Sutherland retiring - Big Green top guy

[Herdguy04]

How to penetrate the mindset of younger fans to walk away from their intimate relationship with their phones/gaming systems to take a chance on a real event?

Same question can be asked for the dinosaurs who complain about rap music, the color black, and hot dog vendors.

 

[Herdguy04]

You've participated in them as well. Ask the mods. No reason to get uptight about it. It's good discussion among fans who want to see us grow, have success, and move forward. I would bet just about everyone on this board is a BG member, season tix holder, attends multiple sporting events, etc. or combination thereof.

Some of the supposed folks on this board are in the know with MU leadership.
Should probably use the connection to get MU to listen.
Would be nice to have them do a live Q and A regarding ideas for MU....as long as some folks can behave themselves while doing so.

 

[Herdguy04]

I suggested that several years ago and everyone laughed at the idea. Yes. It’s possible. But that isn’t the problem at this point.

Overall, I just believe the culture of college football in that region isn’t as entrenched in the hearts and minds of the people as a whole. Football will always be a second or third option for entertainment in that market. Simply not enough diehard fans in the region to make it a weekly event. Combine that with all the other kids sporting events and practices which has consumed the young families extracurricular time during season both in the region and those that may be willing to travel in to see games.

You correctly pointed out the NIL has resulted in further damage. I remember as both a kid in Htgn and a student at Marshall getting to see players for 4 years. Developing a vested interest in the players both as a fan and in some cases as friends. That is primarily over.

The self defeatism mindset of the area too is a big undercurrent. We had a team that won a conference title last year. Instead of being proud of that, the dislike of the previous coach consumed the base throughout the year. A fanbase that “gave up” halfway through a season after a loss or two….the fans quit, when the team clearly didn’t.

It is what it is. Frankly I don’t believe marketing gimmicks will change much of it.

This...all of it.

Its laughable the older fans who supposedly hung with MU through the tragedy, threaten to give up their season tickets and quit when the team loses a game.
All the while wondering why nobody younger shows up or sticks around.

Show up, old folks, do your thing, let the younger generation do theirs, and stop complaining.

Old MU fans really screwed themselves...and I hate to sound like a complete jerk, but the only way for the culture to change is to get rid of the old, entitled, whiny fans that really solidified said perpetual pessimism.

 

[Herdguy04]

Other than the OSU's, Bama, UGA's and PSU's of the world, attendance is suffering at many schools. To act like Marshall is the only school to have issues is delusional. It could be a hell of a lot worse. Frankly, I think the fans and donors support the school very well. We're the 3rd smallest public university (D1) in the nation in terms of full time enrollment, or we were. Pair that with the area located, not prosperous, aging fanbase and a donor body (BG) who hasn't been able to increase the overall donor base in more than a decade, you have our situation.
It's certainly a combination of several things and none easy to fix. Communication, establishing a connection between the school and alumni, knowing your market/demographics. 115K living alumni and only 3300 or so BG members. If that were private sector, someone would have been fired long ago for failure to perform their duty.

I'd just include BG membership for all active students in their tuition...it's what, $50.00? They won't notice and if they do, it's $50.00...its literal change.
Put it in the "Terms and Conditions" of what they sign to enroll...nobody ever reads those anyway.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

This...all of it.

Its laughable the older fans who supposedly hung with MU through the tragedy, threaten to give up their season tickets and quit when the team loses a game.
All the while wondering why nobody younger shows up or sticks around.

Show up, old folks, do your thing, let the younger generation do theirs, and stop complaining.

Old MU fans really screwed themselves...and I hate to sound like a complete jerk, but the only way for the culture to change is to get rid of the old, entitled, whiny fans that really solidified said perpetual pessimism.

Ever attended a men's basketball game. The average age has to be well north of 45 years of age.
Our issue is getting young fans, recent grads, young families in the fold.
It's the younger fans who have ADD. Have to be entertained or they leave, or plunge their faces in their phones

Not sure what the hate for the older fans, they've donated and continue to do so.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Yeah……04, you’re not gonna get very far by denigrating The Faithful.

 

[Herdguy04]

Yeah……04, you’re not gonna get very far by denigrating The Faithful.

The faithful haven't gotten very far constantly complaining and rejecting any new ideas...
Y'all suck at bringing in newer, you feel fans, so that's really on you.
Instead of embracing the imperfections of MU and accepting certain aspects of it in the grand scheme of the collegiate football world, you all constantly whine about "woe is Marshall, we will never be in the CFL" but also get mad when MU loses a football game.
Your longevity to the program as a booster doesn't mean they owe you anything, it's always been that way, something many your age, seem to forget. Unless you have deep pockets, but you don't.

 

[Herdguy04]

Ever attended a men's basketball game. The average age has to be well north of 45 years of age.
Our issue is getting young fans, recent grads, young families in the fold.
It's the younger fans who have ADD. Have to be entertained or they leave, or plunge their faces in their phones

Not sure what the hate for the older fans, they've donated and continue to do so.

Spoken from the generation who demand MU reduce the advertisements and want, "a more entertaining game day experience."
Then get mad at the HC and never want to see him win because comments hurt your feelings, or a player transfers, or something...literally anything.
Then you throw a hissy fit and stomp around saying how you're "done with MU...until someone gets fired."

Y'all are really no different than they are.

 

[muthed]

Exactly who are The Faithful? Ernie was talking about them way back in 1965 when I first enrolled at MU. Surely they've pretty much all been laid to rest by now.

 

[MrHerd05]

Ever attended a men's basketball game. The average age has to be well north of 45 years of age.
Our issue is getting young fans, recent grads, young families in the fold.
It's the younger fans who have ADD. Have to be entertained or they leave, or plunge their faces in their phones

Not sure what the hate for the older fans, they've donated and continue to do so.

This isn’t a big green issue. This is a Marshall issue.

Walk out of a Thursday night bball game. What do you see first?

Full on intramurals games going on on the field and in the rec

Those have to be cancelled first. Those are people at least have interest in sports.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Exactly who are The Faithful? Ernie was talking about them way back in 1965 when I first enrolled at MU. Surely they've pretty much all been laid to rest by now.

As I stated in an earlier response, imo folks who were attending MU at the time of The Crash and other young adults up to about 30 y.o. . Then their kids, if they received proper indoctrination and bled green. You’re right - many have passed, but there’s still a contingent alive & kicking….

I appreciate the info that Ernie was writing about TF prior to The Crash. I always assumed it was a post Crash term….

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Spoken from the generation who demand MU reduce the advertisements and want, "a more entertaining game day experience."
Then get mad at the HC and never want to see him win because comments hurt your feelings, or a player transfers, or something...literally anything.
Then you throw a hissy fit and stomp around saying how you're "done with MU...until someone gets fired."

Y'all are really no different than they are.

That was a nice little tirade.
It's not worth responding to your posts because they read like an immature tantrum.

You seem to know the fixes. Apply for the AD job.

 

[Herdguy04]

That was a nice little tirade.
It's not worth responding to your posts because they read like an immature tantrum.

You seem to know the fixes. Apply for the AD job.

Am I wrong? Doesn't seem like it since you literally didn't defend yourself.
Your generation of older fans have some form of entitlement and based simply on longevity, think the program owes them something.
Most younger fans can live with a loss and still cheer for the team, unlike you guys, who simply can't get over it and use it as an excuse to demand better.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Most younger fans can live with a loss,

….since they’re not even in the stadium because of that stupid no pass thing, and anyways they need to get back to their social media and try to present the image they want their followers to see.
The difference between our young fan base & us rest home types is they have no historical connection to the program. We, otoh have too much history, the highs & the lows, a lifetime’s worth. So you’re damned right - we have high expectations because we have experienced the great moments, and we yearn to feel that again.
I can’t help you solve the problem. I suspect you are very much like the grizzled old fan type who always seemed just a couple of rows behind me at the Joan. When a great play occurred? Stone silence. But QB throws a pick? A torrent of negative comments. HC, players, no one was spared!

 

[Herdguy04]

….since they’re not even in the stadium because of that stupid no pass thing, and anyways they need to get back to their social media and try to present the image they want their followers to see.
The difference between our young fan base & us rest home types is they have no historical connection to the program. We, otoh have too much history, the highs & the lows, a lifetime’s worth. So you’re damned right - we have high expectations because we have experienced the great moments, and we yearn to feel that again.
I can’t help you solve the problem. I suspect you are very much like the grizzled old fan type who always seemed just a couple of rows behind me at the Joan. When a great play occurred? Stone silence. But QB throws a pick? A torrent of negative comments. HC, players, no one was spared!

I have no idea how you so amazingly failed to come to any sensible conclusion as to the type of fan that I am...because not only was it wrong, but it was you have a cognitive problem level of wrong.

You are right about the historical connection to the program, and you're not likely to get that anymore, deal with it.
Your expectations are irrational. Your tirades when the team loses are mostly based on inflated beliefs...an unwillingness to accept MU can lose a football game here and there.
It's understandable to want to feel success again, but stop comparing it to the past successes when the entire landscape of college footbal was different.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

I have no idea how you so amazingly failed to come to any sensible conclusion as to the type of fan that I am...because not only was it wrong, but it was you have a cognitive problem level of wrong.

You are right about the historical connection to the program, and you're not likely to get that anymore, deal with it.
Your expectations are irrational. Your tirades when the team loses are mostly based on inflated beliefs...an unwillingness to accept MU can lose a football game here and there.
It's understandable to want to feel success again, but stop comparing it to the past successes when the entire landscape of college footbal was different.

So here’s an example of your inability to make friends & influence people. Mainly you’re here to argue. We could be talking about favorite travel spots, completely opinion based, and you would argue about other posters choices, how they are delusional to believe Utah has beautiful rock formations or Arizona is wonderful in January.
For you it’s war, and you must beat anyone who disagrees into submission.
That’s your thing.

 

[Herdguy04]

So here’s an example of your inability to make friends & influence people. Mainly you’re here to argue. We could be talking about favorite travel spots, completely opinion based, and you would argue about other posters choices, how they are delusional to believe Utah has beautiful rock formations or Arizona is wonderful in January.
For you it’s war, and you must beat anyone who disagrees into submission.
That’s your thing.

"Sir, this is a Marshall sports discussion board..."

 

[W-S HerdFan]

"Sir, this is a Marshall sports discussion board..."

That’s the best you’ve got? Wow …..

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

So here’s an example of your inability to make friends & influence people. Mainly you’re here to argue. We could be talking about favorite travel spots, completely opinion based, and you would argue about other posters choices, how they are delusional to believe Utah has beautiful rock formations or Arizona is wonderful in January.
For you it’s war, and you must beat anyone who disagrees into submission.
That’s your thing.

Yep, if 04 has a job, I would hate to be a co-worker. That would be damn annoying.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Yep, if 04 has a job, I would hate to be a co-worker. That would be damn annoying.

How ‘bout HG04 in customer service? 😳

 

[Herdguy04]

So here’s an example of your inability to make friends & influence people. Mainly you’re here to argue. We could be talking about favorite travel spots, completely opinion based, and you would argue about other posters choices, how they are delusional to believe Utah has beautiful rock formations or Arizona is wonderful in January.
For you it’s war, and you must beat anyone who disagrees into submission.
That’s your thing.

I'm not here to make friends, certainly not friends with you. I don't care to influence people either. If I wanted to do that, I'd be off of here and getting followers on social media.
I haven't a clue why you think I'd be this way outside of here. I love talking travel and vacations. I've traveled often and will conitnue to do so.
I wouldn't argue if you think Utah is beautiful. I know it is. Same with Arizona and that canyon they have.
I really don't know what saying those things has to do with the focus of Marshall sports (which is what this board is meant to be for...not random travel locations, hence the "Sir, this is a Marshall sports discussion board" comment).
Then again, the presumption of such things is a common problem with you...much like you presumed the team would fail after losing 1 conference game, and the presumptions you've made about the team and have been monumentally wrong about.

It's you, and others, who are so convinced they know what to do, how to do it, and could do a better job than Marshall's AD, president, Huntington's mayor, the head coaches, and players...and your ideas are either really stupid, or are wrong, that you absolutely deserve to be made fun of and told how dumb you are...because nobody on this board has ever attempted to actually assemble, lead, put forth any of the ideas presented, nor seems to have any intentions to beyond an e-mail to the AD.

It's one thing to be critical of something, its an entirely different thing to declare ineptitude and claim you could do better...nobody here is particularly qualified nor driven to really go beyond posting, which is fine, but don't be upset or shocked when you get called out on foolish thoughts.

If you think Destin, Florida is the greatest place on Earth to visit, that's fine, I wouldn't make fun of you, I wouldn't ridicule you, because I have a life outside of here and friends that I respect in real life, not online ones.
Personally, I'd love to visit Socotra, but Yemen is in absolute civil turmoil and it's highly advised to not visit there due to kidnapping and detention. Sucks too because it is a fascinating looking island.

It's not a war, I don't particularly care of the opinions of aging online posters, and I really don't care about "winning" online arguments...apparently you do, and I have my opinion on that, but I'll keep it to myself...so your feelings don't get hurt.

 

[Herdguy04]

How ‘bout HG04 in customer service? 😳

Given what's going on in India and Pakistan...that wouldn't be a far fetched scenario.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

I'm not here to make friends, certainly not friends with you. I don't care to influence people either. If I wanted to do that, I'd be off of here and getting followers on social media.
I haven't a clue why you think I'd be this way outside of here. I love talking travel and vacations. I've traveled often and will conitnue to do so.
I wouldn't argue if you think Utah is beautiful. I know it is. Same with Arizona and that canyon they have.
I really don't know what saying those things has to do with the focus of Marshall sports (which is what this board is meant to be for...not random travel locations, hence the "Sir, this is a Marshall sports discussion board" comment).
Then again, the presumption of such things is a common problem with you...much like you presumed the team would fail after losing 1 conference game, and the presumptions you've made about the team and have been monumentally wrong about.

It's you, and others, who are so convinced they know what to do, how to do it, and could do a better job than Marshall's AD, president, Huntington's mayor, the head coaches, and players...and your ideas are either really stupid, or are wrong, that you absolutely deserve to be made fun of and told how dumb you are...because nobody on this board has ever attempted to actually assemble, lead, put forth any of the ideas presented, nor seems to have any intentions to beyond an e-mail to the AD.

It's one thing to be critical of something, its an entirely different thing to declare ineptitude and claim you could do better...nobody here is particularly qualified nor driven to really go beyond posting, which is fine, but don't be upset or shocked when you get called out on foolish thoughts.

If you think Destin, Florida is the greatest place on Earth to visit, that's fine, I wouldn't make fun of you, I wouldn't ridicule you, because I have a life outside of here and friends that I respect in real life, not online ones.
Personally, I'd love to visit Socotra, but Yemen is in absolute civil turmoil and it's highly advised to not visit there due to kidnapping and detention. Sucks too because it is a fascinating looking island.

It's not a war, I don't particularly care of the opinions of aging online posters, and I really don't care about "winning" online arguments...apparently you do, and I have my opinion on that, but I'll keep it to myself...so your feelings don't get hurt.

Uhhh…..I rest my case. Also, at this point I believe there is sufficient written evidence that you can be judged an ageist…