2012 College Football

[Ingmar]

I think the sports media drives it as much as anything, too (and of course that's indirectly about money too.)

I firmly believe that the majority of college football fans don't care about much beyond their own team. They want to have a good season, win their rivalry game, and have a shot at their conference's traditional big bowl game. They might pay some attention to other stuff in their conference or maybe another local team, but the big picture is of no importance. The only people who care about more than that are the people who go crazy for any/all football, gamblers, and the media, and I'd bet that even added together they're dwarfed by the population of people who watch any college football at all.

The BCS, the playoff, etc., all this useless crap is an attempt to get the 'normal' college football fan to give a shit about stuff they have no real reason to be interested in, in the name of money.

[ghost]

I'm just getting tired of the monetization of the sport. All decisions are based on money rather than what's best for the fans or the game. In addition, the games themselves have become so bad when you watch one team, that there's no reason to go to them. Why would I waste my time travelling 2 hours in traffic to Athens, going to a noon kickoff against a shitty school, watch a blowout for 3.5 hours with commercial timeouts, and then spend 2.5 hours in traffic getting back to Atlanta?

Particularly when the best seats that you'll ever have are in your living room.  The new HD broadcasts are amazing. 

[Paelos]

The only people who care about more than that are the people who go crazy for any/all football, gamblers, and the media, and I'd bet that even added together they're dwarfed by the population of people who watch any college football at all.

Seeing as I fit heavily into the first two groups, I would be biased about this. However, I know that the majority of football fans in the South not only care about our teams. We care about YOUR (the greater YOUR, not Cal. We don't give a shit about Cal  ) team losing. And we will watch it with wild abandon.

[ghost]

I love how you traded your "Texas" for your "Suthunuh".   

[Paelos]

I love how you traded your "Texas" for your "Suthunuh".  

I grew up in Texas, but I went to college in the south. If there's anything I know, it's how ridiculous football can be in both regions.

That being said, Texas in no way shape or form cares as much about college ball as they do pro in the cities, or high school in the towns.

[ghost]

Austin and College Station would argue differently.   

I personally like the atmosphere around college football much more in Texas and the west coast.  It's more laid back.  I love going to USC games with my father in law. 

[Paelos]

It's different for sure. Austin's more about keeping it weird than football, but it's certainly your biggest city that cares. College Station I'd qualify as a "town" over a city. Like Athens, GA for example.

Dallas cares about the Cowboys. That's almost it unless another team happens to be going to the finals, then you get bandwagoners.

Texas v. A&M produced a 7.9 rating in Houston, with a 7.3 in Dallas. The Houston v. Jacksonville game that week produced a 25.3 rating in Houston. It's just not even close.

[01101010]

It's different for sure. Austin's more about keeping it weird than football, but it's certainly your biggest city that cares. College Station I'd qualify as a "town" over a city. Like Athens, GA for example.

Dallas cares about the Cowboys. That's almost it unless another team happens to be going to the finals, then you get bandwagoners.

Texas v. A&M produced a 7.9 rating in Houston, with a 7.3 in Dallas. The Houston v. Jacksonville game that week produced a 25.3 rating in Houston. It's just not even close.

I love Athens in the Fall. Hell, I love that town anytime. That said, the best stadium I been in was Colorado's. Something about the mountains as a backdrop just made it picturesque. Might have been lightheaded from the air though.

[ghost]

Yeah, Athens is a kickass town too. 

I would suspect that NFL>>>College in all venues, its just a matter of how much.

[Paelos]

Yeah, Athens is a kickass town too. 

I would suspect that NFL>>>College in all venues, its just a matter of how much.

True, but to show you the difference, Georgia v. Florida last year pulled an 18.4 in Atlanta, compared to the Falcons average of a 20.9 rating during the year. That's what I mean when I say the south is seriously about college ball. If you look at states like Alabama & Mississippi where they don't have a pro team, it's even more obvious in aggregate.

[Ingmar]

Yeah, Athens is a kickass town too. 

I would suspect that NFL>>>College in all venues, its just a matter of how much.

Cal football 2010: 57,873 per game
Oakland Raiders 2010: 46,431 per game

Of course using the Raiders is almost cheating.  (I picked 2010 since we were playing in a temporary venue last season)

[Paelos]

Pull the 49ers numbers. 

[ghost]

You're not seriously comparing the following of the Falcons to the Cowboys/Houstons?

[Paelos]

I'm comparing them to Houston for sure. Why wouldn't I?

Both playoff teams, same record, both in huge TV market cities.

[01101010]

I always enjoy stadium capacity numbers myself. College (if you live near a D1 school) seems much more accessible in price and availability of seating; especially when you get into some of these absurd college stadiums of +100k. Atmosphere on college game day is also well beyond any NFL game I have been to/around... and I live in Pittsburgh. I am fully biased toward the SEC considering my time spent at LSU and making road trips to Bama, UGA, Florida, Arkansas, and Miss St, but being on those campuses during game day is sooo much better than any tailgate party for an NFL team, IMHO. College games afford a more intimate setting but the pro game is by far better quality - for the most part.

[Paelos]

Oh I agree. 96,000 in Athens is 10x more fun than 70,000 in the Georgia Dome.

Unless it's the SEC championship! 

[ghost]

I'm comparing them to Houston for sure. Why wouldn't I?

Both playoff teams, same record, both in huge TV market cities.

I don't think they're comparable at all.  Even by your numbers (20 average versus a 25 for Houston versus fucking Jacksonville) there is a huge dropoff.  That doesn't even take into account the enormous numbers of Cowboys fans in Houston. 

[Paelos]

So you disagree then that Texas cities proportionally care more about pro football than SEC cities?

A&M doesn't count yet.

[ghost]

So you disagree then that Texas cities proportionally care more about pro football than SEC cities?

A&M doesn't count yet.

No, I'm saying that you probably underestimate the difference if you're comparing it to the Falcons.  I'm arguing that you're not taking your argument far enough in Texas.  So, in a way I'm agreeing with you, but still trying to argue with you.   

[Paelos]

You are a disturbed man with your sports. 

[ghost]

Okay, Mr. I Love Baseball.   

[Paelos]

Okay, Mr. I Love Baseball.   

If you don't love baseball, you hate Americuh.

Also, you perburbly terk ur jerbs!

[Ingmar]

Pull the 49ers numbers. 

They're across the Bay, thus they compete with Stanford. 

[Trippy]

Berkeley is still closer though, at least until the Niners move to Santa Clara.

[ghost]

Pull the 49ers numbers. 

They're across the Bay, thus they compete with Stanford. 

Certainly better than you guys do.   

[01101010]

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/story/_/id/8219810/silas-redd-spurns-penn-state-nittany-lions-heading-usc-trojans

Silas is off to USC... wonder which walk-on is going to get the shaft.

[Paelos]

The one with the richest daddy.

[Ingmar]

I thought part of the whole deal was that the destination teams could exceed their scholarships or whatever to take in PSU players?

[Paelos]

I thought part of the whole deal was that the destination teams could exceed their scholarships or whatever to take in PSU players?

Teams with scholarship limitations already don't get that benefit.

[Ingmar]

Oh right, USC. Derp.

[Paelos]

The floodgates are opening at Penn State. Several more players have reportedly transferred out.

[ghost]

It makes sense to go.  It sucks for them, because I'm sure they'd rather stay, but they have to be competitive guys.  And playing for PSU could seriously hurt your draft status right now. 

[01101010]

It makes sense to go.  It sucks for them, because I'm sure they'd rather stay, but they have to be competitive guys.  And playing for PSU could seriously hurt your draft status right now. 

Meh, I think the draft thing is a stretch. No NFL team is going to ding a player based on the shit that happened at a school way before they even got there. It will impact how much visibility the PSU players get throughout the year which may or may not impact the invites to the combine or team workouts.

[Paelos]

Nobody gets overlooked by the NFL scouts. They are everwhere. Hell even Conference USA schools have like 80+ players on NFL rosters.

[ghost]

It can easily affect where they are taken in the draft.  It's hard for guys on shitty teams to get above the 3rd round.