[Sly Fox]

According to the NCAA final statistics, we slid down to 15th in FCS attendance this fall:

1. Appalachian State .............. 28,031
2. Montana ........................... 25,662
3. JMU ................................. 25,002
4. Yale ................................. 23,730
5. Jackson State .................... 23,166
6. ODU ................................. 19,818
7. Georgia Southern ................ 19,249
8. Delaware ........................... 19,019
9. Florida A&M ....................... 18,746
10. South Alabama ................. 18,422
11. North Dakota State ........... 18,272
12. Montana State ................. 18,022
13. Jacksonville State ............. 17,226
14. SC State ......................... 16,460
15. Liberty ............................ 16,419

For those who feel we aren't ready to step up to FBS, here are schools that finished with less attendance than us from highest to lowest:

110. Miami (OH) .................... 16,174
111. Akron ........................... 15,734
112. Northern Illinois .............. 15,649
113. Louisiana-Monroe ........... 15,512
114. New Mexico State .......... 15,440
115. Central Michigan ............ 15,291
116. Western Kentucky .......... 15,286
117. Bowling Green ................ 15,007
118. Idaho ........................... 11,980
119. Kent State .................... 11,587
120. Eastern Michigan ............ 4,267

In other words, we already hanging with the lower tier of FBS while playing a Big South schedule.

[Chippy]

According to the NCAA final statistics, we slid down to 15th in FCS attendance this fall:

1. Appalachian State .............. 28,031
2. Montana ........................... 25,662
3. JMU ................................. 25,002
4. Yale ................................. 23,730
5. Jackson State .................... 23,166
6. ODU ................................. 19,818
7. Georgia Southern ................ 19,249
8. Delaware ........................... 19,019
9. Florida A&M ....................... 18,746
10. South Alabama ................. 18,422
11. North Dakota State ........... 18,272
12. Montana State ................. 18,022
13. Jacksonville State ............. 17,226
14. SC State ......................... 16,460
15. Liberty ............................ 16,419

For those who feel we aren't ready to step up to FBS, here are schools that finished with less attendance than us from highest to lowest:

110. Miami (OH) .................... 16,174
111. Akron ........................... 15,734
112. Northern Illinois .............. 15,649
113. Louisiana-Monroe ........... 15,512
114. New Mexico State .......... 15,440
115. Central Michigan ............ 15,291
116. Western Kentucky .......... 15,286
117. Bowling Green ................ 15,007
118. Idaho ........................... 11,980
119. Kent State .................... 11,587
120. Eastern Michigan ............ 4,267

In other words, we already hanging with the lower tier of FBS while playing a Big South schedule.

What were we last year?

[bradyfan]

Once we expand the stadium and bring in bigger name opponents, those numbers are going to increase. I don't think people understand how good that is for playing in the Big South. Next year we bring in Lehigh, Norfolk State and SB. I think our average attendance should jump a couple thousand.

[01LUGrad]

Risking sounding like an idiot here, but this thread is about the 2011 season, right?

[Purple Haize]

Risking sounding like an idiot here, but this thread is about the 2011 season, right?

Idiot

[jcmanson]

You really think lehigh, Norfolk st and sbu will outdrew JMU and Coastal? Ha

[Sly Fox]

Whoops. Sorry about that typo.

[jbock13]

I think I'd rather be 15th in FCS than be 109'th in FBS.

[bradyfan]

You really think lehigh, Norfolk st and sbu will outdrew JMU and Coastal? Ha

This year we had 6 home games. One was against a DII program, one was against a program that almost no students have heard heard of and the others were just BS opponents. Not to mention, hardly any of the students truly consider Coastal a rival. Next year, we only have 5 home games and three are against playoff teams. One of those is in an in-state team. So, given that, I'm pretty certain it will rise a couple thousand.

[bradyfan]

I think I'd rather be 15th in FCS than be 109'th in FBS.

If we were in FBS, we would draw more students.

[jbock13]

My post had two meanings. It implied that we would be ranked 109th if we went FBS.

[bradyfan]

My post had two meanings. It implied that we would be ranked 109th if we went FBS.

We wouldn't be though, if we were in the FBS we wouldn't be playing Big South teams. If you're going by attendance alone, I see what you're saying. However, I really think that alot of our attendance has to do with the name brand of our opponents.

[bluedevilflame]

Look at what App State has done in the FCS with 3 naty titles, we start pulling off some big wins like them and consistently making the playoffs I guarantee attendence will rise considerably. And while I would be thrilled to see the stadium expansion thats in the works, we have to start selling Williams out week in and week out before we invest that much $. Id hate to see row after row of empty seats in a huge stadium.

[Purple Haize]

Look at what App State has done in the FCS with 3 naty titles, we start pulling off some big wins like them and consistently making the playoffs I guarantee attendence will rise considerably. And while I would be thrilled to see the stadium expansion thats in the works, we have to start selling Williams out week in and week out before we invest that much $. Id hate to see row after row of empty seats in a huge stadium.

But what if we make a really fancy design with the seat covers? Then the empty seats wouldn't matter!
Good point on Appy. Do they bring in any FBS teams to Boone? ODU seems to be doing well without bringing in FBS schools.

[bluedevilflame]

Look at what App State has done in the FCS with 3 naty titles, we start pulling off some big wins like them and consistently making the playoffs I guarantee attendence will rise considerably. And while I would be thrilled to see the stadium expansion thats in the works, we have to start selling Williams out week in and week out before we invest that much $. Id hate to see row after row of empty seats in a huge stadium.

But what if we make a really fancy design with the seat covers? Then the empty seats wouldn't matter!
Good point on Appy. Do they bring in any FBS teams to Boone? ODU seems to be doing well without bringing in FBS schools.

I could be wrong, but Im pretty sure they dont bring in FBS teams to Boone

[Purple Haize]

Then how can they keep selling out games? lol

[BJWilliams]

I think the reason for that is twofold (even if you are joking Purple):

1. Success. The Mountaineers won (or shared) 6 straight conference titles and when you have that much success people are going to come to the games
2. Market. Boone is home to one of five D-I football programs in NC (come 2013 itll be up to 6). thing is, the only other D-I program on that side of the state is Western Carolina (and the lack of success for the Catamounts over the last bunch of years is well noted). When you only have two shows to choose from that Id think will lend itself to big attendance numbers.

[SuperJon]

Beej, there are 13 Division I football teams in NC.

[bluedevilflame]

I think the reason for that is twofold (even if you are joking Purple):

1. Success. The Mountaineers won (or shared) 6 straight conference titles and when you have that much success people are going to come to the games
2. Market. Boone is home to one of five D-I football programs in NC (come 2013 itll be up to 6). thing is, the only other D-I program on that side of the state is Western Carolina (and the lack of success for the Catamounts over the last bunch of years is well noted). When you only have two shows to choose from that Id think will lend itself to big attendance numbers.

great points, app states location being so far away from the triangle schools and westerns lack of a decent program over the years has a lot to do with their all around success but I dont really see any reason why we couldnt be as successful as them, especially with the national audience we potentially have as a religious school. Thats an advantage a lot of schools dont have, our athletic dept. just has to be more proactive with tapping into that market.

[BJWilliams]

I think the reason for that is twofold (even if you are joking Purple):

1. Success. The Mountaineers won (or shared) 6 straight conference titles and when you have that much success people are going to come to the games
2. Market. Boone is home to one of five D-I football programs in NC (come 2013 itll be up to 6). thing is, the only other D-I program on that side of the state is Western Carolina (and the lack of success for the Catamounts over the last bunch of years is well noted). When you only have two shows to choose from that Id think will lend itself to big attendance numbers.

great points, app states location being so far away from the triangle schools and westerns lack of a decent program over the years has a lot to do with their all around success but I dont really see any reason why we couldnt be as successful as them, especially with the national audience we potentially have as a religious school. Thats an advantage a lot of schools dont have, our athletic dept. just has to be more proactive with tapping into that market.

One thing that works against us is what I think of as a "glut" of Division I football in VA. You have Virginia, VT, ODU, James Madison, Richmond, William and Mary, Hampton, ODU and VMI all in the state. Virginia has turned around this year, VT is traditionally very good, Richmond was done well the last couple years (down year this year of course), William and Mary was a top 5 team last year (also had a down year) and JMU has done well also. I would agree that marketing would be helpful for us as well. If we can get LU football marketed on radio stations outside of the Victory FM footprint (which is growing with all the translator stations that are opening up) that would be helpful to our cause as well.

[jbock13]

Can you picture 70,000 cars on U.S 421 in Boone?

And that's why they can't go FBS. Sure there's others too, but it's a major factor.

[Sly Fox]

They can and will go FBS. It is just a matter of whether that occurs in the next few months or couple of years. They don't need 70k in their stadium to be FBS. This year they averaged just about 3k less than one school ranked in the Top 7 of the current BCS rankings and about 6k less than another.

I get the feeling that some of you believe that unless you pull ACC or SEC numbers then you have no business in FBS. Let's just say that I hold a different viewpoint.

[bluedevilflame]

They can and will go FBS. It is just a matter of whether that occurs in the next few months or couple of years. They don't need 70k in their stadium to be FBS. This year they averaged just about 3k less than one school ranked in the Top 7 of the current BCS rankings and about 6k less than another.

I get the feeling that some of you believe that unless you pull ACC or SEC numbers then you have no business in FBS. Let's just say that I hold a different viewpoint.

I agree whole heartedly, and think we could hang in there with any MAC or Sun Belt team out there. I completely understand that as a school, the next natural step is FBS. The money wil be great, it will raise the attention level of our other sports teams and will be a great benefit as far as recruiting goes. I would just hate seeing us leave a playoff system where we can compete and have a shot at a national title vs going to the bowl system and competing for the papajohns.com bowl or not even at all.

[logic]

Plenty of topics about Liberty going FBS. It will happen, and it is not a question of if, more so when. That is not an argument nor a question as it will happen. Getting back to the topic of the thread, why the slip in attendance this year? What can we do better for next year?

[jbock13]

Plenty of topics about Liberty going FBS. It will happen, and it is not a question of if, more so when. That is not an argument nor a question as it will happen. Getting back to the topic of the thread, why the slip in attendance this year? What can we do better for next year?

The renovated stadium helped to bump our numbers. I guess the question is it worth it to just keep building to attract more of the baptist side?

I think we've peaked as far as attendance until enrollment continues to increase, but that's just my opinion.