Huge Win

[The Real SamC]

We see in this thread the many tired themes of the blame everyone but those in charge cadre.

- Blame the fans. People are just supposed to show up because it is somehow a civic duty, like honoring the draft or paying taxes. Nope. MU sports is a BUSINESS. To get CUSTOMERS' money, it is CS job to convince people that they will receive value for what their money. He has not done that.

- Rah Rah superfanism. "Don't you realize that if A beat B and B beat C and C beat D and we win out... we can go to the pre-Christmas Happy Hooligans Pub and Piano Bar Bowl, presented by Kia." Nope. No one cares. MU has a VERY SOPHISTICATED fan base. It knows what good, and great, football is, and what is not. THE FANS, and not CS, nor keyboard warrior superfans, nor sportswriters, decide how important each game is, and how much each matters. MU, in the opinion of most who follow it, has ended the important part of the season. They cannot be fooled. They are not buying the snake oil that CH and CS are selling. That simple.

- "Why don't they...?" The typical Huntington attitude, wanting to give away other people's money (never defined, just a "they" that is some combination of big companies, rich people, the state, and whatever.) Nope. The price of tickets is what is needed to pay the freight for a I-A program. Don't want to pay, then don't come. You cannot give away unsellable tickets for $X and still expect the remnant few to pay full price. It cost what it costs. And every empty seat is a testimony about one man. CS.

- Demographics is destiny. Blame the state's economy. You do realize that all of the states below WV in all those bad statistics are in the SEC, right? Put a program out there that the FANS perceive as worthy and we sill sell every seat. They don't.

 

[riflearm2]

a civic duty, like honoring the draft

Unless you have heel spurs, in which case, you can get deferments not once, not twice, not three times, not four times, but five times (especially if your daddy is rich, and even more if daddy leases office space to the doctor who notes the medical issue). This is all hypothetical of course, since we can't imagine a U.S. citizen would ever do that.

MU has a VERY SOPHISTICATED fan base.

Who the fvck are you kidding? Not a single person in the eternity of this planet has ever argued that Marshall's fan base is sophisticated, let alone "very sophisticated," let alone in all caps to further emphasize that point. I don't care what you're talking about: general intelligence, demeanor, how to tie your shoe, or football. Marshall fans aren't "VERY SOPHISTICATED," because there is an aptitude deficiency in the state.

You do realize that all of the states below WV in all those bad statistics are in the SEC, right?

"All of the states"? There are usually no states below west virginia or just one or two. Not sure "all" makes sense to use.

 

[raleighherdfan]

No one cares.

That's the point we were making Sammy. And it's why Marshall will always be a small-time program.

By the way, welcome back to the board after being absent during another win this weekend.

 

[bris1112]

"MU has a VERY SOPHISTICATED fan base."
We talkin' UNC wine and cheese sophisticated?

 

[Marshall2004]

MU has a VERY SOPHISTICATED fan base. It knows what good, and great, football is, and what is not. THE FANS, and not CS, nor keyboard warrior superfans, nor sportswriters, decide how important each game is, and how much each matters.

This is the part that I am trying to understand. When I was a kid we went to I-AA regular season games and the fans were excited to fight for playoff positioning against schools like UT Chattanooga. Then when I was in college the fans were excited to see a team pile up stats and impress national media by style points in the MAC. At some point, the opponents themselves seemed to become not good enough. Fans who showed up to see close competitive games with VMI or comfortable wins over Central Michigan suddenly would not show up for Tulsa or SMU or Memphis, and now don't have much interest in watching Georgia State or ODU or ULM. I am not entirely sure what the recipe is in 2024 that motivates the fans. Winning is clearly a good start. Yet we are winning. We are not dominating, but we are a winning program. How much better do the opponents have to be for us to motivate fans to be satisfied coming to watch us fight to win conference games as opposed to dominating conference games? On the flip side, how much domination is enough to motivate the fans to watch what they apparently feel are inferior opponents?

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Short answer? Never. Never enough domination……

 

[Herdguy04]

It's what Marshall fans do the absolute best: Focus on why MU sucks. Perpetual victimhood. Blame ticket prices, blame coaching, blame rusting urinals, blame the scoreboard operator, blame hot dog vendors, blame Big Green, Blame AD, blame players, blame peeling paint, blame dead fans, blame live fans who dont give a shit, blame the cops directing traffic out of the lots, blame ticket prices, blame the unemployment, blame the governor, blame the board of govs, blame the uniform colors, blame marketing, blame the press, blame the "atmosphere", blame....

WE ARE....SMALL TIME.

Then people like Reds will suggest some of the dumbest ideas to alleviate the problems, creating more problems in the process.

 

[Herdguy04]

That's the point we were making Sammy. And it's why Marshall will always be a small-time program.

By the way, welcome back to the board after being absent during another win this weekend.

I find it funny he talks about how sophisticated MU fans are while being the least sophisticated in the thread.

 

[The Real SamC]

This is the part that I am trying to understand. When I was a kid we went to I-AA regular season games and the fans were excited to fight for playoff positioning against schools like UT Chattanooga. Then when I was in college the fans were excited to see a team pile up stats and impress national media by style points in the MAC. At some point, the opponents themselves seemed to become not good enough. Fans who showed up to see close competitive games with VMI or comfortable wins over Central Michigan suddenly would not show up for Tulsa or SMU or Memphis, and now don't have much interest in watching Georgia State or ODU or ULM. I am not entirely sure what the recipe is in 2024 that motivates the fans. Winning is clearly a good start. Yet we are winning. We are not dominating, but we are a winning program. How much better do the opponents have to be for us to motivate fans to be satisfied coming to watch us fight to win conference games as opposed to dominating conference games? On the flip side, how much domination is enough to motivate the fans to watch what they apparently feel are inferior opponents?

Let me help you understand. Yes, MU fans have always, unlike many fanbases (WVU, for example), understood what level we were and now are at. We knew what the SoCon and I-AA was. But we also knew what we were being given was the very best that MU could give us and building for a better day. Same with the MAC, same with CUSA 2.0 and CUSA 3.0 (for the most part, there was a tiny cadre of haters towards the end of CUSA 3.0 that thought, somehow, it was all beneath us). Everyone knew that everyone was trying to build for the next day, and that what MU had was special. No one had the illusion that we were SEC bound. But everyone knew we were doing something really special.

No longer so. This is not an effort to actually succeed. This is a token effort. This is going through the motions. And our fans cannot be fooled. We understand football and we know football, and thus we know what this team is.

 

[raleighherdfan]

This is not an effort to actually succeed

Delusional post by someone who disappears after a win.

 

[johnathan h]

@Aaron Perkins , good seeing you yesterday. Glad neither of us jinxed it. Lol

 

[Aaron Perkins]

@Aaron Perkins , good seeing you yesterday. Glad neither of us jinxed it. Lol

Haha. No kidding!!! And he’s. Great seeing you. Glad you guys had a safe trip

 

[oldeherd]

"Fan apathy, yawn, etc"
Buried the lede

We've covered this ad nauseam -
MU's fanbase is dispersed geographically and those with families struggle with logistics during those years with the extracurriculars.
It's a limited number of gameday fans.
Lack of excitement in the community kills the non hardcore walk up.

My opinion but limited access to news that comes out of the program impacts engagement as well.
"Back in my day"... I read Smock and it seemed like you could read/hear about news around the program.
I'm not blaming Marshall, its just how things have changed.

I think the crowds only get smaller going forward.

Why the dispersal? After all, we keep hearing nothing lately but that under Mayor Williams Huntington has made such a miraculous turn around and is virtually a Boom Town! Plenty of great job opportunities for all so No recent MU grads have to leave the area! In fact, businesses of all types in large numbers are on the way to locate in Huntington as I type and people from all over are preparing to move to H-town and Cabell County by the thousands!

 

[Herdguy04]

Why the dispersal? After all, we keep hearing nothing lately but that under Mayor Williams Huntington has made such a miraculous turn around and is virtually a Boom Town! Plenty of great job opportunities for all so No recent MU grads have to leave the area! In fact, businesses of all types in large numbers are on the way to locate in Huntington as I type and people from all over are preparing to move to H-town and Cabell County by the thousands!

Keep the politics off this board.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Why the dispersal? After all, we keep hearing nothing lately but that under Mayor Williams Huntington has made such a miraculous turn around and is virtually a Boom Town! Plenty of great job opportunities for all so No recent MU grads have to leave the area! In fact, businesses of all types in large numbers are on the way to locate in Huntington as I type and people from all over are preparing to move to H-town and Cabell County by the thousands!

The only thing Williams grew were the drug houses. Big money maker for the city and some of his very close friends.

 

[Herdguy04]

The only thing Williams grew were the drug houses. Big money maker for the city and some of his very close friends.

Go to the other board if you want to talk about that stuff.

 

[riflearm2]

@MichiganHerd , you were suspended multiple times for violations like others have committed in this thread, right?

 

[MichiganHerd]

@MichiganHerd , you were suspended multiple times for violations like others have committed in this thread, right?

Correct, but I'm not one to complain.

 

[riflearm2]

Correct, but I'm not one to complain.

It’s one of the many reasons I admire you.

 

[31Herd55]

Very interesting comments…but back to my suggestion to give away free tickets to large groups of potential MU students and future Herd fans.

My contention is that empty seats bring in neither, so take a chance on bringing in both.

Remember that empty seats bring in ZERO dollars.

Where am I thinking wrongly?

 

[PeytonwGill]

Very interesting comments…but back to my suggestion to give away free tickets to large groups of potential MU students and future Herd fans.

My contention is that empty seats bring in neither, so take a chance on bringing in both.

Remember that empty seats bring in ZERO dollars.

Where am I thinking wrongly?

This is a good idea. If the tickets dont sell, give them away at game time. You can still make money from concessions and such and the stadium would look more full. One problem that could occur though is people never buying and only waiting and then no one is buying tickets lol

 

[The Real SamC]

Where am I thinking wrongly?

Why would anyone pay full price for tickets that are available free?

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Very interesting comments…but back to my suggestion to give away free tickets to large groups of potential MU students and future Herd fans.

My contention is that empty seats bring in neither, so take a chance on bringing in both.

Remember that empty seats bring in ZERO dollars.

Where am I thinking wrongly?

I posted this early in the thread:
My only concern, & I bet you’ve had it happen as well:
A free ticket does not bind the holder to attend. He might go, but since he has no skin in the game, if something else comes up, the ticket goes unused.
Contrast to paying for a ticket. You might only have $10 in it, but your commitment level is much higher.

 

[Aaron Perkins]

Why would anyone pay full price for tickets that are available free?

Because some want to support the program that we all love. Well, that some love.

 

[31Herd55]

Why would anyone pay full price for tickets that are available free?

This offer would be made to large groups, such as whole football teams & their coaches…groups not exactly clamming to pay full price for tickets and showing up in mass.

So it could be used as a recruiting tool for future students and Herd fans.

 

[The Real SamC]

Wikipedia is your friend.

Ticket resale - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[31Herd55]

It's what Marshall fans do the absolute best: Focus on why MU sucks. Perpetual victimhood. Blame ticket prices, blame coaching, blame rusting urinals, blame the scoreboard operator, blame hot dog vendors, blame Big Green, Blame AD, blame players, blame peeling paint, blame dead fans, blame live fans who dont give a shit, blame the cops directing traffic out of the lots, blame ticket prices, blame the unemployment, blame the governor, blame the board of govs, blame the uniform colors, blame marketing, blame the press, blame the "atmosphere", blame....

WE ARE....SMALL TIME.

And, mediocre and are glad to remain as such since we never hire anyone with vision to improve us beyond that.

 

[31Herd55]

Why would anyone pay full price for tickets that are available free?

You are so right on giving one or even a few tickets to an individual…but my plan is to give tickets to large school groups that would come to the stadium/campus, tour the campus, student center, and attend the game. Maybe even give a free hot dog and soda to each of those wearing a green shirt/coat.

 

[raleighherdfan]

And, mediocre and are glad to remain as such since we never hire anyone with vision to improve us beyond that.

Oh I think we do. I actually believe Huff had a vision for how to improve the program on and off the field. His execution of the on the field plan was flawed and the rumor of him taking an interview the first season he was here, destroyed any good will the impatient fan base was willing to extend. His subsequent off field comments (some reported completely out of context) and average on the field performance has worsened the attitudes.

I believe if we actually pull out a division title and make a run at the conference title, and win a bowl people will still be screaming for someone new at this point.

In today’s college football world, schools like Marshall are destined to remain less consistent and more mediocre than great. The NIL has destroyed the game (unless real reform occurs) and mid tier programs will rarely hold on to great coaches long enough to implement long term changes needed for consistent performance in their programs.

Our fan base thinks the era of Pruett can be duplicated. IMO It was a perfect storm during that era. A once in a lifetime event(s). The big boys are allowed to openly play the game Marshall was using to achieve that greatness.

Academics are of little to no concern to the athletes and the #1 determining factor is $$$ in my pocket. Loyalty and appreciation for opportunities given is largely nonexistent for coaches & players. For small schools like Marshall and financially less resilient communities/schools, that = more mediocrity and overall less fan support and engagement.

 

[bris1112]

"I believe if we actually pull out a division title and make a run at the conference title, and win a bowl people will still be screaming for someone new at this point."

That's harsh.
That would be a legit improvement in results and reason for optimism.
I'd bite your hand off for that outcome starting from today.