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Is fan support overrated?

Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:33 pm
Posted by cardboardboxer
Member since Apr 2012
34575 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:33 pm
One thing that fascinates me about college football is how some programs that have fans who really want to be good have shitty programs, while some programs with shitty fans but great coaches do well.

When you see programs like Tenn or Nebraska or Texas fail year after year, while programs with worse fan support like Miami, Northwestern, or Boise St do well consistently, it highlights the disconnect between want to and do.

It seems like fan support is highly overrated in the sport, and lucking out on the coach you hire or getting certain once-in-a-generation recruit can mean more than tens of thousands of butts in the seat.

Is this disconnect real, and if so why does it exist? Why doesn't fan passion and resources translate into wins? Why is luck so important?
Posted by Pitch To Johnny
Houston
Member since Jun 2015
4222 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:36 pm to
quote:

Is fan support overrated?

No. But its the icing on the cake. Coaching/Players are what make a team great. Fan support brings in the money and atmosphere that can help the program thrive.
Posted by UAtide11
Member since Apr 2014
2190 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:37 pm to
I'd say fan support is not overrated

LINK
Posted by Vecchio Cane
Ivory Tower
Member since Jul 2016
17918 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:38 pm to
Need to narrow that list down to particular fans.
The average Joe in the seats? No, he doesn't matter.

Fans with influential checkbooks who are on board and willing to step up with whatever is needed? Absolutely vital
Posted by Pinche Cabron
TN
Member since Nov 2015
3639 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:38 pm to
Northwestern has only had 4 10 win seasons in 100 years

But anyway, leadership is everything. Not followship
Posted by TMRebel
Oxford, MS
Member since Feb 2013
5599 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:38 pm to
I don't think the problems with those schools are related to the amount of fan support, just how toxic it is.
Posted by CarolinaGamecock99
Member since Apr 2015
22942 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:40 pm to
Look at Carolina. We average 80k attendance every year and never win shite.
Posted by cardboardboxer
Member since Apr 2012
34575 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:40 pm to
To me that list proves my point.

Why has the #1 program in that list been average the last few years despite those resources?

Why is Texas (#2 in the list) having one shitty season after another with those resources?

Why can't Michigan buy itself some more wins with those resources? They tried and failed, but why?

Tenn is top 10 with resources and they are the poster child of this phenomenon.

Minnesota is top 20 on that list and their program is garbage. Why?
Posted by cardboardboxer
Member since Apr 2012
34575 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:41 pm to
quote:

Fans with influential checkbooks who are on board and willing to step up with whatever is needed? Absolutely vital



They might be a vital part of the formula for success but they aren't the make or break factor. Otherwise how do you explain programs like Tenn or Texas having shitty seasons year after year?
Posted by DawgRff
Snellville Ga
Member since Jul 2012
6381 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:45 pm to
quote:

Is fan support overrated?

LSU fans think so
Posted by theGarnetWay
Washington, D.C.
Member since Mar 2010
26359 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:48 pm to
Does dan support = wins, of course not.

But I’d wager you’d have a hard time bringing in high quality coaches and players if no one gave a shite. Not only would it be more difficult to sell higher pay for coaches, but also selling the program to a recruit in a small/dead stadium would be fairly difficult I’d imagine.
Posted by Jobu93
Cypress TX
Member since Sep 2011
19887 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:50 pm to
I'd agree with icing on the cake but any wild swings plus/minus fans are very noticible to players and recruits.

Let's say your school has been rocking 90K fans/game and then it drops to 60K fans/game. Those empty spaces are seen.

Conversely, you are at a low attendance school and then the team catches fire and suddenly the stands are packed. The players can't help but notice.

But if you're asking if it makes a difference in a programs long term success, I'd doubt it.
Posted by Herman Frisco
Bon Secour
Member since Sep 2008
17580 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:50 pm to
Good fans who support their teams and coaches are very important. Fans like Harry R. Vonner are irreplaceable. He is the perfect example of what is needed in this day and age of all the negative Nancys in the SEC fan bases.
I am proud to call that Great American my friend.



Posted by Arksulli
Fayetteville
Member since Aug 2014
25729 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:51 pm to
While they have a smallish stadium, the few games I've caught when Boise State plays on the smurf turf they have had a good turn out.

Yes, their attendance is on a downturn, much like the rest of the country, but its hard to say they have bad fan support considering where they are located. They are averaging around 35k a game, in a stadium that seats 40k. That is not bad at all for a G5 team.

Northwestern never supports their team, and even when Miami was a powerhouse their stadium was half empty.

As for Nebraska, they still have great turn outs, and Pelini won over 70 percent of his games. Its just that their last coach sucked a dick. It happens.

As for Texas. God hates them.
Posted by Vecchio Cane
Ivory Tower
Member since Jul 2016
17918 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:52 pm to
quote:

Otherwise how do you explain programs like Tenn or Texas having shitty seasons year after year?


Too many factions. Saban united all the bannermen under one crown at Bama. Those kingdoms will have to do the same.

Even at a smaller program like MSU I've seen important alums, who claim to love State, let programs and coaches fail because they didn't have enough input on the situation. Pride can be a cancerous thing
This post was edited on 4/23/18 at 2:55 pm
Posted by Tigerman97
Member since Jun 2014
10354 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:53 pm to
Most important...talented players, then coaches. Fans matter, because to some degree their money gets the other two. However, Fans mean nothing without talent and coaches.
Posted by cardboardboxer
Member since Apr 2012
34575 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 2:56 pm to
quote:


Too many factions. Saban united all the bannermen under one crown at Bama. Those kingdoms will have to do the same.

Even at a smaller program like MSU I've seen important alums, who claim to love State, let programs and coaches fail because they didn't have enough input on the situation. Pride can be a cancerous thing


I agree 100%. When Mack Brown left Texas he talked about how being successful there was like if you spilled a box of BBs everywhere and you have to put them all back in the box afterwards.
Posted by piggilicious
Member since Jan 2011
37309 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 3:03 pm to
quote:

As for Texas. God hates them.




Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

- Buddha and Piggilicious

Posted by TigerFan4040
Member since Sep 2013
4387 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 3:07 pm to
quote:

while programs with worse fan support like Miami, Northwestern, or Boise St do well consistently


quote:

do well consistently


Posted by MedDawg
Member since Dec 2009
4527 posts
Posted on 4/23/18 at 3:16 pm to
quote:

One thing that fascinates me about college football is how some programs that have fans who really want to be good have shitty programs, while some programs with shitty fans but great coaches do well.

When you see programs like Tenn or Nebraska or Texas fail year after year, while programs with worse fan support like Miami, Northwestern, or Boise St do well consistently, it highlights the disconnect between want to and do.

It seems like fan support is highly overrated in the sport, and lucking out on the coach you hire or getting certain once-in-a-generation recruit can mean more than tens of thousands of butts in the seat.

Is this disconnect real, and if so why does it exist? Why doesn't fan passion and resources translate into wins? Why is luck so important?




Many good coaches will stay at smaller programs with good fans. Quality of life >> than bigger programs with bad fans. Your examples are good--Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern (he is an alum) and Chris Petersen stayed at their schools several years despite interest/offers from bigger programs.

Smaller programs may also be more patient where bigger programs with rabid fans may be less patient and fire coaches after just 2 or 3 seasons. Those coaches might have done well if given more time.

The advantage of the bigger programs, of course, is recruiting. Much easier to get blue chip recruits. However, because of that, bigger programs may focus on hiring recruiters more than coaches who are better at preparation and in-game coaching.
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