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Message: [QUOTE="Louie&Bouie, post: 359002, member: 310"] I'd like to think that I have a somewhat interesting, if not unique perspective on this issue. I graduated from SU in 1992 and in 1996 moved to the South (Louisiana and North Carolina) for 9 years. I married a woman from Liverpool who was brave enough (I'd make the obligatory "or dumb enough" joke here, but she's far smarter than me) to follow me. When we returned to Syracuse to start my business, with four boys in tow, I had one request. That my wife not complain about the cost of six season tickets for both football and basketball. We don't spend a ton--only "C" level contributors, but some of my fondest memories have come high-fiving my family members during games there. My eldest son (14 years old now) likes to say that the only time I cry is on Senior Day, twice a year... Hey, if you can't give up a few tears for Doug Hogue or Arinze Onuaku, what kind of person are you? Upon our return, I was appalled by the lack of interest in our football program that I encountered from friends (and some family). We're talking about people that had held season tickets for 10-25 years. While I have always felt that many SU fans were fickle, I could not believe how many people had made a conscientious decision not to continue their support of this program. Many were, and remain to this day, the first people to bitch about the program, it's direction, and it's lack of success over the last ten years. Hell, I live in Fairway East in Liverpool, and don't know 5 other families in our development that have season tickets. That is mind-numbing to me. I'm not smart enough to tell you all whether this apathy is a direct result of on-field results or a poor job of marketing this program by our athletic department. My opinion (keep in mind that it is an opinion, not fact) is that winning will cure a lot of these woes. IMO, SU has always had a die-hard "base" of about 35k fans. For a variety of reasons, defined by each individual, they have stayed away in recent years. If we start winning, we will climb back up to 40-45k fans for big games. Bring a kid from your neighborhood. Despite the protestations of some, you can bring a group of six to the dome for a helluva lot less than it would cost to take the same 6 people to a dinner @ Bonefish. Sneak in some bourbon. And Skittles. Everybody wins. And you are making an impression on the next potential group of fans/customers. This team is exciting. And improving. I'm reminded of a conversation that Harmon Killebrew's father once had with Harmon's mother, May, who was upset that her two sons were outside tearing up the lawn and the flower beds. After listening to his wife complain, he said "We're raising boys, May. Not grass." I say let's raise some fans. Old and young. Go Orange. [/QUOTE]

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