On a basketball thread, squeak mentioned, in reference to Randy Moss, how the great ones make it look effortless. True that, and for grins I pulled up this highlight film of the 1996 team. We had some horses; we had speed; we had some mighty fine defensive stalwarts. It was a good team. As to Moss...….I happened to witness just what squeak was referring to that game, as I was very close to Moss on a couple or three of his long routes. Freak of nature, as we know.

1996 team highlight reel

We all (at least those of us around at that time) know the both good and bad Cavan brought to town. But that was some football team. And yes, it *was* possible to get over 13,000 in the Dome for a football game - and it was way fun! Of course some of that was Moss, for as we all also know, the home playoff game against 'nova didn't sell out - altho it was a better crowd than some would say. Good times.....

There are things about that '96 team that remind me of the '69 team, like the defensive pursuit, and seeming ESP on some of the interceptions, dogged determination, etc. But by '96, obviously, the players had become a bit larger, so it was a slightly different game - but still football.

And...…..….color me "yes" on playing games indoors again with the new turf -- **IF** weather dictates. While this past Saturday's weather was dandy for November, if that game had been either Wed. or Thur., it would have been a horrific attendance/playing issue. It seems crazy to me to play in utterly miserable conditions when about a driver and 8 iron away we have such a 'workable', climate-controlled facility.

(11-21-2018 02:00 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  We all (at least those of us around at that time) know the both good and bad Cavan brought to town. But that was some football team. And yes, it *was* possible to get over 13,000 in the Dome for a football game - and it was way fun! Of course some of that was Moss, for as we all also know, the home playoff game against 'nova didn't sell out - altho it was a better crowd than some would say. Good times.....

Everyone at the time blamed that game as one of the downfalls of the program by saying "ETSU can only get 4k or 5k for a home playoff game". Since that time it has been shown that the opening round playoff games, usually played on the weekend after thanksgiving, are not well attended no matter who the team is. That 4k or 5k number would probably be around the average for attendance.

(11-21-2018 02:00 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  On a basketball thread, squeak mentioned, in reference to Randy Moss, how the great ones make it look effortless. True that, and for grins I pulled up this highlight film of the 1996 team. We had some horses; we had speed; we had some mighty fine defensive stalwarts. It was a good team. As to Moss...….I happened to witness just what squeak was referring to that game, as I was very close to Moss on a couple or three of his long routes. Freak of nature, as we know.

1996 team highlight reel

We all (at least those of us around at that time) know the both good and bad Cavan brought to town. But that was some football team. And yes, it *was* possible to get over 13,000 in the Dome for a football game - and it was way fun! Of course some of that was Moss, for as we all also know, the home playoff game against 'nova didn't sell out - altho it was a better crowd than some would say. Good times.....

There are things about that '96 team that remind me of the '69 team, like the defensive pursuit, and seeming ESP on some of the interceptions, dogged determination, etc. But by '96, obviously, the players had become a bit larger, so it was a slightly different game - but still football.

And...…..….color me "yes" on playing games indoors again with the new turf -- **IF** weather dictates. While this past Saturday's weather was dandy for November, if that game had been either Wed. or Thur., it would have been a horrific attendance/playing issue. It seems crazy to me to play in utterly miserable conditions when about a driver and 8 iron away we have such a 'workable', climate-controlled facility.

That must be taken from an old mini-Dome football program. It is certainly the line used when the Dome opened. The PA guy would always give a Dome weather report, especially on an external bad weather day. Field goal kickers loved the place. Tell you what, that Dome was the talk of the southeast when it opened. So, they could sell tickets with one side designated as your bad weather seat in the Dome. Obviously the logistics of such could be nightmarish.

Yes we field goal kickers loved the Dome

You guys seem to forget watching a game in Dome was bad due to poor sight lines. You could not see the sideline on same side you sat on. The weather being non factor was great but it was not good place to actually watch a game. The new stadium also has much better atmosphere.

(11-22-2018 11:24 AM)Bucfreak23 Wrote:  You guys seem to forget watching a game in Dome was bad due to poor sight lines. You could not see the sideline on same side you sat on. The weather being non factor was great but it was not good place to actually watch a game. The new stadium also has much better atmosphere.

No, I think we all know that all too well. But that's WAY better than sitting in rain and 37 degrees.

I was just thinking yesterday, as I wrote that...…….$1 million is easier to come by in this day and time than it was then. I know it would take way more than that now to fix the sight lines, and then all the door stuff that would have to be done, but it's rather ridiculous to have a building that seats 13,000 being only to be used for crowds under 6,000. Two graduation ceremonies. It's crazy. And there's now a new fire marshal - not that that would change the decision on that. But there's just got to be a way to make it more usable.

In the new stadium there is absolutely nowhere to go in a thunderstorm. In the event that truly bad weather is coming, there would be less than a thousand people in the stands. That is not a good environment. I would trade bad sightlines for good conditions and decent attendance in those situations.

(11-22-2018 11:46 AM)etsubuc Wrote:  In the new stadium there is absolutely nowhere to go in a thunderstorm. In the event that truly bad weather is coming, there would be less than a thousand people in the stands. That is not a good environment. I would trade bad sightlines for good conditions and decent attendance in those situations.

There is absolutely zero chance of moving games back to the Dome after spending that kind of money on the new stadium. Not sure or not if a cost analysis was done concerning updating Dome vs a new outdoor stadium but outdoor venue was the right call.

I agree they will never do it, but I would bet that most fans would rather them have a game in there every couple years in the worst weather days. I do think they may consider a throwback game at some point.

(11-22-2018 12:50 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  I agree they will never do it, but I would bet that most fans would rather them have a game in there every couple years in the worst weather days. I do think they may consider a throwback game at some point.

Yes throwback game would be cool.

Correct- No games in the dome, throwback, etc.

Just one of many reasons......no facilities of any kind for visiting team.

The best indoor practice facility in the SoCon! I look for recruiting to be great this year.

(11-22-2018 07:07 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  The best indoor practice facility in the SoCon! I look for recruiting to be great this year.

Heck yea, we could tell recruits that those seats are for our rabid fans when we practice in there during bad weather. Yes, that new stadium is a jewel. Sellouts sure sound and look good, much better than at many of these empty overbuilts. Again, is ETSU optimizing the income potential off that Dome?

(11-24-2018 04:01 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  

(11-22-2018 07:07 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  The best indoor practice facility in the SoCon! I look for recruiting to be great this year.

Again, is ETSU optimizing the income potential off that Dome?

Well, no; but since it's a state building, it's difficult to use for other stuff. I think when OCMS was there about 4-5 years ago, it was the big student concert of the year. I'm not saying there *shouldn't* be some extra income generated; only that the state of TN is mighty careful, for liability reasons, with what they 'allow' in state buildings. (And yes, despite what MSHA would want to think, they don't actually *own* it.)

But the Dome is VERY well-utilized for and by students in a multitude of ways. [Remember when paulie walked thru it, thinking of tearing it down, and was shocked at how utilized it was? He had NO clue. NONE. He was that out of touch.]

But I won't argue that conceivably there is potential there to monetize it more. I think they're aware of that, there's just a lot of hoops to jump thru to "rent" it out, for example. In fact, that may not even be feasible. I don't think they even have the balsa-wood airplane contests in there anymore, for example. (Because other, newer facilities are even better, apparently.)