Sports Take: Underwhelming football game day experience isn’t fans’ fault👇

Sports Take:https://t.co/3NQQdKFmm7 | By @ByJacksonPosey pic.twitter.com/DUjrYI0eBF

— Lariat Sports (@BULariatSports) September 21, 2023

Fantastic column and great writing!

Greenboy232 said:

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Fantastic column and great writing!

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Agreed! Back in my days as the Lariat sports editor, this kind of column would have gotten me banned from the stadium :-)
Crowds were pretty stoic back then as well ... and we had some pretty good football in the 80's. I remember when we would host A&M and the crowd was dominated by the khaki of the corps. Didn't even seem like a home game.

I have to admit I am one of the "olds" who complains about the DJ overplaying the band, but if Mo Thamba or whatever gets the crowd going, let's do it!

Fans reflect the boredom put out onto the field, so that's on Aranda.

BUGWBBear said:

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Fans reflect the boredom put out onto the field, so that's on Aranda.

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That's not true at Virginia tech or Nebraska or West Virginia or.....

There are plenty examples of ****ty, boring football teams that have incredible fan support.

It's pretty simple really:
1.) the football team is grossly underperforming and people don't want to pay money to see that product on the field.
2.) Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level. Not to mention DFW has a ton of people and a ton of alumni in the immediate area who can easily go to the games.
3.) tiny alumni base who mainly live at least 1.5 hours away from campus.
4.) We have pretty much outlawed a fun environment since the Briles era. Tailgating is a shell of what it used to be and the administration wants a tampered down, family first game day experience.
5.) the heat of September
6.) no alcohol served at the games
7.) Baylor has always been a fair weather fan base and there have always been a large degree of dorks who would rather get ready for Sunday youth group sessions than go to the game.

Lastly, it's interesting to me in reading that article that Briles has the "he who shall not me mentioned" level of distain from the administration and student body. He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

For a town once nicknamed :Six-Shooter Junction" the lack of boisterousness along the river is a real kick in the package.

Ramp up the excitement with an Open-Carry night at the stadium. Nothing gets people on their feet faster than celebratory gunfire after a victory. Kind of like Christmas night in Las Vegas.

A NO-BRA-zos night at the old ballpark should get most of the dorm rats into the stadium.

Instead of the lame 3 card Monte game on the scoreboard screen, try a Guess The Streaker contest where contestants wear only a mask.

Yeah.....dumb ideas all, so I guess we just have to admit we are boring and live with it.

ABC BEAR said:

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A NO-BRA-zos night at the old ballpark should get most of the dorm rats into the stadium.

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This man knows how to drive attendance.

That would be the most exciting running of the Baylor Line in school history.

Most of the SEC & Big 10. I guess money can buy happy fans.

Drango Unchained said:

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BUGWBBear said:

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Fans reflect the boredom put out onto the field, so that's on Aranda.

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That's not true at Virginia tech or Nebraska or West Virginia or.....

There are plenty examples of ****ty, boring football teams that have incredible fan support.

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I agree with this to a point. Here's a few of my disagreements.

1) Alcohol
2) A lot of the Big 10 schools like Nebraska have much more tradition than we do in terms of making football an essential part of the school. We really only emphasized football in the 70's and 80's and took a major hiatus throughout the 90's and 2000's and then rediscovered what it could do for us in 2011. So this new generation of fans doesn't have a lot of "tradition" to go back to. There's no attitude of "We are Baylor, so we should care about this" like there is at Nebraska. Our tradition is more of "It's fun when we're good (Teaff, Briles) and we'll find something else when we're bad ( The 90's)." It's hard to make something out of nothing.

As soon as I read that phrase I thought of this video:



In a way, it makes your point. This is from peak Briles era football.

Every time this comes up, I think it makes me realize that I don't even know what the term "fan experience" even means.

I can't say my experience at any Baylor football game in the past 30 years has been remarkably different from any other pro or college game I've ever been to. Maybe the exception is attending an A&M home game where the cult chants in unison with their class.

I mean - I'm there to watch the GAME I drink alcohol in my daily life, but rarely at a live sporting event. I don't care about the food or drink or which decade of music is playing, and I generally notice that people who aren't there to watch the game don't enjoy it as much (regardless of the food or drink or which decade of music is playing).

If you are going to a sporting event expecting a concert with all the things that go with it, you should probably just go to a concert.

Ah well, times change. I'm sure that whatever gets added to the "fan experience" will be something else I tune out waiting for the next play to start.


Edit - A big part of that article seems to be about black uniforms. I don't understand why wearing black is desirable I don't dislike black uniforms, but they are neither positive nor negative IMO. I also think that our school has NOT exited the scandal fully, and what many people still think of when they think of Baylor is the sexual abuse scandal. (The SMU scandal happened 40 years ago and it is still one of the first things mentioned for the Mustangs).

Like it or not we still need to be on our best behavior and will come under scrutiny when and if someone decides that our "football culture" is loose or somehow considers itself "above the rules." Best not to draw unwanted attention, and if not wearing black somehow helps us then I'll fall in line.

DancinBear09 said:

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It's pretty simple really:
1.) the football team is grossly underperforming and people don't want to pay money to see that product on the field.
2.) Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level. Not to mention DFW has a ton of people and a ton of alumni in the immediate area who can easily go to the games.
3.) tiny alumni base who mainly live at least 1.5 hours away from campus.
4.) We have pretty much outlawed a fun environment since the Briles era. Tailgating is a shell of what it used to be and the administration wants a tampered down, family first game day experience.
5.) the heat of September
6.) no alcohol served at the games
7.) Baylor has always been a fair weather fan base and there have always been a large degree of dorks who would rather get ready for Sunday youth group sessions than go to the game.

Lastly, it's interesting to me in reading that article that Briles has the "he who shall not me mentioned" level of distain from the administration and student body. He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

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I think a lot of it has to do with the tailgating and Baylor not getting local fans excited enough to want to come to games I remember at Floyd Casey people would come just to tailgate and watch the games from outside on tvs at the stadium it was just a better experience for tailgating imo it felt like a college game day atmosphere I haven't done it much at McLane but it's just not the same also baylor doesn't advertise around the city of Waco or surrounding areas BU has maybe 2 billboards on the sides of the highway and none in the city traveling to San Antonio or Dallas you see Tx St, SMU, TCU, A&M billboards everywhere

The university does need to have more promotions for locals. I am not a Baylor grad but a waco native and if it weren't for me liking the football team I wouldn't even go to the games or know about them.

They should try a gray-out, then the olds will contribute whether they want to or not.

DancinBear09 said:

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He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

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Poor writing here for sure. Bliss did not attempt to cover up a murder. Which is what you say.

What Bliss attempted to cover up were the under the table payment of Patrick Dennehy ( murdered player) tuition payments, by throwing shade that he may have been a drug dealer, and that's how his tuition got paid.

DancinBear09 said:

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It's pretty simple really:
1.) the football team is grossly underperforming and people don't want to pay money to see that product on the field.
2.) Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level. Not to mention DFW has a ton of people and a ton of alumni in the immediate area who can easily go to the games.
3.) tiny alumni base who mainly live at least 1.5 hours away from campus.
4.) We have pretty much outlawed a fun environment since the Briles era. Tailgating is a shell of what it used to be and the administration wants a tampered down, family first game day experience.
5.) the heat of September
6.) no alcohol served at the games
7.) Baylor has always been a fair weather fan base and there have always been a large degree of dorks who would rather get ready for Sunday youth group sessions than go to the game.

Lastly, it's interesting to me in reading that article that Briles has the "he who shall not me mentioned" level of distain from the administration and student body. He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

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This is all pretty spot on.

One comment I'd make - "Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level."

That's really a Baylor thing. Waco got behind Baylor for both Briles and Mulkey (neither of whom was a cultural fit at Baylor, and both of whom met different ends because you can only be contrary to culture for so long).

Briles said "Baylor is Waco and Waco is Baylor, so let's cheer for each other." And Waco showed up for / supported his teams way more than they typically have. Similar dynamic with Mulkey.

But Baylor doesn't want that. Baylor does not really want Waco support. I mean, Baylor does if it is convenient and not embarrassing, but in general Baylor wants its association with Waco to be limited.

Robert Wilson said:

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DancinBear09 said:

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It's pretty simple really:
1.) the football team is grossly underperforming and people don't want to pay money to see that product on the field.
2.) Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level. Not to mention DFW has a ton of people and a ton of alumni in the immediate area who can easily go to the games.
3.) tiny alumni base who mainly live at least 1.5 hours away from campus.
4.) We have pretty much outlawed a fun environment since the Briles era. Tailgating is a shell of what it used to be and the administration wants a tampered down, family first game day experience.
5.) the heat of September
6.) no alcohol served at the games
7.) Baylor has always been a fair weather fan base and there have always been a large degree of dorks who would rather get ready for Sunday youth group sessions than go to the game.

Lastly, it's interesting to me in reading that article that Briles has the "he who shall not me mentioned" level of distain from the administration and student body. He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

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This is all pretty spot on.

One comment I'd make - "Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level."

That's really a Baylor thing. Waco got behind Baylor for both Briles and Mulkey (neither of whom was a cultural fit at Baylor, and both of whom met different ends because you can only be contrary to culture for so long).

Briles said "Baylor is Waco and Waco is Baylor, so let's cheer for each other." And Waco showed up for / supported his teams way more than they typically have. Similar dynamic with Mulkey.

But Baylor doesn't want that. Baylor does not really want Waco support. I mean, Baylor does if it is convenient and not embarrassing, but in general Baylor wants its association with Waco to be limited.

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I don't buy that last part. Baylor has done a poor job of marketing and engaging the Waco community for sure. But I don't think Baylor doesn't want to be associated with Waco. I just think we aren't very good at marketing ourselves. Our marketing department has yet to effectively blend the goals of a Christian mission with championship athletics.

It seems that winning has masked that until now. There was always an excuse. Post scandal. Rhule to NFL. Covid. There's no excuses now. Everyone can see it and it's ugly.

What a time.

Drango Unchained said:

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Robert Wilson said:

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DancinBear09 said:

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It's pretty simple really:
1.) the football team is grossly underperforming and people don't want to pay money to see that product on the field.
2.) Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level. Not to mention DFW has a ton of people and a ton of alumni in the immediate area who can easily go to the games.
3.) tiny alumni base who mainly live at least 1.5 hours away from campus.
4.) We have pretty much outlawed a fun environment since the Briles era. Tailgating is a shell of what it used to be and the administration wants a tampered down, family first game day experience.
5.) the heat of September
6.) no alcohol served at the games
7.) Baylor has always been a fair weather fan base and there have always been a large degree of dorks who would rather get ready for Sunday youth group sessions than go to the game.

Lastly, it's interesting to me in reading that article that Briles has the "he who shall not me mentioned" level of distain from the administration and student body. He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

---

This is all pretty spot on.

One comment I'd make - "Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level."

That's really a Baylor thing. Waco got behind Baylor for both Briles and Mulkey (neither of whom was a cultural fit at Baylor, and both of whom met different ends because you can only be contrary to culture for so long).

Briles said "Baylor is Waco and Waco is Baylor, so let's cheer for each other." And Waco showed up for / supported his teams way more than they typically have. Similar dynamic with Mulkey.

But Baylor doesn't want that. Baylor does not really want Waco support. I mean, Baylor does if it is convenient and not embarrassing, but in general Baylor wants its association with Waco to be limited.

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I don't buy that last part. Baylor has done a poor job of marketing and engaging the Waco community for sure. But I don't think Baylor doesn't want to be associated with Waco. I just think we aren't very good at marketing ourselves. Our marketing department has yet to effectively blend the goals of a Christian mission with championship athletics.

It seems that winning has masked that until now. There was always an excuse. Post scandal. Rhule to NFL. Covid. There's no excuses now. Everyone can see it and it's ugly.

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Baylor has failed to have a good relationship with Waco for many decades. It's not just our marketing department. We just aren't that interested in getting a lot of Waco kids or being overly associated with Waco. Drug down image/reputation/rankings/etc. That's fine. I get it. But let's not pretend that several decades of failing to connect well with Waco is an accident.

Every now and then, when our attendance sucks, someone will come on here and blame Waco. Sure. Waco doesn't support a private university that doesn't cater much to it and whose students and alums generally talk crap and the town. Go figure.

The new basketball arena is a notable exception. It was done in a way that may benefit both school and city. Maybe a good start. Maybe also has something to do with Waco's reputation improving...

Robert Wilson said:

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Drango Unchained said:

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Robert Wilson said:

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DancinBear09 said:

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It's pretty simple really:
1.) the football team is grossly underperforming and people don't want to pay money to see that product on the field.
2.) Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level. Not to mention DFW has a ton of people and a ton of alumni in the immediate area who can easily go to the games.
3.) tiny alumni base who mainly live at least 1.5 hours away from campus.
4.) We have pretty much outlawed a fun environment since the Briles era. Tailgating is a shell of what it used to be and the administration wants a tampered down, family first game day experience.
5.) the heat of September
6.) no alcohol served at the games
7.) Baylor has always been a fair weather fan base and there have always been a large degree of dorks who would rather get ready for Sunday youth group sessions than go to the game.

Lastly, it's interesting to me in reading that article that Briles has the "he who shall not me mentioned" level of distain from the administration and student body. He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

---

This is all pretty spot on.

One comment I'd make - "Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level."

That's really a Baylor thing. Waco got behind Baylor for both Briles and Mulkey (neither of whom was a cultural fit at Baylor, and both of whom met different ends because you can only be contrary to culture for so long).

Briles said "Baylor is Waco and Waco is Baylor, so let's cheer for each other." And Waco showed up for / supported his teams way more than they typically have. Similar dynamic with Mulkey.

But Baylor doesn't want that. Baylor does not really want Waco support. I mean, Baylor does if it is convenient and not embarrassing, but in general Baylor wants its association with Waco to be limited.

---

I don't buy that last part. Baylor has done a poor job of marketing and engaging the Waco community for sure. But I don't think Baylor doesn't want to be associated with Waco. I just think we aren't very good at marketing ourselves. Our marketing department has yet to effectively blend the goals of a Christian mission with championship athletics.

It seems that winning has masked that until now. There was always an excuse. Post scandal. Rhule to NFL. Covid. There's no excuses now. Everyone can see it and it's ugly.

---

Baylor has failed to have a good relationship with Waco for many decades. It's not just our marketing department. We just aren't that interested in getting a lot of Waco kids or being overly associated with Waco. Drug down image/reputation/rankings/etc. That's fine. I get it. But let's not pretend that several decades of failing to connect well with Waco is an accident.

Every now and then, when our attendance sucks, someone will come on here and blame Waco. Sure. Waco doesn't support a private university that doesn't cater much to it and whose students and alums generally talk crap and the town. Go figure.

The new basketball arena is a notable exception. It was done in a way that may benefit both school and city. Maybe a good start. Maybe also has something to do with Waco's reputation improving...

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You're correct that BU's relationship with Waco has not been that great for a good while. I was there in the 80's and Baylor seemed like it was trying to compete with SMU on the snob scale ... so not a lot of hanging with the locals.

DancinBear09 said:

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It's pretty simple really:
1.) the football team is grossly underperforming and people don't want to pay money to see that product on the field.
2.) Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level. Not to mention DFW has a ton of people and a ton of alumni in the immediate area who can easily go to the games.
3.) tiny alumni base who mainly live at least 1.5 hours away from campus.
4.) We have pretty much outlawed a fun environment since the Briles era. Tailgating is a shell of what it used to be and the administration wants a tampered down, family first game day experience.
5.) the heat of September
6.) no alcohol served at the games
7.) Baylor has always been a fair weather fan base and there have always been a large degree of dorks who would rather get ready for Sunday youth group sessions than go to the game.

Lastly, it's interesting to me in reading that article that Briles has the "he who shall not me mentioned" level of distain from the administration and student body. He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

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The Sunday crowd is more likely to go to the game than not in my experience. Your other points are spot on though.

and yes, there is a contingent of our fan base that you just can't help but wonder. The homosexual Sing practice kind of stuff comes to mind. I was a student during the Briles years, even even back then there were people that would literally leave our games to go watch some other game. But it's a free country, and people can do what they want to with their time. I still remember one conversation I had with someone in one of my classes during my freshman year in 2010. I asked them if they were going to the game that Saturday, and the response was, "I'm not at this school to watch football"

Chamberman said:

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DancinBear09 said:

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He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

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Poor writing here for sure. Bliss did not attempt to cover up a murder. Which is what you say.

What Bliss attempted to cover up were the under the table payment of Patrick Dennehy ( murdered player) tuition payments, by throwing shade that he may have been a drug dealer, and that's how his tuition got paid.

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I stand corrected…but still worse than anything Briles did. Bliss besmirched the name of a murdered player to insinuate he was a drug dealer and drug money paid his tuition. Much more of a piece of **** move than anything Briles did.

PaperBear89 said:

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Robert Wilson said:

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Drango Unchained said:

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Robert Wilson said:

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DancinBear09 said:

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It's pretty simple really:
1.) the football team is grossly underperforming and people don't want to pay money to see that product on the field.
2.) Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level. Not to mention DFW has a ton of people and a ton of alumni in the immediate area who can easily go to the games.
3.) tiny alumni base who mainly live at least 1.5 hours away from campus.
4.) We have pretty much outlawed a fun environment since the Briles era. Tailgating is a shell of what it used to be and the administration wants a tampered down, family first game day experience.
5.) the heat of September
6.) no alcohol served at the games
7.) Baylor has always been a fair weather fan base and there have always been a large degree of dorks who would rather get ready for Sunday youth group sessions than go to the game.

Lastly, it's interesting to me in reading that article that Briles has the "he who shall not me mentioned" level of distain from the administration and student body. He gets it worse than Dave Bliss only difference between the two is A KID WAS F UCKING MURDERED under Bliss and the guy tried to cover it up. It's insane.

---

This is all pretty spot on.

One comment I'd make - "Waco isn't Ft.Worth and we don't get the same kind of buy in at the local level."

That's really a Baylor thing. Waco got behind Baylor for both Briles and Mulkey (neither of whom was a cultural fit at Baylor, and both of whom met different ends because you can only be contrary to culture for so long).

Briles said "Baylor is Waco and Waco is Baylor, so let's cheer for each other." And Waco showed up for / supported his teams way more than they typically have. Similar dynamic with Mulkey.

But Baylor doesn't want that. Baylor does not really want Waco support. I mean, Baylor does if it is convenient and not embarrassing, but in general Baylor wants its association with Waco to be limited.

---

I don't buy that last part. Baylor has done a poor job of marketing and engaging the Waco community for sure. But I don't think Baylor doesn't want to be associated with Waco. I just think we aren't very good at marketing ourselves. Our marketing department has yet to effectively blend the goals of a Christian mission with championship athletics.

It seems that winning has masked that until now. There was always an excuse. Post scandal. Rhule to NFL. Covid. There's no excuses now. Everyone can see it and it's ugly.

---

Baylor has failed to have a good relationship with Waco for many decades. It's not just our marketing department. We just aren't that interested in getting a lot of Waco kids or being overly associated with Waco. Drug down image/reputation/rankings/etc. That's fine. I get it. But let's not pretend that several decades of failing to connect well with Waco is an accident.

Every now and then, when our attendance sucks, someone will come on here and blame Waco. Sure. Waco doesn't support a private university that doesn't cater much to it and whose students and alums generally talk crap and the town. Go figure.

The new basketball arena is a notable exception. It was done in a way that may benefit both school and city. Maybe a good start. Maybe also has something to do with Waco's reputation improving...

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You're correct that BU's relationship with Waco has not been that great for a good while. I was there in the 80's and Baylor seemed like it was trying to compete with SMU on the snob scale ... so not a lot of hanging with the locals.

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When I did line camp in the summer of 2010, they had us go out for a few hours to these projects in that area north of McLane and play games and stuff with the kids. I have no clue if that's still a thing

Joe Waco will absolutely go to Baylor games if the team is really good or it's just an exciting product on the field or exciting atmosphere. Last basketball game I went to was in 2021, but there were plenty of locals at that game with their families

Drango Unchained said:

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BUGWBBear said:

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Fans reflect the boredom put out onto the field, so that's on Aranda.

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That's not true at Virginia tech or Nebraska or West Virginia or.....

There are plenty examples of ****ty, boring…

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Brooooo, it's true of the Houston Astros and they're defending f'n champs. *** else is there to do in Nebraska or West Virginia!?!? Give me a break you jamoke.

Dang we had swagger.

CizzLark said:

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Drango Unchained said:

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BUGWBBear said:

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Fans reflect the boredom put out onto the field, so that's on Aranda.

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That's not true at Virginia tech or Nebraska or West Virginia or.....

There are plenty examples of ****ty, boring…

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Brooooo, it's true of the Houston Astros and they're defending f'n champs. *** else is there to do in Nebraska or West Virginia!?!? Give me a break you jamoke.

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Whats your point broooo? Purdue packed the house tonight and they look super mediocre. W Lafayette is similarly situated to metro areas like Waco. Doesn't seem to matter to them.

Iowa State historically has been a perennial bottom dweller and they pack the house consistently.

Washington State does really well with support and a very average product annually.

Do you need me to keep going?

historian said:

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As soon as I read that phrase I thought of this video:



In a way, it makes your point. This is from peak Briles era football.

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Man those teams had dudes.

Goodley
Seastrunk
Reese
Petty
Hager
Lackey
Dixon
Morton

...

… and Baylor's reputation. Thank you Scott Drew!

Robert Wilson said:

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historian said:

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As soon as I read that phrase I thought of this video:



In a way, it makes your point. This is from peak Briles era football.

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Man those teams had dudes.

Goodley
Seastrunk
Reese
Petty
Hager
Lackey
Dixon
Morton

...

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And many others:

Billings
Oakman
McAllister
Linwood
Russell
Martin
Williams
Norwood
etc

I'm not even counting the studs who started playing in 2014 & 2015.

Please, I'm going into depression over here. Saddens me greatly to wonder what could've been had the BOR grew some stones and lawyered up the right way.

ImABearToo said:

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Please, I'm going into depression over here. Saddens me greatly to wonder what could've been had the BOR grew some stones and lawyered up the right way.

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Yeah, but the current team has a lot of good people on it and is clean cut and very low liability. That has to count for something

Drango Unchained said:

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CizzLark said:

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Drango Unchained said:

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BUGWBBear said:

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Fans reflect the boredom put out onto the field, so that's on Aranda.

---

That's not true at Virginia tech or Nebraska or West Virginia or.....

There are plenty examples of ****ty, boring…

---

Brooooo, it's true of the Houston Astros and they're defending f'n champs. *** else is there to do in Nebraska or West Virginia!?!? Give me a break you jamoke.

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Whats your point broooo? Purdue packed the house tonight and they look super mediocre. W Lafayette is similarly situated to metro areas like Waco. Doesn't seem to matter to them.

Iowa State historically has been a perennial bottom dweller and they pack the house consistently.

Washington State does really well with support and a very average product annually.

Do you need me to keep going?

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I'm not sure anyone would explicitly disagree with your implied assertion that Baylor's football fanbase is largely fickle and therefore is only really interested in watching/supporting Baylor if Baylor is more or less in conference title contention and is also playing high profiles opponents. That fact differentiates Baylor from quite a few other programs across the P5/P4 that have their fanbases supporting them even if they win 7 games or fewer regularly, and there are probably at least a handful of reasons for this (small alumni base, decent drive from large cities, lack of an extended history of success, relatively low viewership even when ranked unless playing another ranked team or an otherwise high profile team, etc.).

Aberzombie1892 said:

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Drango Unchained said:

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CizzLark said:

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Drango Unchained said:

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BUGWBBear said:

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Fans reflect the boredom put out onto the field, so that's on Aranda.

---

That's not true at Virginia tech or Nebraska or West Virginia or.....

There are plenty examples of ****ty, boring…

---

Brooooo, it's true of the Houston Astros and they're defending f'n champs. *** else is there to do in Nebraska or West Virginia!?!? Give me a break you jamoke.

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Whats your point broooo? Purdue packed the house tonight and they look super mediocre. W Lafayette is similarly situated to metro areas like Waco. Doesn't seem to matter to them.

Iowa State historically has been a perennial bottom dweller and they pack the house consistently.

Washington State does really well with support and a very average product annually.

Do you need me to keep going?

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I'm not sure anyone would explicitly disagree with your implied assertion that Baylor's football fanbase is largely fickle and therefore is only really interested in watching/supporting Baylor if Baylor is more or less in conference title contention and is also playing high profiles opponents. That fact differentiates Baylor from quite a few other programs across the P5/P4 that have their fanbases supporting them even if they win 7 games or fewer regularly, and there are probably at least a handful of reasons for this (small alumni base, decent drive from large cities, lack of an extended history of success, relatively low viewership even when ranked unless playing another ranked team or an otherwise high profile team, etc.).

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I understand all of that. But McLane and the Foster are appropriately sized for an engaged school/fanbase of our size. At some point those are all just excuses to not show up.

I'm not excusing BU from blame here. They have not created the an enticing gameday experience. But a bad football product in 2023 (back to the original point) is not a valid excuse. If you look purely at on the field/court product, we have had a decade most programs would trade for in a heartbeat. Yet Baylor fan apathy is at an all time high.

Want better recruits? They want to play for a full stadium. Want the guys to play with energy? A full stadium of screaming fans is a huge part of that.

Before all the "yea but" guys show up, none of this is linear and I know that. SMU just got a 4 star qb and their fan engagement t is worse than ours. Unfortunately we don't have an arsenal of billionaires to buy our way out of this problem. So we have to do it the old fashioned way.