🏈 Angry with small crowd, Nick Saban says Alabama students not 'entitled to anything'

[tider79]

Have better out-of-conference opponents and this wouldnt be such an issue.

 

[ColAngus]

Saban has better shit to be concerned about. He's fighting a losing battle here.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I live at the Kentucky/Tennessee line. I travel to home games. 11 kickoff is an early day for me because I do not stay the night, I make it a day trip. If a student cannot walk across campus to attend a game stop grabbing the tickets and let someone who want to go, go.

I have never understood why Oklahoma vs Texas, Michigan vs Ohio State keep getting the 11am/12pm spot each year regardless of record. Eastern teams who go off at 12 get a little relief but the central time is just brutal for everyone.

 

[planomateo]

Tv contracts would be my first guess, Ohio State gets the 3pm spot on Fox and Washington getting the 6:30pm.

 

[PhillyGirl]

He can't seriously expect fans to come out to see the Little Sisters of the Poor get destroyed 70-3 at 11AM in Alabama heat while listening to shitty music, can he?

They've had what, one P5 non conference home game in the past decade?

Meanwhile I've heard people raving about Kentucky's game day atmosphere. For football.

I get that fans get used to winning but you gotta know that people get bored and complacent. Gotta spice it up. Start with better matchups, better times, better music, etc. Make the fans want to be there, and they'll come... and stay,

Start by bringing Dixieland back!

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I live at the Kentucky/Tennessee line. I travel to home games. 11 kickoff is an early day for me because I do not stay the night, I make it a day trip. If a student cannot walk across campus to attend a game stop grabbing the tickets and let someone who want to go, go.

I have never understood why Oklahoma vs Texas, Michigan vs Ohio State keep getting the 11am/12pm spot each year regardless of record. Eastern teams who go off at 12 get a little relief but the central time is just brutal for everyone.

I think Oklahoma-Texas is always an 11am game. They have to get the game out of the way before the steer judging...

 

[doemasters]

I would start playing DixieLand Delight with 2:26 left in the game and that might keep a few more in the stands

 

[Japanese Redneck]

I didn’t go last weekend, but tried to sell mine at cost and then even tried to give them away. I got no takers and ended up eating them. I imagine the time, heat, and then the opponent played a HUGE role in attendance. I normally, go to every single home game but couldn’t last week due to a family matter.

Just curious, what type of sauce did you use? I’m rather fond of this ikea fish sauce.

 

[TerryP]

Should Saban think students should come out to games like this? Should he say so? Expect such? Yes he can and yes he should.

One, there needs to be some clarification here--he wasn't addressing fans, it was his form of messaging to students.
Two, students getting tickets is a privilege, not a right.
And three...and here's the crux of the matter that's not being asked...

Students are allowed five games missed (card not swiped) before their tickets are taken away. Students are walking over to these games, swiping their card, and then leaving the game. Those tickets could be used because there are students who want to attend but don't have tickets. People can't seriously expect the administration to have a voice when students are clearly taking advantage of the system and by their own actions denying others the opportunity to attend games.

It's my personal opinion that comments like "teams they're being 70-3" has no place in this conversation--SEC teams are being beaten just as badly. The notion "schedule better" has been proven to false--one several occasions within the last few years.

11:00. Shitty music. Heat. All inconveniences at a football game. A lot of complaining and anxiety that's closely akin to people complaining about who is calling a game they're watching.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Should Saban think students should come out to games like this? Should he say so? Expect such? Yes he can and yes he should.

Maybe the question should be, does Saban realistically think he can rehabilitate the student section? You get tickets because you are a student, not because you love Alabama football. How will such an arrangement ever meet with total success? Many have already mentioned that some games are more motivating than others and that's reasonable. And 11:00 am kickoff against LA-Lafayette follows a Friday night of teenage merrymaking doesn't sound like a recipe for long-term success.

There are solutions but will the University adopt them? Limit student tickets. On SEC games make the student allotment larger than these smaller OOC games. Drop the price for less than premium seating even more and make them available to all these hardworking fans who love Bama football with a Crimson Passion. If you're going to depreciate the product than at least make for some economic incentives to be there.

And lastly, people know what they're buying. They always have. If college football and the University of Alabama keep scheduling these directional schools for slaughter, then they ain't coming with unmitigated enthusiasm. We're saving that for LSU. Someone mentioned we have had ONE OOC power-5 game played at BDS in the last decade. I could easily argue that these neutral site games have chased the home field fanatics away while the deep pocket fans get to make these trips to Atlanta, Jerry World, Orlando. Coming to BDS is a habit and it's hard to get addicted with so few opportunities to get excited.

 

[TerryP]

I could easily argue that these neutral site games have chased the home field fanatics away while the deep pocket fans get to make these trips to Atlanta, Jerry World, Orlando.

I'm curious how you'd make that argument when it's Tide Pride members getting priority for the tickets to ATL, et. al.

But again, we're mixing two stories here. Do we see apathetic attendance to neutral site games from the student ticket allotments? No. We don't.

Maybe the question should be, does Saban realistically think he can rehabilitate the student section? You get tickets because you are a student, not because you love Alabama football. How will such an arrangement ever meet with total success? Many have already mentioned that some games are more motivating than others and that's reasonable. And 11:00 am kickoff against LA-Lafayette follows a Friday night of teenage merrymaking doesn't sound like a recipe for long-term success.

All they have to do is turn their tickets back in for others to use. It's not a rehabilitation he's suggesting. It's shit or get off the pot. The 11 o'clock kick being inconvenient because of Friday night is a weak argument especially when they're taking the time to swipe their cards. By not attending these kids are simply being selfish--one, in not giving others the opportunity to attend (no penalty for turning ticket back in,) and secondly by taking the time to make sure their card is swiped for the ULL games so they can attend the LSU games. Both are possible but a lot too damn selfish and lazy follow the system in place.

FWIW, I'm all for first come, first served.

Reminds me...last year we're in the middle of finals week, it's a Wednesday night game against Rhode Island. For many, school was already out and kids had left campus. But, we're looking at a student section in Coleman that's full and the total crowd was real close to 13K. Finals, mid-week games, and not being on campus...all legit reasons to miss a game. The ones listed in this conversation? Pretty weak, in my view.

 

[TUSKtimes]

All they have to do is turn their tickets back in for others to use. It's not a rehabilitation he's suggesting. It's shit or get off the pot. The 11 o'clock kick being inconvenient because of Friday night is a weak argument especially when they're taking the time to swipe their cards. By not attending these kids are simply being selfish--one, in not giving others the opportunity to attend (no penalty for turning ticket back in,) and secondly by taking the time to make sure their card is swiped for the ULL games so they can attend the LSU games. Both are possible but a lot too damn selfish and lazy follow the system in place.

So lower the ticket allotment for these directional schools. They aren't coming. The University needs to believe what they see for a change and make some grown-up decisions that involve ticket allotment. Shaming students into doing something they don't want will never have long-term, consistent success. Maybe a few games, but we are going to be right back here discussing student apathy every season.

And most of all, as I already stated:

And lastly, people know what they're buying. They always have. If college football and the University of Alabama keep scheduling these directional schools for slaughter, then they ain't coming with unmitigated enthusiasm. We're saving that for LSU. We have had ONE OOC power-5 game played at BDS in the last decade.

 

[planomateo]

Get rid of block seating and make it first come. There are plenty of students that would show up.

Find a way to scan them entering and leaving the stadium gates via RFID. Easy to get metrics on usage.

Years ago I went to a Utah State vs TAMU game. Students filled their side, been to a few other games there and it's always full on the student side. Crappy team, crappy games and they fill the stadium.

 

[EasyTider]

Student called into Finebaum and said last weekend was ‘parents weekend’. Many students didn’t want to get up early and leave parents sitting around while they were gone 4hrs at a game vs the rajun cajuns.

 

[planomateo]

Student called into Finebaum and said last weekend was ‘parents weekend’. Many students didn’t want to get up early and leave parents sitting around while they were gone 4hrs at a game vs the rajun cajuns.

Last weekend they have an excuse, this isn't the first time this has happened. It's been well documented over the years.

The ticket system for students needs to be revamped.

 

[PurlJam]

There should be a law against 11 am games............total bullshit but like everything else money does the talking.

Got that right. Damn near impossible to be sober enough to make it through the 2:30 game that afternoon and ain't no way to your're gonna make it to the 6pm and after games. :devil:

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

There should be a law against 11 am games............total bullshit but like everything else money does the talking.

Got that right. Damn near impossible to be sober enough to make it through the 2:30 game that afternoon and ain't no way to your're gonna make it to the 6pm and after games. :devil:

2:30 is perfect 4 to 6 is still good but 11 and 8 sucks like Linda Lovelace.

 

[PhillyGirl]

11:00. Shitty music. Heat. All inconveniences at a football game. A lot of complaining and anxiety that's closely akin to people complaining about who is calling a game they're watching.

Music and even game times can be changed. Heck, heat can even be "changed" by scheduling more night or late afternoon games or installing something like misting stations around the stadium. Why not?

What incentive do students AND fans (because let's be real, it's not just students coming late and leaving early) have to come, and to stay?

Like I said: make people want to stay and they will.

Complacent people don't care about watching a blowout in the heat when they could be sitting at home on their coach with the AC on and much cheaper beer, or partying at their frat house to good music with their bros with the TV on mute. Complacent people want fun and stimulation, regardless of age.

Make the game day experience worth it. Cuz right now, I sure hear a lot of complaints about it, from old fogies to young bulls alike.

 

[planomateo]

The SEC didn't have many 11am games prior to the SECN if I remember correctly. I don't expect to see 11am games go away either.

All we can do is hope that the opponents get better so we stop playing at 11am.

 

[UAgrad93]

I spoke with a current student yesterday and he stated that "the music" was a culprit in student choice as to whether or not they attend. Now he is there every weekend. He is one of the young men holding the championship banners when the team comes out of the tunnel. He is there beginning to end. He said the music doesn't even reflect the student body or even the University. I tend to agree! That techno shit or other garbage they play would push me to going to one of the bars and watching!!