Guys, we get it…NMSU football has struggled for a long while now. The fix ain’t gonna happen overnight. While I was disappointed as I felt like the opportunity to get a W was there, we are still a work in progress. I was encouraged by some things, and discouraged by some things. I’m reserving judgement until after the season.

GO AGGIES!!!

The NMSU/Nevada game drew 23,371 fans to AMS. And, admittedly the late start time compounded by a weather delay sent about half the fans looking for other dwellings.

As for the game, I was pleased that the Aggie team remained competitive until the end. Despite 5 turnovers, NMSU had chances to win this game.

Kill is coaching against decades of the Aggie football losing. Football fans attitudes need to change and start believing in the Aggie program again. But that takes time. Winning takes time. Success breeds success. Aggie fans are very aware of this in Aggie basketball.

(08-28-2022 06:30 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  The NMSU/Nevada game drew 23,371 fans to AMS. And, admittedly the late start time compounded by a weather delay sent about half the fans looking for other dwellings.

As for the game, I was pleased that the Aggie team remained competitive until the end. Despite 5 turnovers, NMSU had chances to win this game.

Kill is coaching against decades of the Aggie football losing. Football fans attitudes need to change and start believing in the Aggie program again. But that takes time. Winning takes time. Success breeds success. Aggie fans are very aware of this in Aggie basketball.

Correction: The NMSU/Nevada game sold 23,371 tickets.

While it's true they can report that inflated figure to the NCAA as the official attendance, anybody that watched on ESPN could see the place was over half empty. Maybe 1/3 of capacity. Empty seats and empty SECTIONS everywhere, in plain sight as the cameras panned to it often.

At the FBS level it's all about averging 15,000 fans per game, which is the requirement. Ticket sales can, and usually do, help to bolster attendance numbers, as long as it's not too gawdy or obvious. The way it works is the school/program/facility sponsors usually agree to gobble up thousands of discounted tickets each season, then they usually pass along those discounted tickets as a charitable expense or event sponsorship. Regardless if anybody actually shows up, those tickets can be counted toward attendance. To be fair, nmsu is not the only school doing it, just bugs me how nmsu continues to insist they're not.

(08-28-2022 04:18 PM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 03:14 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 02:54 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 11:41 AM)Trod0 Wrote:  

(08-27-2022 10:59 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  Watching the NMSU game and I see a lot of empty seats. I know the Aggies have struggled but I thought there was growing momentum.

Any Aggie fans bothered by the lack of attendance?

It was a late start, 8pm. Which I’m sure some fans stayed home because of that. Also the weather delay, 34 minutes. When they cameras went back afterwards it looks like a lot have left. Main thing is that it almost sold out (ticket wise) even if all the butts in the stands didn’t show.

Yawn. Just another lame excuse out of #LasExcusesNM

This was the season opener! New coach! New team!.....and still no support. But, but, there was a 30-minute rain delay! Lol

The FACTS are nmsu averages around 13,000 per game, or about 50% capacity. That equates to roughly 13,000 butts in seats, on average, not "tickets sold". In 2019 (pre Covid) nmsu ranked 125 out of 130 FBS teams in OFFICIAL attendance. Even ULM averaged more lol.

https://stats.ncaa.org/reports/attendance?id=17302

NMSU has about 10,000 football fans who will attend Aggie games come hell or high water. Then there are about another 10,000 fair-weathered Aggie fans who will attend as long as NMSU is playing under comfortable weather conditions, winning, or playing an archrival (UNM or UTEP). The last time NMSU had a winning season, NMSU drew over 18,000 fans per game. If the Aggies win the fair-weathered fans will become bandwagon fans. That's how it is in Las Cruces.

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_r...e/2017.pdf

The same goes in basketball. NMSU can count on a core 4,500 fans who will attend regardless on the opponent. Then there is about another 5,000 fans who will show up if NMSU is playing a rivalry or if NMSU is getting national attention... i.e. getting nationally ranked.

NMSU hoops hasn't been nationally ranked since November 28th, 1994. But I see what you are saying. As for football its going to take a while for NMSU fans to trust that program before they will support it.

Oh really???

(08-28-2022 07:30 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 06:30 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  The NMSU/Nevada game drew 23,371 fans to AMS. And, admittedly the late start time compounded by a weather delay sent about half the fans looking for other dwellings.

As for the game, I was pleased that the Aggie team remained competitive until the end. Despite 5 turnovers, NMSU had chances to win this game.

Kill is coaching against decades of the Aggie football losing. Football fans attitudes need to change and start believing in the Aggie program again. But that takes time. Winning takes time. Success breeds success. Aggie fans are very aware of this in Aggie basketball.

Correction: The NMSU/Nevada game sold 23,371 tickets.

While it's true they can report that inflated figure to the NCAA as the official attendance, anybody that watched on ESPN could see the place was over half empty. Maybe 1/3 of capacity. Empty seats and empty SECTIONS everywhere, in plain sight as the cameras panned to it often.

At the FBS level it's all about averging 15,000 fans per game, which is the requirement. Ticket sales can, and usually do, help to bolster attendance numbers, as long as it's not too gawdy or obvious. The way it works is the school/program/facility sponsors usually agree to gobble up thousands of discounted tickets each season, then they usually pass along those discounted tickets as a charitable expense or event sponsorship. Regardless if anybody actually shows up, those tickets can be counted toward attendance. To be fair, nmsu is not the only school doing it, just bugs me how nmsu continues to insist they're not.

Interesting that someone who was NOT at the game is saying the place was over half empty... maybe 1/3 capacity. I was at the game and i would say at least 20000 people were there. Some of the ESPN camera shots were taken after the lightning delay sent everyone to their vehicles and a lot did not return. But by my calculations 20,000 is quite a bit more than the 9000 that Tarleton draws. There are a couple posters on here who remind me of little 4 year old brats who go up and kick an adult and think they are actually hurting them. They are nothing more than annoyances.

I think Coach Kill is the perfect hire for NMSU and he will turn the program around. Give him two or three years and let’s see where the Aggies are in regard to standings in CUSA.

(08-28-2022 09:19 PM)jjnromero Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 07:30 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 06:30 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  The NMSU/Nevada game drew 23,371 fans to AMS. And, admittedly the late start time compounded by a weather delay sent about half the fans looking for other dwellings.

As for the game, I was pleased that the Aggie team remained competitive until the end. Despite 5 turnovers, NMSU had chances to win this game.

Kill is coaching against decades of the Aggie football losing. Football fans attitudes need to change and start believing in the Aggie program again. But that takes time. Winning takes time. Success breeds success. Aggie fans are very aware of this in Aggie basketball.

Correction: The NMSU/Nevada game sold 23,371 tickets.

While it's true they can report that inflated figure to the NCAA as the official attendance, anybody that watched on ESPN could see the place was over half empty. Maybe 1/3 of capacity. Empty seats and empty SECTIONS everywhere, in plain sight as the cameras panned to it often.

At the FBS level it's all about averging 15,000 fans per game, which is the requirement. Ticket sales can, and usually do, help to bolster attendance numbers, as long as it's not too gawdy or obvious. The way it works is the school/program/facility sponsors usually agree to gobble up thousands of discounted tickets each season, then they usually pass along those discounted tickets as a charitable expense or event sponsorship. Regardless if anybody actually shows up, those tickets can be counted toward attendance. To be fair, nmsu is not the only school doing it, just bugs me how nmsu continues to insist they're not.

Interesting that someone who was NOT at the game is saying the place was over half empty... maybe 1/3 capacity. I was at the game and i would say at least 20000 people were there. Some of the ESPN camera shots were taken after the lightning delay sent everyone to their vehicles and a lot did not return. But by my calculations 20,000 is quite a bit more than the 9000 that Tarleton draws. There are a couple posters on here who remind me of little 4 year old brats who go up and kick an adult and think they are actually hurting them. They are nothing more than annoyances.

Emphasis on the MAYBE 1/3 capacity. If you were there and saw anything other than that I suggest you lay off the sauce, bucko! Lol Again, nmsu officially averages 13k with fudged numbers in a 30k+ stadium. Facts is facts. Yes, Tarleton averaged 9k in 10k stadium. We outgrew the place since then. Twice. I won't ask an nmsu guy to calculate the percentage, but know that it's alot more than your <1/3 capacity.

(08-28-2022 10:16 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  I think Coach Kill is the perfect hire for NMSU and he will turn the program around. Give him two or three years and let’s see where the Aggies are in regard to standings in CUSA.

Man, I don't know. Kill has a lot tread wear and this is going to be an uphill battle.

He is a good coach.

There is an old saying in Texas about football, "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t." That place is hard to recruit to. Its an desert island unto itself. Plus they have years and years of no expectations.

Great food though.

Its funny some HS teams are usually always good and others are almost always bad. It has a lot to do with tradition and expectations.

Good luck to Kill and Aggies here.

I think Aggie fans are pretty honest about our school. We're good in basketball and bad in football but we want it to get better. NMSU joined an FBS conference (C-USA); hired the college football coach with the 8th most wins among active college coaches; and announced the construction of a new $15-million football locker room at the AMS. Other than winning more football games, times are good at NMSU and being an Aggie fan.

As for the game last night, the 20,000-plus fans at the stadium is pretty good considering every Las Crucean could watch the game on national TV in the luxury of their own home.

(08-28-2022 10:30 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 09:19 PM)jjnromero Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 07:30 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 06:30 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  The NMSU/Nevada game drew 23,371 fans to AMS. And, admittedly the late start time compounded by a weather delay sent about half the fans looking for other dwellings.

As for the game, I was pleased that the Aggie team remained competitive until the end. Despite 5 turnovers, NMSU had chances to win this game.

Kill is coaching against decades of the Aggie football losing. Football fans attitudes need to change and start believing in the Aggie program again. But that takes time. Winning takes time. Success breeds success. Aggie fans are very aware of this in Aggie basketball.

Correction: The NMSU/Nevada game sold 23,371 tickets.

While it's true they can report that inflated figure to the NCAA as the official attendance, anybody that watched on ESPN could see the place was over half empty. Maybe 1/3 of capacity. Empty seats and empty SECTIONS everywhere, in plain sight as the cameras panned to it often.

At the FBS level it's all about averging 15,000 fans per game, which is the requirement. Ticket sales can, and usually do, help to bolster attendance numbers, as long as it's not too gawdy or obvious. The way it works is the school/program/facility sponsors usually agree to gobble up thousands of discounted tickets each season, then they usually pass along those discounted tickets as a charitable expense or event sponsorship. Regardless if anybody actually shows up, those tickets can be counted toward attendance. To be fair, nmsu is not the only school doing it, just bugs me how nmsu continues to insist they're not.

Interesting that someone who was NOT at the game is saying the place was over half empty... maybe 1/3 capacity. I was at the game and i would say at least 20000 people were there. Some of the ESPN camera shots were taken after the lightning delay sent everyone to their vehicles and a lot did not return. But by my calculations 20,000 is quite a bit more than the 9000 that Tarleton draws. There are a couple posters on here who remind me of little 4 year old brats who go up and kick an adult and think they are actually hurting them. They are nothing more than annoyances.

Emphasis on the MAYBE 1/3 capacity. If you were there and saw anything other than that I suggest you lay off the sauce, bucko! Lol Again, nmsu officially averages 13k with fudged numbers in a 30k+ stadium. Facts is facts. Yes, Tarleton averaged 9k in 10k stadium. We outgrew the place since then. Twice. I won't ask an nmsu guy to calculate the percentage, but know that it's alot more than your <1/3 capacity.

So you're just going to conveniently ignore what the stadium looked like before the delay? Because before the delay it was DEFINITELY 2/3 capacity.

(08-29-2022 10:40 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 10:30 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 09:19 PM)jjnromero Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 07:30 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 06:30 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  The NMSU/Nevada game drew 23,371 fans to AMS. And, admittedly the late start time compounded by a weather delay sent about half the fans looking for other dwellings.

As for the game, I was pleased that the Aggie team remained competitive until the end. Despite 5 turnovers, NMSU had chances to win this game.

Kill is coaching against decades of the Aggie football losing. Football fans attitudes need to change and start believing in the Aggie program again. But that takes time. Winning takes time. Success breeds success. Aggie fans are very aware of this in Aggie basketball.

Correction: The NMSU/Nevada game sold 23,371 tickets.

While it's true they can report that inflated figure to the NCAA as the official attendance, anybody that watched on ESPN could see the place was over half empty. Maybe 1/3 of capacity. Empty seats and empty SECTIONS everywhere, in plain sight as the cameras panned to it often.

At the FBS level it's all about averging 15,000 fans per game, which is the requirement. Ticket sales can, and usually do, help to bolster attendance numbers, as long as it's not too gawdy or obvious. The way it works is the school/program/facility sponsors usually agree to gobble up thousands of discounted tickets each season, then they usually pass along those discounted tickets as a charitable expense or event sponsorship. Regardless if anybody actually shows up, those tickets can be counted toward attendance. To be fair, nmsu is not the only school doing it, just bugs me how nmsu continues to insist they're not.

Interesting that someone who was NOT at the game is saying the place was over half empty... maybe 1/3 capacity. I was at the game and i would say at least 20000 people were there. Some of the ESPN camera shots were taken after the lightning delay sent everyone to their vehicles and a lot did not return. But by my calculations 20,000 is quite a bit more than the 9000 that Tarleton draws. There are a couple posters on here who remind me of little 4 year old brats who go up and kick an adult and think they are actually hurting them. They are nothing more than annoyances.

Emphasis on the MAYBE 1/3 capacity. If you were there and saw anything other than that I suggest you lay off the sauce, bucko! Lol Again, nmsu officially averages 13k with fudged numbers in a 30k+ stadium. Facts is facts. Yes, Tarleton averaged 9k in 10k stadium. We outgrew the place since then. Twice. I won't ask an nmsu guy to calculate the percentage, but know that it's alot more than your <1/3 capacity.

So you're just going to conveniently ignore what the stadium looked like before the delay? Because before the delay it was DEFINITELY 2/3 capacity.

I was at the game, and before the delay, my estimate was about 18,000 give or take a couple of thousand. Historically, my estimates for these games and other events have been pretty accurate. (That includes times when the attendance was so low that I was actually able to count butts in seats.)

How did this turn from a WAC football thread to a discussion about attendance for a team that's neither FCS nor WAC?

(08-29-2022 06:56 PM)Outsider Wrote:  How did this turn from a WAC football thread to a discussion about attendance for a team that's neither FCS nor WAC?

Agree, the discussion about attendance is dumb. We had more in this game than Tarleton will have in their next 3 games combined. Buy yet they’re making a big deal of it. NMSU is in the WAC and does play football. We’ve been discussing NMSU football on this message board years before you guys even arrived.

(08-29-2022 07:21 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  

(08-29-2022 06:56 PM)Outsider Wrote:  How did this turn from a WAC football thread to a discussion about attendance for a team that's neither FCS nor WAC?

Agree, the discussion about attendance is dumb. We had more in this game than Tarleton will have in their next 3 games combined. Buy yet they’re making a big deal of it. NMSU is in the WAC and does play football. We’ve been discussing NMSU football on this message board years before you guys even arrived.

Your other teams are in the WAC. Your football hasn't been for some time. NMSU has some great posters. How long we have been in the WAC is irrelevant.

(08-28-2022 10:30 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 10:16 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  I think Coach Kill is the perfect hire for NMSU and he will turn the program around. Give him two or three years and let’s see where the Aggies are in regard to standings in CUSA.

Man, I don't know. Kill has a lot tread wear and this is going to be an uphill battle.

He is a good coach.

There is an old saying in Texas about football, "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t." That place is hard to recruit to. Its an desert island unto itself. Plus they have years and years of no expectations.

Great food though.

Its funny some HS teams are usually always good and others are almost always bad. It has a lot to do with tradition and expectations.

Good luck to Kill and Aggies here.

I’m not saying Kill will turn the Aggies into Bama or even Boise, but he will make them better. They could competitive in CUSA with a bowl trip every two or three years. I would call this a success.

(08-29-2022 08:30 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 10:30 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 10:16 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  I think Coach Kill is the perfect hire for NMSU and he will turn the program around. Give him two or three years and let’s see where the Aggies are in regard to standings in CUSA.

Man, I don't know. Kill has a lot tread wear and this is going to be an uphill battle.

He is a good coach.

There is an old saying in Texas about football, "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t." That place is hard to recruit to. Its an desert island unto itself. Plus they have years and years of no expectations.

Great food though.

Its funny some HS teams are usually always good and others are almost always bad. It has a lot to do with tradition and expectations.

Good luck to Kill and Aggies here.

I’m not saying Kill will turn the Aggies into Bama or even Boise, but he will make them better. They could competitive in CUSA with a bowl trip every two or three years. I would call this a success.

Yeah, I agree they can compete in CUSA. 6-5 would be a banner year for them considering the all of the past records since 2000. Still, its not going to be easy even if this league which is definitely not even middle of the road in FBS.

(08-29-2022 07:21 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  

(08-29-2022 06:56 PM)Outsider Wrote:  How did this turn from a WAC football thread to a discussion about attendance for a team that's neither FCS nor WAC?

Agree, the discussion about attendance is dumb. We had more in this game than Tarleton will have in their next 3 games combined. Buy yet they’re making a big deal of it. NMSU is in the WAC and does play football. We’ve been discussing NMSU football on this message board years before you guys even arrived.

Tarleton does equal one poster. FYI.

The fact that NMSU can draw flies with as bad as they have been is a testament to those folks who still show up and endure. Hats off to those folks.

(08-29-2022 08:30 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 10:30 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  

(08-28-2022 10:16 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  I think Coach Kill is the perfect hire for NMSU and he will turn the program around. Give him two or three years and let’s see where the Aggies are in regard to standings in CUSA.

Man, I don't know. Kill has a lot tread wear and this is going to be an uphill battle.

He is a good coach.

There is an old saying in Texas about football, "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t." That place is hard to recruit to. Its an desert island unto itself. Plus they have years and years of no expectations.

Great food though.

Its funny some HS teams are usually always good and others are almost always bad. It has a lot to do with tradition and expectations.

Good luck to Kill and Aggies here.

I’m not saying Kill will turn the Aggies into Bama or even Boise, but he will make them better. They could competitive in CUSA with a bowl trip every two or three years. I would call this a success.

Jesus Christ himself could not turn NMSU into Bama. Boise maybe, if we prayed hard enough. No realistic NMSU fan has any delusions of grandeur thinking we’ll become a national powerhouse in fb. Most of us are hoping to get to the level of say a Utah St, UAB, etc. not powerhouses but just competitive programs that have a shot at conference titles now and then. Our problem has never been coaching. I don’t believe that every single coach we’ve hired have just been that bad. It’s a problem if structural support that Kill has gotten a good start on addressing. Hopefully the trend he started continues.

There were 23,000 in attendance. Take a look at the footage of the first quarter. The stadium was packed. When the weather delay came, fans were forced to leave the stadium. When the game resumed only 15,000 came back.

FWIW, this was the highest revenue season open of all time for a game not played by NMSU and the minors or NuM. If you include the minors and NuM, it is the 4th highest revenue season opener.

(08-31-2022 10:20 AM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  There were 23,000 in attendance. Take a look at the footage of the first quarter. The stadium was packed. When the weather delay came, fans were forced to leave the stadium. When the game resumed only 15,000 came back.

FWIW, this was the highest revenue season open of all time for a game not played by NMSU and the minors or NuM. If you include the minors and NuM, it is the 4th highest revenue season opener.

And it was my bad for starting the attendance nonsense. It was a really long day and I didn't pay attention to the weather delay.