I think there’s no question that many of us posting on this forum are Marshall fans to the core and are going to attend Marshall games regardless of the status of the program. That said, in recent years, I don’t know that I’ve had as much excitement as years past.
My question to you all is; what sorts of things would you like to see the athletic department do in order to bring life in the program?
A couple things I had on my mind:
1. Getting non Marshall fans talking about/wanting to attend games.
- Scheduling WVU is huge for both programs, it draws so much interest throughout the state. We really need to push this, honestly I’ve seen a decline in fan interest by not having this game.
- Keep pushing 2-1s or 1-1s for P5 programs, you never know when one of these teams could get hot before coming to Huntington. The 2016 Louisville game was one of the most enjoyable games of recent years, Lamar Jackson gave Marshall a lot of exposure through that game. Imagine having Cincinnati in town this year. I believe the Virginia Tech series is a huge win for Marshall.
- Lure Opponents in with free stuff. I think we should offer free tickets to opponent’s students and opponent’s season ticket holders. Heck even assist in chartering buses from bordering states. There’s plenty of open seats to give away tickets and I would personally donate to this cause. There’s so many things you can build on from getting opponent’s fans to attend games. I hope we can do something to fill the Joan for the 2023 VT game.
2. Establishing a rivalry we can count on every year, consistently. Nobody is excited by slapping the title “rival” on WKU or FAU games. Also really drains the rivalry excitement, by only playing rivals every few years or so, it needs to be consistent. There needs to be established history and relationships to draw us together. Heck look what WKU vs MTSU or Appy St vs Ga Southern have even on down years. Moving to the Sun Belt helps Marshall give a presence in Southern states, yet I wouldn’t be opposed to adding to that by playing ECU every year. Other good options would be in our untouched alumni hot spot of Ohio. Ohio U or Miami (OH), both have good mixing of alumni in the areas they recruit students from and are easily drivable both ways.
3. Winning, there’s no secret what winning can do for a program. That said we have to understand what limited resources Marshall has and be realist. There’s a reason why Boise St will never go to the Big12 or why North Dakota St is still playing in the FCS. My only hope is the college football playoff expands or the G5 splits off to have its own playoff. The current post season gives me little excitement compared to the FCS playoffs in the 90s.
What thoughts/ ideas do you guys have?
LOL, giving away free stuff to the opponent's fans?
Do you hate making money?
I nearly just ended reading your post at that moment because of how terrible that idea was.
While wvu should play MU with a rotating site each year like real programs do, it won't happen...and wvu (like the state leadership) would rather murder puppies on live TV than admit MU is a big draw each year, or just do something economically sensible.
You need to begin interest with the local papers. They write the narrative, and they may have to treat MU like the greatest thing on Earth, every single week.
You really think the Big 12 is as appealing now as it once was? No. But wvu fans and the papers are going to not only dismiss UT and OU like they were nobodies, but build ucf and UC up like they got landed Bama and Clemson.
Our papers don't nearly have the consistency in doing so...dipsh*t Cryptkeeper cosplaying chuck landon doesn't help either.
MU is fine with scheduling, Hamrick did a great job in getting MU plenty of RETURN games...but of course he's fired so lets hope whatever new AD is in, continues to get the job done.
Winning is obvious, but quit nitpicking at wins. If MU struggles to beat a terrible team, don't fvcking complain and bitch about it and declare the season is over...even if MU loses a game...the lack of initial optimism is whats really killing the MU fanbase and THEY need to change that and quit blaming the team.
Of course, that goes with my post about being a fan to begin with.
Finally, stop comparing MU to the 90's or the past.
I don't want the 90's MU, because I'll never actually get that again.
The closest MU got was 2014, and people complained like crazy. Just stop, its unhealthy to the program.
You'll be less miserable when you stop trying to repeat history exactly the way you remember it.
Times have changed, the game has changed, and the method has changed.
If you want higher attendances from opponents, thats on us and Huntington. The city needs to continue to be in coordination with MU. Of course MU fired the AD and MU President so hopefully Brad can keep MU and H-Town in good graces.
Visiting fans like the atmosphere and like MU fans in general, so we have a solid reputation, lets all smoke some Hopeum and bank on the state legislature help make the area a weekend stay for visiting fans, hahaha oh goodness...
Finally, your last bit went against everything you previously said, since you don't seem to look for reasons to be excited for the post-season.
I saw it was a preview of what to expect from the new conference and MU took it to Louisiana pretty well. Game didn't end the way I wanted but it's 50/50 in that regard...I still enjoyed it, and if you can't because MU isn't in the CFP, go to Walmart and buy a Bama shirt...you belong there and not here.
You claim MU needs to be realist, yet crapped on whatever little benefit MU got this season and said "not interested."
