[Cider Jim]

How can this game not be a sell out? One Syracuse fan just bought 65 tickets!

[alabama24]

He must be bigger than me or Haize.

[LUnpretty11]

This game will undoubtedly be a sellout with an expected attendance in the 27-30k range. I am unsure how we could physically get more than 30k bodies in the building, but you can expect standing room only to be in effect. Also, there (unless something has changed in the last month) will not be any GA seating for this game. The ticket office is specifically assigning each ticket a seat so that people cannot take up more than 1 seat. Needless to say, we should be packed in like sardines for this game and it will be a beautiful sight.

[tyndal23]

I really hope you are right...I thought last year ODU game was going to be a true sellout so I have a little skepticism, I don’t see Syracuse bringing more than a pretty local ODU team did, so it is going to have to be all LU and a lot of alumni and fans from around the country who haven’t been attending so far. We did 22k plus with Montana a few years ago - logic would say no brainer on 27k plus - but last year attendance worries me quite a bit.

[ballcoach15]

I really hope you are right...I thought last year ODU game was going to be a true sellout so I have a little skepticism, I don’t see Syracuse bringing more than a pretty local ODU team did, so it is going to have to be all LU and a lot of alumni and fans from around the country who haven’t been attending so far. We did 22k plus with Montana a few years ago - logic would say no brainer on 27k plus - but last year attendance worries me quite a bit.

ODU isn't exactly a "household name" in college football. very little tradition. Sure they had a couple good seasons, but their adult fan base probably isn't very big.

[ballcoach15]

Hoping to see some actual defense that doesn't give up over 600 yards in a game.
(BTW, the 4th down call against VA, was the worst I have ever seen at any level, any time, any where).

With our lack of defense last season, going for it on 4th down probably was a good call.

[tyndal23]

I really hope you are right...I thought last year ODU game was going to be a true sellout so I have a little skepticism, I don’t see Syracuse bringing more than a pretty local ODU team did, so it is going to have to be all LU and a lot of alumni and fans from around the country who haven’t been attending so far. We did 22k plus with Montana a few years ago - logic would say no brainer on 27k plus - but last year attendance worries me quite a bit.

ODU isn't exactly a "household name" in college football. very little tradition. Sure they had a couple good seasons, but their adult fan base probably isn't very big.

No, but they are several hundred miles closer than Syracuse fans who really don’t travel that well either for a P5. ODU was 1st FBS game and renovated Stadium - I know the weather jacked things up pretty bad. Attendance went downhill after that even with better teams Troy, UNT coming in. Hopefully a blip and HF drawing power improves attendance dramatically.

[flameshaw]

Hoping to see some actual defense that doesn't give up over 600 yards in a game.
(BTW, the 4th down call against VA, was the worst I have ever seen at any level, any time, any where).

With our lack of defense last season, going for it on 4th down probably was a good call.

Worst offensive call in the history of the program. There were some other ones that were close ie. Villanova. Looking forward to seeing how the new staff functions. Very optimistic. Really only one way to go however.

[FlamesHighontheTide]

I expected more at the ODU game too, but we must remember the poor weather that caused an hour delay that almost caused my wife, dad, bro-in-law and sis to head home. Ofcourse, my wife and I were beginning the LONG trek towards Butte, MT that next morning. The weather was also still kind of spotty once the game began too.

Syracuse is a P5 opponent that is nationally ranked with years of history. Unless the weather is similar to last year or worse expect a record crowd that pushes the 30,000 envelope.

[tyndal23]

If there isn’t a safety issue with steepness of the berm’s - End Zone and both south edges of stadium - just don’t know if they would allow for 5k over seating capacity. Not arguing that it should and might happen - but Tide - how much of those 30k do you estimate as Syracuse fan base? I know ticket office allotted less than 1k for visitor section. Do they even have standing room only tickets made up in the event that ever happens - love to have that problem...and it would prove my P5 scheduling mantra.

[Ewglenn]

I can say I have only been to a few LU games and I bought my season ticket mostly for the Syracuse game. I haven’t been to a game in years. I’m assuming I’m not the only alum making the trip to pack the place.

[FlamesHighontheTide]

I read an article that said roughly 20,000 syracuse fans showed up to the bowl game back in December. Though that was a bowl game in Florida vs West Va. there are a few things to consider for our home opener against them. 1. We are MUCH closer than Florida. 2. There is enormous excitement around the Syracuse football program and with excitement comes butts in the seats whether at home or on the road. 3. Their team is nationally ranked and that also puts butts in the seats whether home or on the road.

If I was taking a shot in the dark on how many 'Cuse fans make the trip then my answer would be 4,000 to 5,000.

[Ewglenn]

I read an article that said roughly 20,000 syracuse fans showed up to the bowl game back in December. Though that was a bowl game in Florida vs West Va. there are a few things to consider for our home opener against them. 1. We are MUCH closer than Florida. 2. There is enormous excitement around the Syracuse football program and with excitement comes butts in the seats whether at home or on the road. 3. Their team is nationally ranked and that also puts butts in the seats whether home or on the road.

If I was taking a shot in the dark on how many 'Cuse fans make the trip then my answer would be 4,000 to 5,000.

On the Cuse board they think maybe 2k. The Maryland trip the following week is where most of their fans are traveling to.

[tyndal23]

Yes, I think the MD the following week hurts us a little bit with the DC area Syracuse Alum...but I am real curious how many LU alumni are like Ewglenn and myself. 23-25k LU and 2k Cuse would be legit.

[BJWilliams]

The thing I have to wonder is whether or not Syracuse could overlook us with Maryland the following week (even though the Terps are B1G and not ACC)

[LUnpretty11]

Yes, I think the MD the following week hurts us a little bit with the DC area Syracuse Alum...but I am real curious how many LU alumni are like Ewglenn and myself. 23-25k LU and 2k Cuse would be legit.

Syracuse and Homecoming were the reasons I got my season tickets this year. Any number less than 25k would be a horrible disappointment.

[TexanMark]

Hard to say how many will show from Cuse. I am guessing at least 1K. If this game was a few weeks later it would be 2-3K.

Pros:
Excitement of First Game
New Opponent
Opportunity to drive the Skyline

Cons:
Last weekend of summer
Mid-Major Opponent
Lynchburg: not the easiest place to get to

Traditionally Cuse fans do not travel well for Labor Day away games. Many fans choose one last weekend at the Lake or Shore. Public schools start the following Tuesday in Upstate NY.

One last negative is the polarizing stance of Rev Falwell to many of the liberal Cuse fans. Sad but many have been indoctrinated by media and schools and refuse to go to the game. Their loss.

[Jonathan Carone]

He’s not a reverend. Just felt the need to clarify that.

[Class of 20Something]

Well let's not act like Doc was universally adored. We all miss him, but the MM probably didn't endear him to older liberals.

[JK37]

Maybe TexanMark was referring to Doc??

[thepostman]

Maybe so, but I think Doc is so far removed from the mainstream consciousness that it seems unlikely that is who he was referring to.

[R i]

Got the flames club packet in the mail a couple weeks ago. The entire family gathered around and opened the shiney red packaging thinking it was our season tickets. Wamp Wamp. Anyone know when those will get mailed out ?

[BJWilliams]

The opener is gonna be a challenge for me with my job situation changing. That weekend is the first weekend of HS football here in VA and we have a stacked lineup of games on Friday night

[CCWMichael]

Got the flames club packet in the mail a couple weeks ago. The entire family gathered around and opened the shiney red packaging thinking it was our season tickets. Wamp Wamp. Anyone know when those will get mailed out ?

Around the end of the month.

[BJWilliams]

This year has the potential to be a springboard, not only for the football program but for Liberty athletics as a whole. 2018-2019 was an outstanding year for us on the field/court, but to play off of one thing pretty said, this could see a tide rising for us, and as a wise friend once told me, "a rising tide lifts all boats/ships". This could see ancillary benefits for every sport from basketball (men and women) to golf to any others we could add down the road as collegiate sports.