4075

[TrueRU]

I wholeheartedly agree it was a disappointing crowd in numbers, but I can't say I'm surprised. I think this is due to us being bad for so long (which has been mentioned) as that wears the fan base down. It will take time.

The other factor here honestly is the Big Ten basketball opponents. There is no local flavor to it, and quite honestly there isn't much sizzle or appeal to having Nebraska, Iowa, or Northwestern come in on most nights. At least when we played teams like St. John's, Temple, UConn, etc. you had some local rivalries of common kids we recruited, etc. That just doesn't happen in the Big Ten aside from maybe a school like Penn State or Maryland, which hurts it in my opinion.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

I wholeheartedly agree it was a disappointing crowd in numbers, but I can't say I'm surprised. I think this is due to us being bad for so long (which has been mentioned) as that wears the fan base down. It will take time.

The other factor here honestly is the Big Ten basketball opponents. There is no local flavor to it, and quite honestly there isn't much sizzle or appeal to having Nebraska, Iowa, or Northwestern come in on most nights. At least when we played teams like St. John's, Temple, UConn, etc. you had some local rivalries of common kids we recruited, etc. That just doesn't happen in the Big Ten aside from maybe a school like Penn State or Maryland, which hurts it in my opinion.

You make some valid points here. More than a few hardcore fans have told me it's taking time to warm up to these new opponents. They are big-time schools with name recognition, but just not the same as playing WVU, Cuse, UConn, Pitt, Temple, etc.

 

[RUJMM78]

you and Shill hit a key point....the bar is incredibly low right now..during Fred Hill or Mike Rice crowds of 4K would have laughed at by the entire board. Now its just accepted as fact until we are good..oh well. Student attendence was not good last night yet now that is accepted. Yet another losing season coming up is accepted as part of the process. When will the expectations be raised for any of our sports programs across the board.

Without accountability and a sense of urgency losing has become a acceptable state masked under the umbrella of rebuilding.

 

[RUJMM78]

You make some valid points here. More than a few hardcore fans have told me it's taking time to warm up to these new opponents. They are big-time schools with name recognition, but just not the same as playing WVU, Cuse, UConn, Pitt, Temple, etc.

The Big East was a great basketball conference because of the head coaches ,highly ranked teams and super star players melded into a geographical area that was close enough for fans to attend road games.

 

[King of S]

No more than 3,500 in the RAC last night. Oldest trick in the marketing book- inflate attendance for marketing reasons. They should post tickets scanned vs. tickets sold, given away,etc. Most arenas post tickets sold, allocate as it's always a higher number.

 

[RU old timer]

You mean this team doesn’t resemble the teams of Sellers, Anderson, Dabney, Copeland, Jordan, etc? Shocking.

 

[bac2therac]

Without accountability and a sense of urgency losing has become a acceptable state masked under the umbrella of rebuilding.

Penn State just won at Ohio State and RU fans just shrug their shoulders when we get annihilated at home by OSU

 

[shields]

The Carr class is very talented, and yes they have the talent to beat OSU. Chambers has been there now for 7 years.

 

[RUonBrain]

Penn State just won at Ohio State and RU fans just shrug their shoulders when we get annihilated at home by OSU

I don’t know what is going on with this board lately.

So what do you (or anyone else) want RU fans to do?

Grab pitchforks and storm the athletic offices?
Buy more tickets?
Buy less tickets?

It is what it is.

Unfortunately, the only solution is time, and the efforts of Pike, his staff, and his team.

There is really nothing we can do as fans other than be as supportive as possible and be the best fans we can.

If everyone jumps on the negative train, it just makes the culture and atmosphere more poisoned, and everyone’s efforts even more difficult.

 

[Duff366]

I don't get the negativity either. For the most part, there are reasonable posters on this board who realize RU has the worst talent in the B1G. To expect more than a win or two more is just setting yourself up for disappointment.

Help is coming next year.

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

If you want more people to show up, win some damn games.

 

[RUonBrain]

If you want more people to show up, win some damn games.

Don’t you think they are trying?

 

[G- RUnit]

You make some valid points here. More than a few hardcore fans have told me it's taking time to warm up to these new opponents. They are big-time schools with name recognition, but just not the same as playing WVU, Cuse, UConn, Pitt, Temple, etc.

That’s the big negative especially in hoops. No opposing fans. Pointed that out when we first joined and was chastised by many that all the local fans in the metropolitan area would flock to the RAC. Has not happened. Like the NFL, with 7:00 starts, it really is becoming a TV league rather than live experience.
Just win and crowds will come. Weekends draw too.

 

[bac2therac]

That’s the big negative especially in hoops. No opposing fans. Pointed that out when we first joined and was chastised by many that all the local fans in the metropolitan area would flock to the RAC. Has not happened. Like other NFL With 7:00 starts it really is becoming a TV league rather than live experience.
Just win and crowds will come. Will already see it happening on the weekend.

for the first couple of years they did, we should be glad we have less games on the weekend because if we did the place would be teaming with fans from the big time schools in the league. Fortunately the schedule of home games on weekend has worked against this happening...Illinois, Ohio State on a sunday night and Purdue which isnt the biggest brand but I will say they will have a decent amount of fans

 

[RUJMM78]

Winning remains the missing link at Rutgers in regard to attendance,donor support and most importantly recruiting.

 

[RUChoppin]

I defy anyone to find a Power 5 school who draws worse.
Then again, I also defy you to find a Power 5 school that hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since Bill Clinton was the governor of Arkansas.

Still, 6K or so for a conference game when we've been relatively competitive all year shouldn't be too much to ask. It's a pretty low bar but we can't even come close to it.

Rutgers average attendance last year: 4679

I found four P5 schools that averaged less than us:
4625 - USC
4242 - Boston College
3857 - Stanford
3000 - Washington St