Kudos to the 29

[CL82]

I'm so tired of hearing excuses for students. They're not interested. They don't want to go. It's not a bus issue or a holiday issue or a Friday isse. It's a "they have absolutely no interest in football issue." When I was there I don't remember anybody complaining about the bus ride and we used to pack the student section every week, as did the classes that came after me. If you hated the bus, you found someone with a car which wasn't hard to do, because everybody was going to the game.

All season.. "well what did you expect, are you really gonna wake up early on a Saturday to get on a bus for a noon kickoff?" Yes, be still my heart, it's been done before.

"What do you expect? It's a Saturday night on campus?" Well, I remember being out til 2 or 3 in the morning in college. The party will still be there.

"What do you expect? It's a Friday night after Halloween on campus?" So wear an ephing costume.

Apparently, it has to be a 3:30 kickoff during a non-holiday month with 70* weather for them to show up ... and then vacate at halftime.

I love posts that are critical of college kids wanting to climb them to a bus and take a 30 minute ride to a stadium to watch a midling football team. But God forbid you suggest to those same fans that they drive an extra 30 minutes to Storrs six times a year. Then that half hour drive becomes the equivalent of the Iditarod.

 

[Kolumbo]

I love posts that are critical of college kids wanting to climb them to a bus and take a 30 minute ride to a stadium to watch a midling football team. But God forbid you suggest to those same fans that they drive an extra 30 minutes to Storrs six times a year. Then that half hour drive becomes the equivalent of the Iditarod.

Exactly. People also have to understand that not all students who go to games are sports fanatics. Case in point: duke basketball. Most of those nitwits you see on tv probably have no clue what is happening outside of their scripted chants.

Yes, some students plan to spend their entire saturday partying and watching football. Other students may want to spend 2-3 hours supporting their team with their friends and getting right back to studying or other campus life activities. Those students aren't going to spend an additional couple of hours getting to a bus to get to a game.

 

[UConnDan97]

I love posts that are critical of college kids wanting to climb them to a bus and take a 30 minute ride to a stadium to watch a midling football team. But God forbid you suggest to those same fans that they drive an extra 30 minutes to Storrs six times a year. Then that half hour drive becomes the equivalent of the Iditarod.

It's the difference between getting 2K people out on 195, or getting 30K people in on 195, but that's not the issue.

The issue, for all the reasons that have already been stated and beaten to death, are that they don't care that much about football. There isn't much problem getting them to the XL center in Hartford for big matchups in b-ball. And it feeds the notion that we "aren't a football school", which keeps us out of big conferences, which will eventually hurt our b-ball.

But hey... find the millions of dollars to build the on-campus stadium, and I'll still be there, even if the students aren't...

 

[CL82]

It's the difference between getting 2K people out on 195, or getting 30K people in on 195, ...

...because, as you know, every person going to a football game must arrive at exactly the same moment, which, of course will overwhelm the existing road system...

Oh, wait, no, they don't! They have hours before the game to arrive. They can get there early and enjoy a meal and some beverages hanging out, socializing, and talking about the game. This is some thing that I call "tailgating". Remember that concept, I think it's going to catch on.

The issue, for all the reasons that have already been stated and beaten to death, are that they don't care that much about football.

Of course, the biggest reason why they don't care about football, in all likelihood, is because the football games are played 30 minutes off-campus, rather than on campus as they were when you and I attended UConn. I will respectfully point out that saying all games should be located in East Hartford, Connecticut because the students don't come to games in East Hartford, Connecticut is circular reasoning, and really bad circular reasoning at that. There is a reason why virtually every other university in the country doesn't have its football stadium 30 minutes off campus. All of them manage to get people in and out of campus six weekends a year without causing a world ending cataclysm. I suspect we could as well.

 

[Palatine]

Win and they will be in. It really is that simple. The football team has been losing for a decade plus. It's going to take a bit of sustained success to win them back. There are other things like making the game convenient, etc. But none of it works very well without Ws.

 

[UConnDan97]

...because, as you know, every person going to a football game must arrive at exactly the same moment, which, of course will overwhelm the existing road system...

Oh, wait, no, they don't! They have hours before the game to arrive. They can get there early and enjoy a meal and some beverages hanging out, socializing, and talking about the game. This is some thing that I call "tailgating". Remember that concept, I think it's going to catch on.


Of course, the biggest reason why they don't care about football, in all likelihood, is because the football games are played 30 minutes off-campus, rather than on campus as they were when you and I attended UConn. I will respectfully pointed out that saying all games should be located in East Hartford, Connecticut because the students don't come to games in East Hartford, Connecticut is circular reasoning, and really bad circular reasoning at that. There is a reason why virtually every other university in the country doesn't have its football stadium 30 minutes off campus. All of them manage to get people in and out of campus six weekends a year without causing a world ending cataclysm. I suspect we could as well.

1) the majority of people for any football game show up within 1 hour of each other. If you don't know that, then you're not going to the games.

2) we've already talked ad nauseum about the reasons they don't go and very little of it is related to where. Even when they go, THEY DON'T STAY! I hate seeing the 3rd quarter of every game whereby 1K+ people have turned into Blue White Kid and about 12 apostles... (I appreciate the hell out of Dale, keep up the great work bro! )

 

[LBird33]

We need students who can kick a field goal during the TV Timeouts. All year I watched pitiful kicks dribble on the ground. Where do they get these guys lol

 

[CL82]

1) the majority of people for any football game show up within 1 hour of each other. If you don't know that, then you're not going to the games.

2) we've already talked ad nauseum about the reasons they don't go and very little of it is related to where. Even when they go, THEY DON'T STAY! I hate seeing the 3rd quarter of every game whereby 1K+ people have turned into Blue White Kid and about 12 apostles... (I appreciate the hell out of Dale, keep up the great work bro! )

People show up when they show up, but that doesn't mean we can't build a stadium on campus because of that. Come on.

The reasons they leave early have been talked about ad nauseum. The predominant one is their lining up to get on the bus to drive 30 minutes back to campus.

Again, I think the whole on campus stadium discussion is silly until we're actually facing that decision. That said, every time I hear people making up a mythology that suggests that "we can't" build a stadium on campus because we are the only place in the world where fans can't get to a stadium without building a super highway up to the front gate, or because our students are somehow undeserving, I will point out the fallacies in those statements.

 

[UConnDan97]

People show up when they show up, but that doesn't mean we can't build a stadium on campus because of that. Come on.

The reason they leave early have been talked about Anna. The predominant one is their lining up to get on the bus to drive 30 minutes back to campus.

Again, I think the whole on campus stadium discussion is silly until we're actually facing that decision. That said, every time I hear people making up a mythology that suggests that "we can't" build a stadium on campus because we are the only place in the world where fans can't get to a stadium without building a super highway up to the front gate, or because our students are somehow undeserving, I will point out the fallacies in those statements.

I'm going to ask you a rhetorical question, followed by an honest question:

1) Would a big time conference take us if we only filled 10% of our total seats? (Rhetorical)

2) Since the answer is no, why would you honestly think there's a chance in hell of the state building a stadium on campus for students that fill 10% of their seats currently???

 

[CL82]

I'm going to ask you a rhetorical question, followed by an honest question:

1) Would a big time conference take us if we only filled 10% of our total seats? (Rhetorical)

2) Since the answer is no, why would you honestly think there's a chance in hell of the state building a stadium on campus for students that fill 10% of their seats currently???

Well, the answer to your first question is no, because no big-time conference is clamoring for us now. Most P4 schools average about 20 to 25,000 people at their football games. We're right at that mark now. So unless you're envisioning a 200 to 250,000 seat arena, we're going to do better than 10%. And that's today, without a P4 affiliation.

So now that we've blown up your "rhetorical" question, your second question is, well, equally meaningless.

I'm at a loss why so many people are so adamant about being opposed to an on-campus stadium when it's not even being discussed. I have to ask myself. What is the motivating fear that makes people manufacture reasons why it can't happen. Heck I can give you a good reason right now. Today, we have a perfectly serviceable stadium that happens to be 30 miles too far west. It makes no sense to build on campus given that circumstance. So, it makes me wonder why people try to manufacture things like a traffic Armageddon heading into Storrs or empty 200,000 seats stadiums. I mean, those are just silly nonsensical arguments about something that isn't even on the table.

I will say, if there comes a time when we are putting a nine figure investment into an aging stadium rapidly approaching the end of its useful life in East Hartford, the university and the state should absolutely consider whether that money is better spent as part of a new stadium built on campus. It would be malfeasance not to do that analysis.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

The times have changed from even 10-20 years ago, people have shorter attention spans now. Basketball games your in and out. Understood it will have its challenges getting students to games but one thing that is very doable is filling up the student section let fans sit there. Maybe you hand out a free ticket to a basketball game of that fans choice do something.

We also don't have any rivalries. 15 years ago, UConn v Rutgers or Cuse or Pitt was enough to get fans excited. Playing different and seemingly random schools each year will not excite young fans. Hell, it doesn't excite young players.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

I love posts that are critical of college kids wanting to climb them to a bus and take a 30 minute ride to a stadium to watch a midling football team. But God forbid you suggest to those same fans that they drive an extra 30 minutes to Storrs six times a year. Then that half hour drive becomes the equivalent of the Iditarod.

But young people will do things older folks won't. In your 20 you'll do things just for the experience or to say you did it or you were there. In you 30s and 40s with a family, not so much. In your 50s and beyond...forget it.

Asking 20 years to hop on bus is a different proposition than asking a 45 year old to slog through and extra hour of traffic. That said, many schools with on campus stadiums are having issues getting students to walk across campus.

 

[UConnDan97]

Well, the answer to your first question is no, because no big-time conference is clamoring for us now. Most P4 schools average about 20 to 25,000 people at their football games. We're right at that mark now. So unless you're envisioning a 200 to 250,000 seat arena, we're going to do better than 10%. And that's today, without a P4 affiliation.

So now that we've blown up your "rhetorical" question, your second question is, well, equally meaningless.

I'm at a loss why so many people are so adamant about being opposed to an on-campus stadium when it's not even being discussed. I have to ask myself. What is the motivating fear that makes people manufacture reasons why it can't happen. Heck I can give you a good reason right now. Today, we have a perfectly serviceable stadium that happens to be 30 miles too far west. It makes no sense to build on campus given that circumstance. So, it makes me wonder why people try to manufacture things like a traffic Armageddon heading into Storrs or empty 200,000 seats stadiums. I mean, those are just silly nonsensical arguments about something that isn't even on the table.

I will say, if there comes a time when we are putting a nine figure investment into an aging stadium rapidly approaching the end of its useful life in East Hartford, the university and the state should absolutely consider whether that money is better spent as part of a new stadium built on campus. It would be malfeasance not to do that analysis.

Nobody is afraid of an on-campus stadium. They're irate at a large, empty section of our current stadium for people who get tickets for free...

 

[GoConn]

I would say the majority of G5 schools struggle with student attendance and overall attendance, so UConn is not necessarily in the minority. Besides an on-campus stadium, I think being in a conference with recognizable teams will help student interest a ton.

 

[CL82]

But young people will do things older folks won't. In your 20 you'll do things just for the experience or to say you did it or you were there. In you 30s and 40s with a family, not so much. In your 50s and beyond...forget it.

Asking 20 years to hop on bus is a different proposition than asking a 45 year old to slog through and extra hour of traffic. That said, many schools with on campus stadiums are having issues getting students to walk across campus.

So just curious, why is it an hour to East Hartford to Storrs, but only a half hour in the other direction? I'm guessing headwinds?

 

[CL82]

Nobody is afraid of an on-campus stadium. They're irate at a large, empty section of our current stadium for people who get tickets for free...

And oblivious to the fact that building a college stadium a half hour away from the college has consequences?

 

[uconnfan68]

And oblivious to the fact that building a college stadium a half hour away from the college has consequences?

And doesn’t deter basketball fans. Maybe if they put a roof on they can use it for everything.

 

[cellocgg]

And doesn’t deter basketball fans. Maybe if they put a roof on they can use it for everything.

Everytime someone complains about the FB stadium situation I like to point out how the XL is even further from campus lmao

 

[CL82]

And doesn’t deter basketball fans.

Yet it did prior to back to back championships. I feel pretty confident if we win a national championship in football, our stadium will be filled.

 

[uconnfan68]

Yet it did prior to back to back championships. I feel pretty confident if we win a national championship in football, our stadium will be filled.

If we can’t fill it, we’ll never get there.

 

[Kolumbo]

1) the majority of people for any football game show up within 1 hour of each other. If you don't know that, then you're not going to the games.

2) we've already talked ad nauseum about the reasons they don't go and very little of it is related to where. Even when they go, THEY DON'T STAY! I hate seeing the 3rd quarter of every game whereby 1K+ people have turned into Blue White Kid and about 12 apostles... (I appreciate the hell out of Dale, keep up the great work bro! )

wait what?!! Wrong on both points.

Some people show up as early as possible, and I believe that is 4 hours before kick-off at The Rent. Some show up maybe 30 minutes before kick-off. Your statement about showing up within 1 hour of each other doesn't hold water Vinny. It is way off base.

Further: going to a game on campus is very different than going to a stadium in East Hartford. Alumni, Parents, Friends go to campus at all different times for all different reasons. They don't close the campus and open it 4 hours before game time. The whole experience is entirely different. East Hartford, it's all about game time. On campus, it's the game, it's visiting, it's dining, it's shopping. You just can't compare the two. And everyone against an on-campus stadium misses that point. Our Storrs campus misses out on so much by having the football stadium in East Hartford and it boggles the mind that people don't see that.

Everyone should go to one game at Penn State and then look at the East Hartford mess with that experience in mind.
Our decision makers can make that transformational change, build an on-campus stadium, and enter the realm of being a serious football school.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

So just curious, why is it an hour to East Hartford to Storrs, but only a half hour in the other direction? I'm guessing headwinds?

My estimate of the traffic to amd from 84. I would be wrong.

 

[Patman]

Everytime someone complains about the FB stadium situation I like to point out how the XL is even further from campus lmao

every time somebody brings up basketball I point out that the student section is smaller for basketball

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Dave B said on dibble yesterday they picked 7 on Friday after Halloween because they were the only game on TV. Maybe there’s a reason there were no other games that time.

 

[cellocgg]

Dave B said on dibble yesterday they picked 7 on Friday after Halloween because they were the only game on TV. Maybe there’s a reason there were no other games that time.

The Ga St. game got a lot more attention by CFB fans than it would've if it aired Saturday at 12