Why Play Last Weekend?

[appgrad]

Might be better filed under Sun Belt - but I was curious why the conference chose to wrap up Thanksgiving weekend, and not this weekend? Seems to me like attendance would be better this Saturday - as a someone who lives in Atlanta, I couldn't dip out on family events that weekend to go to Boone, but probably could've made it if we wrapped up on this upcoming Friday night or Saturday.

And with there only being around 12-15 games this weekend, Sun Belt probably could've landed some decent ESPN network time slots if they played some games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Big XII does this because they don't have a championship game, as does the AAC. My only guess is that school's Finals played a role?

[AtlAppMan]

There are lots of college games played over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is kind of like apple pie. We just need a little time to adjust to that being the norm.

[bigdaddyg]

In essence that planning would have given us our third bye week. I doubt that happens very often in a college football schedule. Of course playing the Thursday night game factored into that. Would have been nice for the students to have the opportunity to attend the final home game while actually back at school.

[appgrad]

There are lots of college games played over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is kind of like apple pie. We just need a little time to adjust to that being the norm.

Fair enough - but just thinking, from a conference standpoint, wouldn't you rather your final games be played on a weekend when there is less clutter? The Sun Belt, in general, has schools that struggle to attract fans...putting games in a weekend full of distractions just seems like a bad idea when that is the case.

Hoping its something we only have to worry about every other year...and will become moot if they ever get a 12th team in, since there will then be a title game.

[firemoose]

There are lots of college games played over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is kind of like apple pie. We just need a little time to adjust to that being the norm.

I might also be nice if we can schedule a rival on Rivalry Weekend instead of a team from across the country that we've never played. Could possibly bring a few more students back early.

[appbanker]

I might also be nice if we can schedule a rival on Rivalry Weekend instead of a team from across the country that we've never played. Could possibly bring a few more students back early.

Isn't the biggest issue with the students, the fact that the dorms are closed? I thought that was also the issue with the playoff years. Only off-campus students had housing available.

[EastHallApp]

Good question. Of course the entire league isn't going to take the week off, but maybe stretching the season out one more week would be a good idea until we have a championship game.

As far as rivalry week, we only have one rival right now, so it would be a question of whether we'd want to move that game to the last week of the season. Personally I kind of like the midseason Black Saturday showdown, but I could see an argument for playing them last. I would not want to play it on Thanksgiving weekend, though, because I want to make sure the stadium's as full as possible for arguably the biggest game of the year.

[firemoose]

I might also be nice if we can schedule a rival on Rivalry Weekend instead of a team from across the country that we've never played. Could possibly bring a few more students back early.

Isn't the biggest issue with the students, the fact that the dorms are closed? I thought that was also the issue with the playoff years. Only off-campus students had housing available.

It is. And I said it earlier in another thread but should have said it again. While we were FCS there was no way to know if we would have a home game that weekend, but this game was on the schedule all year, just didn't know the time. The dorms should have been opened Sat morning. But I guess my point was, even if you open the dorms back up, it helps to have someone the students know, hate, and want to see us play to help get some to come back early.

[firemoose]

Good question. Of course the entire league isn't going to take the week off, but maybe stretching the season out one more week would be a good idea until we have a championship game.

As far as rivalry week, we only have one rival right now, so it would be a question of whether we'd want to move that game to the last week of the season. Personally I kind of like the midseason Black Saturday showdown, but I could see an argument for playing them last. I would not want to play it on Thanksgiving weekend, though, because I want to make sure the stadium's as full as possible for arguably the biggest game of the year.

I agree East. We want the stadium as full as possible when THEY come to town. But pretty much anyone would have been better this past weekend than a team from a couple thousand miles away that we've never played. I know as a new Belt member we hadn't played several of the teams before but Idaho.

[BeauFoster]

I'm sure that TV dictates this to an extent, as well. Most networks have already scheduled their games - conference championship games at that.

[Dmanuhone]

Well it seems reported attendance was higher than for first round playoffs in the past. Actually butts in the seats looked better to me also. Student section was disappointing.

[Rekdiver]

I thought the same thing. The attendance was equal to or better than the Illinois State game 2 years ago.

[AppinVA]

The Illinois State game was the week after Thanksgiving, as well.

[appgrad]

I might also be nice if we can schedule a rival on Rivalry Weekend instead of a team from across the country that we've never played. Could possibly bring a few more students back early.

Isn't the biggest issue with the students, the fact that the dorms are closed? I thought that was also the issue with the playoff years. Only off-campus students had housing available.

It is. And I said it earlier in another thread but should have said it again. While we were FCS there was no way to know if we would have a home game that weekend, but this game was on the schedule all year, just didn't know the time. The dorms should have been opened Sat morning. But I guess my point was, even if you open the dorms back up, it helps to have someone the students know, hate, and want to see us play to help get some to come back early.

Even if you open the dorms back up early, you're still asking students to cut their Thanksgiving break short a day or two early. Might be easier for kids from Charlotte, W-S, etc. who go home all the time - but harder from kids for farther away places like Atlanta, Raleigh, Wilmington, etc.

[JTApps1]

Several in our group have wondered why the league wouldn't let everyone push the last game back a week. Just having the students alone would add 6,000 or so to the attendance. It would be interesting to see if anyone in our athletic department has had conversations with the league office about this. I can't imagine any schools being against it.

[appbanker]

[quote="appgradEven if you open the dorms back up early, you're still asking students to cut their Thanksgiving break short a day or two early. Might be easier for kids from Charlotte, W-S, etc. who go home all the time - but harder from kids for farther away places like Atlanta, Raleigh, Wilmington, etc.[/quote]

I guess from a purely financial view it doesn't matter if the students are there since their ticket price is included in the fees they pay, so the university already has their money. Not sure how much students spend on concessions, so that may not make much of a difference. Also, if they open the dorms, are they required to open the cafeteria's? That could be a drain financially.

[bcoach]

I still say you make it GS and get the three country singers to come and perform and it would be a sellout. In fact you could sell the student section out also. It would be the biggest home money gate of the year.

[NewApp]

Well it seems reported attendance was higher than for first round playoffs in the past. Actually butts in the seats looked better to me also. Student section was disappointing.

It should. The fans had all season to prepare for travel and hotel reservations (which ain't easy in Boone/Blowing Rock).