Details on BVDV Interview on The Tim Fletcher Show

[NathanDarby]

I do not think any of us want to throw away any of our significant improvements to game days or "start over in Shreveport." We are concerned that our conference mates have much larger athletic budgets than Tech, larger populations in close proximity and larger student bodies. Those attributes could if properly managed result in a constantly widening gap with Tech that could degrade our relative competitiveness. We believe, as members of a CUSA populated by big markets and big schools, we must in short order, aggressively do whatever is necessary to expand our fan base. Playing an annual football game and some basketball, baseball and Olympic sports events there will accelerate fan development which will allow for higher attendance and ticket prices. We are in a money game that will not be won by provincial thought. And by the way denigrating Shreveport would seem to be a little self destructive.

I actually think we agree on most everything, just are looking at it from different perspectives. I too would LOVE to see us aggressively expand our fanbase, but just playing games in a bigger city won't magically do it. UAB is outdrawn by some high schools and plays all their games in a large city. Auburn down the road is in a small town but has 85K at every game. Just looking at all the small college towns across the country that manage to draw very large crowds, coupled with all the urban schools with relatively sparse crowds is all the evidence one needs that playing in a big city does not correlate very well with attendance size. The most common finding in schools with large attendances is that they are SUCCESSFUL.....they WIN.

I agree that we need to market ourselves as aggressively as possible, and Shreveport has to be a part of that. But just showing up there for a game hasn't and won't magically give us big crowds, either there or in Ruston. As far as denigrating Shreveport or the stadium, if the city wants more positive feedback they need to get on the ball with cleaning up the stadium and the area around it, and managing the traffic better than my 2 year old niece would.

[Houston Techsan]

Notice that BVDV addressed the Shreveport problem in chat. He specifically mentioned the parking/problem.

[olddog75]

Notice that BVDV addressed the Shreveport problem in chat. He specifically mentioned the parking/problem.

Yep, there will be some shuttle service, but if we pack the place in August, you can bank on it being freakin hot, the restrooms will be overflowing and the parking and traffic flow will suck. Bruce told us to get to the stadium early and stay late.

[HogDawg]

I actually think we agree on most everything, just are looking at it from different perspectives. I too would LOVE to see us aggressively expand our fanbase, but just playing games in a bigger city won't magically do it. UAB is outdrawn by some high schools and plays all their games in a large city. Auburn down the road is in a small town but has 85K at every game. Just looking at all the small college towns across the country that manage to draw very large crowds, coupled with all the urban schools with relatively sparse crowds is all the evidence one needs that playing in a big city does not correlate very well with attendance size. The most common finding in schools with large attendances is that they are SUCCESSFUL.....they WIN.

I agree that we need to market ourselves as aggressively as possible, and Shreveport has to be a part of that. But just showing up there for a game hasn't and won't magically give us big crowds, either there or in Ruston. As far as denigrating Shreveport or the stadium, if the city wants more positive feedback they need to get on the ball with cleaning up the stadium and the area around it, and managing the traffic better than my 2 year old niece would.

That's a VERY GOOD post.





HD

[longdawgview]

I actually think we agree on most everything, just are looking at it from different perspectives. I too would LOVE to see us aggressively expand our fanbase, but just playing games in a bigger city won't magically do it. UAB is outdrawn by some high schools and plays all their games in a large city. Auburn down the road is in a small town but has 85K at every game. Just looking at all the small college towns across the country that manage to draw very large crowds, coupled with all the urban schools with relatively sparse crowds is all the evidence one needs that playing in a big city does not correlate very well with attendance size. The most common finding in schools with large attendances is that they are SUCCESSFUL.....they WIN.

I agree that we need to market ourselves as aggressively as possible, and Shreveport has to be a part of that. But just showing up there for a game hasn't and won't magically give us big crowds, either there or in Ruston. As far as denigrating Shreveport or the stadium, if the city wants more positive feedback they need to get on the ball with cleaning up the stadium and the area around it, and managing the traffic better than my 2 year old niece would.

Exactly

[DogsWin]

Some of you guys that still subscribe to the "anyone, anywhere, anytime" scheduling philosophy need to read Jimmy Johnson's book or anything by former U. of Miami Athletics Director Sam Jankovich. His philosophy was to ALWAYS WITHOUT EXCEPTION schedule 7 "wins" per year with no more that 2 "money games" and no less than 6 home games.

This is basically the same philosophy that TCU and Boise State used. What a coincidence that BSU and TCU are in AQ conferences now, while the "Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime" philosophy schools like LA Tech, Fresno State, and USM are not.

It is all about winning and (especially if in a small market). And as far as the stadium goes, the I-Bowl is fine as is for Tech. Miami won regularly in the Orange Bowl, which was tired looking and in a bad part of town- we can too.

JUST WIN CONSISTENTLY (and do so by scheduling accordingly, at least until the "BCS" closes that loophole)!!!

[Reckless Abandon]

So in conclusion...we need to win. That would be a good thing.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Some of you guys that still subscribe to the "anyone, anywhere, anytime" scheduling philosophy need to read Jimmy Johnson's book or anything by former U. of Miami Athletics Director Sam Jankovich. His philosophy was to ALWAYS WITHOUT EXCEPTION schedule 7 "wins" per year with no more that 2 "money games" and no less than 6 home games.

This is basically the same philosophy that TCU and Boise State used. What a coincidence that BSU and TCU are in AQ conferences now, while the "Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime" philosophy schools like LA Tech, Fresno State, and USM are not.

It is all about winning and (especially if in a small market). And as far as the stadium goes, the I-Bowl is fine as is for Tech. Miami won regularly in the Orange Bowl, which was tired looking and in a bad part of town- we can too.

JUST WIN CONSISTENTLY (and do so by scheduling accordingly, at least until the "BCS" closes that loophole)!!!

Good post and points!