Article: "FCS should expand it's Kickoff Weekend"

[CDAGRIZ]

Isn't the real CFB Kickoff tomorrow night with Hawaii v. Cal on ESPN from Sydney, Aus.?

 

[biga75]

Isn't the real CFB Kickoff tomorrow night with Hawaii v. Cal on ESPN from Sydney, Aus.?

Apparently it is.

FTB

 

[IdaGriz01]

Isn't the real CFB Kickoff tomorrow night with Hawaii v. Cal on ESPN from Sydney, Aus.?

Yep, it is. Be interesting to see how many people show up in Syndey to see American football -- but that's not the point. I assume ESPN thinks the "novelty" is enough to draw a decent TV audience ... because this thing could not have come cheap. But then college football fans have to wait until next Thursday to see more FBS teams play.

The question for this thread is: Should ESPN turn the "pre-season" weekend into a day of FCS football (2-4 games)? But, realistically, if they wanted to "kick-start" college football that much, they'd be more likely to persuade some lower-tier FBS programs to have some early games rather than going with more FCS games. Or, even more likely, they'd put together an early schedule of HBCU games -- they already feature at lot of HBCU matchups during the normal season, some of them between really crappy teams. And most black schools need the money even more desperately than the dreck FCS programs. So, they could do it pretty much on the cheap.

 

[Proud Griz Man]

You don't need a full or large football stadium to enjoy good football. .

Southern Utah and Portland State had a great product last year and played in front of empty stadiums.
?

I guess we will have to "agree, to disagree."

Please remember to ask all your friends to "tell me all you remember about the 2015 Southern Utah and Portland State great football games" and come back here with your factual findings. :shock:

 

[WAaggieFan]

I'd like to think starvation would lead more people to watch FCS when no FBS is available. But honestly, how much does football starvation drive viewers to the CFL? That's a serious question I'm much to lazy to research....


posted via telepathy

 

[get'em_griz]

I like to compare it to Carroll football. Back when Carroll was dominating and going through 4-straight titles, they were providing great football on the field. But after having attended my first Griz game in 2007, I could never look at Carroll the same again. The atmosphere wasn't even close to that of a Griz game, and even watching Carroll games on TV were boring, because there was no atmosphere. And Carroll football atmosphere is comparable to a lot of FCS programs.

The same goes for the average FBS fan... they want to watch games that are played in packed houses and have raucous atmospheres like what many are accustomed to. It doesn't matter if there is good football being played on the field if there isn't a full crowd and great atmosphere to go along with it. Fans may watch a little bit of the game but eventually they'll move on and do something else if it doesn't keep them hooked. ESPN wanted NDSU/Montana in 2014 because they knew it would sell to football fans. EWU was lucky they ended up getting it when both NDSU and Montana said "no". And if you don't think the atmosphere of a game drives the decisions for sports television, then you have to question why ROOT Sports has said numerous times that they love coming to Missoula to air games. Bottom line is that the atmosphere is a big deciding factor for who ESPN chooses to air on TV because they know that's what will help draw in viewers.

 

[putter]

I agree. It was pretty cool to read, on ESPN's site, the comments from people all over the nation that tuned in. People in Alabama were commenting on the stadium, the mountains, (the girls) and the bear logo. Played very well on TV and put Montana football in a better light to those that don't care about the FCS.

 

[AZGrizFan]

FCS has already lost the battle....2 years in. FBS figured it out and scheduled a game the day before...before long they'll be playing games in July.