Amato: Floyd Stadium should be filled

[SpaceRaider]

FWIW, opinion piece, by dnj beat writer.

First, it is unfair to compare or use as a baseline, MT to Alabama.

Secondly, there were far more empty seats in Bryant Denny than just three thousand.

MT needs to win. Needs to win Championships, back to back to back. How many classes of students have come through the university without the football program winning an outright championship? When MT plays a power conference program it needs to win more often than it does.

Just win.

 

[Blueraider_Mike]

Exactly...The bottom line is we have not won enough to build our fan base. Its a shame, but the fight is not over. We don't have marketing problem, we don't have a tailgating problem, we pay our coaches enough - we just haven't gotten an ROI that translates to more fans - the only solution is to win more, and to win consistently.

No matter what, I will always be True Blue!

 

[MTLynn]

It's Boots' fault we aren't selling out games and had only 15K in the home opener. He must be fired!!

 

[sWiley]

This is a tired, nation-wide problem for programs like ours. If there was an easy fix (or even a hard fix) we'd be doing it. I'm sure our team is trying to win every game they play and I'm sure they will continue to try to do so. It is what it is.

As far as I'm concerned, the hell with all those fair weather fans/people who would only show up if we were to have as much success as a Boise St. type program. The lack of support from the apathetic town of Murfreesboro/Rutherford County/all of Middle TN area has hurt our program since it became 1-A/FBS. I absolutely DESPISE people who jump on bandwagons and only want to cheer for the #1 team. Is that the group of folks you really want in Floyd stadium? They'll be the first ones to leave as soon as things don't go so well. F those people IMO.

 

[TeKEraider]

Exactly...The bottom line is we have not won enough to build our fan base. Its a shame, but the fight is not over. We don't have marketing problem, we don't have a tailgating problem, we pay our coaches enough - we just haven't gotten an ROI that translates to more fans - the only solution is to win more, and to win consistently.

No matter what, I will always be True Blue!

I agree with most of that. Championships will fix a lot of ills but we have a school pride problem. I have my theories on the psychology behind it but our biggest issue is our alums. We run ourselves down. We have an inferiority complex. It may happen on occasion, but I haven't heard media or SEC fan refer to us as "little middle" in 10 years. You know who does? Middle fan. On social media. On message boards. In person. Nothing is good enough. Our name. Our Marketing. Our Gameday experience. Our coaches. Our President. They all stink. If we could just change X it will fix it. Hell. We complain about our Mascot. Our mascot! Grown men complaining about a stuffed freaking animal! We have a pride issue.

"Marketing doesn't do anything" is this weeks primary complaint. Never mind the 4 commercials I heard on the way to work, the 3 billboards I passed or the free tickets The Zone is giving away. Ignore the live remotes from campus or the spring break trip for students because they don't count. Marketing does nothing because, ya know, somebody with no knowledge of our budget and what we can afford and probably doesn't even live in the area said so.

Put that in the same box as Coach X doesn't go out and recruit. Our complaints are silly most of the time. I am guilty this week too. I complained about the timing of the Blackout(heat, no TV etc.) Turns out there is no Blackout so once again the people in charge are getting it right. My complaint was off base. Yes. There was a minor miscommunication, but it was quickly corrected. For some of our fans that's not enough. An honest mistake by some GA running a Twitter account "screams little middle". No. It's our "fans" that scream little middle every chance they get. If a Goatopper fan came on here said half of the things our own fans say about our program we would ban them. That apathy bleeds over into attendance, donations etc. I hope our current students have a little more pride. From what I can see they do and that gives me hope.

I hope Aldo writes more stuff like this. Our alums should be called out for their apathy and lack of support as often as possible.

 

[SmithO1906]

I'm to the point that I dont care anymore. I thoroughly enjoy going to MT games and when I cant attend I watch on tv if possible. I dont go to games to see how many other people are there, I go to watch the game. I would love to one day walk into a packed JRF stadium and have to tell someone that they are sitting in my seat and I would like for them to move, but until I will continue to support the team as much as I can

 

[MTBig Blue]

This is a tired, nation-wide problem for programs like ours. If there was an easy fix (or even a hard fix) we'd be doing it. I'm sure our team is trying to win every game they play and I'm sure they will continue to try to do so. It is what it is.

As far as I'm concerned, the hell with all those fair weather fans/people who would only show up if we were to have as much success as a Boise St. type program. The lack of support from the apathetic town of Murfreesboro/Rutherford County/all of Middle TN area has hurt our program since it became 1-A/FBS. I absolutely DESPISE people who jump on bandwagons and only want to cheer for the #1 team. Is that the group of folks you really want in Floyd stadium? They'll be the first ones to leave as soon as things don't go so well. F those people IMO.

This 1000 times.

 

[MTLynn]

People are bandwagoners. Look at ut-k and titans games. When those teams are in the middle of the pack then attendance suffers.

MT is no different.

 

[AustinLewis]

As mentioned already, football programs of all sizes and conferences are struggling to sale out games. The combination more televised games, improved televised experience, SOMETIMES poor game atmosphere, and increased economic competition play a role...
But, MT has not done a good job of sustaining success or giving people a reason to return to the game. Think back to the highly anticipated home games against Georgia Tech, Minnesota, and Mississippi State - the team laid a dud and sometimes the weather wasn't cooperative (that Miss State game was COLD).

 

[JohnDavidBlue]

Alums are the issue. Excitement starts with those that have ties with the product and as previously stated, we have some type of inferiority complex.

The city of Murfreesboro really disappoints me. I have a generalization that may be entirely off base but this town is primarily a blue collar town. Nothing wrong with blue collar but their allegiances gravitate to those things that can identify them regionally as a whole. Examples, University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, Tennessee Titans, etc. That being said, if my assumption is accurate, I would sure love for these people to come to the games.

This has to be said: Andy and Rick have not helped by dropping big games. Andy's debacle and Rick's play not to lose have really punched the program in the gut. It isn't all on the fan base. It is a sum of the parts.

To that end, I enjoy the gameday experience. I enjoy having something to rally around that I am connected to. It is fun to share with my family and friends.

 

[MT Blue]

I agree with most of that. Championships will fix a lot of ills but we have a school pride problem. I have my theories on the psychology behind it but our biggest issue is our alums. We run ourselves down. We have an inferiority complex. It may happen on occasion, but I haven't heard media or SEC fan refer to us as "little middle" in 10 years. You know who does? Middle fan. On social media. On message boards. In person. Nothing is good enough. Our name. Our Marketing. Our Gameday experience. Our coaches. Our President. They all stink. If we could just change X it will fix it. Hell. We complain about our Mascot. Our mascot! Grown men complaining about a stuffed freaking animal! We have a pride issue.

"Marketing doesn't do anything" is this weeks primary complaint. Never mind the 4 commercials I heard on the way to work, the 3 billboards I passed or the free tickets The Zone is giving away. Ignore the live remotes from campus or the spring break trip for students because they don't count. Marketing does nothing because, ya know, somebody with no knowledge of our budget and what we can afford and probably doesn't even live in the area said so.

Put that in the same box as Coach X doesn't go out and recruit. Our complaints are silly most of the time. I am guilty this week too. I complained about the timing of the Blackout(heat, no TV etc.) Turns out there is no Blackout so once again the people in charge are getting it right. My complaint was off base. Yes. There was a minor miscommunication, but it was quickly corrected. For some of our fans that's not enough. An honest mistake by some GA running a Twitter account "screams little middle". No. It's our "fans" that scream little middle every chance they get. If a Goatopper fan came on here said half of the things our own fans say about our program we would ban them. That apathy bleeds over into attendance, donations etc. I hope our current students have a little more pride. From what I can see they do and that gives me hope.

I hope Aldo writes more stuff like this. Our alums should be called out for their apathy and lack of support as often as possible.[/QUOTE]

Spot on here. I know I have been guilty of this very thing at times. We all have. However, it has become less and less. I appreciate the effort of the coaches, teams, administration, and marketing dept. However, the change must begin with each one of us doing all that we can to be positive and exude the Blue Raider pride that we want all of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County area to have. They must see it first in us to want to be like us!!!!

 

[MidTnBlues]

FWIW I saw Danielle tweet they beat last year's sales for family packs this year. So we could have a pretty good crowd.

 

[AustinLewis]

The city of Murfreesboro really disappoints me. I have a generalization that may be entirely off base but this town is primarily a blue collar town. Nothing wrong with blue collar but their allegiances gravitate to those things that can identify them regionally as a whole. Examples, University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, Tennessee Titans, etc. That being said, if my assumption is accurate, I would sure love for these people to come to the games.

Interesting thought here. So, if I understand you correct, the surrounding community may be more attracted to a pro-style or triple option offense rather than a spread offense?

 

[RaiderDoug]

I'm to the point that I dont care anymore. I thoroughly enjoy going to MT games and when I cant attend I watch on tv if possible. I dont go to games to see how many other people are there, I go to watch the game. I would love to one day walk into a packed JRF stadium and have to tell someone that they are sitting in my seat and I would like for them to move, but until I will continue to support the team as much as I can

I'm with you, at this point - no one here has any control over any of this other than the 2,4, or 6 tickets you personally may buy.

This is a problem for everyone - not just us. We all became fans during the period where we all thought that bigger and bigger stadiums filled up SRO meant success. Then, HD came along, and dozens of games on the internet, and then - lets face it - spectator sports just aren't what they were 10,15,20 years ago. People are into all sorts of different hobbies and pursuits they spend time on.

If we start winning big, then the stadium will be filled and you can tell all the bandwagon jumpers that you were there back when....

And if we don't, then you get to watch your favorite team with some leg room to stretch out.

 

[blueboro007]

The city / civic leaders scheduled Wine on the Square for the exact time as our game...great planning guys.

 

[sWiley]

The city / civic leaders scheduled Wine on the Square for the exact time as our game...great planning guys.

This is such a great example of how the city of Murfreesboro is tone deaf when it comes to supporting MTSU, especially athletics. If only colleges could up and leave town like professional teams, I suspect their attitude towards the university would be drastically different. Instead, we are taken for granted, and obviously not appreciated in the least bit. I would be furious with the city/civic leaders if I were Stock & Massaro (and McPhee, but we know that won't happen). Even if the wine tasting or whatever the **** they are doing isn't the biggest event in the world it's the principle and just shows the lack of respect Murfreesboro "leaders" have for our university and it's athletics programs.


The entire town should be painted blue and encouraged to be at that stadium on Saturdays, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. You think Knoxville or any other legit FBS program is throwing city events during football games? LOL... What a joke. Our university and it's athletics programs will continue to be viewed as second class events and unimportant so long as the status quo remains in that sorry excuse for a town. Perhaps it is time to get these "leaders" out of office and elect someone with a brain who knows where their bread is buttered? It starts from the top down and as long as the clowny leaders in that town continue to disrespect our university nothing's going to change. You are hurting our Blue Raiders by continuing to elect those half-wits.

 

[TeKEraider]

Everybody breathe. This is not something city leaders plan. No need to kick folks out of office. I imagine its also something that goes on the calendar before the football schedule is released. According to their website a whopping 700 people showed up last year. It will probably be less this year since they had they had the misfortune of it falling on a home game.

 

[JohnDavidBlue]

Sellouts would happen If we had more cowbell.