As a non EMU fan, here is my take on the situation.

EMU is at an extreme disadvantage because of it's proximity to U of M. Throw in the fact that a significant number of your students are commuters, and you have a recipe for disaster in regards to attendance. That isn't to say you can't overcome those factors...or at the very least improve football attendance year over year.

Obviously Coach English has EMU heading in the right direction. Hopefully he continues to build the EMU program (not at the expense of my Broncos of course) and a consistent winner emerges. However, unless you are completely blind to the ways of college football, you have to be thinking about the possibility of English getting snatched up by a BCS program that needs a HC, or even a DC. What will the administration do if English is gone after 2012 or 2013? If there isn't a strong candidate already in the system, EMU will be at square one. I'm going to assume that English doesn't have a protege in his system, or if he does, that person would be leaving with him IF more $$$ comes calling.

Under that scenerio, if I was the EMU AD, I would hire a HC that is heavy on the passing game. Why? Because those offenses are typically exciting to watch and help put butts in the seats. And, your location can be used to your advantage when you are recruiting Detroit and Ohio skill position players. Start chucking the ball 50 times per game and watch a few heads turn.

Here is a good article regarding football attendance.

http://harvardsportsanalysis.wordpress.c...-football/

Note, they mention that having a pro sports team in the immediate area affects attendance. Well, not only do you have the Lions located in Detroit...you have the highest drawing college team in the history of the sport in your BACKYARD.

In regards to the immediate future and potentially boosting attendance...here is what I would do:

1. Tickets as low as $5. If you are wearing a EMU shirt, sweatshirt or jacket, it's $3 per person.

2. Community and family events held in your indoor practice facility before home games. Hopefully it is somewhat close to Rynearson, otherwise it won't work. Think face painting, petting zoos, bounce houses, etc...anything that little kids love. Any non teenager gets in the game free. Get a local bank/credit union or business to "host" the event. They can staff the entire thing and get free advertising for their own product.

3. Award free tuition for one semester to a student. Award this in the 4th quarter of every home game. If their name is drawn, and they aren't at Rynearson, the admin sends a nice letter home to their parents informing them that their son or daughter would've won free tuition for a semester IF they had stayed for the entire game. Note, this was not my original idea. Credit Graham Couch, who was our mlive beat reporter for 7 years.

Worth noting...
Former two sport star, Tyler Jones was just hired and introduced as the new Assistant Director of Athletic Marketing.

(06-19-2012 09:18 AM)EA3 Wrote:  As a non EMU fan, here is my take on the situation.

EMU is at an extreme disadvantage because of it's proximity to U of M. Throw in the fact that a significant number of your students are commuters, and you have a recipe for disaster in regards to attendance. That isn't to say you can't overcome those factors...or at the very least improve football attendance year over year.

Obviously Coach English has EMU heading in the right direction. Hopefully he continues to build the EMU program (not at the expense of my Broncos of course) and a consistent winner emerges. However, unless you are completely blind to the ways of college football, you have to be thinking about the possibility of English getting snatched up by a BCS program that needs a HC, or even a DC. What will the administration do if English is gone after 2012 or 2013? If there isn't a strong candidate already in the system, EMU will be at square one. I'm going to assume that English doesn't have a protege in his system, or if he does, that person would be leaving with him IF more $$$ comes calling.

Under that scenerio, if I was the EMU AD, I would hire a HC that is heavy on the passing game. Why? Because those offenses are typically exciting to watch and help put butts in the seats. And, your location can be used to your advantage when you are recruiting Detroit and Ohio skill position players. Start chucking the ball 50 times per game and watch a few heads turn.

Here is a good article regarding football attendance.

http://harvardsportsanalysis.wordpress.c...-football/

Note, they mention that having a pro sports team in the immediate area affects attendance. Well, not only do you have the Lions located in Detroit...you have the highest drawing college team in the history of the sport in your BACKYARD.

In regards to the immediate future and potentially boosting attendance...here is what I would do:

1. Tickets as low as $5. If you are wearing a EMU shirt, sweatshirt or jacket, it's $3 per person.

2. Community and family events held in your indoor practice facility before home games. Hopefully it is somewhat close to Rynearson, otherwise it won't work. Think face painting, petting zoos, bounce houses, etc...anything that little kids love. Any non teenager gets in the game free. Get a local bank/credit union or business to "host" the event. They can staff the entire thing and get free advertising for their own product.

3. Award free tuition for one semester to a student. Award this in the 4th quarter of every home game. If their name is drawn, and they aren't at Rynearson, the admin sends a nice letter home to their parents informing them that their son or daughter would've won free tuition for a semester IF they had stayed for the entire game. Note, this was not my original idea. Credit Graham Couch, who was our mlive beat reporter for 7 years.

I like all those ideas except the chucking the ball 50 times a game. We had that under Jeff Genyk...but he forgot about the defense and ultimately failed. I actually like the hard-nosed running game, huge offensive linemen, and stout defensive approach that English has implemented. I find the current style highly watchable, he just needs to convince people to come see for themselves, because I think most would come back again. It's a hell of a bargain; solid, hard hitting Division I football at a low price.

Devout football fans above the age of 40 will always prefer the stout defense and clock controlling running game. The younger generation, which you need on your side, loves to see points put on the board.

It is getting increasingly tough to field a "hard-nosed" football team that can do those two things. Linemen end up being extremely important. Typically, non BCS schools lose the battle in the trenches. Find a way to beat a BCS team here or there...and more people will take notice. Achieving that is practically impossible due to the disparity in the trenches.

It's tough to find coaches that can produce those results in non BCS schools.

To clarify, I find EMU's style fun to watch as well. I enjoy defense and running the ball.

My point is that fringe fans don't necessarily enjoy it.

(06-19-2012 09:47 AM)KPJ Wrote:  Worth noting...
Former two sport star, Tyler Jones was just hired and introduced as the new Assistant Director of Athletic Marketing.

Sorry for not knowing but what does the Assistant Director of Athletic Marketing job detailed? what are the expectation for this position?

(06-19-2012 09:18 AM)EA3 Wrote:  As a non EMU fan, here is my take on the situation.

EMU is at an extreme disadvantage because of it's proximity to U of M. Throw in the fact that a significant number of your students are commuters, and you have a recipe for disaster in regards to attendance. That isn't to say you can't overcome those factors...or at the very least improve football attendance year over year.

Obviously Coach English has EMU heading in the right direction. Hopefully he continues to build the EMU program (not at the expense of my Broncos of course) and a consistent winner emerges. However, unless you are completely blind to the ways of college football, you have to be thinking about the possibility of English getting snatched up by a BCS program that needs a HC, or even a DC. What will the administration do if English is gone after 2012 or 2013? If there isn't a strong candidate already in the system, EMU will be at square one. I'm going to assume that English doesn't have a protege in his system, or if he does, that person would be leaving with him IF more $$$ comes calling.

Under that scenerio, if I was the EMU AD, I would hire a HC that is heavy on the passing game. Why? Because those offenses are typically exciting to watch and help put butts in the seats. And, your location can be used to your advantage when you are recruiting Detroit and Ohio skill position players. Start chucking the ball 50 times per game and watch a few heads turn.

Here is a good article regarding football attendance.

http://harvardsportsanalysis.wordpress.c...-football/

Note, they mention that having a pro sports team in the immediate area affects attendance. Well, not only do you have the Lions located in Detroit...you have the highest drawing college team in the history of the sport in your BACKYARD.

In regards to the immediate future and potentially boosting attendance...here is what I would do:

1. Tickets as low as $5. If you are wearing a EMU shirt, sweatshirt or jacket, it's $3 per person.

2. Community and family events held in your indoor practice facility before home games. Hopefully it is somewhat close to Rynearson, otherwise it won't work. Think face painting, petting zoos, bounce houses, etc...anything that little kids love. Any non teenager gets in the game free. Get a local bank/credit union or business to "host" the event. They can staff the entire thing and get free advertising for their own product.

3. Award free tuition for one semester to a student. Award this in the 4th quarter of every home game. If their name is drawn, and they aren't at Rynearson, the admin sends a nice letter home to their parents informing them that their son or daughter would've won free tuition for a semester IF they had stayed for the entire game. Note, this was not my original idea. Credit Graham Couch, who was our mlive beat reporter for 7 years.

Great read and it explains alot about the situation we are having.. It still about building a sound football program and winning games each year.. I think, going forward we are on our way..

I hope!!!!!!!!!!!!