Steve Russell - Fair Weather Fans

GatorTruth133

Alethea
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Oct 5, 2017
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Steve Russell right now on WRUF is arguing that any fan living anywhere in the US that decides not to go to games because of the product on the field is a fair weather fan. Guy called in challenging it talking about Travel and Hotel expenses and the need for the money to be with it. Steve said that guy is a fair weather fan.

As he is one of the top 5 mouthpieces for UF Athletics with a daily call in show and the post game call in show, what do you make of these comments? Is he right, is he wrong? Discuss.

Personally, I don’t miss home games, UGA and FSU, but I know I have been blessed in that regard. However, I don’t think people not traveling to Gainesville to watch a 100+ ranked offense the last few years are fair weather.
 

Windy City Gator

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I guess I am a fair weather fan...Living in Chicago and going to every game is pretty unrealistic. But I do make the trek to Columbia, MO every other year and went to the SEC Tourny in St. Louis in March.
 

Tay Bang

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Russell is a UAA mouthpiece. He wouldn't criticize Chump or Butters on his shows until he was given the UAA bat-signal a few days before they were fired. Drooley got the same bat-signal. Stricklin probably called Russell yesterday with orders to pump up the attendance this week.
 

Alumni Guy

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Yup, I’m fair weathered because I’m not going to drop $150 on tickets, drive 4.5 hours each way, spend another $500 on hotels, food, gas, etc. for a mediocre product the UAA won’t invest in b/c women’s croquet team needs a new stadium and platinum wickets.

UAA wants my $$, then they need to put their skin in the game.

BTW, sit and spin Steve Russel, whoever the hell you are.
 

Durfish

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Bull$h!t. Fans aren't the prerequisite to championship seasons. Recruit talent and coach 'em up. Fans will follow, and then you get a snowball rolling downhill. Not a fan of Russell's nor his take on this. Live in a fan's shoes, Russell. One that doesn't have travel paid and attends games on their own dime.

Also not a fan of Mullen calling out the fans. Here's the deal. When students could re-sell to anyone it was win-win. They bought their season packages, kept the marquee tickets, sold the rest, and ended up getting their 2 or 3 tickets for free (and might have made a bit of change for beers). Bottom line is the student side was rarely filled with "students", and the alumni side never seemed to hurt for it. Now in an effort to keep the cash flow going prices increase so bottom line inches upward. A lot of students still buy the season but simply don't go to the games that hold no interest. So a lot of the seats are sold but no butts are in them.

You want a consistently full stadium? Change the re-sale (i.e. "student ID check") rule. It'll fill the student side and likely won't hurt the attendance in the shade.

I for one would LOVE to go back to Hogtown and sit in the sun with the crazies.
 

GR8 2B

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Yup, I’m fair weathered because I’m not going to drop $150 on tickets, drive 4.5 hours each way, spend another $500 on hotels, food, gas, etc. for a mediocre product the UAA won’t invest in b/c women’s croquet team needs a new stadium and platinum wickets.

UAA wants my $$, then they need to put their skin in the game.

BTW, sit and spin Steve Russel, whoever the hell you are.
You need to put the first 2 paragraphs of that post in a letter and send it directly to Stricklin.
 

GatorJ

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Steve Russell is a jackass. If he didn’t live in Gainesville and had to pay for tickets, flight, hotel, and food he would shut his whöre mouth.

Since he pays for nothing he’s telling you how to spend your money. He can EABODs.
 

lagator

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Russell is a UAA mouthpiece. He wouldn't criticize Chump or Butters on his shows until he was given the UAA bat-signal a few days before they were fired. Drooley got the same bat-signal. Stricklin probably called Russell yesterday with orders to pump up the attendance this week.
They are going to keep rolling with the "what's a coach supposed to do when you fans suck so much ass?" defense. Nice.
 

aka

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Then what should they be called? I understand things come down to money and if it's worth it to folks. It's kinda like voting, though. "If you don't vote, then..". I get it, I do. He's just not completely wrong.
 

ChiefGator

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So money is the criteria if you are a good fan or not. I guess I was never a really good fan since I don't go to home games at all. Of course I live 800 miles from G ville.
 

InstiGATOR1

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Steve Russell right now on WRUF is arguing that any fan living anywhere in the US that decides not to go to games because of the product on the field is a fair weather fan. Guy called in challenging it talking about Travel and Hotel expenses and the need for the money to be with it. Steve said that guy is a fair weather fan.

As he is one of the top 5 mouthpieces for UF Athletics with a daily call in show and the post game call in show, what do you make of these comments? Is he right, is he wrong? Discuss.

Personally, I don’t miss home games, UGA and FSU, but I know I have been blessed in that regard. However, I don’t think people not traveling to Gainesville to watch a 100+ ranked offense the last few years are fair weather.

I agree with him that any fan who decides not to go to games because of the product on the field THIS YEAR is a fair weather fan. Alas the problem is UF fans are reacting to the product on the field THIS DECADE. If fans are still going to games based on this DECADE, the situation borders on an abusive relationship.
 

Renard904

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Oct 1, 2016
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I don't agree. Me and wife usually go to a couple games a year. The ONLY reason I go to those games is for SUPPORT. I'm not financially in a position to be a donor so I take my hard-earned money and pay for tickets, concessions and merchandise.
Truth be told, I'd rather not do it. I'm not a big fan of the Gameday experience any more. I'd prefer to be in the comfort of my own home enjoying my own refreshments and "gameday festivities." To imply that I should spend more of my money and attend more games to qualify as a "real" fan is beyond ridiculous. No way am I driving down there to watch Mizzou or South Carolina dance on our field. I'll be at home b!!tching and complaining on GatorChatter like everyone else lol
 

revgator

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I never understood this fan hierarchy. What do you win if you attend every game and buy all the merch?

The ability to virtue signal?

It all seems so shallow to me. How about the guys who make millions encourage the guys who will make millions to win games?
 

SaltGator

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Maybe Steve Russell could bring in Luke Del Taco for a live interview, that would really get the fans fired up.
 

Durfish

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Steve Russell is a jackass. If he didn’t live in Gainesville and had to pay for tickets, flight, hotel, and food he would shut his whöre mouth.

Since he pays for nothing he’s telling you how to spend your money. He can EABODs.
40376992_10160860145125230_3668589398695346176_n.jpg
 

RiverRat

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Russell is a UAA mouthpiece. He wouldn't criticize Chump or Butters on his shows until he was given the UAA bat-signal a few days before they were fired. Drooley got the same bat-signal. Stricklin probably called Russell yesterday with orders to pump up the attendance this week.
Nothing could be closer to the truth. Steve's show's are entertaining but I truly believe he would take a B.B. to the cod sack before he would say anything bad about a U.F. athletic program. In a way he's Lap Dog for U.F. that knows who's putting the food in his dog bowl.
 

RiverRat

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80,000 fans would call out Steve on this. The vast majority of Alumni seats were full, The student section was bare in spots (party or watch this) easy decision, the God awful upper north end zone was pretty much bare (Can't blame anyone for not sitting there), upper south end zone very spotty.
If you want people to sit in these less desirable seats its as simple as putting a better product on the field. The state of Florid offers a lot of completion for peoples time.
 

Zodiac

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2016
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I guess there are very few "real" fans left in college football then, as attendance is pretty much down everywhere.

I always thought coaches and players won games and championships. But, if the fans are so important to winning titles then why aren't we getting paid to be there too? It's kind of ****ed up that they're complaining about the ones with no real incentive to be there, not selling out. It's not like I'm getting a full ride to UF or making 6 million a year to show up to the stadium.
 

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