IUP Football 2019

[IUP24]

You can say small sample size but it is the entire universe of home games last year (probably the most relevant year).

Plus, you are missing my point. If it's 29 degrees at 12 noon on November 10 what do you think it will be at 7pm, or 8pm? How many people are trudging down to GPM stadium in 16 degree weather and the snow is piling up?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: IUP Football 2019

You can say small sample size but it is the entire universe of home games last year (probably the most relevant year).

Plus, you are missing my point. If it's 29 degrees at 12 noon on November 10 what do you think it will be at 7pm, or 8pm? How many people are trudging down to GPM stadium in 16 degree weather and the snow is piling up?

November ... sure. But September and October ... turn on the lights at least once a year.

Noon games are the worst atmosphere (of all the terrible atmosphere's) at Miller.

SRU is the only school that's caught on to the simple fact later kicks draw better.

Look around the stands at those noon kicks at IUP. The average age is probably 60. The crowd makes no noise, barely cheers and it feels like a funeral home.

As mentioned earlier, the basketball atmosphere is night-and-day better than football. No comparison.

[IUPalum]

Re: IUP Football 2019

I think what would really boost attendance is if IUP opened the gravel lots on Wayne Avenue to tailgating (with alcohol).

Miller Stadium's capacity according to the 2017 media guide is 6,000. Most of those fans, in my opinion, are non-students which would make me believe that's why there are so many noon kickoffs. There are, however, somewhere in the ballpark of 12,000 students attending IUP. That shows where the emphasis is in regard to attendance.

Now consider this. At men's and women's basketball games at the (much newer and nicer) KCAC, it's a much livelier atmosphere in my opinion, which is saying something since the atmosphere at hoops games is sad. At basketball games, there's a big screen, current music being piped in to the arena, giveaways, t-shirt tosses...you name it. And an alumni suite where you can pay a large amount of money for a small amount of alcohol. At an IUP football game, you're guaranteed to at least see the band at halftime. But what if the game stinks?

I'd like to see some better marketing of the games to students and the younger generation. The game-day experience has to be more than you paying for the privilege of watching IUP play Millersville. So back to the tailgating. If you're a student living off-campus (which means you're more than likely on the north part of campus or on the other side of Philadelphia Street), you have to walk or catch the bus down to the game then invest 2.5 to 3 hours of your time there. If it's a September Saturday at 1 p.m. with 70-degree weather, where do you think a student would rather be: at a game or at a house party with friends.

Side note: I'm surprised one of the Philly Street bars hasn't tried a fifth quarter promotion or something where you get a free drink between certain hours just by presenting your game ticket. Men's basketball has or at least had the Romeo's promo where you get a free slice of pizza if the team scored over 72 points in a home game.

Current music being piped in at the KCAC??? Were you not there when they were playing "Lady in Red" while IUP warmed up during the Atlantic Regional game against Hurst? GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

[ShoNuff]

Re: IUP Football 2019

Current music being piped in at the KCAC??? Were you not there when they were playing "Lady in Red" while IUP warmed up during the Atlantic Regional game against Hurst? GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

Please don't get me started on the music selection at the football games, whether its a band or music from the PA system. Me personally can listen to any genre of music going back 50 years, but you can't expect the younger crowd to listen to dated music for 3 hrs and expect them to come back to "support the team". They will always lose them come October and deeper into the season, every year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: IUP Football 2019

They're never going to draw well on a consistent basis. The games are boring to the younger generation.

That said, it would be nice for the crowd that does show to just be more engaged. I still support the notion of moving the student section behind the team bench (first 7-8 rows).

The game down at Cal last year ... they had an atmosphere ... tons of tailgates, etc. Every time we go to SRU ... same thing.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: IUP Football 2019

Current music being piped in at the KCAC??? Were you not there when they were playing "Lady in Red" while IUP warmed up during the Atlantic Regional game against Hurst? GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

I'd assume Joe got somebody fired after that stunt. If I wasn't there I wouldn't beleive it.

[IUPNation]

How about a glass of warm milk for the home side ?

[IUP24]

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Re: IUP Football 2019

How about a glass of warm milk for the home side ?

I'd settle for a pint of stout! :laugh:

[iupgroundhog]

Re: IUP Football 2019

Seems like you are the one "grasping at straws." All I did was state my personal affinity for Saturday afternoon college football games and also question whether the time of the games would make a difference, whether that's the salient factor to home in on.

You guys are so sure of yourselves but you can't provide any proof to back up your position and now you are telling me that it "may not help attendance significantly , but it sure won't hurt" and Big Indian is telling me that probably nothing can raise attendance. If you guys want to argue, be consistent.

[Brandon]

Re: IUP Football 2019

Always a winner.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: IUP Football 2019

Seems like you are the one "grasping at straws." All I did was state my personal affinity for Saturday afternoon college football games and also question whether the time of the games would make a difference, whether that's the salient factor to home in on.

You guys are so sure of yourselves but you can't provide any proof to back up your position and now you are telling me that it "may not help attendance significantly , but it sure won't hurt" and Big Indian is telling me that probably nothing can raise attendance. If you guys want to argue, be consistent.

Norhing 'as is' in the current gameday will raise attendance. The games are boring. It would be nice to at least stay consistent in that 3,200 range and not nosedive like last season.

That core group gets older by the day and less and less are around each Fall.

All I can say is I'm in what should be the core demographic they are tying to target -- 35-44 with a family. I cannot get my kids to go to football games at IUP. They love basketball games here but football is like going to the dentist to them. I also have numerous friends in town -- who leave town every Saturday to go to Pitt or PSU games. I can't get them to IUP football games. They all say they are boring.

That core group in the 55 to 85 range ... they got them. They could play at 2am and they'd be there. It's the younger (students) and mid-age crowd they can't attract. Not ideal for a 'college' team. But, we have a band that is a lost cause in regard to football games, a 'fight song' that is horrendously awful, music from the 1940s, age-discriminating tailgates, and a boring game-day atmosphere. That likely isn't the opinion on much of the home side that still thinks it's 1992 and all is dandy.

The shame is we have a good program. That place should (could) be rocking. Not sleeping.

So, yes, nothing as is will raise attendance. Change could help. It obviously couldn't hurt.

[ironmaniup]

Re: IUP Football 2019

Norhing 'as is' in the current gameday will raise attendance. The games are boring. It would be nice to at least stay consistent in that 3,200 range and not nosedive like last season.

That core group gets older by the day and less and less are around each Fall.

All I can say is I'm in what should be the core demographic they are tying to target -- 35-44 with a family. I cannot get my kids to go to football games at IUP. They love basketball games here but football is like going to the dentist to them. I also have numerous friends in town -- who leave town every Saturday to go to Pitt or PSU games. I can't get them to IUP football games. They all say they are boring.

That core group in the 55 to 85 range ... they got them. They could play at 2am and they'd be there. It's the younger (students) and mid-age crowd they can't attract. Not ideal for a 'college' team. But, we have a band that is a lost cause in regard to football games, a 'fight song' that is horrendously awful, music from the 1940s, age-discriminating tailgates, and a boring game-day atmosphere. That likely isn't the opinion on much of the home side that still thinks it's 1992 and all is dandy.

The shame is we have a good program. That place should (could) be rocking. Not sleeping.

So, yes, nothing as is will raise attendance. Change could help. It obviously couldn't hurt.

To be a fan, you have to care who wins. If you don't care who wins, whats the point of going to the game ? to hear the band ?(though band parents sometimes make up like 25% of the crowd) ? The difference is that the 50+ crowd cares that IUP is successful, and sees their friends at the game, its part of their identity. The 35 - 50 crowd for the most part do not care who wins, and going to IUP games does not impress your friends. There's been alot done to try and entertain kids, but the slow pace of the game is boring for them.

[Matt Burglund]

Re: IUP Football 2019

For what it's worth, of the 10 highest-attended IUP home games since 2010, only one was a night game, although it was highest-attended game on the list.

Opponent	Year	Att.	Time
Bloomsburg	2011	5,697	7 p.m.
Mercyhurst*	2010	4,861	2 p.m.
Shippensburg	2012	4,576	2 p.m.
Slippery Rock	2010	4,433	1 p.m.
Millersville*	2013	4,237	2 p.m.
Slippery Rock*	2016	4,231	2 p.m.
Saint Augustine's	2014	4,059	Noon
California*	2017	4,019	2 p.m.
Slippery Rock*	2012	3,912	2 p.m.
Slippery Rock*	2018	3,700	2 p.m.

* -- Homecoming game

[Fightingscot82]

Re: IUP Football 2019

Any other noteworthy characteristics of those games? I doubt any were playoff games.