Gameday Atmosphere

[StarkVegasSteve]

I have seen it posted on multiple message boards multiple times this year and have experienced it to the games I have been able to get back to. But what do you think is wrong with the atmosphere? Like what would you guys change to try and turn things around? I obviously know winning solves a lot of issues but we need to create some sort of home field advantage to kind of kick start the winning. I mean Mullen's first team went 5-7 but we had sell outs at almost every game, sans Houston, in 09. So what has changed? Is it truly just people want more bang for their buck these days? Is it not having LED lights? Is it a sound system? Is it NIL? Like why are we constantly struggling to get people to campus and in the stadium? This isn't a recruit. These are MSU fans.

What are everyone's thoughts

[StateDawg44]

I have seen it posted on multiple message boards multiple times this year and have experienced it to the games I have been able to get back to. But what do you think is wrong with the atmosphere? Like what would you guys change to try and turn things around? I obviously know winning solves a lot of issues but we need to create some sort of home field advantage to kind of kick start the winning. I mean Mullen's first team went 5-7 but we had sell outs at almost every game, sans Houston, in 09. So what has changed? Is it truly just people want more bang for their buck these days? Is it not having LED lights? Is it a sound system? Is it NIL? Like why are we constantly struggling to get people to campus and in the stadium? This isn't a recruit. These are MSU fans.

What are everyone's thoughts

The outcome of each game.

Win and people will show up. It's very simple.

[StarkVegasSteve]

The outcome of each game.

Win and people will show up. It's very simple.

We won 7 games in year 2 of Leach and 9 games in year 3 and our stadium was not anywhere near full unless the opposing team's fanbase traveled well. So winning doesn't solve it.

[StateDawg44]

We won 7 games in year 2 of Leach and 9 games in year 3 and our stadium was not anywhere near full unless the opposing team's fanbase traveled well. So winning doesn't solve it.

OK to be more particular. Start winning the games that make people notice.

What does 7 wins get you? A trip to the liberty bowl?

9 games is getting there but dink and dunk was about as boring of football to watch as there is. Plus we all knew we still weren't competing with elite teams when we faced them. Like, not even close for the most part.

At Mullen's peak here at MSU fans were invested. Since Mullen the football program has been very predictable.

Hell just beat a top 10 opponent. When was the last time we did that? It very well could be more recent than I realize but I certainly don't remember who it was.

ETA: Using the 9 win season is sort of pointless. Leach passed so the entire program including fanbase got gutted and we got saddled with Arnett. Talk about killing momentum and the possibility at a atmosphere rebuild.

[StarkVegasSteve]

OK to be more particular. Start winning the games that make people notice.

What does 7 wins get you? A trip to the liberty bowl?

9 games is getting there but dink and dunk was about as boring of football to watch as there is. Plus we all knew we still weren't competing with elite teams when we faced them. Like, not even close for the most part.

At Mullen's peak here at MSU fans were invested. Since Mullen the football program has been very predictable.

Hell just beat a top 10 opponent. When was the last time we did that? It very well could be more recent than I realize but I certainly don't remember who it was.

Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022. I just don't think it's W/L related anymore. I mean maybe it is for the diehard fan, but what about the average fan who is going for an experience. It seems we have lost those fans in the last 7-8 years.

[Maroonthirteen]

I think it is far more complicated than just some led lights and marketing.

I think it goes all the way back to 2014 and the way the season ended. That knocked a little air out. Then lose to Bama and OM again in 2015 and 2017. Then Mullen leaves. Then Moorhead loses to Mullen...I just think all that took a lot of wind out of people's sails.

Also, in the meantime, Bama is winning NCs and OM is winning. I think many younger people and non-affiliated people now root for those schools. Then you have the tv effect combined with Starkville being 2 hours from everywhere and few hotels that are crazy expensive.

[starkvegasdawg]

The pregame stuff hasn't changed since 1945. If you've been to more than 3 games you know the whole boring ass routine. I want to stick a fork in my ears when I hear bad to the bone. The band coming out and playing the same songs every time. I would like to see us get some LED and laser displays going. Change the music up. Make it more exciting than standing in line to take a piss.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I think it is far more complicated than just some led lights and marketing.

I think it goes all the way back to 2014 and the way the season ended. That knocked a little air out. Then lose to Bama and OM again in 2015 and 2017. Then Mullen leaves. Then Moorhead loses to Mullen...I just think all that took a lot of wind out of people's sails.

Also, in the meantime, Bama is winning NCs and OM is winning. I think many younger people and non-affiliated people now root for those schools. Then you have the tv effect combined with Starkville being 2 hours from everywhere and few hotels that are crazy expensive.

Yet Oxford has about 3-4 more hotels than us and consistently puts 60K in their stadium. Hell they were doing that before Lane got it rolling. Now it is understandable because they are winning, but there is still a small supply of hotels, AirBNB’s, etc. so how are they still getting all those people to come shell out $1,000/weekend?

[StateDawg44]

Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022. I just don't think it's W/L related anymore. I mean maybe it is for the diehard fan, but what about the average fan who is going for an experience. It seems we have lost those fans in the last 7-8 years.

None of which are top 10.


"Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022"

Is this the full list of top 25 teams we've beat since '21?

If so, yeesh. There's a red flag. Again predictable and we can assume the outcome pretty safely.

How many times have we actually had a decent team and thought we had a chance against stiff competition and we get absolutely blown out. 2017 really comes to mind against UGA, LSU, and Auburn. Flat out embarrassed when we finally play a team with a pulse.

[R2Dawg]

Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022. I just don't think it's W/L related anymore. I mean maybe it is for the diehard fan, but what about the average fan who is going for an experience. It seems we have lost those fans in the last 7-8 years.

Problem is all those teams were not good teams after everyone saw what they were. We were building something in 09, 10, etc. and everyone knew it. Mullen had a swagger that we needed at the time.

Leach put a boring product on the field. It was painful to watch. Yeah we won a few games which was good but we got embarrassed too. There was no real excitement.

Overall gameday everywhere is down but throw a 1-7 team out there and it ain't good. I actually think the students and most have been pretty good considering the circumstances.

[StarkVegasSteve]

The pregame stuff hasn't changed since 1945. If you've been to more than 3 games you know the whole boring ass routine. I want to stick a fork in my ears when I hear bad to the bone. The band coming out and playing the same songs every time. I would like to see us get some LED and laser displays going. Change the music up. Make it more exciting than standing in line to take a piss.

And that is part of the problem. The famous MMMMAAAAROOONN band trots out the same pregame performance they have been doing for decades, we do the same lame Maroon/White cheer, and then watch an SNL skit. Hell maybe try a weekly hype video or something. Hell maybe steal from OM and get a celebrity to do the “I gotta fever” line.

[StarkVegasSteve]

None of which are top 10.


"Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022"

Is this the full list of top 25 teams we've beat since '21?

If so, yeesh. There's a red flag. Again predictable and we can assume the outcome pretty safely.

How many times have we actually had a decent team and thought we had a chance against stiff competition and we get absolutely blown out. 2017 really comes to mind against UGA, LSU, and Auburn. Flat out embarrassed when we finally play a team with a pulse.

We blew LSU’s doors off in 17 and should have beaten Bama. Speaking of that 17 Bama game, that is the last time DWS has been at its full strength.

Also, I mean I get we have not played many marquee teams at home but we cannot control that. OM sells out vs Kentucky and Arkansas. We can only sell out vs UGA because their fans buy up all the tickets. And we 6-3 at the time of that game.

[R2Dawg]

And that is part of the problem. The famous MMMMAAAAROOONN band trots out the same pregame performance they have been doing for decades, we do the same lame Maroon/White cheer, and then watch an SNL skit. Hell maybe try a weekly hype video or something. Hell maybe steal from OM and get a celebrity to do the “I gotta fever” line.

Well TAMU band only knows 2 songs and is boring as I don't know what. The marching thing they do is really cool though.

[R2Dawg]

We blew LSU’s doors off in 17 and should have beaten Bama. Speaking of that 17 Bama game, that is the last time DWS has been at its full strength.

Also, I mean I get we have not played many marquee teams at home but we cannot control that. OM sells out vs Kentucky and Arkansas. We can only sell out vs UGA because their fans buy up all the tickets. And we 6-3 at the time of that game.

I think we had some good 18 atmospheres until Moorhead gave away the UF game. We beat #8 Aub at home and was good.

[Maroonthirteen]

..and as far as this year. This season didn't even get off the ground, when we lost to AzSt and then Toledo.

I really believe if State wins the AzSt and Toledo game, the Florida game would have been a sell our or near it.

[Goldendawg]

Have been to almost every home game as a season ticket holder for approximately 55 consecutive years, 8 to 12 people strong and every game this year to the bitter end now 7 losses in a row. People around me know we won't win and the "D" can't get a stop. We have forced 1 punt in the last two games. We are 1-11 in our last SEC games. Majority of all fans come to see a interesting, competent, competitive team that can stay in the game past the 1st quarter and win more than they lose. All the extra "fluff" in the world won't fill seats without this! BTW: Toledo Embarrassment at Home! Stadium was emptying mid 1st quarter and about as many Arky fans there at the end as State fans.

[StarkVegasSteve]

..and as far as this year. This season didn't even get off the ground, when we lost to AzSt and then Toledo.

I really believe if State wins the AzSt and Toledo game, the Florida game would have been a sell our or near it.

But what happens when we lose that Florida game? And then lose to Texas and UGA? I think we have the same or worse crowd against A&M. I mean maybe we have a fan issue. I really do not know. Just seems strange a team like USCe can continually have at or near sell out crowds but we have not sniffed one in 7 years.

It just baffles me that OM can sell out an 11 AM game against Kentucky and we could not sell out a 7 PM primetime game against Georgia two years ago. I mean we could not even sell out the first game this year, and I think we sold out Croom’s first game

[StarkVegasSteve]

Have been to almost every home game as a season ticket holder for approximately 55 consecutive years, 8 to 12 people strong and every game this year to the bitter end now 7 losses in a row. People around me know we won't win and the "D" can't get a stop. We have forced 1 punt in the last two games. We are 1-11 in our last SEC games. Majority of all fans come to see a interesting, competent, competitive team that can stay in the game past the 1st quarter and win more than they lose. All the extra "fluff" in the world won't fill seats without this! BTW: Toledo Embarrassment at Home! Stadium was emptying mid 1st quarter and about as many Arky fans there at the end as State fans.

But that is what I am talking about. You are not the fan I am asking about because you are a diehard. You were going to be in that stadium come hell or high water. To you, and me because I am in the same boat, it is about wins and losses. I am trying to figure out how we lost all those fans that we had under Mullen and how do you get those people back?

[Goldendawg]

We have some of the best, most long suffering fans in college athletics across all sports. We are last in the nation in most "D" stats and 1-7. Do you continue to pay big bucks and your valuable time for a horrid product with little ROI the last two years? Going is a family type way of life for us for decades at a serious level of financial support. Wait to you see how pitiful the "crowd" will be for UMASS. There won't even be enough UMAA fans travel for our faculty to sell their tickets!****

[Goldendawg]

But that is what I am talking about. You are not the fan I am asking about because you are a diehard. You were going to be in that stadium come hell or high water. To you, and me because I am in the same boat, it is about wins and losses. I am trying to figure out how we lost all those fans that we had under Mullen and how do you get those people back?

Mullen lost me also. Draw up in a knot against bama and lose, start the job search, don't prepare for OM and lose, disappointing bowl. Rinse, repeat.