Did I just read that Ball State has never won a bowl game? Looks like they have gotten blown out in almost every game. If true, that is really surprising.

I think the Cards are like 0-6.

(12-08-2013 06:40 PM)BSU4U Wrote:  

(12-08-2013 05:35 PM)Rik Flair Wrote:  Excited to play Ball State. Should be an exciting game. Mobile is a great time. Beach is really close and worth coming down for a few days to enjoy. Parade is fantastic. Hope to see some Cardinal fans down there

Agree on all accounts. Throw in the fact that the stadium has been remodeled and we have a real winner. Should be fun!

Ladd was remodeled? When? Must have been this year. Have been to past two bowls and the stadium is the only disappointing part of the trip.
How far is Mobile from Muncie? The trip is about 7 hours for stAte fans.
How well do you think your fanbase will travel? Last 2 years have been good for stAte bringing 10k.

Safe to say it will be rare for any MAC fan base to travel all that well to Mobile on Jan. 5. Too bad this game can't be during the holiday season. Everyone is back to work by 1/6. I don't know about the university calendar, not that a lot of students would make the trip anyway, but if school is back in session even getting a few will be problematic.

When Miami played in this bowl in 2003 the game was early and well attended by Miami fans (upwards of 8K), but the Jan 5 date is just "awful awful" for travel as most of us have to get back to work after the holiday is over.

Ball State could have won the 1996 Las Vegas Bowl game against Nevada. Late in the defensive struggle, they had a receiver fly way past blown coverage, QB heaved it, it's going right into the bread basket aaannnd... dropped. Lost 18-15.

(12-08-2013 05:35 PM)Rik Flair Wrote:  Excited to play Ball State. Should be an exciting game. Mobile is a great time. Beach is really close and worth coming down for a few days to enjoy. Parade is fantastic. Hope to see some Cardinal fans down there

I can affirm this. Mobile is a great little town and pulls out all the stops.

I know some BSU grads who are planning on attending and told them of the positive experience we Miamians had back in years past there....lots of hospitality!

(12-09-2013 03:51 PM)exCincy Kid1 Wrote:  I know some BSU grads who are planning on attending and told them of the positive experience we Miamians had back in years past there....lots of hospitality!

Ball State was there in 2008. Mobile really gets behind this bowl and throws a great party.

The Mardi Gras parade the night before the game was a blast. Great fun. Mobile knows how to host a bowl game. Looking forward to going back this year.

I was told once that Miami sold more actual tickets to the 2010 Go Daddy Bowl than the 2003 GMAC Bowl (both in Mobile)

Regardless I was at both and there is no way there were 8K Miami fans in 2003...maybe half that. Still 4K fans for a MAC school for a "minor" bowl game is a tremendous amount. I thought we sold 4,400 through the school in 2003- but that included discounts to the next year's season tickets or something.

My guess on Miami in 2010 was about 3K.

I was at Kent's Go Daddy last year (wife is a Kent grad) and I would guess a similar amount- maybe a little less than Miami had. I know Kent had about 300 in the pre-game reception because I counted.

ASU had way more fans because it is driving distance and ASU probably averages 25K fans for home games. The bar scene felt at least 10-1 ASU...but I think the average age of the Kent crowd last year was 85 (it was an old bunch)

I made the trip to see Kent last year. Godaddy bowl is great. The parade, the bars, the oysters and battleship make for a great trip. The date is not the best.

(12-09-2013 09:11 AM)Rik Flair Wrote:  

(12-08-2013 06:40 PM)BSU4U Wrote:  

(12-08-2013 05:35 PM)Rik Flair Wrote:  Excited to play Ball State. Should be an exciting game. Mobile is a great time. Beach is really close and worth coming down for a few days to enjoy. Parade is fantastic. Hope to see some Cardinal fans down there

Agree on all accounts. Throw in the fact that the stadium has been remodeled and we have a real winner. Should be fun!

Ladd was remodeled? When? Must have been this year. Have been to past two bowls and the stadium is the only disappointing part of the trip.
How far is Mobile from Muncie? The trip is about 7 hours for stAte fans.
How well do you think your fanbase will travel? Last 2 years have been good for stAte bringing 10k.

According to MapQuest: Muncie to Mobile is 793 miles; driving time is 12 hours, 20 minutes.

(12-09-2013 08:40 PM)KentKrazy Wrote:  I made the trip to see Kent last year. Godaddy bowl is great. The parade, the bars, the oysters and battleship make for a great trip. The date is not the best.

Its not the worst thing in the world. I'll still be able to go to Mobile, and sit back in the hotel and watch my chiefs in the playoffs that Saturday or Sunday without worrying about missing any of the ASU game.

The date stinks because for many, that following Monday will be the first day back to school for kids after break, and I've found many parents are unwilling to pull their kids out of school a day for a bowl trip. Likewise, Monday's are just tough days to take off work.

The other downside is the game turns into a 3 hour infomercial for the National Title game...but what bowl game isn't these days?

(12-09-2013 04:57 PM)LongtimeFan Wrote:  The Mardi Gras parade the night before the game was a blast. Great fun. Mobile knows how to host a bowl game. Looking forward to going back this year.

I agree. It was easily the most fun I've had at all the bowl games we've been in since 2007.

Also , I thought I read Ladd Peebles was remodeled for the University of South Alabama. Is that not right?

(12-09-2013 10:36 PM)BSU4U Wrote:  

(12-09-2013 04:57 PM)LongtimeFan Wrote:  The Mardi Gras parade the night before the game was a blast. Great fun. Mobile knows how to host a bowl game. Looking forward to going back this year.

I agree. It was easily the most fun I've had at all the bowl games we've been in since 2007.

Also , I thought I read Ladd Peebles was remodeled for the University of South Alabama. Is that not right?

Considering South still wants to build an on campus stadium, I don't think the remodels were enough.

Chuck, in 2003 there was a Miami travel package (flights, hotel, etc) that sold out and as I recall was 4,000 fans in itself. I was not at the game, but the Miami contingent looked to be far more than your estimate based on watching the game...not all the important now I realize.

ASU's head coach just left for Boise State. We'll have an interim in place in Mobile for the third straight year. It will be the same guy who coached last year.

5 head coaches in 5 years, and three conference titles in a row. What a strange decade.

(12-11-2013 03:07 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  ASU's head coach just left for Boise State.

Wrong again.

(12-11-2013 03:07 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  ASU's head coach just left for Boise State. We'll have an interim in place in Mobile for the third straight year. It will be the same guy who coached last year.

5 head coaches in 5 years, and three conference titles in a row. What a strange decade.

And ASU gets a 1 3/4 mill buyout from Boise?