Bowl Game Attendence #1

The source is not clear as to whether these numbers are tickets sold or people in the stands. Assume that from some of the television coverage and an abundance of empty seats that these numbers are tickets sold.

2007 Poinsettia Bowl - Utah vs. Navy Attendance: 39,129

2007 New Orleans Bowl - Memphis vs. FAU Attendance: 25,146

2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl - So. Miss vs. Cincy Attendance: 35,258

2007 New Mexico Bowl - Nevada vs. New Mexico Attendance: 30,223

2007 Las Vegas Bowl - UCLA vs. BYU Attendance: 40,712

2007 Hawaii Bowl - Boise St vs. East Carolina Attendance: 30,467



2007 Motor City Bowl - Purdue vs. C. Michigan Attendance: 60,624

2007 Holiday Bowl - Arizona State vs. Texas Attendance: 64,020

2007 Emerald Bowl - Maryland at Oregon State Attendance: 32,517

2007 Champs Bowl - Boston College vs. Michigan State Attendance: 46,554

2007 Texas Bowl - TCU vs. Houston Attendance: 62,097

2007 Meineke Bowl - Connecticut vs. Wake Forest Attendance: 53,126

2007 Liberty Bowl - Mississippi State vs. Central Florida Attendance: 63,816

2007 Alamo Bowl - Penn State vs. Texas A&M Attendance: 66,166

Source: http://www.ncaafootball.com/

The Money Just Rolls In

The one thing that really jumped out at me from your column is the idea that the head football coach has to be the chief fundraiser. Not at Michigan! That's the difference between the flagship programs and a WVU. The athletic dept and the development office do the fundraising.

The head coach just has to pick a charity and show up for it (and, to Lloyd Carr's credit, he has been a leader in the fundraising for the new Mott's Children's Hospital).*

The recent post on the departure of Rich Rodriguez brought an interesting comment that call for clarification of what is meant here with calling the football coach the chief fundraiser. The dance and procedure is not one where the coach is going to meetings and passing the hat for contributions. Chief fundraiser does mean that as the front man for the team the head coach is the uber-saleman that gets the season ticket holder to fork over a contribution to buy season tickets, gets the more casual fan to tune in on Saturday or gives the confidence to the big time boost to pleas millions for new facilities. The dance between coach takes place at all levels of college sports from a Division III school up to flagship institions.

How often do we see that a coach is getting fired because the alumni, the best source for money, are unhappy with the on the field results. The UM faithful may find themselves tested if there new coach has sold them more than he can deliver. The most expensive element of the UM and Rodriguez relationship may be time although with the price both have paid they may find that they have a great deal in common with the folks in South Bend.

*The full comments have be posted here.

Rich Rodriguez--Soap Opera Star

***Disclaimer***
The current situation involving West Virginia University football and Rich Rodriguez needs to be addressed in this blog. In the interest of full disclosure I am graduate of WVU and a season ticket holder (be it cheap endzone seats). Note the grammar issues in this blog are the responsibility of the author and not the schools that I attended.

There are too may aspects to this story for a unified theme therefore:

1. Divorces are rarely polite affairs. Change despite what people say is rarely welcome. One of the few things that stuck in my head after 25 years for Management 101 is that people resist change and the departure of Rich Rodriguez is a big change for the fans for both schools. In retrospect, Rich Rodriguez's departure should not be much of a surprise after the flirtation and eyes (ego) of Rodriguez was clearly 12months ago with Alabama.

The other thing that happens in a breakup is that the two parties do their best to blame the other especially when there is a $4 million buy out clause. The lawyers get involved and the battle via proxy beginslike third party interviews and leaks to the press. This behavior is amusing when it is a couple of celebrates you care little about but when your dirty laundry gets aired (truth is optional) the feelings are a combination of being embarrassed and defensiveness. There is a direct relationship between the amount, in this case money, at stake and the willingness of the parties to throw dirt. The current set of issues being put forth by Rich Rodriguez's camp seem like nothing more than excuses/positioning not to pay the buy. If you want out of a relationship be willing to pay the price.

2. This situation and the other recent moves by college head coaches confirms what has been previous said in this blog, "So not only does the coach have to win on Saturday, manage the team, recruit the players but the head coach is the top fund raiser." Not only is the coach the manager of a multimillion dollar operation but is also the face of the team. The college salaries still trail those of the NFL but are far ahead of state governors. Try this exercise: Name all the head coaches and then name the governors of the same states. Embarrassed? So was I. Head coaches are paid fair value as they promise to provide the services and value the university administration is seeking.

3. Why not put a head coach on a one year contract? Under the current system if they do well and are looking to jump your give them a raise via a contract extension but if they do poorly you're stuck with them. By comparison cellphone contracts seem fair and reasonable as while they will be sticking it too you the terms are fixed for two years.

4. From--"Hey, that thing is COLD!"
In that light the pay will never be enough. Further, once you arrive at the top of the college football coaching ladder there's really nowhere to go but down (see Frank Solich and Steve Spurrier). There are those that thrive despite (or because of) in the limelight and pressure. The problem is that UM is searching for a football coach and not a Wall Street shark.

If Rich Rodriguez was the person looking for the next challenge then he will find it a Michigan. Given the culture shock of transforming the Wolverines to the spread the next 20 months (now to the beginning of the 2009) could try both Rich and the UM faithful. What are the expectations for the 2008 season? 2009? When will playing for the MNC be required?

Ticket Roulette Bowl Game #4

BCS National Championship Game Tickets (Ohio State vs LSU)
Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:00 PM at Superdome in New Orleans, LA
Terrace End Zone 626 14 qty 4 $790.00 each
Cheapest fixed price.

Fiesta Bowl Tickets — Oklahoma vs. West Virginia
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 6:00 PM at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ
Terrace Level Corner 435 18 Up to 4 $29.00 each
Over 1100 tickets listed

Orange Bowl Tickets — Virginia Tech vs. Kansas
Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 8:00 PM at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, FL
Upper Corner 448 23 qty 4 $18.97 each
Auction tickets starting at $4

2008 Rose Bowl Tickets — Illinois vs. USC
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 2:00 PM at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA
End Zone 26 73 qty 2 $160.00 each (fixed)
End Zone 26 70 qty 2 $48.00 each auction

Sugar Bowl Tickets — Hawaii vs. Georgia
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 7:00 PM at Superdome in New Orleans, LA
Terrace End Zone 629 15 Up to 4 $80.00 each

Alamo Bowl Tickets — Penn State vs. Texas A&M
Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 7:00 PM at Alamodome in San Antonio, TX
Upper Level Sideline 334 11 2 $69.00 each auction
Upper Level End Zone 328 13 2 $76.00 each

Armed Forces Bowl Tickets — California vs. Air Force
Monday, December 31, 2007 at 11:30 AM at Amon G Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX
NG 19 Up to 4 $23.00 each

Capital One Bowl Tickets — Michigan vs. Florida
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 1:00 PM at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL
Upper Level Corner 303 P 2 $171.00 each

Champs Sports Bowl Tickets — Boston College-Michigan State
Friday, December 28, 2007 at 5:00 PM at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL
Mezzanine End Zone 221 AA 3 $28.00 each

Snarky comments maybe added

http://www.stubhub.com/champs-sports-bowl-tickets/?event_id=382944

Ticket Roulette Bowl Game #3

She just learned she did not get her Peach Chick-Fil-A Bowl tickets early enough.

International Bowl Tickets (Rutgers vs Ball State)
Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 12:00 PM at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON
217 12 Up to 5 $70.00 each
Limited sales as the upper 500 level is apparently not being sold. Toronto v. New Jersey?

Insight Bowl Tickets (Indiana vs Oklahoma State)
Monday, December 31, 2007 at 1:00 PM at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ
237 24 Up to 4 $17.00 each
Good 50 yard line tickets are about $60. Hoosier fans are sure about this college bowl thing and T. Boone Pickens already bought a section.

Independence Bowl Tickets (Colorado vs Alabama)
Sunday, December 30, 2007 at 7:00 PM at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, LA
125 F 3 $37.00 each (Endzone)
If 70,000 Bama fans will show up for spring practice then 40,000 can and will journey to Shreveport.

Humanitarian Bowl Tickets (Georgia Tech vs Fresno State)
Monday, December 31, 2007 at 12:00 PM at Bronco Stadium in Boise, ID
South End Zone GA 2 $3.50 each
For comparison--Weber State at Boise State Football Tickets 8/30 $75 for seats in the same area. If we had just lost a couple more games we could stay home for the holidays.

Holiday Bowl Tickets (Arizona State vs Texas)
Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 5:00 PM at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA
End Zone View 48 14 Up to 14 $34.00 each
Texas fans travel! The Holiday Bowl just seems to be the most major bowl that is all but forgotten.

GMAC Bowl Tickets (Tulsa vs Bowling Green)
Sunday 7:00 PM Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, AL
T 14 Up to 4 $35.00 each (not Endzone)
No need to finance this trip.

Gator Bowl Tickets (Virginia vs Texas Tech)
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 1:00 PM at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, FL
Middle Level Sideline 233 BB 2 $10.00 each
The ACC Championship gameis moving and Jacksonville IS the problem.

Emerald Bowl Tickets (Maryland vs Oregon State)
Friday, December 28, 2007 at 5:30 PM at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA
End Zone Bleachers 140 12 2 $44.95 each
Great venue, a baseball only park for football. Bleachers setup in right field are $65 each.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl Tickets (Auburn vs Clemson)
Monday, December 31, 2007 at 7:30 PM at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA
Upper Sideline 351 19 1 $97.95 each
From a bowl standpoint this is a great match up for selling tickets. Good location and two teams with loyal fan bases mean a sell out, full hotels, and dollars being spent in Atlanta.

Ticket Roulette Bowl Game #2

New Orleans Bowl Tickets (Memphis vs Florida Atlantic)
Friday, December 21, 2007 at 7:00 PM at Superdome in New Orleans, LA
Club Sideline 334 14 2 $50.00 each
Very few tickets being sold. The upper deck most likely will not be opened and the lack of seats is may be a sign of the lack of interest.

Music City Bowl Tickets (Kentucky vs Florida State)
Monday, December 31, 2007 at 3:00 PM at LP Field in Nashville, TN
Upper Level 304 CC 2 $62.98 each
Yeah, that Wal Mart pricing (ending in an 8) will make those tickets fly. Kentucky fans should fill the place. Nole fans may not want to sit out in the cold.

Motor City Bowl Tickets (Central Michigan vs Purdue)
Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at 7:30 PM at Ford Field in Detroit, MI
Lower Level End Zone 137 4 2 $39.99 each
Again the supply of seats but even so there are 27 listings. Could this game be any worse than the Lions?

Meineke Car Care Bowl Tickets (Connecticut vs Wake Forest)
Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 1:00 PM at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC
Upper Level 513 31 Up to 2 $65.00 each
Higher prices than expected. Husky fans are looking to escape the northeast for a few days in Carolina. Too bad that a basketball game between the two teams could not be added to the event.

Liberty Bowl Tickets (Central Florida vs Mississippi State)
Saturday December 29, 2007 at 3:30 PM Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, TN
End Zone 126 14 (SEC SIDE) Up to 10 $85.00 each
The top sides for seats is $306. Both UCF and MSU fans are excited to be in the post-season and that is something the "too many bowls" critics do not seem to understand.

Read about the 1964 Liberty Bowl that was played inside the Atlantic City convention Center.

Great Question for BTN from Patrick Henry's Ghost

Where does the UW get off, he asks, entering into agreements that deny these Wisconsin citizens access to sporting events featuring their own tax-supported university?

Great opinion piece that falls short of suggesting that the citizen of Wisconsin should consider reducing support to UM by the amount of income from the BTN deal.

"Give me free broadcasts of the game or give me my money back."

Ticket Roulette Bowl Game #1

Texas Bowl Tickets (Houston vs TCU)
Friday, December 28, 2007 at 7:00 PM at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX
Endzone for $33 with good seats for $62. Looks like the upperdeck is not being opened. Would have expected better for two Texas teams.

Sun Bowl Tickets (South Florida vs Oregon)
Monday, December 31, 2007 at 12:00 PM at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, TX
GA (general admission?)tickets for as little as $7 with 50 yardline seats for $30. El Paso is proably a very nice place but would you want to trade it for Tampa in late December?

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Tickets (East Carolina vs Boise State)
Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 3:00 PM at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, HI
Minimum $58 with a thin market. Better than spending the day in Boise.

Poinsettia Bowl Tickets (Navy vs Utah)
Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 6:00 PM at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA
Starting at $37 with 661 tickets listed the cost tops out at $148.

Papajohns.com Bowl Tickets (Cincinnati vs. Southern Miss)
Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 12:00 PM at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL
Ranging from $40 to $90 with only 14 tickets listed--Calista Flockhart thin supply.

Outback Bowl Tickets (Wisconsin vs Tennessee)
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL
Better weather than El Paso and higher prices with the cheap seats selling for $35.00. There are 3740 on the block--Delta Burke John Goodman supply.

"Hey, that thing is COLD!"

During the past week Greg Shiano was rumored to be considering the coaching position at the University of Michigan only to have that story squashed within a matter of hours. Just the latest in a list of, "No thank you's", to one of the premiere programs in college football. Looking at the Rutgers coach as an example it is easy to see where the problem may be. The 2007 Scarlet Knights were a disappointment but by posting a winning record and going to a bowl game, be it the International Bowl, are by historical standards doing quite well. Yes, there are critics of the coach but nothing approaching the firestorm a coach of the Wolverine's would experience for taking the team to the conference's lowliest bowl game.

Quoting the Bible , "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." is a call to duty to your fellow man in most cases. In the case being the UM coach the stewardship of the football program has a vengefully ruler that puts the God of the Old Testament to shame, alumni and fans. From August to November, even in election years the UM coach's actions receive scrutiny beyond that of the state's governor to the point of being reminded of the statement of Richard Nixon “It’s the responsibility of the media to look at the president with a microscope, but they go too far when they use a proctoscope."

In that light the pay will never be enough. Further, once you arrive at the top of the college football coaching ladder there's really nowhere to go but down (see Frank Solich and Steve Spurrier). There are those that thrive despite (or because of) in the limelight and pressure. The problem is that UM is searching for a football coach and not a Wall Street shark.

Note: I never expected to quote Richard Nixon and the Bible in the same paragraph.