Noon Kickoff article-WSJ

[YesAppCan]

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/ap ... 78f5e.html

[WVAppsfan]

Why is this an issue? We get out earlier and the Mountain will be awesome this Saturday as well. I am pleased that we are on TV, and pleased with the game. ASN coverage is the worst however.

[HighlandsApp]

Apparently there is a small group making us all look like the whiniest fans in all of the land......

20 to 25 percent of all weekly college football games are on Saturday at noon. Geez. This years schedule is the best ever. Miami, all Saturday games; hell, even the weather is making it great for us.

Be proud! If you don't want to get up early to go to the game then fine, but stop the crying.

We have an awesome football team, an awesome athletic department and an AWESOME university!

Go AppState!

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Apparently there is a small group making us all look like the whiniest fans in all of the land......

20 to 25 percent of all weekly college football games are on Saturday at noon. Geez. This years schedule is the best ever. Miami, all Saturday games; hell, even the weather is making it great for us.

Be proud! If you don't want to get up early to go to the game then fine, but stop the crying.

We have an awesome football team, an awesome athletic department and an AWESOME university!

Go AppState!

Spoiled. For many years we were able to determine our kickoff time unless the rare event that ESPN wanted to air the game. What happened last year? Crappy home schedule which included two week day games. This year, although the schedule is favorable, two of the three home games have been at noon. I agree with you though. Kickoff time has never been my issue. I actually enjoyed being able to leave the Miami game, watch some other college football, and allow the day trip people to get off the mountain so that the restaurants were not crowded. Other than lack of time to tailgate, I don't see the big issue with the noon kickoff, but can understand how it would bother others.

Those noon kickoffs will be nice as the weather turns cold and the days become shorter.

[App91]

It has to be noted that we are a little different than others out there. There are 17k people in Boone, the vast majority of the fanbase is at least 1 hour away (W-S) and mostly 2+hrs away. That is why this is a big deal. That and everyone knows the prime time slot or the 3;30 slot is for big games, just seems we are relegated to the lesser time slot

[ASUGrad2014]

I for one do not care what time the games are... I will be in my seats for all home games and will attend as many away games as I can!

Just happy to be a Mountaineer!

[The Rock]

For me, it really cuts down on the oversll game day experience. There is so little time to tailgate and really cuts the day short. In warm weather, as in the case of the Miami game, it's much hotter and you are in the sun the whole time.
For the overall economy of the Boone area, it has to cut down on overall dollars spent. People spend time tailgating early then going to the game as opposed to shopping downtown, instead of staying in hotels, they go home early, which effects the number of people going to restaurants and bars.
I'm not whining. It is what it is, and I will be there either way, but it does feel like you get a much better overall atmosphere when the game is later in the day.

[bcoach]

Well folks wanted to move to FBS and now all they want to do is bitch about it.

[Saint3333]

Not all of us. People need to remember that what is best for the program isn't always going to be what is best for your personal situation each Saturday.

[wncapp78]

Clemson>80,000 fans many as far away as App fans.
Va Tech>66,000 fans, many as far away as App fans.
Both schools with many high noon kickoffs.
Our fans have no farther to drive for noon start than many FBS schools.
No Whining.

[App91]

Clemson>80,000 fans many as far away as App fans.
Va Tech>66,000 fans, many as far away as App fans.
Both schools with many high noon kickoffs.
Our fans have no farther to drive for noon start than many FBS schools.
No Whining.

Not even remotely close to travel times and population in a 50 mile radius

[wncapp78]

The population of Watauga, Wilkes, Ashe and Avery counties is 169,000. (Watauga is 55,000+)
It's 50 miles from Roanoke to Blacksburg. It's 88 miles from Winston to Boone. We are not unique and isolated.

[AppDawg]

The population of Watauga, Wilkes, Ashe and Avery counties is 169,000. (Watauga is 55,000+)
It's 50 miles from Roanoke to Blacksburg. It's 88 miles from Winston to Boone. We are not unique and isolated.

Not disputing those #'s, but am
Curious to know the % of those that are Alumni. I would venture the % of the 100,000 residents of Greenville/ Spartanburg that are clemson Alumni is much much higher than the % of App Alumni in the area you describe. In this respect, we are unique.

No longer do the majority of our Alumni live in the Triad (which would be comprable to Spartanburg). It is now Charlotte and Raleigh, 100 and 185 mi away respectively.

The #'s you speak of, I see those as where we need to pull "walmart" / bandwagon fans from. They largely do not have ties to University. They commit week to week when the weather cooperates and the gametime fits their schedule. These folks will only show when things are going good and we have intriguing matchups at home.

Our foundation needs to be built with Alumni. Once that is on solid ground (i.e. 10k season ticket holders), I think the reat will take care of itself.

[Goapps15]

People have a right to be annoyed but also have to realize this was a part of the FBS moveup. TV exposure no matter how regional it may be, is always good for the program. The biggest issue Gillin & Co need to fix with 12 noon kickoffs is getting tailgate lots opened up earlier.

To me 2 PM (later in season) or 5 PM (earlier in season) are the ideal kickoff times.

[Yosef84]

Obviously someone is going to complain regardless of the situation. When we were FCS, people complained about not having games available on tv. Now they complain because tv dictates the time or impacts attendance. These are all real issues but it is part of the reality of the football world. I understand the noon kickoff messes up tailgates but the die hard fans will get up early and be there regardless. For me, it is an all day commitment to attend App games, so it really doesn't matter much whether kickoff is at noon or at 3:30. I do think the athletic department needs to work on adjustments so that the "game day experience" is maximized regardless.

For me, night games are the hardest to accommodate because I get home so late. Personally, I'm an early morning person so driving home late night is difficult. I do it though. I just figure that's what coffee is for.

Go Apps!

[YesAppCan]

I believe a PROMOTED POST-GAME tailgate, say 2.5 hours, could reduce gripes... 1 hour isn't enough to really cook, etc.

[bigdaddyg]

I wonder how the attendance numbers would look if home games were completely blacked out within a 100 mile radius of App if the game isn't a sell out? Not advocating this but how much does TV availability play into attendance figures? Is our reduced attendance a symptom of a younger overall fan base that has more going on in their lives? Weekend kid sports? I doubt money is a huge factor. It really isn't that expensive for a family of 4 to make a 100 mile day trip. Obviously money is not the same for everyone. If a game such as this Saturday is only on ESPN 3 is it really dictated? I ask because I don't know.

[Saint3333]

There are lots of excuses, we just don't have a large enough fanbase to supplement mid-week, noon, night games throughout a full season at this time. One reason I'm not hellbent on expanding to 35k permanent seats. As our fanbase ages that may change. I can't make every game due to work and kids, but I buy season tickets and put them to use if I can't go (typically one game a year, but it's getting tougher as kids age).

Usually my tickets go to alums that follow App football, but don't have the time to commit to season tickets (kids activities). They do however jump at our tickets when I let them know they come with a parking pass for the game.

[Stonewall]

What matters is how many show up, regardless of the reason.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

It's tough at the moment, but with continued success hopefully it will get better. By that I mean, current extra television exposure is great, and really helping the football program. However it pains me to see a lot of empty seats, knowing that part of the reason is because of a noon kick off. Some don't agree with that and call it an excuse, but it is what it is and we all have lives outside of football.

I would trade soccer lines for a packed stadium. Just my opinion.