(04-04-2009 07:12 AM)statefanatic Wrote:  ASU and ULM will play Tuesday Oct. 13th on ESPN2. That makes 2 games so far for the Belt to be on ESPN2 this coming season.

http://www.jonesborosun.com/story.php?ID=37651

(04-04-2009 07:34 AM)statefanatic Wrote:  We should all get on there and talk up the belt.

(04-04-2009 08:37 AM)Trojan Delta Chi Wrote:  

(04-04-2009 07:34 AM)statefanatic Wrote:  We should all get on there and talk up the belt.

that is a GREAT idea fanatic! we'll have to organize ourselves, and those on the individual boards, and make sure that it is SUN BELT talk going on across the top of the screen. I get tired of seeing BS about Notre Dame and USC.

Oh, and a BIG congrats to ULM and stAte for making a national broadcast! I'll definitely be throwing a Sun Belt football watching party that evening. May even get a keg.

(04-05-2009 01:03 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  Weekday games are fine with me as long as they are away. :)

Tuesday and even Thursday night games are ratings disasters, but to ESPN, having games on those days beats re-runs of Texas hold'em poker.

No one but the die-hard fans (many of whom can't make it to campuses for weekday games, or decide not to come and instead watch on TV) watch these games. Oh yeah, a few drunks watch in the bars and at airports. :) Friday night games don't even draw the normal fans (who have teen-age children, or have anything to do with high school football).

ESPN doesn't have to pay us anything (free programming for them) because we are so thrilled to be on national TV, that we sell out and give up all the perks of a weekend game (such as many more fans, the gameday experience, community business support, etc.).

The 'Belt is selling out and we, the fans (who are lucky to get five home dates a year), are losing.

Teams like Troy are especially hurt because the bulk of the fan base is an hour or many more hours away. Those people stay home, rather than take a day or two off in this economy. Or, they come into town a few minutes before the game (or before halftime in some instances such as during the Troy-Missouri game) and blow out right after the game.

The university and football atmosphere suffers (forget much if any tailgating). The local restaurants, hotels and bars suffer, or maybe get half their anticipated business. The school gear sellers suffer because alumni and fans have little time to shop for shirts and such.

But we do it for all that "exposure".

If a tree falls in the woods ...

(04-05-2009 01:03 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  Weekday games are fine with me as long as they are away. :)

Tuesday and even Thursday night games are ratings disasters, but to ESPN, having games on those days beats re-runs of Texas hold'em poker.

No one but the die-hard fans (many of whom can't make it to campuses for weekday games, or decide not to come and instead watch on TV) watch these games. Oh yeah, a few drunks watch in the bars and at airports. :) Friday night games don't even draw the normal fans (who have teen-age children, or have anything to do with high school football).

ESPN doesn't have to pay us anything (free programming for them) because we are so thrilled to be on national TV, that we sell out and give up all the perks of a weekend game (such as many more fans, the gameday experience, community business support, etc.).

The 'Belt is selling out and we, the fans (who are lucky to get five home dates a year), are losing.

Teams like Troy are especially hurt because the bulk of the fan base is an hour or many more hours away. Those people stay home, rather than take a day or two off in this economy. Or, they come into town a few minutes before the game (or before halftime in some instances such as during the Troy-Missouri game) and blow out right after the game.

The university and football atmosphere suffers (forget much if any tailgating). The local restaurants, hotels and bars suffer, or maybe get half their anticipated business. The school gear sellers suffer because alumni and fans have little time to shop for shirts and such.

But we do it for all that "exposure".

If a tree falls in the woods ...

(04-04-2009 07:34 AM)statefanatic Wrote:  We should all get on there and talk up the belt.