Leaving Games Early

[ASU-FTW]

Not sure how many of you are "fans" of Appalachian State football on Facebook, but they just recently made a status telling the students to stay for the whole game. Even if it doesn't do any good at all, I'm still glad that the issue is being addressed. It really irritates me when I see people (students/paying alumni/fans) head for the gates early. It isn't fair to the team.

I'm sure people are going to respond by saying "as log as they pay who cares".

[AppGrad1]

Don't really like it but it usually only happens during blowouts... They usually stay in close games.

[bh2oson]

During last weeks blowout we left the comforts of 205 to check out life on the "East" side. We watched the 3rd quarter from section 113 which was about 20% full. In the 4th quarter we roamed over to section 210 about 50% full. It was nice to see what the rock looked like from all angles. I have always wanted to see the game from the upper deck and we got a chance to watch the last quarter there. It was a lot of fun but it wasn't as much fun as seeing both sides full for 4 quarters.

[appgrunt71]

Great teams have great fans. They go hand in hand. App State is well known for its gameday experience. We have one of the best sites in all of college football. There is a big difference between gameday experience (entertainment) and being a avid 12th man. As the 12th man we have a profound impact. As the team continues to grow, even to a new level, I hope we as fans will eventually accept as an unspoken obligation the standard to stay with the team for the whole game.

[DaphneUrquhart]

I've always been a 0:00 fan. Whether the game is very close or very lopsided, I stay to the end. I keep reminding myself that every kid on the field ... yes, they're kids ... is someone's son. I would never walk out on my own son's games. Why would I walk out on someone else's son?

I realize my perspective is different from that of a student. Maybe some of you approaching "older than dirt" like me can appreciate this mom's point of view.

See you at The Rock ... until the end of the game.

[bcoach]

I really beg to differ. They leave during every game even close ones and it starts before half time. We paid to install those extra seats and really don't need them. We had enough seats for those who came to watch a game.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

One, I don't get to many games, so the one's I do get to are special. Secondly, I am just cheap enough that if I pay for a ticket I am staying to the bitter spiteful end, or even better - a victory.

I also hate getting there late, and just barely made the kickoff for the playoff game that had the snow. My sister locked her keys in her car at my house in Greensboro. Kids were slipping on the ice and falling down steps, and I was running to get to KBS. Just made it, but we made it with seconds to spare.

I stay for every second of the game, and I don't mind getting there as soon as the gates open.

[firemoose]

One, I don't get to many games, so the one's I do get to are special. Secondly, I am just cheap enough that if I pay for a ticket I am staying to the bitter spiteful end, or even better - a victory.

I also hate getting there late, and just barely made the kickoff for the playoff game that had the snow. My sister locked her keys in her car at my house in Greensboro. Kids were slipping on the ice and falling down steps, and I was running to get to KBS. Just made it, but we made it with seconds to spare.

I stay for every second of the game, and I don't mind getting there as soon as the gates open.

Don't really have fond memories of that Western Illinois game. My father fell after the game and broke his hip with bleeding on the brain also. It began an 11 month nightmare that ended with his passing. We always stay until the end of the game but that's truly one I wish we would have missed.

[cbarrier90]

My favorite part about this thread is that it exists because there's really nothing else to gripe about. That's a good sign!

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Don't really have fond memories of that Western Illinois game. My father fell after the game and broke his hip with bleeding on the brain also. It began an 11 month nightmare that ended with his passing. We always stay until the end of the game but that's truly one I wish we would have missed.[/quote]

To be honest I would have a hard time going back to any game, at least if bad weather was forecast.

[MountainMan]

Always find it strange that some folks think that anyone that wants to do something different from themselves is "wrong" or "less of a fan".

Folks that want to stand think that folks that want to sit are lesser fans.
Folks that want to hear the band think that folks that want to hear piped in music are crazy.
Folks that like the old Yosef logo think that the new Yosef logo looks crappy.
Folks that want to stay till they turn out the lights think that folks that leave early are bad fans.

If someone buys a ticket they have the right to stay, go, cheer, or even read a book. Schools like ASU need all the support and all the fans that we can get -- even the less than perfect folks that seem to spoil the day for the perfect fans.

Personally, I like to sit, listen to piped-in music wearing my new-Yosef-logo sweatshirt, and leave at the end of the third quarter if ASU is up by more than 10 points. Isn't life strange?

[TheMoody1]

Many of the folks attending games are just casual football fans who are only at the game because they have a child in school. They paid their $30.00 and God knows how much more money to ASU, so if they leave, they leave. They aren't really cheering anyway.Every school has these "fans".

[fjblair]

This thread appears 2 or 3 times every year. Fans leaving games early is not a new phenomenon and it's not exclusive to ASU. We have an enthusiastic and loyal fan base. I'm grateful and proud to play my part.

Sometimes I arrive right at kickoff or maybe even a little late. Sometimes I leave early when the outcome of the game is not in doubt. I do not normally watch the band at halftime.

Please don't hate me. I love my school.

I was bewildered by the large number of students streaming from the game at halftime yesterday. What the hell? But they are students and they do nutty stuff. Some are just there to party and they are taking the party somewhere else. In reality it's a very small percentage that leave that early and I'm glad they are there for as long as they stick around.

[Yosef93]

It's a little naive to think you can get 25,000+ people together at a specific time on Saturday afternoon and not think there are more than a few different objectives.

Personally, I"m a Yoseft club member at a reasonably high level with 4 season tickets. Last year, due to work and family, I didn't make a single game. Gave them away each week, but I couldn't tell you if the people stayed the whole game or not. Maybe I should ask them and make that a prerequisite before giving someone 4 tickets and a parking pass for free?

Now this year, we've been able to make all the home games. Now this means me, my wife, and kids driving up 2 hours from Charlotte. My kids, five and three absolutely love the game day atmosphere. They love the pre game activities, love yelling, love the game, Yosef, cheerleaders, fireworks, the band's halftime show. They just have a great time. However, by the 3rd quarter, they are usually spent, and by the forth, would be totally miserable. Factoring that in, plus we still have a 2 hour drive home, then yes, we leave early. In fact, I'll admit to leaving early no matter how the game is going, blow-out or close shoot out.

Now the good times my kids have at the games, an afternoon of great quality family time making great memories with my wife and kids is more than worth the price of Yosef membership and tickets. Plus, I like to think I'm supporting the school that did a lot for me. Now, if leaving early makes me a "bad fan", then I'll have to accept that. However, it makes me a good parent, and that's a lot more important to me than any win-loose or draw on Saturday.

[DaphneUrquhart]

If all goes well, I'll have a Mountaineer grandchild in late April. That child may well be the first reason for my leaving a game early. We sit next to a family with small kids. Sometimes the children last the whole game; sometimes they don't. It's easy for me to understand families making the very best of enjoying each other and all that is Appalachian football and skipping out when the children need to call it a day.

Thanks, Yosef93, for being part of Yosef and raising your children well! Don't miss a thing. One day you may be able to treat your grandchildren to Appalachian wonderfulness, too.

[RankinApp]

Someone needs to tell all those folks packing the stands at Ohio State, South Carolina, Florida, North Dakota State, Old Dominion, Oregon, Montana, they have no business staying until the end.

Today I give my all for Appexcusehian State, indeed.

[BeauFoster]

Someone needs to tell all those folks packing the stands at Ohio State, South Carolina, Florida, North Dakota State, Old Dominion, Oregon, Montana, they have no business staying until the end.

Today I give my all for Appexcusehian State, indeed.

South Carolina was EMPTY with 5 minutes to go this weekend. An arial shot showed that at least half, if not more was gone.

I still don't get this notion that I "owe" it to anyone to stay in my seat or at the stadium any longer than I feel like. I don't owe anyone anything (except my mortgage and car note).

[Yosef77]

Someone needs to tell all those folks packing the stands at Ohio State, South Carolina, Florida, North Dakota State, Old Dominion, Oregon, Montana, they have no business staying until the end.

Today I give my all for Appexcusehian State, indeed.

South Carolina was EMPTY with 5 minutes to go this weekend. An arial shot showed that at least half, if not more was gone.

I still don't get this notion that I "owe" it to anyone to stay in my seat or at the stadium any longer than I feel like. I don't owe anyone anything (except my mortgage and car note).

BINGO

[Rowdypaco]

I agree with Yosef93. My situation is a little different, but same theme. I only get to one game a year, two if I'm lucky. When I do come, I stay until the end simply because I love to be there, at the Rock, and just in Boone. However, this year I took my 4 year old to his first game. We came to the Coastal Carolina game, in the pouring rain. He was a real trooper, but by the end of halftime, he was hungry and spent. No way I'm going to force him to stay until the end of the game and then have to get him dinner and drive him 2hrs home after fighting traffic for an hour just to get out of town. I may negotiate another game this year, but I might not, doesn't really matter. Even though we left at halftime, I can tell you that was my best game day experience I've ever had!

[appgrunt71]

I understand that we will always have that wide range of fans, but I do strongly believe that we need that "hardcore group" of diehards for the program to grow. For homecoming with the on and off bad weather we still had 10 to 15k fans stay the whole game. That's super! As the mystic of the game day experience continues to grow, we must make an asserted effort to grow the role of the 12th man and recognize its importance.