MVFC attendance averages so far

[goindystate]

average attendance figures for the MVFC teams so far this season. ISU is last, but we're ALOT better than past seasons, just gotta hope for improvement each season. ISU is ranked 85th nationally.

Notice the inverse relationship, the more people who attend the game the worse the team is, bottom 2 teams are at the top of the MVFC standings, top 2 teams are at the bottom of the MVFC standings

1. N. Dak. St. - 18,096
2. Youngstown State - 16,785
3. UNI - 13,789
4. Southern Illinois - 13,212
5. S. Dak. St. - 11,889
6. Western Illinois - 11,483
7. Missouri State - 10,440
8. Illinois State - 6,776
9. Indiana State - 5,371

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2010/Internet/attendance/FCS_AVGATTENDANCE.pdf

[Bally #46]

Thanks. That some interesting figures. We'll climb hopefully from that spot.

[SycamoreBlue3209]

We can sell out and only move up to the fifth spot. Lol.

[Fiji Bill 72]

I think we are destined to remain at the bottom. Last Saturday was a beautiful fall day in Terre Haute, we were on a streak, and we had less than 4,000 fans at the game. Why?

[JamesHat]

I have followed much of the discussion spread across numerous threads over the years and will give it a go with voicing my opinion...so here goes.

<O:p</O:pI'll start by saying I haven't been back for a football game since the 1997, so my perspective is dated. That being said, I don't completely believe the location is that big of an issue yet I believe it's about the environment and experience. The environment at Memorial Stadium does not feel like what they can watch on TV. We watch Ohio State, Michigan, 'Bama, even Purdue on TV and see the environment of those stadiums and it's quite appealing. I understand that comparing ISU to those schools is ridicules, but those games are what we have to compare against thanks to the media. When a student goes to MS, it's quite the let down in comparison. In another thread someone mentioned that ISU was on break and kids went home, but still went to the Purdue game for a better football game experience. To some, the football game experience is not completely about the product on the field. The stands missing from the opposite side really doesn't help things. The sound from the crowd and the band have nothing to bounce back from.

Switching gears a bit. What if ISU had a statue of a huge Sycamore tree stump that the team could touch as they came out from the locker room? Make that the sacred thing about Sycamore Football the right to touch the stump. You could put detail in it such as the number of rings to represent years of Sycamore football. (Obviously it would have to be tall enough to not be a tripping hazard) Several teams have a rock or a special sign, what about a massive stump that the team could touch. In Greenville SC kids can win a chance to touch the rock at the Clemson football stadium and kids love it.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6267935/2/istockphoto_6267935-big-tree-stump.jpg

Just a few thoughts from a distant, dated perspective.

[Bally #46]

I have followed much of the discussion spread across numerous threads over the years and will give it a go with voicing my opinion...so here goes.

<O:p</O:pI'll start by saying I haven't been back for a football game since the 1997, so my perspective is dated. That being said, I don't completely believe the location is that big of an issue yet I believe it's about the environment and experience. The environment at Memorial Stadium does not feel like what they can watch on TV. We watch Ohio State, Michigan, 'Bama, even Purdue on TV and see the environment of those stadiums and it's quite appealing. I understand that comparing ISU to those schools is ridicules, but those games are what we have to compare against thanks to the media. When a student goes to MS, it's quite the let down in comparison. In another thread someone mentioned that ISU was on break and kids went home, but still went to the Purdue game for a better football game experience. To some, the football game experience is not completely about the product on the field. The stands missing from the opposite side really doesn't help things. The sound from the crowd and the band have nothing to bounce back from.

Switching gears a bit. What if ISU had a statue of a huge Sycamore tree stump that the team could touch as they came out from the locker room? Make that the sacred thing about Sycamore Football the right to touch the stump. You could put detail in it such as the number of rings to represent years of Sycamore football. (Obviously it would have to be tall enough to not be a tripping hazard) Several teams have a rock or a special sign, what about a massive stump that the team could touch. In Greenville SC kids can win a chance to touch the rock at the Clemson football stadium and kids love it.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6267935/2/istockphoto_6267935-big-tree-stump.jpg

Just a few thoughts from a distant, dated perspective.
Last I looked the majority of those 84 teams in front of us play at approximately the SAME time we play so as I have said before, I am not sure the whole TV argument holds too much water. It's a ISU football culture thing and I truly think it will change in time if we can continue playing at a level near where we are now. I tend to think that the post-Homecoming game was an anomoly, but I may be wrong. We'll see in the next few weeks. I totally agree that the lack of a "visitors" stand seriously detracts from the atmosphere, without a doubt. It's bothered me since DAY ONE!

[isubob]

We need a stadium on campus. Walking to the game from your dorm is much better than taking a bus to the game.

[SycamoreFan317]

We need a stadium on campus. Walking to the game from your dorm is much better than taking a bus to the game.

If the students do not stay in their dorms on the weekends what difference does it make?

[SycamoreBlue3209]

There is nothing wrong with the location of the stadium right now, if students want to support their college football team then they will drive a couple miles down Wabash. The fact is everyone has made fun our program for the last five years or so and it will take time for us to establish ourselves as a winning program. Eventually, the students will be there, but it will take some time.

The change I would like to see done to MS is something with the east endzone. There is no need for a whole other side of bleachers (not enough fans currently or money). It would be nice if we could get some kind of seating to at least make some kind of circle, I think this would help the atmosphere become more of a "real" college football atmosphere. We should also make more use of the hill and the area behind the hill. Something that would involve activities for more kids to come would get more fans because most of the time they would be coming with there parents. Ya know, to get more fans for the future, we need to get the kids around our community to become loyal Sycamore fans, like most of us on here are!

[Bally #46]

There is nothing wrong with the location of the stadium right now, if students want to support their college football team then they will drive a couple miles down Wabash. The fact is everyone has made fun our program for the last five years or so and it will take time for us to establish ourselves as a winning program. Eventually, the students will be there, but it will take some time.

The change I would like to see done to MS is something with the east endzone. There is no need for a whole other side of bleachers (not enough fans currently or money). It would be nice if we could get some kind of seating to at least make some kind of circle, I think this would help the atmosphere become more of a "real" college football atmosphere. We should also make more use of the hill and the area behind the hill. Something that would involve activities for more kids to come would get more fans because most of the time they would be coming with there parents. Ya know, to get more fans for the future, we need to get the kids around our community to become loyal Sycamore fans, like most of us on here are!
The attendence issue is a complicated one. As stated previously, the attendence compared to last year is up roughly 1500 a game. I think you have to assume that it will be higher than that by the end of the season. We ARE heading in the right direction. Last weekend is still a mystery to me but look at the trend. Our team will be even better next season and likely will draw even more than this season. Don't underestimate the power of the "new" students at ISU this year. I feel student participation in many things will see a steady increase as they become sophomores and beyond.

[Bally #46]

attendence vs attendance??? My spell check accepts either one. Which fricking one is CORRECT and why doesn't spell check correct the "wrong" spelling? Since I am totally anal about misspelling, it is killing me.

[goindystate]

attendance is right


attendence vs attendance??? My spell check accepts either one. Which fricking one is CORRECT and why doesn't spell check correct the "wrong" spelling? Since I am totally anal about misspelling, it is killing me.

[Bally #46]

attendance is right
you're da man. I have no idea why the spell check does not pick that up~

[JamesHat]

Last I looked the majority of those 84 teams in front of us play at approximately the SAME time we play so as I have said before, I am not sure the whole TV argument holds too much water. It's a ISU football culture thing and I truly think it will change in time if we can continue playing at a level near where we are now. I tend to think that the post-Homecoming game was an anomoly, but I may be wrong. We'll see in the next few weeks. I totally agree that the lack of a "visitors" stand seriously detracts from the atmosphere, without a doubt. It's bothered me since DAY ONE!

My point wasn't that they would rather watch games on TV. My point is when you see the environment of those other stadiums, the atmosphere and environment of Memorial Stadium pales in comparison to other options available, ie. Purdue or Illinois.

I completely agree that the culture needs to change. Playing respectable football will help with school spirit. It would also be nice to develop some current and relavent rivalries. I know ISU has had long standing history with several regional schools, but are they relevant today? Does the general student population know about these rivalries? Does ISU continue to promote them? In the mid 90's I remember playing Ball State. Several kids that attend ISU probably considered Ball State and with the history of Ball State's beginnings, I can't imagine a better rivalry to maintain.

The students need to become more familiar with the other members of our conference. That will help with creating a sense of competition with our conference foes. Before I came to ISU in the early 90's I had no idea who was even our conference. Perhaps that has changed with more media outlets, but so has the coverage for the big boys.

[Bally #46]

My point wasn't that they would rather watch games on TV. My point is when you see the environment of those other stadiums, the atmosphere and environment of Memorial Stadium pales in comparison to other options available, ie. Purdue or Illinois.

I completely agree that the culture needs to change. Playing respectable football will help with school spirit. It would also be nice to develop some current and relavent rivalries. I know ISU has had long standing history with several regional schools, but are they relevant today? Does the general student population know about these rivalries? Does ISU continue to promote them? In the mid 90's I remember playing Ball State. Several kids that attend ISU probably considered Ball State and with the history of Ball State's beginnings, I can't imagine a better rivalry to maintain.

The students need to become more familiar with the other members of our conference. That will help with creating a sense of competition with our conference foes. Before I came to ISU in the early 90's I had no idea who was even our conference. Perhaps that has changed with more media outlets, but so has the coverage for the big boys.
I understand what you are saying but there are 40 1-AA teams that draw 10,000 or more and I am not too sure how their environments compare to ours but many are not "state of the art" stadiums. I've checked out most of the MoVal stadiums and many are similar to ours and are outdated but the Fargodome looks AWESOME.

The new stadium will obviously help but it might be difficult to put more money into MS, unless the improvements could be utilized in a new one, i.e. the scoreboard etc. I have NEVER been fond of the MVFC because we identify with very few of the schools other than ILSt and SIU and possibly WIU. I miss the days of Butler, St. Joe, Evansville, EIU and especially Ball State because those were rivalries that had a meaning. We basically agree with each other but I just don't know what we can truly do more than we are...until we build on the banks of the Wabash.

[bent20]

Again, WIU counted 11,000 some at the ISU game and there wasn't half that there in the monsoon. These numbers are meaningless.