Class is in Session…Right?
At Saturday’s FIU game there was a Viking from the Capital One “What’s in your wallet?” commercial. There were also a few students, but not that many more students than Vikings. As happy as I am with the 3-1 Maryland start, there was something glaring about this Saturday’s game. That glare was the sun reflecting off the bleachers where the students should have been sitting.
Not to get all “back in my day” but seriously. When I was in school, there were no 3-1 starts. There were no bowl games and there certainly wasn’t any hope, yet the students came. Now don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of games where not many students came. I’m thinking particularly of the UVA game in the fall of 1998 when we were long since eliminated from post season play and the temperature was hovering around 45 F with a steady rain. That is somewhat expected, but to see all of those empty seats this past weekend just aggravates me.
During our time at College Park, we used to talk about how lame the Alumni were, they sat on their hands and didn’t ever get very loud. Call me biased, but I no longer see the students out supporting the alumni. What I saw across the field was pathetic. I really want this program to take the next step. Heck anyone reading this probably wants to see the program take the next step, but how do we out recruit VT, WVU, PSU, and even god forbid UVA when our recruits see how empty our stadium can be.
Last week our game was on ESPNU. Sure it isn’t prime time, but it’s still a widely televised game. But instead of getting congratulatory texts from friends on win number 3, I got texts saying “Where is everyone, the stadium looks empty on TV”. So much for good publicity. I know students now days have plenty of choices when it comes to spending their free time, but this is ridiculous.
When the game ended last Saturday a couple of Terps did the Lambeau Leap into the Student section. I was more worried about them landing on concrete than taking any hit delivered by FIU. We can support the Terps all we want, give whatever amount we feel necessary to the Terrapin Club but until we fill the student section we are just spinning our wheels.
It’s time for the students to man up. Otherwise we can expect more of these types of seasons where we spend the entire fall hoping for win #6. Sure we aren’t a top 25 program, but the guys out on the field are doing their best to represent the university, it’s just a shame we can’t say the same for the students.
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September 28th, 2010 at 4:57 am
It really was sad to see on TV. That was the smallest paying crowd since 2001 I believe I read. As much as I would love to pin it all on the students, the upperdeck didn’t have a sole up there. I think the writing is on the wall for the Friedgen era. Not that Duke is a marquee match up, but a chance to go to 4-1 against an ACC opponent at 6 PM with a game that is only “televised” on the internet ought to bring a bigger crowd. If not I think the time has come to make changes to generate new interest in the program.
September 28th, 2010 at 7:51 am
The students are lame. It was a warm sunny day and most of them must have still been asleep. It is a shame to see a program like ours fail to even fill up the student section. We aren’t Duke football or Temple football. We have actually won a bowl game in the past 3 years.
September 28th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Especially in the context of the WVU game, our crowd last week was an embarrassment. There was perhaps only one camera angle from the field that suggested the student body is fully behind this team (what was up with the pirate/viking/biker?) This has to start with the on-campus/area students – there is no reason why the student section should have been as bare as it was. And if “Friday night hangover”/”Who is FIU” is the excuse, then we’ve passed the torch to a bunch of ignorant wimps. Kudoz to those few students & fans who had their priorities straight.