College Football Week 3: The only real barbecue is whole Hog

[LongTimeListener]

Stanford did not play to 97 percent capacity in 2011. I don't know where you got that number. I would be surprised but not shocked to learn that they got enough alumni to pony up donations that they could pass off as ticket sales. But most games there were a ghost town.

Even in 2010 when Harbaugh was there and they were putting together their first serious run at a national title since the Jim Plunkett days, they were often lucky if their asses-in-seats number was 30,000 in a 50,000-seat stadium. Harbaugh talked about this often and with quite a bit of frustration.

 

[RubberSoul1979]

Pac-12 should have seriously invited BYU - preserving the tradition of each team having their hated rival in the conference.

However, Larry Scott was so set on corralling the Denver TV market that the Buffaloes -- who have been eating karmic shirt since Gary Barnett called that "girl" rape victim/place kicker "terrible" -- were oh so happy to join in. You get what you pay for, literally. Embree is the lowest paid coach in the conference.

 

[JosephC.Myers]

Pac-12 should have seriously invited BYU - preserving the tradition of each team having their hated rival in the conference.

However, Larry Scott was so set on corralling the Denver TV market that the Buffaloes -- who have been eating karmic shirt since Gary Barnett called that "girl" rape victim/place kicker "terrible" -- were oh so happy to join in. You get what you pay for, literally. Embree is the lowest paid coach in the conference.

Colorado might be the worst team in an AQ conference. Anybody have any other candidates?

 

[Cosmo]

Miami's problem is that it plays in an character-less NFL stadium 30 miles north of its campus. And the Hurricanes haven't been good enough of late for the students to care enough to make that drive on a regular basis.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Pac-12 should have seriously invited BYU - preserving the tradition of each team having their hated rival in the conference.

However, Larry Scott was so set on corralling the Denver TV market that the Buffaloes -- who have been eating karmic shirt since Gary Barnett called that "girl" rape victim/place kicker "terrible" -- were oh so happy to join in. You get what you pay for, literally. Embree is the lowest paid coach in the conference.

Colorado might be the worst team in an AQ conference. Anybody have any other candidates?

Without a doubt. No one else comes close.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I'm not sure Colorado would make the FCS playoffs this year.

 

[RubberSoul1979]

"But most games there were a ghost town."

Really? Their 2011 attendance was as follows:

San Jose State: the 46.000 listed was quite generous
UCLA: 50,360 = 100 percent filled
Colorado: 50,360
Washington: 50,360
Oregon: 50,360
Cal: 50,360
Notre Dame: 50,360

Those were LEGIT sellouts, even in the rain for the Cal game. Last year was truly unique for Stanford, which re-did its stadium before 2006 but was definitiely hurting for fans even in Harbaugh's last year.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I believe last year the Oregon and Cal games were available only via season-ticket purchase, which explains why every game was a sellout. A common technique and not one for them to be criticized about.

I overstated "ghost town" -- which was true in 2010 but not in 2011 -- but the stands were not routinely filled.

 

[RubberSoul1979]

I WAS THERE dude, covering the team - they were ROUTINELY FILLED after the San Jose State games.

 

[LongTimeListener]

OK you're right -- Stanford, football capital of the universe in 2011.

 

[RubberSoul1979]

"OK you're right -- Stanford, football capital of the universe in 2011."

LOL, well played, sir.

 

[micropolitan guy]

"But most games there were a ghost town."

Really? Their 2011 attendance was as follows:

San Jose State: the 46.000 listed was quite generous
UCLA: 50,360 = 100 percent filled
Colorado: 50,360
Washington: 50,360
Oregon: 50,360
Cal: 50,360
Notre Dame: 50,360

If those games were legit sellouts - and 20-plus years of attending games at old/new Stanford Stadium and seeing how grossly overestimated the crowds were (it was always bring your two invisible friends day) makes me highly suspicious - it was only because of the Big Game, lots of UCLA alums, and because Oregon and Washington travel better than almost any other Pac-12 schools, and ND travels well too .

I highly, highly doubt there were 50K in the stands to see Colorado, and they only way they sold 50K ticket was if that game was included in the Big Game or ND package.

And while Colorado sucks balls now, it will not always be so. Over the long haul, Colorado will add far more to the Pac-12 than BYU (and probably already paid dividends in the recent TV contract). As was said it was about market share, eyes for TV ratings, expanding the league's footprint to a top-15 metro area, and getting another major research university. With the Utards in the league, the Pac-12 now owns as much of Utah as it needs.