Steve Russell - Fair Weather Fans

[GatorTruth133]

if Chimp was in the studio Steve probably would have fellated him.

Would anyone who has ever heard Steve Russell talk be surprised? I mean this comment does not seem like hyperbole.

I remember the one time I called Steve (last year I tortured him with a few tweets that sent him into fits of rage that ended up as commercials...lol), after Alabama '11 and Driskel was like 4 of 11 on throws of 10+ yards including Robinson wide open behind Bama's secondary on multiple occasions. Emmitt Smith tweeted that he had seen enough of Driskel. I called and asked Steve who knew more about offense, Emmitt or Muschamp, dude danced and talked about "knowing the situation", I was not as brash as I should have been and didn't make him answer the Emmitt or Muschamp question.

From the past several seasons, the biggest problems areas for attendance have been the upper levels in the endzones and the student section. those upper levels can be fixed by offering more deals to locals, family packages, etc. the student section is flat out embarrassing. there's no reason to show up in the middle of the 1st qtr. they need to do something like basketball where they track who doesn't show up when they have a ticket and penalize them.

Another big issue, is other SEC teams used to fill their allotment. Now, we have thousands of extra seats to try and fill. Student section is ass. However, I like whoever said that they should let students sell tix to whoever.

 

[Double Gator Dad]

I heard a few minutes of this discussion and I am on the side of the fans.
If you say it is a business then produce like a business or lose revenue.

If you say it is more than a business and that we owe our loyalty, then help me with this.
- Win or lose, the coach makes millions
- Win or lose the AD gets paid a million
- Win or lose the players still have schollys and access to training for the next level

What does the fan get win or lose other than less money?

 

[Doopree]

Steve Russell is a loud mouth blow hard.

 

[t-gator]

Somebody shoulda asked him how often he flew up to New York to watch the jets or whoever the hell they root for up there.

 

[g8tr72]

How elitist of him.

Does his "definition" only apply to football? Then his freeloading rearend better attend EVERY UF sporting event....

What a stupid idea - "Let's piss off the fans!"

 

[78]

Steve Russell has been around a long time, dating back to my time at UF. He has a right to say what he wants, but he had better expect a backlash when he gets the tail and the dog backward.

 

[BMF]

Looks like this may have been a coordinated effort.

Dooley put out an article today - not calling fans 'bandwagon' but - making excuses about attendance and praising the UAA:

Dooley: Decreased stadium capacity coming - GatorSports.com

That’s why you are seeing stadiums go the other way, decreasing capacity to make the experience for the fans more enjoyable.

And why you’ll eventually see that happen in Gainesville.

Florida has been out in front in trying to do different things to draw the fans. Saturday was the debut of a better WiFi system and there have been all kinds of amenities added for each home game.

“Our fan enjoyment committee meets every week,” said Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin. “This isn’t a Florida issue. It’s a nationwide issue. We have to attack it from a lot of different fronts.

“We’ve got to work real hard to add value for people to come to the games.”

Sometimes, it has to feel like a battle that can’t be won. The world is changing. TV ratings for the sport are up and — let’s face it — the casual fan who had tickets for the game could eat them and enjoy numerous big games that were played at the same time.

 

[leogator]

First of all the student body composition has changed. There are a lot more serious minded students at UF that are not as interested in partying and going to games. I would like for them to shrink the student section and or let the students sell their tickets.
The other thing they can do is improve the product on the field.

 

[TheDouglas78]

The more work for students especially in the colleges UF is known for has expanded, Sports over all has been in a fall in both attendance and ratings over the last 5 years. This year at least as far as NFL and NCAA Football the ratings have risen from the previous year, there has been so much damage from the previous years that its a lot to catch up.

 

[rogdochar]

Look Russel, how could they be fair weather fans when they storm out of the stadium at the start of the 4th quarter?

 

[fischerwood]

Hmmmm...I wonder if Alabama, LSU or Georgia has this issue???? I went down to Jax 2 weeks ago and was so frustrated @ our lack of offense especially the DA @ QB, I left at end of 3rd qtr. I am only 78 and have traveled since a certain sophomore QB in 1964 pulled out a game in Jackson, MS 16-13. So don't preach to me about being a fair weather fan puleeze.

 

[NOLAGATOR]

One of the big issues I have is UF has changed...It wants to be Elite. It has an IVY League Prez.

We'll you want to be Vandy, Harvard, Duke...You attract those students and produce those Alumni.

Y'all make fun of LSU yet they fill 100K Stadiums and pack Omaha during the CWS...Who does that? It's baseball.

I could not get research done at UF for under $100K. So, we went to UGA. We have a PhD student for 3 years.

I love the Gators but I am discouraged with UF. If I were a student today, I'd probally have not gone to UF. Many of my Gator Buds now have kids NOT going to UF...Could not get in.

You wanted Elite...You get elitist fans. Heck just look at what the younger Alumni post.

 

[YLGator]

The last time I went to a game was in 2013. With that one trip across the country with the family, I think I’ve invested more in the football program over the past 5 years than the UAA has (the IPF doesn’t count as that should have been done 10+ years ago, they get no credit for being so late the the dance). Once they actually invest in football again, I’ll consider getting back to a game. Until then, I’ll watch from afar. You reap what you sow.

 

[Big Wave]

I had a fascinating conversation with a longtime Bull Gator last night. He's a good friend that I've known for 30 years. He's been in for 100k a year for a long time. He has his own box. Has since they built the things.

He told me last night that he's out. Giving up the box. No season tickets. Out. No bitterness or anger. He said it has just come to feel like an obligation. It's not that much fun anymore. He has a hard time even giving away the tickets to fill up his box. There have been games when it sat completely empty.

Sign of the times I guess.

 

[YLGator]

I had a fascinating conversation with a longtime Bull Gator last night. He's a good friend that I've known for 30 years. He's been in for 100k a year for a long time. He has his own box. Has since they built the things.

He told me last night that he's out. Giving up the box. No season tickets. Out. No bitterness or anger. He said it has just come to feel like an obligation. It's not that much fun anymore. He has a hard time even giving away the tickets to fill up his box. There have been games when it sat completely empty.

Sign of the times I guess.

Is he going to buy a box at the new baseball stadium?

 

[ThreatMatrix]

Back in the day I went to games for a few reasons but mostly because I didn’t want to miss anything. Spurrier hanging 50 on someone or a Heisman worthy performance by any number of players. I wanted to be there when history was made.
But in the last 10 years there have been very few of those.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Is he going to buy a box at the new baseball stadium?

 

[Gator87]

Back in the day I went to games for a few reasons but mostly because I didn’t want to miss anything. Spurrier hanging 50 on someone or a Heisman worthy performance by any number of players. I wanted to be there when history was made.
But in the last 10 years there have been very few of those.

The only history in the last 10 years has been some of the worst offensive performances in the history of the program.

 

[Politigator]

I am definitely fair weathered. I live 1000 miles away out of state. I haven't been to a game in years. College football is entertainment. If it isn't entertaining I may not even watch it on TV.

 

[GatorTruth133]

I had a fascinating conversation with a longtime Bull Gator last night. He's a good friend that I've known for 30 years. He's been in for 100k a year for a long time. He has his own box. Has since they built the things.

He told me last night that he's out. Giving up the box. No season tickets. Out. No bitterness or anger. He said it has just come to feel like an obligation. It's not that much fun anymore. He has a hard time even giving away the tickets to fill up his box. There have been games when it sat completely empty.

Sign of the times I guess.

Well, if he wants to toss tix for the Idaho game...I've never watched from a box lol