[jack_sparrow81]

The columnist is going off about the poor attendance for UCF's championship game on Saturday, where they were giving away free tickets to the game and they still couldn't fill the seats. One thing to keep in mind is UCF is the 2nd largest school in the country, and were side by side with us not to long ago when we played regulary. Their trying to push into the Big East. Might want to think twice about moving up so quick.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/201 ... this+House

[olldflame]

I seem to remember us actually beating UCF on the strength of a monster game by James McKnight.

[Sly Fox]

Good memory, olldflame. I also remember on another occasion following online as Daunte Culpepper crushed as well.

And for the record, UCF to a certain degree suffers from lack of an older alumni base much as we do. They also are a commuter school heavy with majors that don't tend to produce avid sports fans. It is a recipe for disappointing attendance figures. That's why resident schools are so important to our support.

[jbock13]

I'll say this about most UCF students because I have many roots and friends who go there. They have the same problem we do. Everybody likes a different team. For us, we're competing with mainly UVA, VT, UNC. For them, they're competing with FSU, UF, MIA, etc.

[PAmedic]

BUMP because I watched part of the game last nite and they still have a lot of open bleachers.
EDIT: attendance listed at 36,712 (?) but as the place seats 45k so it doesnt look great


http://knightnews.com/2011/11/photos-uc ... -vs-tulsa/

same deal with FSU v. BC. Conf game shown nationally on ESPN. Attendance was listed at 38,700 in a place that seats 44k.

and just a PATHETIC showing at Miami (OH) v. Akron -announced attendance 12,968 while the place seats a little over 24k. If they had 5k there I'd be shocked. I know it's Akron but it's a conf friggin matchup being shown on ESPNU. Makes me feel better about our crowds. On a related side note: I really think we could go to the MAC tomorrow and be competetive.

This seems to be an ongoing theme this season with nearly everyone (notable exceptions being anyone in the SEC and many B1G games).Student apathy, bad economy, ??? Not sure what the answer is.

[Purple Haize]

. Their trying to push into the Big East. Might want to think twice about moving up so quick.

Now those might be words of wisdom! I do remember that the las time we placed the, they had one of the biggest underage drinking busts in state history at the game. Fortunately SMOOTH and HMO had their fake IDs with them

[SuperJon]

This seems to be an ongoing theme this season with nearly everyone (notable exceptions being anyone in the SEC and many B1G games).Student apathy, bad economy, ??? Not sure what the answer is.

Also a Thursday night game. You don't have nearly the amount of alumni come in town on a Thursday that you do a Saturday. You know, the whole having a job thing.

[Sly Fox]

For commuter schools like UCF, Thursday dates really don't have a huge impact. With alumni nearby, Thursday nights are easier to manage into a busy schedule than Saturdays. But if there is any travel at all involved then alumni won't be around.

[thepostman]

Sly UCF is no longer really considered a commuter school. 10 years ago that was accurate and even 5 years ago, but they have slowly progressed away from that label. Not to the extent of a school located in smaller communities but its made progress.

With that said UCF has always had a problem getting the community and alumni to support athletics. It has been a bit better lately but its still an uphill battle. Its the same issues USF deals with. So many locals, alumni and even students put UF, FSU or the U over their own school (USF,UCF). It was believed it would change for USF once in the Big East and it has to an extent, but it still much of the same. UCF will get a little bit of a bump from joining a BCS conference but until they do something nationally to get anybody's attention it will always be a tough draw.

With that said I believe UCF has done a great job at building up its athletic dept. They have fantastic facilities and anybody going on that campus for the first time in 10 years would be impressed with all the improvements going on. Not much can be said with USF in that regard.

I think UCF is in a good spot but they have work to do that is for sure. They are a relatively young football school compared to the Big 3 of Florida so it will take time, but they are on the right track in my opinion

[Chris Lang]

Even when BC has its best teams, it struggles to sell out. They care more about hockey up there.

[PAmedic]

attendance at the Cent Mich/Kent St game last nite was horrendous as well
10k showed up (maybe) in a place that holds 20,500

we would outdraw half the MAC schools.

In other news, Bobby Mo is at Cent Conn today and no one showed up there either.

[PAmedic]

My point: I guess I shouldnt complain about our kids leaving early.

[adam42381]

We went to the Duke-Miami game at Sun Life Stadium yesterday (my cousin plays for Duke). It was homecoming for Miami and the place was barely half full. Of course, they announced an attendance of 62,000+. If I had to guess, I'd put the attendance at 35,000-40,000.

[Dr. Sheh]

The Ball State-Eastern Michigan game in Ypsilanti drew 3,200.....yikes.

[PAmedic]

so we agree there is a systemic issue this yr w/ DI football attendance. (In which case there's probably no point in worrying about mandatory attendance numbers)

on to ConfUSA or the MAC

[Schfourteenteen]

The Ball State-Eastern Michigan game in Ypsilanti drew 3,200.....yikes.

That's actually a decent draw for them from what my EMU friend has told me.