[NU Sports] Post-Mortem

[Jonathan Hodges]

I agree that there's no way the Big Ten would give NU the boot, there's just
way too much history there (plus, it's not like they didn't have plenty of
on-the-field reasons to get rid of NU in the 80's but didn't).

Like I've said numerous times and we've discussed a ton on this list, the
attendance issue is the biggest problem facing NU football right now, and
there is no easy fix.  Trust me, the NU athletic department is doing its
best to get people to the game - they've run a lot more targeted marketing
and a ton of promos this year to no avail.  It will take a concerted effort
over time and possibly some new stuff to get fans in the seats.  Don't blame
the athletic dept. for a lack of trying, though (their relative lack of
resources also doesn't help).

Jonathan

On Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 7:52 PM, Mark S. Ament <sportsbiz at gmail.com> wrote:

> While the crowd worries are legitimate and something the athletic
> department needs to address sooner rather than later, don't think for a
> minute that our membership in the Big Ten could be in jeopardy. Not ever
> going to happen. It's simply not the way these schools operate and the ties,
> both athletic and as important, at least in this conference, academic are
> too deep and too important to each member to even contemplate such a move.
>
> That said, the athletic department needs to do some serious markting and
> can start by wooing the Chicago media which still treat us as an out of town
> team.
> Mark
>
>
> Mark S. Ament
> sportsbiz at gmail.com
>
>
> --sent from my Palm Pre
>
> neonrye at aol.com wrote:
>
>
>
> I watched game at Sports Bar in Westchester County with some other alums (a
> new NU Club of NY tradition that started today).  Unfortunately, there was
> no sound on the TV, so it took some time for me to realize that Kafka was
> out for the game.  I assume he pulled a hammy or quad--never did hear what
> the injury was.
>
>
>
> The good:  We played very tough and poised for 3 quarters, and really would
> have had a chance if our QB didn't go down.
>
>
>
> The bad:  No "O" in Second Half; little protection for Persa, and his
> inability to pick up second and third options or to get rid of ball before
> going down.
>
>
>
> The good:  Persa is one fast athlete.  He is intriguing for the future,
> although his lack of size worries me, along with, as noted, the happy feet.
>
>
>
> The very bad:  While the NU fans looked good and frenzied on the tube (as I
> said, I could not hear them), the sparse crowd really worries me.  We used
> to pack the house for Joe Pa.  I can't imagine we had more than 30,000
> today, if that--for a nationally televised, under-the-lights, Halloween
> Purplelapooza event vs. one of top teams and attractions in Big Ten and in
> the country.  If we can't get a better crowd under these conditions--with
> decent weather to boot--I fear that maybe the conference will begin to think
> we are not holding up our end of the "bargain".  We simply are not drawing
> enough fans, and the visuals on TV are awful.  As I write this I am
> watcdhing Oregon hosting USC at Autzen--packed house; Minny hosting
> MSU--full boat; Tennessee sticking it to Spurrier's Gamecocks--the usual
> 100,000 plus at Rocky Top.  And yet up the Lake from the thrid largest city
> in the nation we have nowhere near capacity--in "intimate" Ryan Field.  This
> trend is very, very troublesome.  Our "crowds" make it appear that we
> compete in the MAC, not the Big Ten.
>
>
>
> More bad:  With Illinois' rout of Wolverines the game in 2 weeks now looks,
> at best, like a "push"--and that's only if Kafka can play--and at top level.
>  Next week has the potential for looking like the Alamo--and I am not
> talking about the Bowl or the Stadium--given our offensive inefficiency
> after Kafka went down.  Our bowl hopes are teetering.  Meanwhile, Minny is
> now up 14-0 on Spartans, who are well into their annual swoon.    It's tough
> to figure who will end up as bowl-eligible.  Even Michigan is currently "on
> the bubble" after today's disaster.
>
>
>
> Paul Levinson
>
>
>
> Paul Levinson
>
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