As many of you know, current W&M students are terrible at attending football games. We've scientifically dissected this phenomenon several times on this forum alone, and we know there are several reasons why current students don't attend games: more nerdy students, emphasis on grades, other interests of the student body, etc. #CloseSwemOnSaturdays. Yes, yes, there's always the occasional Homecoming game where we have excellent student attendance, but that is an exception, and certainly not the norm.

Now, given the fact that we have a very highly ranked (#7 according to today's poll) football team, I think it's time to ride that momentum into Saturday's final regular season home game of the season. We're going to need all the help we can get against a tied-for-2nd Towson team who would love nothing more than to knock us off our high horse and end our current winning streak.

I'm sure several of you have heard about W&M's "Overheard at William & Mary" Facebook page. If you haven't, it's a hallmark of the W&M social media community, and is a Facebook group that just about every current student, professor, and recent alum who has a Facebook is a part of and checks on a regular basis. Students post funny/weird/interesting things that they either have seen or heard on campus, or they post things about W&M that they think people would find interesting.

While this page shouldn't be abused to promote each and every sporting event around campus, Overheard is certainly a perfect medium to use for this weekend's game. I (Davey) have already posted on the group page (today) riding the wave of our most recent ranking, clamoring for strong student attendance this Saturday. If you have Facebook, WISH more W&M students attended home games (especially IMPORTANT ones), and love the Tribe, feel free to join this Facebook group if you haven't already, and like and/or comment on the post to support. The sooner the better, as we expect students will look at the post most tonight and tomorrow morning.

We've already racked up a tremendous amount of likes from the hour or so it has been up, and expect to get more throughout the night. The leader of Tribal Fever, Seth, is planning on riding this wave and taking it one step further, linking the Overheard post to a Facebook event for this weekend's game.

You can see the post BELOW (make sure you're logged into Facebook and part of the group). If for whatever reason the link doesn't work, just search "Overheard at William and Mary" and ask to join the group; then find the post. I know we on this forum always complain about student attendance, but here is one tangible way to get students to come to this Saturday's contest vs. Towson. LET'S GO TRIBE!!! BEAT TOWSON.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/53507293...069309307/

Alright, I requested to join. Let's pack Zable!

Done! I never cared much for overheard but if it gets students to the game I'm for it!

(11-09-2015 03:33 PM)zablenoise Wrote:  Done! I never cared much for overheard but if it gets students to the game I'm for it!

Plus 1

I'm in! Good work, blogger dudes.

Student attendance over the last decade or so, from my perspective, has been much better than the previous 20 years... but I will agree that this year has been poor. You'd think that winning would generate interest. Guess not!

Nice work!

I hear this complaint EVERYWHERE - all schools - regarding students. Even locally: ODU, JMU, UR, etc.

I give them credit for coming out in force for Homecoming - and it appeared about 80% full for JMU, at least for the 1st Half.

And major kudos for the representation they brought to Baltimore for the tournament last year. I passed a bunch while there - they heading back to the buses, me to the beer garden after our games. Great kids and very enthusiastic.

Hopefully there is some buzz on campus on how well this team is doing.

Stony Brook - Rain, never good for student attendance.
UNH - Noon kick (it's too early!), but IMO better attended by students than any other noon game we've had in a while.
Hampton - Homcoming, near capacity student crowd, this is the case every year though.
JMU - the "It's Halloween" excuse was big here.

Being ranked #7 certainly will help, and I have to believe the buzz around campus is building, but, our students could care less about Towson (as an opponent). Hoping for the best.

(11-09-2015 03:54 PM)Dr. Ebirt Wrote:  JMU - the "It's Halloween" excuse was big here.

I can maybe buy every BS excuse I've heard about lack of student support, but the one above is garbage. Game time was 3:30. Weather was perfect. Go to the game, wear your costume if you want (both mascots did!), yell at the JMU fans (who didn't seem to have any problem with it being Halloween), and then you go raise hell and party as soon as the game is over, which is right at sundown. I can promise you that no student truly skipped the game to attend a 3:30-6:30 pm party on campus.

I agree 100%, that was just the excuse that was thrown around.

(11-09-2015 03:53 PM)Sitting bull Wrote:  Nice work!

I hear this complaint EVERYWHERE - all schools - regarding students. Even locally: ODU, JMU, UR, etc.

I give them credit for coming out in force for Homecoming - and it appeared about 80% full for JMU, at least for the 1st Half.

And major kudos for the representation they brought to Baltimore for the tournament last year. I passed a bunch while there - they heading back to the buses, me to the beer garden after our games. Great kids and very enthusiastic.

Hopefully there is some buzz on campus on how well this team is doing.

Chance for a big weekend with the NC State opener for basketball on Friday and the big Towson game on Saturday.

(11-09-2015 04:28 PM)WM Beancounter Wrote:  

(11-09-2015 03:54 PM)Dr. Ebirt Wrote:  JMU - the "It's Halloween" excuse was big here.

I can maybe buy every BS excuse I've heard about lack of student support, but the one above is garbage. Game time was 3:30. Weather was perfect. Go to the game, wear your costume if you want (both mascots did!), yell at the JMU fans (who didn't seem to have any problem with it being Halloween), and then you go raise hell and party as soon as the game is over, which is right at sundown. I can promise you that no student truly skipped the game to attend a 3:30-6:30 pm party on campus.

You would be very surprised.

(11-09-2015 05:06 PM)gotribe89 Wrote:  

(11-09-2015 04:28 PM)WM Beancounter Wrote:  

(11-09-2015 03:54 PM)Dr. Ebirt Wrote:  JMU - the "It's Halloween" excuse was big here.

I can maybe buy every BS excuse I've heard about lack of student support, but the one above is garbage. Game time was 3:30. Weather was perfect. Go to the game, wear your costume if you want (both mascots did!), yell at the JMU fans (who didn't seem to have any problem with it being Halloween), and then you go raise hell and party as soon as the game is over, which is right at sundown. I can promise you that no student truly skipped the game to attend a 3:30-6:30 pm party on campus.

You would be very surprised.

Not only did students skip, but many adults left the game early or had family activities with small children as well. All missed one of the best games at Zable ever. Much like with the basketball team, you don't know what you are missing if you never go.(Heading to Liberty a week from tomorrow night)

In 87-91, we all went even though we were terrible(in basketball). Attendance for football during those years was really good because we had a really good team with a great offense and little defense. Students traveled to Georgia, UVA, JMU and to Richmond for away games. Since 91', the greatest year for Tribe sports was 2009 and then probably 2013. If we can finish the next two games, this has the chance to be up there with those 2 years. I just think our W&M students study a lot more than I did when I was there. I would plan my schedule around events so that I could attend, but I probably could have studied more. Nearly 25 years after graduating, I have a good job and don't regret any of the fun times and events I participated at W&M. I remember more of the events and the relationships than some of the class material for sure. I want my children to have balance. You can definitely work and study hard, but support the school for 3-4 hours on a Saturday. How many students have to show up to fill up the student section?

Joined about a week ago. Let's round 'em up.