(10-19-2015 05:08 PM)chrisattsu Wrote: I've been to a few D2 games in my day. I, too, was at the game in Stephenville this weekend.
The attendance there is better than in the past and the addition of tailgating (something they didn't allow 10 years ago) has helped out immensely. Tarleton has a small stadium (~10,000 people) and a passionate fanbase. Believe me, everyone wanted a win but Tarleton is an AWFUL 1-5 this season (lone win came last week with Kingsville fumbling a game winner on the 1 yard line).
The Lone Star conference has several schools are in the Top 20 for attendance annually (usually in the 7-10k) range. A&M-Kingsville, Angelo State, and Abilene Christian (before they moved up) all have stadiums over 15,000 and look very similar to Southland stadiums. West Texas A&M has 20,000 person stadium and they fill it when they team is good.
WTA&M used to be a DI-A school and in the same conference as New MExico State, North Texas and Tulsa....and were pretty good at that level.
Haven't been, but REALLY wanna go see West Georgia (my hometown). Used to go to a few, but haven't been since they built the on-campus stadium. GO BRAVES...urr... Wolves!
They strap on the pads, don the helmets, and go after each other. It's football. The experience really ranged from some pretty rabid fans at some to ho hum.
The experience is what you make it - along with whomever else is there.
(10-18-2015 02:43 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote: Most of the people I talked to obviously wanted Tarleton to win but when I asked if they would care if they lost no one did. Most people were distraught over A&M losing to Bama or were still talking about the red river rivalry last week.
I wonder how our students and fans feel when our teams lose? I know I take it pretty hard when either TXST or the Cowboys lose, but I wasn't always like that when it comes to TXST. I know when we were FCS I really didn't care about our football team, but FBS has changed that. I wonder if that makes a difference to other students as well? Probably not but maybe
You are a fan of the team and on a messageboard. I am a fan and on a messageboard. Trust me, I hate that Tarleton is on a losing skid.
You and I will take the loses hard, but we both know Texas State also has students/alumni who are there for the tailgate and could give a rat's ass about the outcome of the game.
I'm not saying anything earth shattering, but few people grow up being a fan of a D2, FCS, or even G5 schools. All of the money, marketing, and attention is pointed to the flagship schools (or the regionally-relevant P5 school). As a result, they build their fandom/loyalty in junior high based on that and that sticks through High School until it is time to select the college of their own.
There is no outlet for D2 (and few for FCS) so you do not grow up watching these teams. You learn about them when you show up on campus and you adopt them at that point. This was true when I was at Tarleton, when Texas State was FCS and is still true with FBS/Sun Belt (based on conversations from tailgate).
(This post was last modified: 10-20-2015 09:04 AM by chrisattsu.)
I've been to many West Virginia State University football games. The attendance has usually been fair, but this season the Yellow Jackets are 4-3 so far. That's a laughable record to many people, but it's the most wins the school has had since 2008 (their last winning season). Attendance has picked up a bit this year because of that. WVSU has also made a few comebacks this year against UVA-Wise and Notre Dame College (Ohio). It makes for some entertaining football.
(This post was last modified: 10-20-2015 11:01 AM by BnGJacket.)
Watched Central Arkansas play for the NAIA title a few years before they moved to Division II.
Crowd was OK but the stadium was barely full and had about 6500 seats at the time. This was before the NCAA adopted OT so got excited I was going to see overtime then the horn blows and they announce since it was a tie they were co-champions.
(10-19-2015 05:08 PM)chrisattsu Wrote: I've been to a few D2 games in my day. I, too, was at the game in Stephenville this weekend.
The attendance there is better than in the past and the addition of tailgating (something they didn't allow 10 years ago) has helped out immensely. Tarleton has a small stadium (~10,000 people) and a passionate fanbase. Believe me, everyone wanted a win but Tarleton is an AWFUL 1-5 this season (lone win came last week with Kingsville fumbling a game winner on the 1 yard line).
The Lone Star conference has several schools are in the Top 20 for attendance annually (usually in the 7-10k) range. A&M-Kingsville, Angelo State, and Abilene Christian (before they moved up) all have stadiums over 15,000 and look very similar to Southland stadiums. West Texas A&M has 20,000 person stadium and they fill it when they team is good.
WTA&M used to be a DI-A school and in the same conference as New MExico State, North Texas and Tulsa....and were pretty good at that level.
just shows what happens to your school after joining one of the land grant systems. west texas state and texas western were playing with the big boys in the old days. since joining the a-m and ut systems sports programs have struggled. texas a-I and east texas state frozen in time also.
(10-19-2015 10:31 AM)Pike51 Wrote: Living in Valdosta, I have been to many VSU games. They play at Valdosta High School and attendance is very poor. I would honestly say they have a better overall experience than Georgia State does.
This. I love where I'm from, but hate the fact that VSU doesn't have a care in the world when it comes to moving up....even to FCS. I agree...the game day experience is better than State's, but not by a lot.