It's not the communities job to promote SU football!

[All4SU]

Bottom line for SU is they need quality Non-Conf Competition, and likewise for the schools we play. The problem we had this year was we lost the first two games, and schools like Michigan don't want to jump on a multi game deal if we tank. These last few games have opened some eyes, I don't care who the completion is. With the new playoff system fast approaching, you have to top level OOC games on your resume, and if SU is going to shore up its schedule, they need to show this year that Coach SS is not only here to stay, but the program belongs in the ACC. Don't forget, the ACC has its own problems of being a top tier conference. They haven't been much better than the Big East this last decade. As for scheduling games, SU needs to play their games at home, IMO. Not at Giants stadium. Had we played PSU at home, it would have been close to a sell out and we may have had a win on our hands rather than a loss. Momentum for fans is just as important as it is for the football program. I live 450 miles from the Dome, and people like me that travel back to SU are vital to filling seats. Wagner and Tulane just isn't going to do that, especially after the losses we had. So, in defense of our AD, his hands were tied when he lost DM, and now all rides on how the new regime is settling in, and how the ACC is doing. So far so good in the ACC. Now SU has do their part, on the field. The first ACC game will be nationally televised IMO, impressive wins for the program, first ACC game at the Dome, Clemson should be undefeated, media is so hoping a NE contender can rise in the CFB world, and the game has a half a dozen or so top recruits in the balance. This game is with out question one of the biggest games we have had to play in probably 2 decades. Not a good time for local businesses and residents to turn their back on the program.

Respectfully, I disagree with this. I have always liked the fact that SU played a tough out of conference schedule. BT it's a cop out to say that the reason attendance isn't there is because of the schedule. Yes, PSU at home would have generated close to a sellout. Ten thousand more local (won't call them fans) than we saw Saturday would have showed up. And 15,000 PSU fans would have been there. That's not boosting our fan attendance, it's just selling tickets.

Our attendance has been on life support as someone else said here. The diehards and some random others show up. Others buy tickets and don't show up.

It is important that we get more support from ALL groups at this point. The diehards can't do any more than we are doing. We need more local up port from casual fans, more alumni support, a boost from traveling fans from ACC schools (that we never got from the Big East), students, the youth market, did I mention students? Everyone. 25,000 fans doesn't cut it. And we are lucky if there were that many there yesterday. Frankly, I doubt it. We need 42,000 to 45,000 every week regardless of the opponent. Regardless of the game time. Regardless of the economy, the weather, the state fair, the kids' soccer schedule.

 

[bevosu]

Hire these guys...

 

[SmilinBob]

My feelings on this are if SU plays in the meadowlands vs about anyone it'll be empty unless the other school travels well. So, we have an away game vs a good team and don't win so I'd rather just have that team play at the Dome to about the same number of people only SU has a heck of a better chance of winning. Playing tough teams there unless it's a one game deal hurts the W/L and that then hurts attendance. So, I want the home and home tough games in the Dome. 1/1/1 is fine depending on the team. This years basically two away games killed them.

OOPs...thought I posted this on a schedule thread. Basic point still remains.

 

[cuseinchina]

I have a contrary view. I think it is the community that has kept attendance on life support and from total cardiac arrest. I think it is the almuni's lack of support that has led to life support for games like Tulane. The alumni needs to step it up. In addition, the lack of support from students who were able to get free tickets is what is appalling. P.S. I don't live in the Syracuse area. I am 2.5 hours away and go to the home games. I just don't see the alumni support that is needed.

Alumni are not going to drive from NY or Boston for Wagner. Not going to happen - nor should it be expected. There are only so many weekends in the fall and the distance makes it an all-weekend event. Alumni will show up to big games and bowl games. Tulane is a step up from Wagner obviously - maybe if the team had been 2-1 going into it there would have been more interest. But casual fans - they see the 0-2 start, read headlines in the nasty sniveling local newspaper about how bad the offense is, and they tune out. People will show up for Clemson, then if we lose as is very likely, and fall to 2-3 - interest will dwindle again. The team needs to be consistently good for a couple of years - then people will show up. The best thing to do in the near term is focus on getting the local casual fan community involved to get up numbers - $5 tickets to kids in the syracuse school system, promotions, advertising - I really do think a focus on kids is a great way to do it...what dad objects to taking his kid to a football game, even a bad one, if the price is right and the kid really wants to go (friends are going etc).

 

[orangecuse]

Who knew then that Buzz's infamous words so long ago would come to such fruition. I guess the good people of Syracuse & vicinity actually went on and got a life... :noidea:

 

[Tcuse]

Free tickets for any Syracuse area student with a B or better average.
Should be a motivation for the kids to study, and they get a free ticket but the parents with them would be buying their own.
Probably should have there own section/area. Add a few kid type fun things during the game and you have a fan, maybe a family, for life.

 

[SmilinBob]

Who knew then that Buzz's infamous words so long ago would come to such fruition. I guess the good people of Syracuse & vicinity actually went on and got a life... :noidea:

Yeah, I think the combo of the end of the P era and of course Robinson along with that statement got some people to step back and reassess their usage of their disposable income. Some may never come back and some are probably too stubborn or angry too.

 

[xc84]

Alumni are not going to drive from NY or Boston for Wagner. Not going to happen - nor should it be expected. There are only so many weekends in the fall and the distance makes it an all-weekend event. Alumni will show up to big games and bowl games. Tulane is a step up from Wagner obviously - maybe if the team had been 2-1 going into it there would have been more interest. But casual fans - they see the 0-2 start, read headlines in the nasty sniveling local newspaper about how bad the offense is, and they tune out. People will show up for Clemson, then if we lose as is very likely, and fall to 2-3 - interest will dwindle again. The team needs to be consistently good for a couple of years - then people will show up. The best thing to do in the near term is focus on getting the local casual fan community involved to get up numbers - $5 tickets to kids in the syracuse school system, promotions, advertising - I really do think a focus on kids is a great way to do it...what dad objects to taking his kid to a football game, even a bad one, if the price is right and the kid really wants to go (friends are going etc).

Alumni may not go to a Wagner game...but they should. Of course they don't now. That's why we're chatting about it. Alumni need to step it up.

I do agree that winning will bring in better crowds but for marketing, they need to focus on their weakness... that's the alumni.

 

[cuseinchina]

Alumni may not go to a Wagner game...but they should. Of course they don't now. That's why we're chatting about it. Alumni need to step it up.

I do agree that winning will bring in better crowds but for marketing, they need to focus on their weakness... that's the alumni.

You will never ever ever get a mass showing of Alumni driving 6 hours each way to watch Wagner. Target kids in the syracuse school system and you maybe have something.

Would you bag your entire weekend for the Wagner game and a slice of pizza on M-street, surrounded by 6 hour drives on either end and a hotel bill in a hotel that is likely to suck?

Alumni will start showing up to the good games in droves once the winning is consistent.

Gotta be in the present though and get bodies in the dome.

 

[Cadillac]

That is not accurate at all. During Coach McPherson's years (once they started winning) there were good crowds. Maybe not sell-outs but 35,000 to 40,000. A bad product for so long discourages the casual fan from attending. Win and they will come. Again. Might be too long ago to remember unfortunately.

Noted.

It's the chicken/egg argument and it goes back a few generations in this particular coop.

I don't get the hand wringing, at least at this point in time. If turnout sucks vs. Clemson... or a new ACC opponent when we're in bowl contention... let's revisit.

 

[upperdeck]

the paper needs to know that writing stories that make people feel good will draw more readers than doom and gloom as well. but they dont seem to care either.

 

[xc84]

You will never ever ever get a mass showing of Alumni driving 6 hours each way to watch Wagner. Target kids in the syracuse school system and you maybe have something.

Would you bag your entire weekend for the Wagner game and a slice of pizza on M-street, surrounded by 6 hour drives on either end and a hotel bill in a hotel that is likely to suck?

Alumni will start showing up to the good games in droves once the winning is consistent.

Gotta be in the present though and get bodies in the dome.

I agree, winning will bring people out. However, saying you will never get a mass showing of alumni driving 6 hours to view Wagner ignores the fact that it happens at many schools.

 

[Jeepers]

I think our problems really just come down to being a private school. We need to do something like market the entire state of NY like we're a state school, with smoke and mirrors.

 

[All4SU]

I think our problems really just come down to being a private school. We need to do something like market the entire state of NY like we're a state school, with smoke and mirrors.

Like we are New York's College Team! I think you may be on to something there.

 

[CaliCuse]

Hello, is anyone in charge at SU Athletics? Has Dr Gross already checked out and onto his next job? Where's the advertising & promotion? What's our Football OCC schedule for 2014-2017? Seems like SU Athletics is asleep at the wheel - or in hibernation to you outdoorsy folks.

As I said in another thread, my new company may be dropping its (wow major $$$ hard to believe) advertising in the Dome due to "lack of attendance"! Advertising needs eyeballs - where are the eyeballs?

Like I said before, some of my workmates didn't know we had a home game this weekend and already made plans to do something else - this is what casual fans do.

As much as we blame the community for not showing up, it's not the communities job to promote SU Athletics & it's football program! That's SU Athletics job - and it needs overhauled starting with a high kick to the Nose!

Give Gross a break . He is busy looking up every other bit of this school's traditions to throw under the bus. "Orangemen toOrange No more #44. Orange helmets and pants to that dark blue. There must be others that remain on the hit list and it takes time to strip away the identity of the team's history. Can pink and powder-blue be far away? couchburn

 

[CaliCuse]

I think our problems really just come down to being a private school. We need to do something like market the entire state of NY like we're a state school, with smoke and mirrors.

Very expensive smoke and mirors.

 

[cuseinchina]

I agree, winning will bring people out. However, saying you will never get a mass showing of alumni driving 6 hours to view Wagner ignores the fact that it happens at many schools.

Not ignoring that - just saying that given the recent history it is unlikely. I do think there is a lot to be done on attendance that can have an immediate effect - most of that would apply locally, but alumni should definitely be targeted as well.

 

[rrlbees]

Alumni are not going to drive from NY or Boston for Wagner. Not going to happen - nor should it be expected.

Why not?? They show up at other schools in droves even against bad teams. Go see PedSt play a bad team. What makes out alumni different?


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[cuseinchina]

Why not?? They show up at other schools in droves even against bad teams. Go see PedSt play a bad team. What makes out alumni different?

Size of alumni base, not the state school with enormous local alumni population (plenty of people in syracuse went to SU but Philly and Pittsburgh are overflowing with penn state grads), recent history of program (penn state bowl opponents prior to their issues 2005 to 2010 : Florida state, Tennessee, a&m, USC , Florida, LSU). Rwgardless of the shiite show that went on there, they are structurally better setup for alumni support, and their recent history has been far superior to ours. Kids graduating from SU in the past ten years think football at SU is not good. Those guys need to be won back. I definitely think our alumni can and will support the team and show up for the wagners, but you need to win back this crop of graduates who only show up for basketball. I also think the alumni outreach from the AD is pathetic and more needs to be done. But right now to fill a Wagner type game, best to try locally first IMO

 

[rrlbees]

Size of alumni base, not the state school with enormous local alumni population (plenty of people in syracuse went to SU but Philly and Pittsburgh are overflowing with penn state grads), recent history of program (penn state bowl opponents prior to their issues 2005 to 2010 : Florida state, Tennessee, a&m, USC , Florida, LSU). Rwgardless of the shiite show that went on there, they are structurally better setup for alumni support, and their recent history has been far superior to ours. Kids graduating from SU in the past ten years think football at SU is not good. Those guys need to be won back. I definitely think our alumni can and will support the team and show up for the wagners, but you need to win back this crop of graduates who only show up for basketball. I also think the alumni outreach from the AD is pathetic and more needs to be done. But right now to fill a Wagner type game, best to try locally first IMO

I agree with you. Our alumni base is smaller than many along with the other things you mention. I only bring them up because people want to blame the local fan base for every attendance issue when there is little support from any other faction, good reasons or not.


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[Ottoble]

I think our problems really just come down to being a private school. We need to do something like market the entire state of NY like we're a state school, with smoke and mirrors.

Hmm I'm wondering if since est students get student tickets they could offer all SUNY students a season ticket package likely at a slighly higher rate and in a different section but that would expand the fanbase especially if you want to draw people from all over the state for years to come. Crazy idea but a thought.

Ive always thought that for 5 years after graduation alums should get season tickets in the opposite corner upper deck and ozone for the same price as student tickets slowly increasing after year 2 (when people start to get promotions)

 

[cuseinchina]

I agree with you. Our alumni base is smaller than many along with the other things you mention. I only bring them up because people want to blame the local fan base for every attendance issue when there is little support from any other faction, good reasons or not.

I don't blame locals or alumni. I blame the athletic department for a lack of creativity when it comes to filling the seats during down years and games with weak opponents. One thing I would like to see is a discounted alumni season ticket with an option to donate tickets to games you don't want to attend or can't attend to the syracuse schools or some other youth organization. With the right outreach and some creativity you can get the alumni more involved and increase local attendance at the same time. There are a bunch of things like this that can be pursued.

 

[Bayside44]

I agree with you. Our alumni base is smaller than many along with the other things you mention. I only bring them up because people want to blame the local fan base for every attendance issue when there is little support from any other faction, good reasons or not.

Complaining about parking at Skytop and giving up a weekend and 2 hotel nights to see Wagner (and some people aren't doing cheap motels) aren't the same. That's why it's so frustrating to listen to.

I just got back from a Nats game, 55 bucks times 5 tickets and 35 bucks to park. Compare that to $99 seasons and whatever parking is.

 

[Bayside44]

Hmm I'm wondering if since est students get student tickets they could offer all SUNY students a season ticket package likely at a slighly higher rate and in a different section but that would expand the fanbase especially if you want to draw people from all over the state for years to come. Crazy idea but a thought.

Ive always thought that for 5 years after graduation alums should get season tickets in the opposite corner upper deck and ozone for the same price as student tickets slowly increasing after year 2 (when people start to get promotions)

This was a long time ago but I was at a neighboring SUNY visiting a friend when Cuse lost to Minny in the DC throw a ball at a Gopher game. You would've thought I was in Minny people were celebrating so much.

 

[Ozcuse]

This was a long time ago but I was at a neighboring SUNY visiting a friend when Cuse lost to Minny in the DC throw a ball at a Gopher game. You would've thought I was in Minny people were celebrating so much.

A lot of SUNY students (as well as locals and rest of state) have animosity towards SU and other private schools due to the fact they cater to wealthy and out of state students. A lot of people feel they are elite snobs and there is some truth to it.

It's a growing issue attendance wise when alumni can't be bothered to make the trip from the metro areas here and the alumni feel that the locals who have no ties to the university should show up just because. The school may be named Syracuse University but a more accurate name would be Cherry Hills University or WASP University of NJ/NYC/LI.

You may laugh or take offense but it's a huge reason that locals outside of the 315 area code do not attend and in many cases actively root against SU.