Disappointment or reality on our small fanbase

[bac2therac]

I mean I do not know what the people of NJ and the Rutgers community wants. I get that Illinois is not a sexy name and a late season game vs a mediocre Michigan or USC would bring in 50K today. Overall attendance was okay..maybe approaching 40K-423Ktops, hard to tell... I sort of expected that. However my ire is what happened as the game wore on. Students showed up in huge numbers which is impressive but they started to filter out in the 3rd and inexplicably in a close game in the 4th, I would say we lost about 75% of the student sections. Not much better elsewhere. I think maybe 20-25K left in the stadium in such a dramatic down to the wire game. How is that possible? Look I get it was cold and windy but this was far from any of the coldest games..highs still were in the upper 40s yet peeps clueless dressed like it was comfortable fall day. Or maybe they just loved to get trashed and drink cold drinks all day and bombed which is definitely noticable. I get leaving early down 35-0, actually ahead...its a what the **** moment.

Just a shame to see tons of empties late in the game and lack of crowd noise on the previous Illinois drive where they took the lead. I think the constant use of the scoreboard music has neutered the ability of building any crowd noise. Great early in the game, not so much later.

Or is the reality we have a hardcore base of 20-25k and that is basically it. I tend think this is where I land. Not enough people care about RU football. We will always have this hardcore diehard base but beyond that, we will get a shit ton of fans for early season night games with big atmospheres but the following takes a hit game after game. I get the team went through a funk but my issue is if you are there already wouldnt you be interested in the outcome. Its apparent the students could care less about wins or losses besides that hardcore group you saw.

Its tough to grow a program when you simply lack the hardcore fanbase numbers the rest of the conference has. RU has been in the Big 10 a decade, mostly losing season but its apparent people may only care if the team is going 10-2 which seems very unrealistic so here we are. Getting 40-42K a game but yet half of them leaving before the game is over whether the team is losing or winning

 

[Salvi's Headband]

Why do college football games take 4 hours??

 

[RU at the shore]

Sad but true.

I don’t understand it either. Giants and Jets suck. Good football being played at a reasonable price point here.

 

[bac2therac]

Why do college football games take 4 hours??

well when you literally have a player injured on every series that happens but I agree

yet today was probably the most exciting game in a while, Washington overall had better production but on the field level of play by both teams was more watchable

 

[bwrlaw]

I think you are right on the money with diehard or real fans. The rest are just casual fans. One day I would love to know how many actual “paying” fans are in the stands. Not how many are distributed.
Winning is the only answer.

 

[Jimpeg]

i have to agree that for some reason fans leave at halftime or start of fourth quarter in a game Rutgers is winning and/or close. Is it to beat the traffic? Also, depending on the opponent the stands are filled with more vistors/alumni of opponents and dont think Illinois had many fans.... ...
Frankly, today the crowd noise was not great, maybe cause of the weather and everyone was in jackets.. , The excessive DJ playing after every down is starting to finally turn me off. Its just too much, i don't need to be told on a 2nd down in the 2rd quater when Rutgers is on defense to Make Some Noise...save if for 3rd down please.....It seems over produced now with so much music. enough withh the horn and Ozzie...need to think of something new ..why cant the band play a few verses once in awhile?..
Of all the games this year, i thought this was the best game of the year, but the worst production.....

 

[RUBlackout]

Some people like me had to leave early to go watch my kid cheerlead at Brookdale. Life actually happens outside of watching Schiano lose us games and I am a huge fan and donor

 

[bac2therac]

they listed 47524 today, I will give them credit for not trying to bullshit a sellout but there were 5-10K less than that

 

[rurichdog]

I can't argue anything you said. Reading the sentiment of Section 119, people were leaving early because they "had enough". Battered by the wind, watching us spin our wheels on several key drives, then Illinois gets huge chunks to score repeatedly, battered by the scoreboard noise, 4 hour game that killed any flow...people are just getting tired of Rutgers Football. Yes it was close in score, and there was exciting moments, but our games just feel like a nightmare trip to the MVC office followed by a root canal.

 

[bac2therac]

i have to agree that for some reason fans leave at halftime or start of fourth quarter in a game Rutgers is winning and/or close. Is it to beat the traffic? Also, depending on the opponent the stands are filled with more vistors/alumni of opponents and dont think Illinois had many fans.... ...
Frankly, today the crowd noise was not great, maybe cause of the weather and everyone was in jackets.. , The excessive DJ playing after every down is starting to finally turn me off. Its just too much, i don't need to be told on a 2nd down in the 2rd quater when Rutgers is on defense to Make Some Noise...save if for 3rd down please.....It seems over produced now with so much music. enough withh the horn and Ozzie...need to think of something new ..why cant the band play a few verses once in awhile?..
Of all the games this year, i thought this was the best game of the year, but the worst production.....

way too much music and the Ozzie stuff is brutal and now they have brought that to the RAC and the band is becoming obsolete in both venues.

The Dont Stop Believin wasnt that good today because more than half the students were gone.

some weak RU chants today as well. I get people are cold but it really is a small fanbase that cares in reality, it is what it is. They will show up to Michigan and Ohio State and Penn State games because of the tailgating scene and for the first half and leave when they team is down 4tds which is understandable.

I just think RU is a tailgating experience school and not an in game experience school

 

[bac2therac]

I can't argue anything you said. Reading the sentiment of Section 119, people were leaving early because they "had enough". Battered by the wind, watching us spin our wheels on several key drives, then Illinois gets huge chunks to score repeatedly, battered by the scoreboard noise, 4 hour game that killed any flow...people are just getting tired of Rutgers Football. Yes it was close in score, and there was exciting moments, but our games just feel like a nightmare trip to the MVC office followed by a root canal.

how on earth can you say spin our wheels when we had the ball to win the game and AK made some great plays to get us a td.

I have no clue but the injury thing mostly from RU side is bizarre...i dont see it with other schools

 

[SkiBoy]

Every play was another injury timeout destroying the flow of the game. The typical fan wants continuous fast paced action and instant gratification, and if that isn't achieved it's onto something that will provide more stimulus. This game was a slow cooked meat grinder, noting personally I loved the physicality of this game as that's my own preference. Of course, I hated the ending and feel gutted.

 

[rurichdog]

how on earth can you say spin our wheels when we had the ball to win the game and AK made some great plays to get us a td.

I have no clue but the injury thing mostly from RU side is bizarre...i dont see it with other schools

Before that point, I'm talking about. People were heading for the exits with 8 minutes to go in the 4th. Leaving when we were driving with less than 2 minutes, yeah that's pretty dumb. The "beat the traffic" folks.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Rutgers students are not attending Rutgers because we have a great football program and they want to attend all the games. That is why Alabama students attend Alabama and why Ohio State students attend Ohio State. If we want students that attend Rutgers because they want to attend Rutgers games, then we need to win (conference championships and New Years Day bowls) ... the students will follow.

 

[bac2therac]

Rutgers students are not attending Rutgers because we have a great football program and they want to attend all the games. That is why Alabama students attend Alabama and why Ohio State students attend Ohio State. If we want students that attend Rutgers because they want to attend Rutgers games, then we need to win (conference championships and New Years Day bowls) ... the students will follow.

the student section was absolutely packed til halftime..they showed up but why bother to even do that if you are 75% gone by the closing drive

 

[AdventureHasAName]

the student section was absolutely packed til halftime..they showed up but why bother to even do that if you are 75% gone by the closing drive

Because it is a thing to do ... until they are bored or a more interesting thing to do presents itself. All they have to hear is that there is a protest somewhere on campus and our particular student body will bolt in a nanosecond.

 

[Knight Shift]

way too much music and the Ozzie stuff is brutal and now they have brought that to the RAC and the band is becoming obsolete in both venues.

The Dont Stop Believin wasnt that good today because more than half the students were gone.

some weak RU chants today as well. I get people are cold but it really is a small fanbase that cares in reality, it is what it is. They will show up to Michigan and Ohio State and Penn State games because of the tailgating scene and for the first half and leave when they team is down 4tds which is understandable.

I just think RU is a tailgating experience school and not an in game experience school

WTF with welcome to the jungle on 3rd down?

Fire PJ already. He is a dickhead with no feel for the flow of the game or crowd.

 

[bac2therac]

WTF with welcome to the jungle on 3rd down?

Fire PJ already. He is a dickhead with no feel for the flow of the game or crowd.

yep that was a low point

if youve been to the rac this year, you will know pj has infected the rac with his disease

 

[Knight Shift]

yep that was a low point

if youve been to the rac this year, you will know pj has infected the rac with his disease

Due to lack of time and other commitments, only make a couple of games per year. Will be at Seton Hall. Not looking forward to it. I remember being on the floor with the fire department crew during the Wenzel years. They were a lot of fun, and no artificial noise. I love hard rock and metal music when I pay to see a concert or when driving my car. Not at sporting events.

 

[bac2therac]

Due to lack of time and other commitments, only make a couple of games per year. Will be at Seton Hall. Not looking forward to it. I remember being on the floor with the fire department crew during the Wenzel years. They were a lot of fun, and no artificial noise. I love hard rock and metal music when I pay to see a concert or when driving my car. Not at sporting events.

well its worse than metal besides the all board and Ozzy bs, we get treated to awful rap and incessant dance music

I was a freshman for dream big dreams wenzels first season....make the rac great again MRGA

organic cheers and atmosphere throughout the Bannon and Waters years despite uneven results

RAC was awesome in 2019-2020 season but ever since has been off and ruined not only by the covid years but by PJ and his crap production

 

[BigEastPhil]

Don’t know why people were leaving.

The game was very exciting !

Maybe people were getting cold as I noticed many were dressed like it was a 60-65 degree day.

I’m still in shock about what happened at end of game but that’s typical Schiano as it’s a given he ll individually lose a game or 2 by himself due to stupidity.

 

[JayDogSmooth]

well its worse than metal besides the all board and Ozzy bs, we get treated to awful rap and incessant dance music

I was a freshman for dream big dreams wenzels first season....make the rac great again MRGA

organic cheers and atmosphere throughout the Bannon and Waters years despite uneven results

RAC was awesome in 2019-2020 season but ever since has been off and ruined not only by the covid years but by PJ and his crap production

Love it Bac
Make the Rac Great Again
#MRGA

 

[RUJohnny]

Bac you already gave the answer but here's the TLDR for others-

ITS NOT A FUN PLACE TO BE.

Even when we are winning. The gameday crew have turned the games into a 4 hour commercial, and the live experience isn't really any different from watching on TV except you have to pay a ton of money to be there. The same music, too loud to talk, no organic cheering, commercials, commercials, commercials. Overproduced, inauthentic, and somehow sensory-overwhelming and dull at the same time.

 

[nick614]

State population per B1G school (biggest stadium size)

1. California: 19.45 million (92,542)
2. Pennsylvania: 12.9 million (106,572)
3. Ohio: 11.8 million (102,780)
4. New Jersey: 9.2 million (52,454)
5. Washington: 7.8 million (70,083)

 

[bac2therac]

Don’t know why people were leaving.

The game was very exciting !

Maybe people were getting cold as I noticed many were dressed like it was a 60-65 degree day.

I’m still in shock about what happened at end of game but that’s typical Schiano as it’s a given he ll individually lose a game or 2 by himself due to stupidity.

the game was everything you want from big ten football. In early season games against cupcakes, those were brutal games to endure because the offense flat out was miserable

i mean RU led much of the game and showed some moxy in coming back and did stall the Illinois drive enough to force a 4th and 13 and 57 yard kick.

 

[bac2therac]

Bac you already gave the answer but here's the TLDR for others-

ITS NOT A FUN PLACE TO BE.

Even when we are winning. The gameday crew have turned the games into a 4 hour commercial, and the live experience isn't really any different from watching on TV except you have to pay a ton of money to be there. The same music, too loud to talk, no organic cheering, commercials, commercials, commercials. Overproduced, inauthentic, and somehow sensory-overwhelming and dull at the same time.

yup and they are leaning way too much on the Sopranos...

actually the worst moment today @Knight Shift was the NY vs Chicago thing which was INAPPROPRIATELY and HORRIBLY TIMED at the 2 minute mark of the game.

This is where you lean on past history....a massive RU chant or WE WILL ROCK YOU or even Wolf of Wall Street....something to actually get the crowd into the game.

NOT TO ****ING MENTION WE ARE NOT NEW YORK CITY AND ILLINOIS IS NOT CHICAGO...its literally 2 hours away

 

[Joey Bags]

Bac you already gave the answer but here's the TLDR for others-

ITS NOT A FUN PLACE TO BE.

Even when we are winning. The gameday crew have turned the games into a 4 hour commercial, and the live experience isn't really any different from watching on TV except you have to pay a ton of money to be there. The same music, too loud to talk, no organic cheering, commercials, commercials, commercials. Overproduced, inauthentic, and somehow sensory-overwhelming and dull at the same time.

This x1000. The stadium ****ing sucks. It’s an AWFUL experience from top to bottom. The DJ chaos sounds ridiculous even on TV and not something you hear at other stadiums.

Why does our production have to have ADHD levels of nonsense? None of our conference brethren or the SEC does this crap.

 

[RUforlife]

the student section was absolutely packed til halftime..they showed up but why bother to even do that if you are 75% gone by the closing drive

Even Alabama under Saban had issues with students leaving early. The games can run almost 4 hours long, and let's be honest it can get pretty boring sitting in that stadium at times even for an adult, let alone 18–21 year old kids.

Alabama tracking students at stadium, penalizing them if they leave football game early

Alabama is keeping an eye on its students at home football games through an app, and if they leave the stadium early, they will be penalized.

www.usatoday.com

 

[DHajekRC84]

Bac you already gave the answer but here's the TLDR for others-

ITS NOT A FUN PLACE TO BE.

Even when we are winning. The gameday crew have turned the games into a 4 hour commercial, and the live experience isn't really any different from watching on TV except you have to pay a ton of money to be there. The same music, too loud to talk, no organic cheering, commercials, commercials, commercials. Overproduced, inauthentic, and somehow sensory-overwhelming and dull at the same time.

Ding ding ding..
We should have closed Gitmo and made them all come to games here and experience this torture of mind numbing never ending bombardment of noise.

 

[RUPete]

I can't argue anything you said. Reading the sentiment of Section 119, people were leaving early because they "had enough". Battered by the wind, watching us spin our wheels on several key drives, then Illinois gets huge chunks to score repeatedly, battered by the scoreboard noise, 4 hour game that killed any flow...people are just getting tired of Rutgers Football. Yes it was close in score, and there was exciting moments, but our games just feel like a nightmare trip to the MVC office followed by a root canal.

It does seem like an endurance test at times.

 

[ScarletDog]

Nobody cares about Rutgers football. Bac is spot on that we have a small core fan base and nobody else really cares…even a large part of the student section. Couple it with the miserable in-stadium production and slow pace of play and people don’t want to come nor stay til then end when they do show up. We have a small, quiet crowd. I actually feel like an outsider when I stand on 3rd down. And the worst part for me was being surrounded by Illinois fans in section 105. Everybody sold their tix this week. Bottom line: NJ could not give you two poops about Rutgers and Rutgers football.

 

[bigbirdRU]

I mean I do not know what the people of NJ and the Rutgers community wants. I get that Illinois is not a sexy name and a late season game vs a mediocre Michigan or USC would bring in 50K today. Overall attendance was okay..maybe approaching 40K-423Ktops, hard to tell... I sort of expected that. However my ire is what happened as the game wore on. Students showed up in huge numbers which is impressive but they started to filter out in the 3rd and inexplicably in a close game in the 4th, I would say we lost about 75% of the student sections. Not much better elsewhere. I think maybe 20-25K left in the stadium in such a dramatic down to the wire game. How is that possible? Look I get it was cold and windy but this was far from any of the coldest games..highs still were in the upper 40s yet peeps clueless dressed like it was comfortable fall day. Or maybe they just loved to get trashed and drink cold drinks all day and bombed which is definitely noticable. I get leaving early down 35-0, actually ahead...its a what the **** moment.

Just a shame to see tons of empties late in the game and lack of crowd noise on the previous Illinois drive where they took the lead. I think the constant use of the scoreboard music has neutered the ability of building any crowd noise. Great early in the game, not so much later.

Or is the reality we have a hardcore base of 20-25k and that is basically it. I tend think this is where I land. Not enough people care about RU football. We will always have this hardcore diehard base but beyond that, we will get a shit ton of fans for early season night games with big atmospheres but the following takes a hit game after game. I get the team went through a funk but my issue is if you are there already wouldnt you be interested in the outcome. Its apparent the students could care less about wins or losses besides that hardcore group you saw.

Its tough to grow a program when you simply lack the hardcore fanbase numbers the rest of the conference has. RU has been in the Big 10 a decade, mostly losing season but its apparent people may only care if the team is going 10-2 which seems very unrealistic so here we are. Getting 40-42K a game but yet half of them leaving before the game is over whether the team is losing or winning

This 100% and has been observed by many people on this board. The scoreboard noise fills every millisecond of down time, every moment between downs, which is when anticipation and crowd noise builds. I know there are connected people on this board, does anyone actually have PJ's ear? I know people have complained in the past and guess he ignores it. Too late to fix the football season, but it has taken over the RAC.

 

[RUTGERS95]

I mean I do not know what the people of NJ and the Rutgers community wants. I get that Illinois is not a sexy name and a late season game vs a mediocre Michigan or USC would bring in 50K today. Overall attendance was okay..maybe approaching 40K-423Ktops, hard to tell... I sort of expected that. However my ire is what happened as the game wore on. Students showed up in huge numbers which is impressive but they started to filter out in the 3rd and inexplicably in a close game in the 4th, I would say we lost about 75% of the student sections. Not much better elsewhere. I think maybe 20-25K left in the stadium in such a dramatic down to the wire game. How is that possible? Look I get it was cold and windy but this was far from any of the coldest games..highs still were in the upper 40s yet peeps clueless dressed like it was comfortable fall day. Or maybe they just loved to get trashed and drink cold drinks all day and bombed which is definitely noticable. I get leaving early down 35-0, actually ahead...its a what the **** moment.

Just a shame to see tons of empties late in the game and lack of crowd noise on the previous Illinois drive where they took the lead. I think the constant use of the scoreboard music has neutered the ability of building any crowd noise. Great early in the game, not so much later.

Or is the reality we have a hardcore base of 20-25k and that is basically it. I tend think this is where I land. Not enough people care about RU football. We will always have this hardcore diehard base but beyond that, we will get a shit ton of fans for early season night games with big atmospheres but the following takes a hit game after game. I get the team went through a funk but my issue is if you are there already wouldnt you be interested in the outcome. Its apparent the students could care less about wins or losses besides that hardcore group you saw.

Its tough to grow a program when you simply lack the hardcore fanbase numbers the rest of the conference has. RU has been in the Big 10 a decade, mostly losing season but its apparent people may only care if the team is going 10-2 which seems very unrealistic so here we are. Getting 40-42K a game but yet half of them leaving before the game is over whether the team is losing or winning

Rutgers does a terrible job of creating familial bonds with the school
the decions to say fk u to legacy admissions means less money (per studies on alumni giving)
parking and getting to stadium is terrible, no fking way anyone I know is taking a bus from the rac
rutgers is expensive for the product and experience
school isn't marketing the program well
Greg sucks, no expectation that the team will do well

I could go on

 

[bac2therac]

Rutgers does a terrible job of creating familial bonds with the school
the decions to say fk u to legacy admissions means less money (per studies on alumni giving)
parking and getting to stadium is terrible, no fking way anyone I know is taking a bus from the rac
rutgers is expensive for the product and experience
school isn't marketing the program well
Greg sucks, no expectation that the team will do well

I could go on

generally agree here, The situation with students and no parking for like 8 years now is definitely hurting things....the increased bump in donations for the lots is also stunning given the lack of winning. Also at this point there really is no reason to have season tickets. You can cherry pick your 3 or 4 games you might want to go and actually save money on everything. The noon starts for the last 4 games hurt alot. Having 2 night games but neither on a Saturday and only one people interested in watching hurts.

the marketing thing is interesting...for some reason this schools wants to desperately think its in nyc when its NJ a state with 8 million people. did they even give the names of the seniors taking part in senior day

 

[RUTGERS95]

generally agree here, The situation with students and no parking for like 8 years now is definitely hurting things....the increased bump in donations for the lots is also stunning given the lack of winning. Also at this point there really is no reason to have season tickets. You can cherry pick your 3 or 4 games you might want to go and actually save money on everything. The noon starts for the last 4 games hurt alot. Having 2 night games but neither on a Saturday and only one people interested in watching hurts.

the marketing thing is interesting...for some reason this schools wants to desperately think its in nyc when its NJ a state with 8 million people. did they even give the names of the seniors taking part in senior day

I would fire everyone associated with managing, marketing, budgeting etc for RU athletics and start over NONE of them are any good

 

[RUskoolie]

We sucked for 10 years, were good for 5 and then sucked for another 10. The stadium is filled with casual fans. I sit in the old student section, which is king of the idiot parents who get into their seat end of first quarter, get their kids food after a time out, then leave with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Why bother coming?

I think I was the only one getting up to yell on 3rd downs but I have to say everyone in my group today hates the train horn. It's awful. I cannot have a conversation with someone during the game, even in stoppages in play. My kids don't want to go anymore because of the horn. My friends don''t like the DJ BLASTING music every single down moment between plays.

All that being said, winning solves a lot of this. Our program sucks ass when comparing it nationally. Even the bad bad school peers like an Indiana, Northwestern, Kansas etc have fallen into a 10 win season, conference championship game etc.

 

[RUskoolie]

Rutgers does a terrible job of creating familial bonds with the school
the decions to say fk u to legacy admissions means less money (per studies on alumni giving)
parking and getting to stadium is terrible, no fking way anyone I know is taking a bus from the rac
rutgers is expensive for the product and experience
school isn't marketing the program well
Greg sucks, no expectation that the team will do well

I could go on

We have more parking close to the stadium than most B1G schools. Hell, Illinois fans were commenting on that to me today at our tailgate.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Here's another thought. When you replace the fans and organic fan support, noise, participation and replace it with the electronic productions and noise we have now you have removed them from feeling the need to be there. The show will go on without them and nobody feels they will be missed.
The exodus just feeds on itself. People look around seeing everyone else bolting and they just feel why not. It's an easy thing to do unlike years past when you'd feel like..how do I sneak out.
They're not leaving. They're being chased away.

 

[RUTGERS95]

We have more parking close to the stadium than most B1G schools. Hell, Illinois fans were commenting on that to me today at our tailgate.

let me be clear, parking for non season ticket holders is awful. we are no where near as good as other schools on parking and tailgating for people that don't have yellow, red or blue passes

our parking sucks

 

[RUskoolie]

let me be clear, parking for non season ticket holders is awful. we are no where near as good as other schools on parking and tailgating for people that don't have yellow, red or blue passes

our parking sucks

Lol what other schools can you park within 100 yards of the stadium for $40. I will hang up and listen. Maryland you have to park at their version of the RAC. Wisconsin doesn't have tailgate space. Northwestern has 1 parking lot. Pedo State you ain't parking close.