Poll: Men's Basketball Fans Watching Football

[Walker11]

I always wondered why the men's board had such a bad rap on the BY.

No longer wonder.

The reason the football board is much better quality is because there are so many less posters. And they are probably older. Which doesn't make sense when you consider how awful the women's board is.

 

[patrick]

First off I'm a UCONN fan and I never attended college. I watch UCONN football because it's UCONN, I watch every game start to finish mostly on the dvr. I'm definitely a Bball fan first tho!

Secondly Soccer is a real sport and Uconn soccer is pretty DAMN GOOD!!

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

The reason the football board is much better quality is because there are so many less posters. And they are probably older. Which doesn't make sense when you consider how awful the women's board is.

There's something to this. I think there's a lot of young 20 something year fanboys here who only know UConn as a basketball powerhouse with no other connection to the university than as a hoops fan.

 

[Vuce]

I will say this - the conference stuff is already taking its toll on our mens program. I go to all the home games and some of the attendance is embarrassing. XL and Gampel have many empty seats these days - ticket prices have been pretty level the last few years but people are not showing up. Fans need to support football AND basketball. The crud UConn is playing against in conference is definitely reducing the number of fans that go. I would hate to see UConn relegated to an also-ran due to politics when they have proven their athletic dept is anything but. This B12 decision is monumental - our top opponents in conference could end up being SMU, Memphis and ECU as opposed to Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas - the latter would make fans of both sports VERY happy and fill any stadium/arena.

 

[JimHurley]

I love UConn football but I must admit these last few years haven't been fun. This is the first year since the Edsall era that I'm excited for the season. Also, haven't missed a game in 12 years.

 

[BUConn10]

Has nothing to do with basketball genius. I guess our AD and those put in charge of getting us into a P5 conference aren't as sharp on the take as you are. You should really school them on this topic. UConn needs you.

Please quote the part where I said CR is pertaining to basketball, please go ahead I'm waiting. I called you out because even if UConn football maxed out 40k attendence for the entire season, meaning every single seat is filled for every game, it still wouldn't put us in the P5. My point is there are a plethora of other factors at play, so when some football board guy comes here and starts going off about how in a way we as UConn fans are responsible for the CR predicament it pisses me off, especially when without the basketball program, this university likely wouldn't even have a football program.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Please quote the part where I said CR is pertaining to basketball, please go ahead I'm waiting. I called you out because even if UConn football maxed out 40k attendence for the entire season, meaning every single seat is filled for every game, it still wouldn't put us in the P5. My point is there are a plethora of other factors at play, so when some football board guy comes here and starts going off about how in a way we as UConn fans are responsible for the CR predicament it pisses me off, especially when without the basketball program, this university likely wouldn't even have a football program.

Oh, you're one of those arse holes.

 

[patrick]

My point is there are a plethora of other factors at play, so when some football board guy comes here and starts going off about how in a way we as UConn fans are responsible for the CR predicament it pisses me off, especially when without the basketball program, this university likely wouldn't even have a football program.

Well yes I agree but we went to division 1-a in 99 so as you know that was the same year as "shock the world"

 

[Stainmaster]

Yup, and some guy who hasn't existed on the basketball board until 10 minutes ago is the leading authority on the subject.

Serrano is one of the biggest supporters of the football team out there, and expresses his fandom by devoting his time and his money to the program, not by making melodramatic posts about how screwed we are. Can he be a jerk at times? Maybe, but he brings up a very good point here and at the least deserves everyone's respect when he makes a visit here.

I also find it so ironic that with all the complaining about the AD being doomed, you refuse to do the one thing in your power as a fan that can help UConn's chances in CR: watch the damn games. I mean seriously, "BUHusky10"? The crux of one of the strongest CR arguments in our favor is that our control of the Boston and NY markets will bring conferences TV dollars. What good does that do when Boneyard posters (arguably the most diehard cohort of the fanbase with internet access) in those absolutely vital locations are refusing to tune their TVs to games? Granted I tend to like watching UConn football in general so I have a bias, but take the Stony Brook game 2 Septembers ago; do you think that a 19-16 win against a crummy FCS team was enjoyable to watch? No. Were there other things I could've been doing with my life on a Saturday afternoon in a major city? Yes. But I take very seriously the notion that our fanbase in NY has to do whatever it can to assert that we own that market, so you bet your a that I've tuned into every single game on my cable package no matter how ugly it was. Hell, there have been times when I've left my TV tuned to the channel on the occasions when I've had an engagement that prevented me from watching the game. Every little thing counts.

 

[patrick]

Lol I have never watched because of tv ratings but now I'm calling my family and friends and making them turn on Uconn football!

 

[Fishy]

*Correction*
The Men's Bball board is the Boneyard. Everything else is just fluff.

No.

I am the Boneyard.

The rest of you are just extras.

 

[BUConn10]

No.

I am the Boneyard.

The rest of you are just extras.

Without us this would just be a Tumblr blog of you making endless wise crack quips to a non-existent audience.

 

[blue93]

I grew up watching UConn basketball - both men and women. Started following the football program in the mid 2000's after going to a couple games and I was hooked. Graduated from UConn in 2014 and haven't missed game since (Season ticket holders/TV). Still love the basketball teams but there's just something I love about a college football environment. I highly recommend it to anybody who's never been to a game, especially this year considering the team should be very good and there are some familiar names on the schedule.

 

[champs99and04]

I'd guess the majority of people who don't watch any football at all have no connection to UConn other than rooting for the men's basketball team. Yes, I know there are exceptions to this. So pipe down.

I would imagine that there is less affiliation between alums and the women's basketball fan base. Them being so dominant and transcendent creates more of a cult (and I don't mean that in a negative way - they have achieved notoriety that undoubtedly lengthens the gap between community and fan base, which is another way of saying they are a team with national pull)

Football fans would certainly be more likely to have attended the school, if I had to guess. I think the survey that @temery conducted a couple months ago reflects that.

I love UConn basketball, and to some extent, that has spilled into UConn football. Even though I can't name more than a handful of players on the roster, I watch most games and plan on attending a couple this season.

That said, I hesitate to assign nobility to supporting the football program like so many here tend to do. I support UConn football because it's fun, but the moralizing about things like needing to have every TV in your house turned to the game - even if you're not home - is probably a little misplaced. Following sports is a recreational activity that is supposed to be fun, and if somebody likes UConn basketball and not UConn football, I don't think they have some obligation to sit through a UConn-ECU game and I don't think it's contradictory to assume a passive stance on the football program while bemoaning what has happened to the basketball program. I hope UConn football turns the corner and rescues the entire athletic department, but it shouldn't have come to that.

Last thing I'll add is that there are probably a lot of kids who grew up in Connecticut and the New England area who became fans of UConn basketball despite not attending the school. Connecticut has no pro sports team, so the state University becomes a natural extension of state pride. Sometimes that breads entitlement that wouldn't otherwise exist among alums (though I haven't noticed that to be the case here), but for the most part it's representative of a healthy growth within a fan base that needs to occur but sometimes hasn't because of all the pro teams in the region. Bring Oklahoma to the Rent, though, with the Big 12 title on the line, and the whole state will be there.

 

[4in16]

Growing up in north central CT I've been a UConn basketball fan since I was young, men and women's (can't help but appreciate their dominance and play). I've been going to games since the mid 90s when my family had season tix to the Civic Center and greeting the men's 99 team at the airport is one of my favorite memories. Now I have been to a game(s?) at Memorial Stadium, but didn't really follow UConn football til the FBS years and now I try to go to as many games as possible getting season tix a couple times in the past 5 years. Now I rarely ever miss a basketball (have had season tix at Gampel for 5 years running) or football game whether in person or on tv (will record if I do), I believe I went to 17 games in the 13-14 season including the EE and SS games at MSG. Also like to keep tabs on other Olympic sports specifically soccer and baseball. It's hard not to follow UConn sports growing up so close with no pro team to fall in love locally and I'm not an alum (school was bit bigger than I wanted).

 

[Adios]

*Correction*
The Men's Bball board is the Boneyard. Everything else is just fluff.

You said you played for some other school's football team? Shouldn't you be cheering for their basketball squad?

 

[Mr. Hand]

No.

I am the Boneyard.

The rest of you are just extras.

. What an ego.

 

[temery]

Ya know what they say ? Teach a man to fish ...

No.

I am the Boneyard.

The rest of you are just extras.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Serrano is one of the biggest supporters of the football team out there, and expresses his fandom by devoting his time and his money to the program, not by making melodramatic posts about how screwed we are. Can he be a jerk at times? Maybe, but he brings up a very good point here and at the least deserves everyone's respect when he makes a visit here.

I also find it so ironic that with all the complaining about the AD being doomed, you refuse to do the one thing in your power as a fan that can help UConn's chances in CR: watch the damn games. I mean seriously, "BUHusky10"? The crux of one of the strongest CR arguments in our favor is that our control of the Boston and NY markets will bring conferences TV dollars. What good does that do when Boneyard posters (arguably the most diehard cohort of the fanbase with internet access) in those absolutely vital locations are refusing to tune their TVs to games? Granted I tend to like watching UConn football in general so I have a bias, but take the Stony Brook game 2 Septembers ago; do you think that a 19-16 win against a crummy FCS team was enjoyable to watch? No. Were there other things I could've been doing with my life on a Saturday afternoon in a major city? Yes. But I take very seriously the notion that our fanbase in NY has to do whatever it can to assert that we own that market, so you bet your a that I've tuned into every single game on my cable package no matter how ugly it was. Hell, there have been times when I've left my TV tuned to the channel on the occasions when I've had an engagement that prevented me from watching the game. Every little thing counts.

Actually, I can be a jerk a lot of the time. It's part of my charm.

 

[temery]

*Correction*
The Men's Bball board is the Boneyard. Everything else is just fluff.

The frat boy mentality on the men's board plays well during the season, but only diehards stick around after the first week of April. And that pretty much only during work hours.

This time of year even the cesspool gets more traffic on a good day.

"The Boneyard - Destroying Worker Productivity Since 1998!"

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I don't think it's unwarranted to say UConn is, and historically has always been, a basketball school. Our basketball programs are pretty much the focal point of our national brand. I don't see a problem with attracting "basketball only fans" because that's basically more UConn fans that probably had little to no connection to the university prior. I highly doubt we have many "football only fans" from a population NOT located in CT or with no ties to the university. That being said, once you are on board I find it imperative to support all of the major sports - meaning football. It does us literally no good to split allegiances. I never liked college football before I attended UConn. But I always watched UConn football and attended most games when I was a student. To me, this poll still shows that a little over 70% of BY basketball fans watch at least half of the football games. Overall, that's not too bad; I actually expected worse. I agree and disagree with Serrano's message about complaining about CR. I feel that UConn fans - especially basketball fans should be downright pissed about our conference affiliation. But he's right that if you're not supporting the football program then you are part of the problem. Big boy college athletics means having big boy football. Our football team, with less resources, would still likely be middle-of-the-pack in the ACC. So just fuqqing go to a few football games if you have the time and can afford it. Or at the very least, leave your TV running a mere 12-13 times a year with our football games on. It's really not a tribulation.

 

[RichZ]

I don't think it's unwarranted to say UConn... ...It's really not a tribulation.

You might be banned from the 'yard for making a cogent post during the off season. I'm pretty sure there are rules against that.

 

[Palatine]

Of course, UConn is a basketball school. That's not even an arguable point.

UConn did not play "big time"football until a decade+ ago. However, in that time, they became the second fastest team to jump from 1AA to top 25, (it took six years). They pocketed two BE championships. They played in a BCS Bowl. They have had consistent picks in the NFL draft and have close to 20 players in the league. And a few scattered in the CFL.

I recall watching UConn hoops in the early 1960s and it was darn good basketball. UConn players were heroes even back then. They were not the nothing program that sometimes gets expressed on this board. Then came Jim Calhoun and he brought it to an elite level. For many of us UConn basketball is a lifetime friend.

The same is simply not true for football. However, for the freshmen entering next year, UConn football will have been around for their entire lives and we will have played in the Rent since they were three years old. Its getting there.

If you have never attended a UConn football game, one tailgate should convince you of the unique and fun atmosphere. A victory or two should seal the deal. Then, UConn football games will be a regular on your television

 

[Deepster]

Pretty good poll turnout. So far there are 183 responses.

• 27 (14%) haven't watched a single minute
• 70 (38%) have watched every single minute
• 80 of 183 (44%) have watched less than 10 games, 56% have watched more than 10 games.

 

[Drew]

Complete opposite.

I'm a football guy through and through. Been to most home games and watch every second of every game.

I watched maybe 5 total hoops games last year. Attended a few. I can't stand basketball.

We are both part of the bigger problem though. We need more UConn fans and less "football fans" or "men's hoop" or "women's hoop" or "hockey" fans. I left soccer out because it's not a real sport.

I'll see myself out.

this is me as well

 

[UCONN in OKC]

I watch every game that i could stream and watch on TV... living in Oklahoma makes it hard to get all the games, but if they are on ESPN 360 I will have my TV connected to my Computer to watch it... I watch everything UConn every sport.... GO HUSKIES!!!! and yes I did travel to see the Navy game last year in person and the Mizzu Game too

 

[QDOG5]

As Bill Murray said in Stripes "we're not Watoosi, we're not Spartans, we're mutts" so bball guys help the football guys-- because I don't want to cry when old yeller dies. For the sake of all UConn athletics we need football to succeed (I live in Chicago and can still watch 95% of the bball games and 75% of the fb games on cable andI watch them all, also I'm not an alum but grew up in CT). Our bball program is a known commodity, it's our football program that P5 conferences want to see well attended and watched on tv. If you don't want to support football fine. But please have a tv in your house tuned in to every game this year. You don't have to watch. Big brother will count your tv and that will help ratings. I think if there were a poll asking who wants to stay in the AAC it would get one percent. So let's work together and help the football metrics improve.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Pretty good poll turnout. So far there are 183 responses.

• 27 (14%) haven't watched a single minute
• 70 (38%) have watched every single minute
• 80 of 183 (44%) have watched less than 10 games, 56% have watched more than 10 games.

That's spinning the numbers. I think conclusion of the poll with 40% every single minute (that's a lot) and another 30% in the 6+ range is that 3/4 UConn bball fans care a lot about football. And this is in a time where the team has been average at best. I'm in the 25% group less than 5 games range, but if the team becomes good I'll switch with probably half of that group and then it'll be less than 15% that don't watch or care at all. In the law of big numbers (meaning with UConn drawing so many basketball fans you are bound to get a sizable number percentage that don't like football at all regardless of UConn, college, NFL etc..) that's a very good football following.

Add the challenge of college football's comparative lack of popularity, competitiveness & rivalries in the NE and UConn football really does have quite the opportunity to grab market share and raise up the University's sports pursuits with it. Football at UConn is pretty similar to the opportunity and market conditions that existed when Calhoun came to UConn in the mid-80's. Biggest difference is we were already in the powerhouse conference and its a lot more challenging to build to that level of competitiveness from the outside.

 

[Matrim55]

I live in California so I've only been able to watch on TV/online. However, I did just buy my brother & his family tickets to the Maine & Syracuse games.

If you want us to get out of the AAC, we've got to fill up PAWSARF every week. Do your part and go to a few games this year.

 

[Deepster]

That's spinning the numbers. I think conclusion of the poll with 40% every single minute (that's a lot) and another 30% in the 6+ range is that 3/4 UConn bball fans care a lot about football. And this is in a time where the team has been average at best. I'm in the 25% group less than 5 games range, but if the team becomes good I'll switch with probably half of that group and then it'll be less than 15% that don't watch or care at all. In the law of big numbers (meaning with UConn drawing so many basketball fans you are bound to get a sizable number percentage that don't like football at all regardless of UConn, college, NFL etc..) that's a very good football following.

Add the challenge of college football's comparative lack of popularity, competitiveness & rivalries in the NE and UConn football really does have quite the opportunity to grab market share and raise up the University's sports pursuits with it. Football at UConn is pretty similar to the opportunity and market conditions that existed when Calhoun came to UConn in the mid-80's. Biggest difference is we were already in the powerhouse conference and its a lot more challenging to build to that level of competitiveness from the outside.

I don't think it's spin. I gave the high end #'s and the low end #'s I am surprised that 38% have watched every single minute. And the <> 10 games split really is "about half" the games. So, you have about half the people watching less than half, about half the people watching more than half. Right?