119th Monon Bell Classic

[wabndy]

Typically around this time, the game is either sold out or there are only a few hundred tickets left, Owen said. The last time DePauw played the bell game at Wabash in 2010, only around 300 tickets were left unsold.

OK - so even in 2010, when the dannies were 9-0, nationally ranked, SCAC champs, and headed to the playoffs  - they still couldn't sell their allotment to a bell game in C'ville?  I mean - I know the weather that day wasn't great that day but its not like we are talking about gameday ticket sales.  Geez guys.  Do what you have to do.  Pad your admissions stats. Steal some signals.  Recalculate prospective football players financial aid packages when you find out they are looking at Wabash. Just rebuild your program and make this game mean something to your fan base and to the prospective recruiting classes for both schools.

[1837Tigers]

"Owen said that less alums may travel to the game because the game is now easier to access online."

This, by the way, is exceptionally stupid. It's not available online and it's been broadcast nationally for well over a decade.

And he knows that.  These quotes are just embarrassing.

Wally, gotta step in.  I think you are smart enough to know that this came from a student journalist.  I said *nothing* about "online" during my chat with him; I was referring to (and I think you know this) the AXS (formerly HDNet) agreement (and I've negotiated all 3 of the deals with the network, just me and the network, BTW) .  AXS is now available on regular and HD sat and cable packages -- as a result more people than ever can see it in their homes.  That was my point.

They're also not "quotes."  Read it again.  He was summarizing a conversation we had, and again, he misstated what I said.

OK, I'll let you get back to picking fights and pointing fingers.

[Breckenridgebear]

Depauw knows they can't walk into high-school football offices and pretend everything is cool, right? Like, they know that, don't they? The narrative has to be that YOUNG COACH X is digging deep to resurrect a storied program that has been burnt to the ground and he's recruiting those who want to believe in and be a part of that restoration before it happens, etc etc etc. That's the narrative. It can't be ho-hum shrug don't-really-know la-la-la monon bell. It can't be that. It's gotta be about renewal and that **** has to begin, like, yesterday. Owens and Baker-Watson are doing themselves a disservice. Who's MANAGING THIS?! WHERE'S YOUR CONSULTING FIRM?!

Feel free to contact them, I have.

Philip H. Goldstein
Senior Associate & Lead Counsel
Alden & Associates, Inc.
25 Sterling Road
Florence, MA 01062
phil@aldenandassoc.com

[BashDad]

"Owen said that less alums may travel to the game because the game is now easier to access online."

This, by the way, is exceptionally stupid. It's not available online and it's been broadcast nationally for well over a decade.

And he knows that.  These quotes are just embarrassing.

Wally, gotta step in.  I think you are smart enough to know that this came from a student journalist.  I said *nothing* about "online" during my chat with him; I was referring to (and I think you know this) the AXS (formerly HDNet) agreement (and I've negotiated all 3 of the deals with the network, just me and the network, BTW) .  AXS is now available on regular and HD sat and cable packages -- as a result more people than ever can see it in their homes.  That was my point.

They're also not "quotes."  Read it again.  He was summarizing a conversation we had, and again, he misstated what I said.

OK, I'll let you get back to picking fights and pointing fingers.

Whether or not the quote is wrong is beside the point. You think the attendance numbers are dropping because of the game being on TV? No. That's not true.

[1837Tigers]

"Owen said that less alums may travel to the game because the game is now easier to access online."

This, by the way, is exceptionally stupid. It's not available online and it's been broadcast nationally for well over a decade.

And he knows that.  These quotes are just embarrassing.

Wally, gotta step in.  I think you are smart enough to know that this came from a student journalist.  I said *nothing* about "online" during my chat with him; I was referring to (and I think you know this) the AXS (formerly HDNet) agreement (and I've negotiated all 3 of the deals with the network, just me and the network, BTW) .  AXS is now available on regular and HD sat and cable packages -- as a result more people than ever can see it in their homes.  That was my point.

They're also not "quotes."  Read it again.  He was summarizing a conversation we had, and again, he misstated what I said.

OK, I'll let you get back to picking fights and pointing fingers.

Whether or not the quote is wrong is beside the point. You think the attendance numbers are dropping because of the game being on TV? No. That's not true.

I offered that as one possible factor.  Period. 

[Breckenridgebear]

"Owen said that less alums may travel to the game because the game is now easier to access online."

This, by the way, is exceptionally stupid. It's not available online and it's been broadcast nationally for well over a decade.

And he knows that.  These quotes are just embarrassing.

Wally, gotta step in.  I think you are smart enough to know that this came from a student journalist.  I said *nothing* about "online" during my chat with him; I was referring to (and I think you know this) the AXS (formerly HDNet) agreement (and I've negotiated all 3 of the deals with the network, just me and the network, BTW) .  AXS is now available on regular and HD sat and cable packages -- as a result more people than ever can see it in their homes.  That was my point.

They're also not "quotes."  Read it again.  He was summarizing a conversation we had, and again, he misstated what I said.

OK, I'll let you get back to picking fights and pointing fingers.

Whether or not the quote is wrong is beside the point. You think the attendance numbers are dropping because of the game being on TV? No. That's not true.

DabashDad,

It is possible that many of the Alumni do not make the trip because they watch the game at home. This is similar to the same problem the NFL is confronting. The problem is that the students are not attending. Something is wrong when the students are not attending one of the greatest events during their college years. This is the issue DePauw needs to address. Owen was addressing all the reasons for the alumni and students not buying tickets.

[BashDad]

I offered that as one possible factor.  Period. 

But on what basis? Is there an actual correlation between the TV audience numbers and the numbers at the gate? It's almost certainly negligible.

That kind of diversion of focus--which you no doubt see as a kind of innocent protection of the school and its representatives--is, from my perspective, dangerous at this point. At best, it's slippery. At worst, it encourages a similar kind of "everything is cool" attitude during a time where everything is way, way not cool.

[BashDad]

DabashDad,

It is possible that many of the Alumni do not make the trip because they watch the game at home. This is similar to the same problem the NFL is confronting. The problem is that the students are not attending. Something is wrong when the students are not attending one of the greatest events during their college years. This is the issue DePauw needs to address. Owen was addressing all the reasons for the alumni and students not buying tickets.

If this were true, it would be equally a problem for both sides. Did Wabash only sell 1,000 tickets last year? No. Has attendance been rapidly dropping ever since HDNet became involved? No. It's gone up. Proposing the idea that the attendance problem is related to TV audiences instead of Depauw's recent struggles as a football program is misleading.

[Breckenridgebear]

DabashDad,

It is possible that many of the Alumni do not make the trip because they watch the game at home. This is similar to the same problem the NFL is confronting. The problem is that the students are not attending. Something is wrong when the students are not attending one of the greatest events during their college years. This is the issue DePauw needs to address. Owen was addressing all the reasons for the alumni and students not buying tickets.

If this were true, it would be equally a problem for both sides. Did Wabash only sell 1,000 tickets last year? No. Has attendance been rapidly dropping ever since HDNet became involved? No. It's gone up. Proposing the idea that the attendance problem is related to TV audiences instead of Depauw's recent struggles as a football program is misleading.

You forget that DeBash graduates can't afford televisions.

[BashDad]

Yawn, dude.

[Breckenridgebear]

Yawn, dude.

You wanted an answer. Just my humble opinion.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Typically around this time, the game is either sold out or there are only a few hundred tickets left, Owen said. The last time DePauw played the bell game at Wabash in 2010, only around 300 tickets were left unsold.

OK - so even in 2010, when the dannies were 9-0, nationally ranked, SCAC champs, and headed to the playoffs  - they still couldn't sell their allotment to a bell game in C'ville?  I mean - I know the weather that day wasn't great that day but its not like we are talking about gameday ticket sales.  Geez guys.  Do what you have to do.  Pad your admissions stats. Steal some signals.  Recalculate prospective football players financial aid packages when you find out they are looking at Wabash. Just rebuild your program and make this game mean something to your fan base and to the prospective recruiting classes for both schools.

Isn't this what BW just got into trouble for. Not for football players specifically but athletes in general?

[Breckenridgebear]

Typically around this time, the game is either sold out or there are only a few hundred tickets left, Owen said. The last time DePauw played the bell game at Wabash in 2010, only around 300 tickets were left unsold.

OK - so even in 2010, when the dannies were 9-0, nationally ranked, SCAC champs, and headed to the playoffs  - they still couldn't sell their allotment to a bell game in C'ville?  I mean - I know the weather that day wasn't great that day but its not like we are talking about gameday ticket sales.  Geez guys.  Do what you have to do.  Pad your admissions stats. Steal some signals.  Recalculate prospective football players financial aid packages when you find out they are looking at Wabash. Just rebuild your program and make this game mean something to your fan base and to the prospective recruiting classes for both schools.

Isn't this what BW just got into trouble for. Not for football players specifically but athletes in general?

Caveboyzz being Caveboyzz.

[smedindy]

Sad thing is we're talking about ticket sales and not the game itself.

[DPUIrish1]

a lot to digest here in terms of what's been written, but as much as it pains me to say this, it's tough for me to disagree with many of the Wabash points of view here.

I'm equally as upset that this story came out today.  not even a third of the tickets were sold??  that's a joke.  a laundry list of reasons has been given, but quite honestly what students have seen on the field the last 2 seasons, and a coach being fired this year/2-6 record pretty much sums it up to me.  I remember, and not long ago, if you didn't buy your tickets in the first few hours of availability - adios, better head to ebay. 

i do believe that the university is trying to stop some of the problems in their search...at least from knowing what they're looking for....but it needs to be implemented.

As an alum, the thought of missing this game makes me sick -- it's an event -- a can't miss -- just hope BOTH sides continue to treat it as such.

as for 1837Tigers -- keep it up with the TV deals -- great stuff -- quality coverage