A pro-Shreveport Article in the Tech Talk....

[Dawg04]

I can't believe this article hasn't been posted yet....


It was a wonderful Saturday in mid-fall. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs were about to play their most important football game in school history.
On the field that day were the Broncos of Boise State and the hometown Bulldogs. At stake was the championship of the Western Athletic Conference and an automatic birth in a bowl game. If Tech was to win, it would be the school's first trip to postseason play since 1990.

The players were excited, the coaches were prepared and the fans; well the fans just weren't there. A paltry 16,621 fans turned out for what would be an exciting 48-42 Tech victory.

The game would prove to be Tech's defining moment, as they were able to fight back from an early 21-7 hole. When the game ended, the fans that were there rushed the field and tore down the goal post in the south endzone while the victorious Bulldogs celebrated their monumental victory.

However, faced with the obvious reality of poorly attended home football games, Tech has moved certain home dates to Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

For instance Tech opened up this season with 31,391 fans in attendance for the Oklahoma State game on Aug. 31. The games' attendance would prove to be to third highest home attendance in Tech history.

In sharp contrast was the attendance at Saturday's Ruston opener. A mere 18,600 people packed Joe Aillet for what was an impressive 53-9 Tech victory.

The glaring fact; however, for the necessity and benefit of Shreveport games, is that the four highest attended home games in Bulldog history have all been played in Shreveport.

Certain fans and students have objected to the idea that these games are being moved. Their passion is admirable, but their stands are mostly baseless.

The Objection: Some fans say the Shreveport games are better attended because the marquee match-ups are played over there.

The Fact: Besides Tech's most important game (mentioned above) Ruston has hosted plenty major showdowns, mostly to empty bleachers. Also in 2001 Tech hosted Rice.

The Owls had entered the game with a 7-1 record and were in first place in the WAC at the time, due to their 3-0 conference mark. The result was a crowd of 23,368, for a national TV audience (FOX Sports).

In 1998 Ruston was the site for one of the most prolific passing battles in college football history when current NFL quarterbacks Dante Cullpepper and Tim Rattay led their teams, Central Florida and Tech, into battle. A mere 23,575 fans witnessed the game. The fact is simple: the games have been here, the fans haven't.

The Objection: Playing games in Shreveport doesn't allow a Ruston following to be built.

The Fact: The Bulldogs are 20-7 at home since 1996. There are currently nine former Bulldog players on NFL rosters. If a following hasn't already been built than it probably will never be built.

The Objection: The current trend of Shreveport games will lead to all the home games being moved to Shreveport.

The Fact: Starting during the fall of 2004 the NCAA will only allow one home game a year to be played away from a team's home stadium.

So instead of distraught Tech fans focusing their energy on those awful Shreveport games, take solace in knowing there is nothing that can be done to change it, and that starting 2004 Ruston will host no less than four Division 1A opponents a season.



Stephen Hemelt is a senior journalism major from New Orleans and serves as sports editor of The Tech Talk.

[Bluedawg]

Thanks for posting that story. It will interesting to see if we hear any student reaction.

[BIG DOG28]

The TRUTH hurts some but we should make Shreveport our home venue because it has been proven through the years Ruston will never support a D-1A program! That will still let La Tech play one game a year in Ruston.

[smilingdawg]

Golly gee, we have been on the new board for about 3 hours and already we are back on the same tired topics.

[Dawgfight96]

As a Shreveport resident, I love the fact that Tech plays some of their games here. Independence Stadium is a nice venue with the renovations (Field Turf, Jumbotron, etc.) and I think it benefits to have at least one game here per year. Keep most home games in Ruston, but bring a little Tech action over here in Northwest La. on an annual basis. :wink:

[inudesu]

I guess we are back to the same ole topics. Here's a neat idea, how about 4 games in Ruston and one in Shreveport every year?

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Four games in Shreveport and 1 game in Ruston you say? I agree!

[JAY]

thanks tdf for getting me back on.

[TechDawgFan]

nm

[RhinoDawg]

Someone may want to explain the NCAA's definition of "home" to Mr. Hemelt.