[Hulk01]

My son called from Texas Saturday evening.  He'd been working all day.

"So Texas was on the road?"

"No, the game was at home.  But no one went."

"Against Baylor?  They were ranked 7th.  Sounds like a great matchup."

"The students figured the game for lost.  Plus ACL."

"ACL?"

"Austin City Limits.  Everyone went there instead."

"Wow.  Football at Texas has changed."

"I guess. But they need to avoid scheduling games during Austin City Limits."

A thought from this, too.  We talk about how hard it is for Stanford to compete with the power teams for game day atmosphere.  But everywhere you look today, coaches and ADs (Michigan State's AD went public this weekend, as many of you know) are howling about the half-empty student sections.  Stanford's atmosphere doesn't look as weak by comparison as it did just five seasons ago.

[Hulk01]

My son called from Texas Saturday evening.  He'd been working all day.

"So Texas was on the road?"

"No, the game was at home.  But no one went."

"Against Baylor?  They were ranked 7th.  Sounds like a great matchup."

"The students figured the game for lost.  Plus ACL."

"ACL?"

"Austin City Limits.  Everyone went there instead."

"Wow.  Football at Texas has changed."

"I guess. But they need to avoid scheduling games during Austin City Limits."

A thought from this, too.  We talk about how hard it is for Stanford to compete with the power teams for game day atmosphere.  But everywhere you look today, coaches and ADs (Michigan State's AD went public this weekend, as many of you know) are howling about the half-empty student sections.  Stanford's atmosphere doesn't look as weak by comparison as it did just five seasons ago.

[82lsju]

for many the game day experience at home or a sports bar is better than actually going to the game (and arguably a much better value).

I expect this trend to continue, and eventually they will do away with fans at the stadiums and use CGI to fill the green screen with fans  >:(.

[82lsju]

for many the game day experience at home or a sports bar is better than actually going to the game (and arguably a much better value).

I expect this trend to continue, and eventually they will do away with fans at the stadiums and use CGI to fill the green screen with fans  >:(.

[oman]

Yeah, Austin is a different town now than when I sent to due to thinks like ACL and SXSW.  Just so much more exhausting.  Couple that with the really bitter feelings fans had about Brown and all the conference battles involving the SEC, and morale there is just low. 

Even more important is the idea that the program was captured by alumni and administration who were happy as long as the coffers were full and not caring about the quality of the football (sort of a Dallas Cowboys mentality the last 20 years.  Lot's of bitterness towards the Joe Jamails and Red McCombs who supported Mack Brown and failed to be enthusiastic about Charlie Strong. 

Overall though, with Baylor and TCU and A&M and UTSA all nice stories coming out of Texas, UT's struggles might be offset by other teams. 

The whole idea of the cost of attending the games is a big deal.

UT fans will turn out in Dallas this weekend.  Hope the team does as well.

[oman]

Yeah, Austin is a different town now than when I sent to due to thinks like ACL and SXSW.  Just so much more exhausting.  Couple that with the really bitter feelings fans had about Brown and all the conference battles involving the SEC, and morale there is just low. 

Even more important is the idea that the program was captured by alumni and administration who were happy as long as the coffers were full and not caring about the quality of the football (sort of a Dallas Cowboys mentality the last 20 years.  Lot's of bitterness towards the Joe Jamails and Red McCombs who supported Mack Brown and failed to be enthusiastic about Charlie Strong. 

Overall though, with Baylor and TCU and A&M and UTSA all nice stories coming out of Texas, UT's struggles might be offset by other teams. 

The whole idea of the cost of attending the games is a big deal.

UT fans will turn out in Dallas this weekend.  Hope the team does as well.

[Stymie]

Stanford jumped the shark when it moved the student section from the 50 to a holding pen behind posts.

[Stymie]

Stanford jumped the shark when it moved the student section from the 50 to a holding pen behind posts.

[Viking_Guy]

Glenn--

It started in the old stadium, as they slowly scooted the students down the sidelines toward the ramp entrance.  But when they switched to the new stadium, they put the student section in the lower corner wrapping around to just behind the south endzone.  It's shifted a section back and forth since, but the band is in the corner wedge-shaped section, and the students are now (I think) on the sideline next to them and behind them.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

Glenn--

It started in the old stadium, as they slowly scooted the students down the sidelines toward the ramp entrance.  But when they switched to the new stadium, they put the student section in the lower corner wrapping around to just behind the south endzone.  It's shifted a section back and forth since, but the band is in the corner wedge-shaped section, and the students are now (I think) on the sideline next to them and behind them.

VG

[threepointer]

The reason the students were moved is because Jim Harbaugh and Bob Bowlsby thought it was ridiculous that the Stanford bench was always in the sun while the visitors bench was generally in the shade.  They thought that this created a real disadvantage during afternoon games.

The Pac-12 (and maybe the NCAA) has a rule that the student section can't be located behind the visitor's bench.  So in order to move the team to the shady side of the stadium, the student section had to be moved to the shady side as well.  In order to do that, about 400-500 season ticket holders were moved which really pissed off some long time ticket holders and donors.

Credit Harbaugh and Bowlsby for having the guts to approach the administration (Etch and Hennessy) to make the request.  The ultimate approval for the move was given by them.

[threepointer]

The reason the students were moved is because Jim Harbaugh and Bob Bowlsby thought it was ridiculous that the Stanford bench was always in the sun while the visitors bench was generally in the shade.  They thought that this created a real disadvantage during afternoon games.

The Pac-12 (and maybe the NCAA) has a rule that the student section can't be located behind the visitor's bench.  So in order to move the team to the shady side of the stadium, the student section had to be moved to the shady side as well.  In order to do that, about 400-500 season ticket holders were moved which really pissed off some long time ticket holders and donors.

Credit Harbaugh and Bowlsby for having the guts to approach the administration (Etch and Hennessy) to make the request.  The ultimate approval for the move was given by them.

[Farm93]

for many the game day experience at home or a sports bar is better than actually going to the game (and arguably a much better value).

I expect this trend to continue, and eventually they will do away with fans at the stadiums and use CGI to fill the green screen with fans  >:(.

They already do this at some soccer stadiums in Europe.  Some of the lower tier teams have tarps with images of fans on them.  That way on TV it LOOKS like the stands are full of fans.  I am sure in the future they will just get rid of the tarps and use CGI.

It would be funny to watch a game played during a blizzard, but then have the fans apparently baking in the sun while wearing team T-shirts and jerseys from a different decade.    :)  Sure that will happen soon enough.

[Farm93]

for many the game day experience at home or a sports bar is better than actually going to the game (and arguably a much better value).

I expect this trend to continue, and eventually they will do away with fans at the stadiums and use CGI to fill the green screen with fans  >:(.

They already do this at some soccer stadiums in Europe.  Some of the lower tier teams have tarps with images of fans on them.  That way on TV it LOOKS like the stands are full of fans.  I am sure in the future they will just get rid of the tarps and use CGI.

It would be funny to watch a game played during a blizzard, but then have the fans apparently baking in the sun while wearing team T-shirts and jerseys from a different decade.    :)  Sure that will happen soon enough.

[stupac2]

Isn't Red Zone still free/cheap? And maybe I've got a killer deal since I'm still a young alum and in the sunny-ish end zone, but my tickets are only like $25/seat/game, and I don't pay for parking. If you want to watch live football Stanford's season tickets are really a great deal.

[stupac2]

Isn't Red Zone still free/cheap? And maybe I've got a killer deal since I'm still a young alum and in the sunny-ish end zone, but my tickets are only like $25/seat/game, and I don't pay for parking. If you want to watch live football Stanford's season tickets are really a great deal.

[CowboyIndian]

The constant and interminable TV advertising timeouts have made the in-stadium experience barely tolerable....not to mention the ridiculous and, frankly, embarrassing video board content and audio assaults....especially when compared to watching on a DVR-connected TV in the comfort of your den. I now attend games to socialize before and after without any expectation of the live experience of yesteryear. Too bad, really.

[CowboyIndian]

The constant and interminable TV advertising timeouts have made the in-stadium experience barely tolerable....not to mention the ridiculous and, frankly, embarrassing video board content and audio assaults....especially when compared to watching on a DVR-connected TV in the comfort of your den. I now attend games to socialize before and after without any expectation of the live experience of yesteryear. Too bad, really.

[82lsju]

When did that happen? Once we started going to bowl games regularly, I stopped scheduling vacations centered on Stanford home games, so I haven't been to one since my last reunion, in 2010.

the first time probably ~1990.  We used to have pretty poor season tickets in the old stadium, when the students were moved we were able to move to section DD rows 38 and 39 for our group of ~14 people.  Those were great seats at mid-field.

In the new stadium we were unwilling to pony up the required donation for similar seats so we were in the upper deck ~35 yard line for a year or two, then moved to the lower deck to escape the upper bowl wok like temperatures on hot day games when the team switched sides of the field and some sunny side lower bowl seats were available (which I think were the student seats behind the sunny side bench).  When we moved to that section (234) the player parents were in the front half of the section, this year they were moved to the shady side.

[82lsju]

When did that happen? Once we started going to bowl games regularly, I stopped scheduling vacations centered on Stanford home games, so I haven't been to one since my last reunion, in 2010.

the first time probably ~1990.  We used to have pretty poor season tickets in the old stadium, when the students were moved we were able to move to section DD rows 38 and 39 for our group of ~14 people.  Those were great seats at mid-field.

In the new stadium we were unwilling to pony up the required donation for similar seats so we were in the upper deck ~35 yard line for a year or two, then moved to the lower deck to escape the upper bowl wok like temperatures on hot day games when the team switched sides of the field and some sunny side lower bowl seats were available (which I think were the student seats behind the sunny side bench).  When we moved to that section (234) the player parents were in the front half of the section, this year they were moved to the shady side.

[stupac2]

Speaking of new things to complain about, my wife loathes the twitter board. We face it and apparently she just can't look away and reads all the tweets and makes fun of them. I like the ribbon board in general, it's nice to be able to see stats without pulling up ESPN, but the tweets could definitely stand to go.

[stupac2]

Speaking of new things to complain about, my wife loathes the twitter board. We face it and apparently she just can't look away and reads all the tweets and makes fun of them. I like the ribbon board in general, it's nice to be able to see stats without pulling up ESPN, but the tweets could definitely stand to go.

[Leftcoast]

While I agree on the constant "Toyota Red Zone" style sponsored advertising I prefer the Game Day experience in the new stadium.  I'm much closer to the action, love the new seats, enjoy the replay options and how could you NOT prefer the new food choices and restroom access?  And, of course, we are WINNING.

Contrary to some comments on this thread you are allowed to bring in food and sealed beverages - an option I frequently use. 

Players, fans and, yes, students are more involved in the game than any era since Walsh 2 meaning I rank student involvement now higher than in the Willingham era.

The students were moved to be behind our team rather than the opponents when Harbaugh moved the team bench.  Most are still closer to the action than they were in the old place and I can't see that they mind.

Are you guys just being curmudgeons this week?

[Leftcoast]

While I agree on the constant "Toyota Red Zone" style sponsored advertising I prefer the Game Day experience in the new stadium.  I'm much closer to the action, love the new seats, enjoy the replay options and how could you NOT prefer the new food choices and restroom access?  And, of course, we are WINNING.

Contrary to some comments on this thread you are allowed to bring in food and sealed beverages - an option I frequently use. 

Players, fans and, yes, students are more involved in the game than any era since Walsh 2 meaning I rank student involvement now higher than in the Willingham era.

The students were moved to be behind our team rather than the opponents when Harbaugh moved the team bench.  Most are still closer to the action than they were in the old place and I can't see that they mind.

Are you guys just being curmudgeons this week?

[CowboyIndian]

My criticism wasn't aimed exclusively at Stanford Stadium, although that's where I've experienced the problems most often, obviously. The lengthy and, in my opinion, game-changing TV timeouts and aural assault  phenomena were at least similar, if not worse, at Husky Stadium and Arizona Stadium (Tucson). Notre Dame has the aforementioned problems coupled with crap seats for visitors, a horse's ass fan base and some of the worst weather I've sat through for anything,, including fall and winter horse gathers in Montana.

[CowboyIndian]

My criticism wasn't aimed exclusively at Stanford Stadium, although that's where I've experienced the problems most often, obviously. The lengthy and, in my opinion, game-changing TV timeouts and aural assault  phenomena were at least similar, if not worse, at Husky Stadium and Arizona Stadium (Tucson). Notre Dame has the aforementioned problems coupled with crap seats for visitors, a horse's ass fan base and some of the worst weather I've sat through for anything,, including fall and winter horse gathers in Montana.