... now that I type that out and look at it, maybe you do. anyway - you have to do both not one. Only way you get to tailgate and skip the game is if you can't get a ticket. This rule applies to all things ever right?

(11-28-2017 10:43 AM)PurpleStreamers Wrote:  And last but not least playoff crowds are awesome no matter the size. W&M '04, Wofford '08, last year vs. Sam - none of those were the largest ever contingent of Dukes fans, but those were great atmospheres where I had a blast as a fan.

i still contend that the '08 Wofford game was one of the most underrated games in JMU history. what sticks out is the enormous 4th down stop we got when we were up 31-28. believe they had to bring out the chains and Wofford just missed the conversion by inches. they were already close to being in field goal range. pretty crazy game.

(11-28-2017 11:24 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 11:20 AM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:02 AM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  I know I'll get flamed for this but for me December is tough not for the weather but for the other plans that come along with it. Lots of family commitments and friends' parties. I'm sacrificing the Stony Brook game to make sure I can be there for the Semis and Quarters. That will backfire if we lose, but I'm confident against babbling brook.

I have some serious calendar conflicts this weekend between my wife’s work and my work, but we plan to be there for any other games. My daughter got her student ticket yesterday, but sadly, is having a hard time finding other students who plan to go to the game. All of her suite mates are into the upper convo scene but not into actually going to the game. I am baffled by that but can’t judge.

That's disheartening. I mean, you can tell me to get off your lawn, but you get to tailgate because there's a football game; you don't get to football because there's a tailgate.

errr... now that I type that out and look at it, maybe you do. anyway - you have to do both not one. Only way you get to tailgate and skip the game is if you can't get a ticket. This rule applies to all things ever right?

She needs to hang around MRD’s. They root!

*Disclaimer: This is tongue in cheek and not a personal attack. It's okay*

I do wonder though, what's so different in North Dakota that no one has holiday parties, kids basketball games or jobs on the weekend. Oh hell, it's North Dakota and they're indoors. What the hell else is there to do out there. It's literally sit in a dome or sit at home.

I'd be very curious to see how many show up if it had to be played outdoors like most of America.

(11-28-2017 10:43 AM)PurpleStreamers Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:02 AM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  I know I'll get flamed for this but for me December is tough not for the weather but for the other plans that come along with it. Lots of family commitments and friends' parties. I'm sacrificing the Stony Brook game to make sure I can be there for the Semis and Quarters. That will backfire if we lose, but I'm confident against babbling brook.

I'm in exactly the same boat Dirty and it drives me insane watching us turn on each other for this. And that's on top of Bleeding's very valid point (I guess based on career I'm one of those is in his "bubble" but I've got some external professional activities that require time I simply can't give during the week and I have to put in some time this weekend to even allow me to potentially make the run the rest of the way).

People root their arses off all year and then a bunch of young and/or local and/or retired/semi-retired fans start calling us out. It sucks, but it's a fact of having playoff football in December. If FBS had a four-week long tournament, even the big boys would NEVER match their own regular-season attendance averages.

And yeso - this goes especially BECAUSE we expect to have playoff games - sure, we all knew all year that it was likely we would have home games now, but just like in the regular season three in a row at home is what makes it so tough. Only one of three weekends (next week) was actually easy for me. To make another game I had to choose between bailing on a long-planned family Holiday concert this weekend (which at least allows me to watch the game) and potentially cancelling my folks coming from out of town later this month to visit if the Dukes make the semis. Not sure what this says about me, but I chose to give my parents the heads up their trip is now tentative. MANY others are in the exact same type of situation.

People can whine all they want about "that's just excuses" and "need to root" but I know for a fact you root harder than all of them and we just need to accept that giving entire weekends (which is what these games are for most out of town fans) to JMU football cannot always be everyone's priority.

And this is all on top of the fact that many of us left our families for three or four days last January for Frisco and hope to do so again (I've got my ticket) and have to lay some delicate domestic groundwork right now if that's gonna happen. Not everyone's partner or family went to JMU or gives a sh*t - that doesn't make that person any less of a fan.

And last but not least playoff crowds are awesome no matter the size. W&M '04, Wofford '08, last year vs. Sam - none of those were the largest ever contingent of Dukes fans, but those were great atmospheres where I had a blast as a fan. IF we're all lucky enough to have another game next week, I can't wait to be there in the cold drinking bourbon with you and appreciating those around me knowing the similar choices they had to make to be there and what it means to us. In my soon-to-be-derided opinion, that's what rootin' really means, not checking some attendance box or humble-bragging with "every Outpost button ever."

dirty doesn't root harder than me but I'm also not going this weekend

Madison 91 Forever should change the title of this thread to...

..."Personal Testimonials of Fans Not Attending 12/2"

(11-28-2017 11:41 AM)Potomac Wrote:  *Disclaimer: This is tongue in cheek and not a personal attack. It's okay*

I do wonder though, what's so different in North Dakota that no one has holiday parties, kids basketball games or jobs on the weekend. Oh hell, it's North Dakota and they're indoors. What the hell else is there to do out there. It's literally sit in a dome or sit at home.

I'd be very curious to see how many show up if it had to be played outdoors like most of America.

it is a HUGE factor, i don't care what anyone says. all they have to worry about is the tailgate, and they've got those crazy heated tents anyway. they can wear short sleeve shirts as soon as they get inside. it's a major factor, but i'm sure NDSU fans would disagree.

that said, i wouldn't trade having an outdoor stadium for anything. i love the unpredictability. i love that if the conditions are tough, the fans are dealing with the same elements as the team. kind of like we're all in it together, toughing it out (although the players are toughing it out AND beating each other's brains in).

(outside of the boards) I'm starting to hear a lot of "we decided to go to later games" AKA we advance in the playoffs. I guess it's just an attitude thing, save money thing, I'd rather do something else this weekend and root later thing, I dunno what else other than those.

(11-28-2017 11:26 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:43 AM)PurpleStreamers Wrote:  And last but not least playoff crowds are awesome no matter the size. W&M '04, Wofford '08, last year vs. Sam - none of those were the largest ever contingent of Dukes fans, but those were great atmospheres where I had a blast as a fan.

i still contend that the '08 Wofford game was one of the most underrated games in JMU history. what sticks out is the enormous 4th down stop we got when we were up 31-28. believe they had to bring out the chains and Wofford just missed the conversion by inches. they were already close to being in field goal range. pretty crazy game.

That was a great game. I'll never forget Rodney faking a spike as though he was going to stop the clock and instead completing a pass. He was always ahead of the competition.

(11-28-2017 11:54 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 11:41 AM)Potomac Wrote:  *Disclaimer: This is tongue in cheek and not a personal attack. It's okay*

I do wonder though, what's so different in North Dakota that no one has holiday parties, kids basketball games or jobs on the weekend. Oh hell, it's North Dakota and they're indoors. What the hell else is there to do out there. It's literally sit in a dome or sit at home.

I'd be very curious to see how many show up if it had to be played outdoors like most of America.

it is a HUGE factor, i don't care what anyone says. all they have to worry about is the tailgate, and they've got those crazy heated tents anyway. they can wear short sleeve shirts as soon as they get inside. it's a major factor, but i'm sure NDSU fans would disagree.

that said, i wouldn't trade having an outdoor stadium for anything. i love the unpredictability. i love that if the conditions are tough, the fans are dealing with the same elements as the team. kind of like we're all in it together, toughing it out (although the players are toughing it out AND beating each other's brains in).

I would think that being located in Fargo plays a big part too. I know I'd make it to way more games if I didn't have to commit 4 hours driving round trip.

(11-28-2017 11:41 AM)Potomac Wrote:  *Disclaimer: This is tongue in cheek and not a personal attack. It's okay*

I do wonder though, what's so different in North Dakota that no one has holiday parties, kids basketball games or jobs on the weekend. Oh hell, it's North Dakota and they're indoors. What the hell else is there to do out there. It's literally sit in a dome or sit at home.

I'd be very curious to see how many show up if it had to be played outdoors like most of America.

Sure the outdoor activities are more limited for them than in the late Spring/Summer/early Fall, but lots of outdoor activities to be done in the early Dec cold:
-hunting (they have more to hunt out there, most of it is still in season in Dec, and I saw a lot of cammo when I was out there for the JMU @ NDSU Round of 16 in early 2011).
-fishing (they have lakes & the Red River borders Fargo). A ton of lakes in neighboring Minnesota (large chunk of their fan base is from MN)
-shooting
-ATVing..
Etc

When it freezes over:
-ice fishing
-snowmobiling
-cross country skiing
Etc
And a lot of other outdoor stuff I’m sure people do in the cold up there..

Now if they didn’t have the dome sure they would have lower Nov-mid Dec late regular season and playoff attendance due to the cold. JMU seems to be negatively affects once it dips into the 40s. With their fan base it probably wouldn’t be until the 30s..

(11-28-2017 11:49 AM)#YEEHAWDUKES Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:43 AM)PurpleStreamers Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:02 AM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  I know I'll get flamed for this but for me December is tough not for the weather but for the other plans that come along with it. Lots of family commitments and friends' parties. I'm sacrificing the Stony Brook game to make sure I can be there for the Semis and Quarters. That will backfire if we lose, but I'm confident against babbling brook.

I'm in exactly the same boat Dirty and it drives me insane watching us turn on each other for this. And that's on top of Bleeding's very valid point (I guess based on career I'm one of those is in his "bubble" but I've got some external professional activities that require time I simply can't give during the week and I have to put in some time this weekend to even allow me to potentially make the run the rest of the way).

People root their arses off all year and then a bunch of young and/or local and/or retired/semi-retired fans start calling us out. It sucks, but it's a fact of having playoff football in December. If FBS had a four-week long tournament, even the big boys would NEVER match their own regular-season attendance averages.

And yeso - this goes especially BECAUSE we expect to have playoff games - sure, we all knew all year that it was likely we would have home games now, but just like in the regular season three in a row at home is what makes it so tough. Only one of three weekends (next week) was actually easy for me. To make another game I had to choose between bailing on a long-planned family Holiday concert this weekend (which at least allows me to watch the game) and potentially cancelling my folks coming from out of town later this month to visit if the Dukes make the semis. Not sure what this says about me, but I chose to give my parents the heads up their trip is now tentative. MANY others are in the exact same type of situation.

People can whine all they want about "that's just excuses" and "need to root" but I know for a fact you root harder than all of them and we just need to accept that giving entire weekends (which is what these games are for most out of town fans) to JMU football cannot always be everyone's priority.

And this is all on top of the fact that many of us left our families for three or four days last January for Frisco and hope to do so again (I've got my ticket) and have to lay some delicate domestic groundwork right now if that's gonna happen. Not everyone's partner or family went to JMU or gives a sh*t - that doesn't make that person any less of a fan.

And last but not least playoff crowds are awesome no matter the size. W&M '04, Wofford '08, last year vs. Sam - none of those were the largest ever contingent of Dukes fans, but those were great atmospheres where I had a blast as a fan. IF we're all lucky enough to have another game next week, I can't wait to be there in the cold drinking bourbon with you and appreciating those around me knowing the similar choices they had to make to be there and what it means to us. In my soon-to-be-derided opinion, that's what rootin' really means, not checking some attendance box or humble-bragging with "every Outpost button ever."

dirty doesn't root harder than me but I'm also not going this weekend

(11-28-2017 12:23 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 11:41 AM)Potomac Wrote:  *Disclaimer: This is tongue in cheek and not a personal attack. It's okay*

I do wonder though, what's so different in North Dakota that no one has holiday parties, kids basketball games or jobs on the weekend. Oh hell, it's North Dakota and they're indoors. What the hell else is there to do out there. It's literally sit in a dome or sit at home.

I'd be very curious to see how many show up if it had to be played outdoors like most of America.

Sure the outdoor activities are more limited for them than in the late Spring/Summer/early Fall, but lots of outdoor activities to be done in the early Dec cold:
-hunting (they have more to hunt out there, most of it is still in season in Dec, and I saw a lot of cammo when I was out there for the JMU @ NDSU Round of 16 in early 2011).
-fishing (they have lakes & the Red River borders Fargo). A ton of lakes in neighboring Minnesota (large chunk of their fan base is from MN)
-shooting
-ATVing..
Etc

When it freezes over:
-ice fishing
-snowmobiling
-cross country skiing
Etc
And a lot of other outdoor stuff I’m sure people do in the cold up there..

Now if they didn’t have the dome sure they would have lower Nov-mid Dec late regular season and playoff attendance due to the cold. JMU seems to be negatively affects once it dips into the 40s. With their fan base it probably wouldn’t be until the 30s..

Just keep in mind that in North Dakota "I'm going to checkout the livestock" has a different meaning than most of the rest of America. I say "most" because Alabama and Wyoming are still in America...for now.

Our usual group of 12-15 has dwindled this weekend to 3 for various aforementioned reasons. I thought about not going but then realized that would just be stupid since I'm not a real adult and don't have real responsibilities.

(11-28-2017 11:14 AM)84Breeze Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:25 AM)JMUSteeler Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:02 AM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  I know I'll get flamed for this but for me December is tough not for the weather but for the other plans that come along with it. Lots of family commitments and friends' parties. I'm sacrificing the Stony Brook game to make sure I can be there for the Semis and Quarters. That will backfire if we lose, but I'm confident against babbling brook.

Slackers in 109 not representing.......

I am not a season ticket holder but was happy to see that the tickets we got for Saturday are in Section 109 so we will happily help pick up the slack! Go Dukes!!

Me too, I specifically bought Dirty's.....

Edit - I am a season ticket holder, I got my 6 + 2 in 109. I just found out 8 more are open down in that section.

(11-28-2017 01:19 PM)JMUSteeler Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 11:14 AM)84Breeze Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:25 AM)JMUSteeler Wrote:  

(11-28-2017 10:02 AM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  I know I'll get flamed for this but for me December is tough not for the weather but for the other plans that come along with it. Lots of family commitments and friends' parties. I'm sacrificing the Stony Brook game to make sure I can be there for the Semis and Quarters. That will backfire if we lose, but I'm confident against babbling brook.

Slackers in 109 not representing.......

I am not a season ticket holder but was happy to see that the tickets we got for Saturday are in Section 109 so we will happily help pick up the slack! Go Dukes!!

Me too, I specifically bought Dirty's.....

Edit - I am a season ticket holder, I got my 6 + 2 in 109. I just found out 8 more are open down in that section.

I'll miss you too, buddy

Do the students have to buy their tickets? It looks like a lot of tickets have been sold except the student section area

(11-28-2017 01:39 PM)jmudukes Wrote:  Do the students have to buy their tickets? It looks like a lot of tickets have been sold except the student section area

The initial release from JMU Athletics stated student tickets are free. By "free" I believe they mean to the students and JMU (or some associated entity) is picking up the tab for student tix.

According to recent stats, the Fargo "metro area" has 238k residents compared to the Hburg "metro area" which has 236k residents. But consider that within a 2-3 hour drive of JMU we have FBS UVA, VA Tech, West Virginia, Maryland, ODU & soon to be Liberty not to mention RU, W&M, VMI, etc. Within a 3 hour drive of Fargo you have the University of North Dakota and South Dakota State...that's really it. The closest FBS college is U. of Minnesota almost 4 hours a way. 67% of NDSU grads live in ND or MN, so you have a very compressed alumni/fanbase with no real collegiate competition. As much as I hate to say it, I would argue that JMU has maybe 1/3 of the college loyalty in the Hburg metro area with the other 2/3 going to VT and UVA.

Additionally, the dome is a huge advantage given the weather out there in late December. How many of our fans (realistically) would have traveled to Fargo last year for the game if they knew they had to sit outside for it? I know I was cold just walking from my parking space through the 8" of snow in sub freezing temps last year to get into the FargoDome and that was with my thermal hunting gear on. I have 5 season tickets, but I am only using 2 this week. My 3 year old comes to almost every game but he was freezing at the Richmond game and he is getting over a cold. I don't want to have him sit outside for several hours on Saturday, so my wife is staying home with him. If we were in a dome, I wouldn't have any concerns about him coming to a game. So I think comparing our turnout Saturday to NDSU is comparing apples to oranges.

On Saturday we are going to have a lot of purple in BFS to root for the Dukes. Are we gonna have empty seats, yes. Do we all wish we would have more people there, yes. But I am pretty sure that the majority of the 15k that show up on Saturday are the same ones who are screaming and stomping when our Defense is on the field, are the same ones being told to sit down by the lady knitting three rows back, and are the same ones who stick around and sing with the team at the end of the game. Many others who do the same won't be able to make it back for a lot of good reasons and folks shouldn't give them a hard time about it. If we are as successful in the playoffs as we all hope, we will have had a game at BFS 9 of 15 weekends since Labor Day. That is a lot of time (and resources) spent rootin and a good problem to have, but at the same time, that is a big commitment. At the end of the day, we are going to have a bunch of folks in purple watching the boys kick SB's a*$. #GoDukes