ISU President, Terre Haute Mayor Discuss Changes to Homecoming

[SycamoreBlue3209]

Someone who was at the game yesterday....how did this work? Did cops come around at 12:55 and order people to go in the game or leave? Were you allowed to stay in/at your car? Ordered to stop drinking/grilling?

A cop came by our tent at around 11:15 and basically said they would go around and ask people to go into the game once it started, but wouldn’t necessarily be be strictly enforced. We went into the game at 1:00 so I am not sure if anyone came by the tent during the game. We did return to the tent at halftime and there were several that continued tailgating throughout the game.

I don’t understand ISU’s thought process. Just be happy people are showing up at Memorial Stadium grounds on Saturdays!

 

[Westbadenboy]

I was in the stadium 10 minutes before kickoff so I cannot comment on what actually happened outside at 1:00 PM. I will say most of the new ideas coming out of President Curtis are vey poor -- likely a bad effect especially on Homecoming. If there are issues in Tent City then those should be addressed -- don't close down the whole thing. Close Tent City within 30 minutes after kickoff -- I'd support that. If there are issues with groups or individuals address those -- be fair and stop being scared.
Problems with The Walk -- ask all the bars from campus out to the Stadium to close from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM during Homecoming Saturday.
Finally if they did force people into the game yesterday ...well wow. The crowd was into the game I thought really well. But it was small for such great weather, an ISU team everyone "thought" would be great, and playing a team that at least has some name recognition (where the hell is Quincy located anyway ???)

 

[Jason Svoboda]

As an aside, someone posted an attendance of under 4500 in the game thread. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that is the lowest home opening attendance is some time. For a team that is ranked and billed as a playoff team, you should expect 6000. That is a major red flag before instituting stupid ass tailgating and Homecoming rules.

If they lose that big number they get at Homecoming, average attendance this year is going to take a nose dive.

 

[ISUCC]

As an aside, someone posted an attendance of under 4500 in the game thread. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that is the lowest home opening attendance is some time. For a team that is ranked and billed as a playoff team, you should expect 6000. That is a major red flag before instituting stupid ass tailgating and Homecoming rules.

If they lose that big number they get at Homecoming, average attendance this year is going to take a nose dive.

4950 was listed in the box score, regardless, point taken, it was low, and on a perfect day.

 

[niklz62]

It seemed like there were more than that but the opener last year did also which was somewhere around 6500 so I dont know. It seemed like there was the same amount of tailgating going on.

 

[Westbadenboy]

Looked like 2500 - 3000 actually in the seats to me ….
Crowd was into the game and loud at times ---- but small.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

From my vantage point, it felt like there were more people than 4950 - at least until halftime. Between the team's performance and people wanting to get back out to their tailgating, we lost a bunch. But I thought the crowd was bigger than 4950. I would have guessed 6500, but I'm always off...

 

[niklz62]

From my vantage point, it felt like there were more people than 4950 - at least until halftime. Between the team's performance and people wanting to get back out to their tailgating, we lost a bunch. But I thought the crowd was bigger than 4950. I would have guessed 6500, but I'm always off...

they did have the banners over the far sets of bleachers on both sides. maybe that did something

 

[IndyTreeFan]

they did have the banners over the far sets of bleachers on both sides. maybe that did something

I thought that, too, but I don't recall anyone actually ever sitting in those sections, so I'm not sure what effect those banners had on the crowd's appearance.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

It seemed like there were more than that but the opener last year did also which was somewhere around 6500 so I dont know. It seemed like there was the same amount of tailgating going on.

I asked the door folks a couple years back if announced attendance was paid vs actual and they didn't know.

My guess is the announced attendance is paid. Because I've also been there for several games where the crowds varied and the numbers were weird. For example, I think the Butler game a few years back was like 6500-7000 and it was one of the biggest student attended games outside of Homecoming I ever remember. I don't really care how ISU figures attendance, but when they caught a glimpse of the crowd, that was pathetic for a home opener for a ranked team that had a FBS school on the ropes a week prior.

I'm pretty sure we're not going to be overly unique. I was watching a FBS game and the announcers were shocked at how small the crowds were. I think college sports are going to see another sharp attendance decline when the numbers are published this year.

 

[shootingsycamore]

Bingo!!

 

[niklz62]

I asked the door folks a couple years back if announced attendance was paid vs actual and they didn't know.

My guess is the announced attendance is paid. Because I've also been there for several games where the crowds varied and the numbers were weird. For example, I think the Butler game a few years back was like 6500-7000 and it was one of the biggest student attended games outside of Homecoming I ever remember. I don't really care how ISU figures attendance, but when they caught a glimpse of the crowd, that was pathetic for a home opener for a ranked team that had a FBS school on the ropes a week prior.

I'm pretty sure we're not going to be overly unique. I was watching a FBS game and the announcers were shocked at how small the crowds were. I think college sports are going to see another sharp attendance decline when the numbers are published this year.

Id guess that attendance is down at all levels. I think with broadcast capabilities, more sports, more non-sport options and every kid that is 5 years or older having a professional travel sport team that goes year round because they are going to make it to the pros you will see where and how people consume their sports watered down.

 

[meistro]

Id guess that attendance is down at all levels. I think with broadcast capabilities, more sports, more non-sport options and every kid that is 5 years or older having a professional travel sport team that goes year round because they are going to make it to the pros you will see where and how people consume their sports watered down.

I've been saying this for years. Families aren't going to watch as many games because they're so busy running their kids around to their own games. It's only been in the last 5 years, after my youngest went to college, that I had time to go to very many games. This is particularly a problem in TH. We have fewer kids, and a lot of those don't have the money to go.

 

[CicrtckySycamore]

Saturday sports with kids (rec and travel leagues) has impacted my ability to attend for years. That has to have some impact. A night game would help that. I am thankful now that at least I can watch the games on ESPN+ even if the Camera and Announcer talent (or lack thereof) makes me want to shut the game off.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

All this is fine and good about attendance issues in college sports - but by all means we don't have to make decisions and put policies in place that only assist that trend... As has been mentioned on here before and in several conversations I've had with alums since this was first reported - the tailgating scene at Memorial Stadium has seen a steady improvement over the last 5 to 10 seasons. If nothing else - it leveled off to a consistent level of supporters and Sycamore fans.

To make sweeping changes to homecoming tailgating activities is on a short list of things they should probably never do - because it's on a short list of things they have done right over the years. Do you know how many businesses, greek, sports, school etc. have had tents over the years and made an effort to invite alumni back to participate?! All those tents with great intentions and a few bad actors shut the entire thing down? "The Walk" shuts down tent city and we move it inside the stadium because we A. Want people to actually go in the game and support the team and B. We have a parking issue.

Don't talk to me about national attendance trends and the A & B excuses offered above... They don't get off the hook that easy with me - Indiana State has an issue with consistently making poor decisions. They had decision making issues with the Hulman Center / convention center a project that took nearly 4 years before work started and even went to rebid. They had decision making issues with major investments in student housing all while enrollment has continued to drop. They had decision making issues with the alumni association / ISU Foundation / ISU Athletics and how all of those play in the same sand box together. It just continues here with these very unnecessary changes to Homecoming / tent city / tailgating activities.

A lot of people in this town about 5+ years ago got really upset with the Schied Diesel Extravaganza event and in all fairness it was a bit out of hand. On the plus side - it brought a significant amount of revenue to our hotels, restaurants, gas stations, jail etc. So the organizers got more involved with local/state law enforcement - local businesses hired and or partnered with law enforcement to keep trucks out of parking lots and state police invade the south side of Terre Haute for the better part of 48 hours. The end result - they issue a shit ton of tickets and the arrest quite a few people.

You don't like some of the tailgating that goes on once the game starts?? Put more police in the areas that you're concerned about. They act out - bring guns - fight - smoke dope. Throw them in jail. That is what we have laws for in this country. But to take matters into your own hands and say enough is enough you must go inside the game if you want to visit tent city and we're going to put all of these new regulations in place - it just seems overkill.

I get the liability aspect - but what D1 college program isn't dealing with major liability issues every single Saturday across this great country?! It's a freaking party atmosphere like you've never seen before at most of these schools - sure you've got some liability issues on your hands.

Indiana State! As much as you will hate this comparison because it's just a little to redneck for you to even give acknowledgement Homecoming weekend is your Schied Diesel Extravaganza - alumni come back for that weekend that might only make it back here 1 time per year. Our hotels fill up, our restaurants fill up and our Sycamore Pride fills up and for some that don't live here it's enough pride to carry them through the year. They watch from afar and the support this school and our athletic teams! Figure it out for those fans who enjoy coming back - you don't make them come in the game - you don't get rid of the greek tents - you don't tell people when it's time to stop tailgating.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

I'm not making overall college attendance an excuse... it's moreover an alarm bell as to why you wouldn't do something like this.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I'm not making overall college attendance an excuse... it's moreover an alarm bell as to why you wouldn't do something like this.

I get it - I just don’t want anything to really distract people from the real crime in all this - punishing your alums and core fans.

 

[niklz62]

about every law we have is because a few people ruined something for everyone. when someone dies everyone is getting fired and sued.

 

[BrokerZ]

This is not an insurance or liability issue.

Indiana State, being a state school, receives the same sovereign immunity as any other governmental agency, with only a few exceptions. And, even if an injured person or persons were to find a way around the sovereign immunity doctrine in Indiana, the state of Indiana, and thus the university, cannot not be liable for more than $700,000 to a single claimant and its liability cannot exceed $5,000,000 in any one occurrence. Of which, the university buys more than adequate insurance to cover.

In short, the insurer for the university cares nothing about its liability at football games. Blaming "insurance" or crying liability is always an easy scapegoat.

 

[WOZ]

I get it - I just don’t want anything to really distract people from the real crime in all this - punishing your alums and core fans.

Exactly.
And will they issue a tent permit for inside the stadium to a group that misbehaved last year outside the stadium?
Or will they take the chicken shit way out and not want to upset the diversity cart?
Like everyone has already said, lower the boom on them not on us.
Maybe it’s time for a campaign to “Make ISU Homecoming Great Again”