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Topic: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Topic: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

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PTgrad
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"Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 9:22:52 AM

I know this has been chatted about sporadically in various threads in the past, but while I love watching my beloved Bobcats from the comforts of my own couch, I am getting a little frustrated with these mid week games.....I CAN'T GO....I have to work!!! (and yes that was yelling)

I did go to the Temple game, and since it was a "special" event in my mind, I took a day and a half off work and got a hotel in Athens and my wife, daughter and I made the trip and had a blast. Dropped some cash in doing so.

I loved it.......AS A ONE TIME/ONCE A SEASON THING!!!! (yelling here too)

Does anyone else here see a problem with having the last 4 games during the week???? I do. I hate it!!!

I know as a smaller atheletic program its nice to get the national exposure on the Mothershp ESPN, but as a fan and alumni outside of Athens (which I am guessing a majority of Alumni are), I cant get to the games from Dayton 2 1/2 hours away. If we had games more traditionally on Saturday I would have made all but maybe 1 or 2 games this year. {Hell, if the upcoming Bowling Green game was on a Saturday I would make the drive up I-75, but since its a Wednesday, I cant even do that!!!}

If I had a say, and I dont because I am no where near smart enough, we wouldnt have more than 1 maybe 2 mid week games a year...enough to get some spotlight on the program, but also keep the priority focused on the on-campus atmosphere of gameday Saturday's with weekend games.

Robert Fox
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 9:27:43 AM

Part of the benefit is providing access to the games versus no access at all. Living outside of comfortable driving distance, I like these games. Even if the game last night is played on Saturday--there's no chance I make it. But seeing it on Thursday night TV? Works very well for me and I assume other long-distance alums.

71 BOBCAT
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 9:34:58 AM

It is all about trade - offs. This is a fact of life.
With budgets being squeezed the conference has figured out a way to add revenue.
I live in RI and I don't get much of a chance to attend games so TV scheduling is important.

GO BOBCATS

bobcat695
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 9:37:32 AM

I don't mind it either. I may drive to BG next week and I am lucky enough to be able to attend every event in Athens, regardless of when it is. I love being able to watch these games I don't see live on a big TV in my living room. I'll travel to 2-3 games each year, but CMU is never one of those trips. From a selfish perspective, I also like having my Saturdays free. Last week I was able to go to WVU for a game, and I may still go to WVU/UC with my brother tomorrow. If OU was playing, I wouldn't have that freedom.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

SouthernCat
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 9:42:11 AM

The MAC has spoken. Being on tv is more important than having anyone in the stadium. Apparently kids want to play football in a vacuum as long as they are on tv. Who cares about football atmosphere when we get to split 1 million dollars among 13 teams.

TWT
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 10:03:14 AM

We lucked out that our game was on Thursday not Wednesday this week and on a lower profile ESPNU. How annoying would it have been to have the Bobcat Blackout interrupted by the PSU scandal. To clinch the East title on ESPN next week will be sweet. It may be perfect for a game watch because you could have both the Bobcat and Miami-WMU games playing on different TV's.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

PTgrad
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 10:15:03 AM

but with the advent of the miraculous Internet, getting on ESPN isnt the only way for exposure,

as we have seen with the "old school" Saturday games this year, the MAC website and other websites can stream the games for the out-of-area alumni.....

but I do realize none of these gives us the "almight dollar" like ESPN does, still doesnt mean I like it, especially when we get relegated to the third and even fourth tier analyst crew on ESPN.

Listening to that game on ESPNU last night was like listening to an "audition" broadcast for a college journalism student, and thats probably an insult to OUr journalism majors.

TWT
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 10:24:15 AM

SouthernCat wrote:

Last night's crowd didn't hurt Ohio it hurt Central Michigan. The argument for these Midweek games is November attendance in the MAC is poor anyways so why not put these games on TV and get them out to recruits. In the MAC November is a prime recruiting season.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

mf279801
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 10:25:27 AM

OUPTgrad wrote:

but with the advent of the miraculous Internet, getting on ESPN isnt the only way for exposure....

The internet works for fans of either school, folks who are seeking out that particular game, but there is 0 chance that someone will casually find the game (and thus get OHIO the exposure and advertising) while flipping through the net as they would flipping through the cable line-up.

BobcatChopper78
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 10:53:40 AM

While I think its a disservice to students and student-athletes, the bottom line is that the Blackout game had 1.3 million viewers. Even if Peden sold out, there would be approximately 24-25 thousand people there. That is what the university, athletic department, and ESPN care about.

TWT
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 10:56:32 AM

mf279801 wrote:

OUPTgrad wrote:

but with the advent of the miraculous Internet, getting on ESPN isnt the only way for exposure....

Yes that is the question. Where is the cable industry going long term with college football broadcast? I will only say as much as the midweek contract was a huge advance for MAC fans getting to see their teams the rise of quality internet streaming from ESPN3 and the conference website is a huge boon. A dedicated fan could pretty much watch the Bobcats every week without leaving their home. I would say 90% of the population is internet literate but there is a large segment not comfortable with accessing TV content online yet.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

KC Bobcat
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 11:05:27 AM

I understand you frustration OUPT and if I lived within a 4 hour drive of Athens would share it. Selfishly, I enjoy the midweek games on my couch in Kansas. But what you and I think doe$n't matter anyway.

TWT
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 11:05:54 AM

BobcatChopper78 wrote:

And that Ohio has been on ESPN a lot over the last 5 years is building a perception among new generation of college football fans who OHIO is. There are a lot of people in this country that tune into anything played on ESPN. It places the MAC on a tier above the conferences who are not playing on ESPN regularly like Conference USA to the majority of the public because they don't know the MAC is taking less TV money to get the exposure.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

PTgrad
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 11:06:02 AM

I guess what I am getting at is..

Where is the line between having a "true" college atmosphere filled with students and alumni cheering vs sacrificing that for the "golden calf" of cash? {kind of a rhetorical question cause I know $$$$ is king}

As far as exposure for our players and possibly getting seen by scouts on the next level, ESPN is not a necessity anymore. Last I checked there are plenty of "Lower Major" and even FCS players playing in the league on Sundays, and their schools never so much as even had a highlight on Sportscenter......

Bottom line, if a player has talent, in today's media filled world, you will get noticed.

But there is a line where if a school has too many games where families and alumni cannot attend, people may not be willing to drop cash on a full season ticket package, especially when they know that "said" stadium doesn't sellout and tickets can be purchased on gameday.

No season ticket package equals less motivation to get to games.....is this a stretch...maybe, maybe not.

Alan Swank
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 11:22:55 AM

BobcatChopper78 wrote:

While a great time was had by all who attended or watched on tv, the 1.3 million was an anomaly. Had the NBA been in session, this would have been an ESPN2 game. I'm just not sure that $769,230.76 (assuming the conference doesn't take a share) is worth no home Saturday games after October 15th.

TWT
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 11:37:59 AM

OUPTgrad wrote:

But there is a line where if a school has too many games where families and alumni cannot attend, people may not be willing to drop cash on a full season ticket package, especially when they know that "said" stadium doesn't sellout and tickets can be purchased on gameday.

No season ticket package equals less motivation to get to games.....is this a stretch...maybe, maybe not.

What Ohio has done to counteract the loss of Saturday games in November is play at least 6 home games every season so at least 4 of them will be on a Saturday. Before Ohio was playing 5 home games on Saturday with 2 of those lightly attended in late November. We are playing more Saturday games at home in September when the weather is good.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

sargentfan
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 11:43:55 AM

For those who are against mid-week games think of it this way. We are now more attractive to recruits who can now watch us play, as well as for those Nebraska and Florida boys whose families have a good chance of catching almost every game on TV. The TV aspect I would gather is huge in our recruiting of out of state athletes, everything is a trade off though.

colobobcat66
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 11:48:19 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

BobcatChopper78 wrote:

I think Alan is on to something here. The numbers don't add up I think. Concession and additional ticket revenue due to weekend games has to be worth as much or more than the paltry sum paid by ESPN to the conference.

As to the 1.3 M who watched-exactly how does that relate to future attention to Ohio? I'm guessing most are sports addicts who will watch anything sports-related and quite a few of those are interested so they can gamble on it. Do you ever look at the game conversations on ESPN during games-almost all betting related. Anyway, 75% empty stadiums(not Ohio last week) does nothing but show the nation how weak the MAC is-interest-wise. And 66-63 games just mean to most that there is nothing approaching a defense in the MAC.

Another question-since the MAC has been on ESPN for a few years now, how has that related to an increase in the football status of the league-prestigue -wise or ranking wise? Eventually you would think all this TV time would lead to an increase in the caliber of athlete and caliber of teams. It seems to me that the MAC is going downhill in this regard.

Just from an academic institution perspective-how much does a 30 or 60 second ad on these games improve applications or interest in Ohio?

DublinCat
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 11:52:10 AM

I prefer Saturday games. However, November Saturday games in the MAC are much different than September and October. I have been to many cold Saturday November Bobcat games in the past where last nights CMU crowd would have been a huge improvement. I am not so sure November Saturday MAC games draw any better than week night games. September and October yes...but we are talking November when half of the teams are only playing for pride. I like the week night November games and think its great for the league. The Bobcats could have six straight on National TV to end this season. Big advantage compared to WAC and Conference USA.

OU87

ts1227
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 12:09:25 PM

I'm OK with it this year more than usual thanks to the NBA. With the lockout freeing up ESPN on Wednesday and Friday, and MAC games getting moved from the other networks onto the main one, the visibility this year is actually worth it.

Assuming they choose to pormote our game to ESPN over WMU/Miami next Wed., 2 times on big ESPN in 3 weeks is huge, as opposed to all of them on 2 or U like it was supposed to be.

Last Edited: 11/11/2011 12:10:19 PM by ts1227

TWT
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 12:11:32 PM

colobobcat66 wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

BobcatChopper78 wrote:

Let's say the Temple game is played on a Saturday November 6th in typical 50 degree cloudy weather at 2pm. Late season game with no pop in attendance from homecoming, parents weekend or band day. No ESPN pop for student incentive to attend. Ohio at best nets 2,000 additional paying customers and factoring in concessions-parking revenue could be making 50,000 additional dollars on a Saturday game. Its not like we are talking about having 39,000 down at the football stadium at 50 dollars a ticket vs.17,000 during midweek here. Its more like 19,000 compared to 17,500 midweek. The Temple and NIU games though a couple years back played on Saturdays only drew 15,000 so I'm not sure you can conclude attendance would be better for November Saturdays much less claim a major loss in home revenue during weeknights. Again use numbers here, not feelings or thoughts or a comparison with a program drawing 60,000 that dwarfs us.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

sargentfan
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 12:13:46 PM

DublinCat wrote:

This is a great point, hadn't factored in the cold, plus the fact that the Miami game always seems to be when the students are gone, so are almost better off having it as a night game before they all leave.

colobobcat66
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 12:24:08 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

colobobcat66 wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

BobcatChopper78 wrote:

$50,000 x2 games=$100,00= more than we're getting now.
Plus as mentioned before by others-how many season tickets do we lose because people know they can't make mid-week games?
I've noted before that the local businesses are losing out by not having weekend games with more fans in town. Not that we should be interested in helping those businesses who can help us with their support.

TWT
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 12:36:29 PM

colobobcat66 wrote:

Uncle Wes wrote:

colobobcat66 wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

BobcatChopper78 wrote:

Its annoying to have to reiterate this but Ohio moved to a 6 home game slate so season ticket holders that can't make the 2 Midweek home games still have 4 Saturday games to enjoy. The impact on local businesses may be more broad based with less people driving in. I'll give you that point. I'll say we're losing 100k per midweek in local economy money to go along with 50k in direct revenue. That pain all things relative is slight and the value of ESPN2 is worth more than 150k per home game for exposure. There could be a point where Peden is 37,000 on Saturdays and 22,000 on midweeks giving up a lot of home revenue but the program is far from that situation where there is a major deviance between midweek/saturday November home game support.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

anorris
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RE: "Mid-major" Football-thanks for nothing ESPN!!!

Posted: 11/11/2011 1:20:02 PM

It isn't even 19k vs 17.5k -- in fact, I'm not even sure there's a clear increase in attendance to having Saturday games in November. Here are the relevant raw numbers I pulled from the last five years.

---

2011 - vs. Temple (Wednesday, Nov. 2) - 17,490 - ESPN [Ohio 6-3, 3-2]

2010 - vs. Louisiana (Saturday, Oct. 30) - 15,255 [Ohio 6-3, 4-1]
2010 - vs. Buffalo (Thursday, Nov. 4) - 15,112 - ESPNU [Ohio 7-3, 5-1]

2009 - vs. NIU (Saturday, Nov. 21) - 14,756 [Ohio 8-3, 6-1]
2009 - vs. Temple (Friday, Nov. 27) - 14,135 - ESPNU [Ohio 9-3, 7-1] -- Students removed from dorms earlier in the week

2008 - vs. Buffalo (Tuesday, Oct. 28) - 10,042 - ESPNU [Ohio 2-7, 1-4] -- Keep in mind, it was near-freezing, windy, and actually sleeted during the game
2008 - vs. Bowling Green (Saturday, Nov. 8) - 15,018 [Ohio 2-8, 1-5] -- This was PARENTS WEEKEND
2008 - vs. Akron (Saturday, Nov. 22) - 13,114 [Ohio 3-8, 2-5] -- Students out of dorms

2007 - vs. Temple (Friday, Nov. 2) - 15,632 [Ohio 5-5, 3-3]
2007 - vs. Miami (Saturday, Nov. 24) - 11,438 - GTN [Ohio 6-6, 4-4] -- No students in dorms

2006 - vs. Akron (Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006) - 15,631 - ESPNU [Ohio 8-3, 6-1]

---

I personally love the schedule this November, but I'm too far away at the moment to drive into a game, and my days off are Wednesday and Thursday.

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