[jacketree]

Interesting thread.

I think Lex has it right (TV plus Bay Area is just not a college FB hotbed); and furthermore, this "problem" is not limited to Stanford:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ight-year/

I don't, however, buy the fact that there is "nothing else to do in Tuscaloosa."  There is plenty to do anywhere if you want to do it.  People in certain places (Ann Arbor, Columbus, Clemson, Columbia even when they suck for years, etc. etc.) just want to go to football games.  Doesn't make them better; doesn't make them worse.

When I started grad school in '85 I rushed to buy student season tickets out of fear of them being sold out.  That fear was misplaced and in some respects the vibe was more like an afternoon at the beach than a football game.  (Nothing wrong with that; kegs in the stands!!!)  Decent, but nowhere near a sold-out crowd for Texas on CBS national broadcast; really sparse for every other game, and then full for Big Game.  Finally, a big-time atmosphere; although to be honest, most of the noise was supplied by the Cal side if I remember correctly.  I sure don't remember routinely large crowds at the old place, and looking at pictures of 1970s games there sure look to be plenty of empty bench space in the stands, although maybe the first several rows never really filled?  I also think a half-full stadium in the old place would look more full because people would just spread out a little in the benches rather than individual empty red seats all over the place.

Is it this particular offense?  Maybe, but that seems a little shaky to me.  Although I do remember reading an editorial in the Daily when I first arrived wherein the author said he would rather lose by two in a wild game than win by two in a defensive slug-fest, so losing was OK by him as long as it was "exciting."  Never got that sentiment.

Bay Area people want to see an "event" or something new.  Witness the drop off in attendance at AT&T after the novelty of the Coke bottle and garlic fries wore off, despite some really solid teams and 3 WS titles. That huge sellout streak was in name only - tickets have been very easy to come by for at least a decade.  The Warriors may be the one exception.  They stunk to high heaven for years and still sold the place out night after night.

[jacketree]

Interesting thread.

I think Lex has it right (TV plus Bay Area is just not a college FB hotbed); and furthermore, this "problem" is not limited to Stanford:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ight-year/

I don't, however, buy the fact that there is "nothing else to do in Tuscaloosa."  There is plenty to do anywhere if you want to do it.  People in certain places (Ann Arbor, Columbus, Clemson, Columbia even when they suck for years, etc. etc.) just want to go to football games.  Doesn't make them better; doesn't make them worse.

When I started grad school in '85 I rushed to buy student season tickets out of fear of them being sold out.  That fear was misplaced and in some respects the vibe was more like an afternoon at the beach than a football game.  (Nothing wrong with that; kegs in the stands!!!)  Decent, but nowhere near a sold-out crowd for Texas on CBS national broadcast; really sparse for every other game, and then full for Big Game.  Finally, a big-time atmosphere; although to be honest, most of the noise was supplied by the Cal side if I remember correctly.  I sure don't remember routinely large crowds at the old place, and looking at pictures of 1970s games there sure look to be plenty of empty bench space in the stands, although maybe the first several rows never really filled?  I also think a half-full stadium in the old place would look more full because people would just spread out a little in the benches rather than individual empty red seats all over the place.

Is it this particular offense?  Maybe, but that seems a little shaky to me.  Although I do remember reading an editorial in the Daily when I first arrived wherein the author said he would rather lose by two in a wild game than win by two in a defensive slug-fest, so losing was OK by him as long as it was "exciting."  Never got that sentiment.

Bay Area people want to see an "event" or something new.  Witness the drop off in attendance at AT&T after the novelty of the Coke bottle and garlic fries wore off, despite some really solid teams and 3 WS titles. That huge sellout streak was in name only - tickets have been very easy to come by for at least a decade.  The Warriors may be the one exception.  They stunk to high heaven for years and still sold the place out night after night.