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UNC fans complain about their scheduling and say they don't want to pay to watch them play Bill and Mary, which I get.  So, my notion is to sign up the Big Boys to generate excitement, at least initially.  Play UGA again in ATL Game One and get a paycheck.  A program like ND or Texas would likely sign up (not for Maryland), and then they'd have at least some notice.  Now, the obvious downside is going 1-3 OOC when they might have been 3-1.  Snaggle 3-4 more ACC wins and go to some minor bowl game, again with sparse attendance and perhaps a negative payout.

Dunno, just a wild thought.  UNC needs to try something, like say hiring an aging coach with a name.

UGA has scheduled 11 P5 teams for three years running 2026-2028 or so. FSU/Texas, Clemson, and GT.  Maybe GT won't be P5 by then though.

I'm starting to think the AD's don't much care about attendance anymore. They are more interested in broadcast monies.

Lots of places are starting to serve alcohol. That might help attendance, but what does it say for the health of the sport itself?

ADs are more interested in money, yes indeed.  Alcohol is a part of that, a minor part I presume.  

When I attended UNC I was shocked at the lack of interest in football (relative to UGA).  It seemed to be a sidelight, a thing that happened each fall, but there was not much fervor or enthusiasm or attendance.  It's trite to note it's not a football school, but that has a lot of relevance I think.

I imagine were they able to get to 8-9-10 wins their attendance would improve of course, but it still would be so-so.  Kentucky usually sells out the football stadium, last I checked, and South Carolina fans support their team seriously.  NCSU is more of a football school.  UNC isn't.

I'm starting to think the AD's don't much care about attendance anymore. They are more interested in broadcast monies.

Lots of places are starting to serve alcohol. That might help attendance, but what does it say for the health of the sport itself?

The theory about alcohol is part money, part reducing in-Stadium alcohol issues.

I love a good game day, but I think the appeal of standing outside for 3.5 hours in oft-unpleasant elements has waned to a degree. Plus, people are concerned about watching a good product rather than just a gameday, and irrational standards just keep rising.

Quote from: Cincydawg 6/4/2019, 5:51:29 AM

UNC fans complain about their scheduling and say they don't want to pay to watch them play Bill and Mary, which I get.  So, my notion is to sign up the Big Boys to generate excitement, at least initially.  Play UGA again in ATL Game One and get a paycheck.  A program like ND or Texas would likely sign up (not for Maryland), and then they'd have at least some notice.  Now, the obvious downside is going 1-3 OOC when they might have been 3-1.  Snaggle 3-4 more ACC wins and go to some minor bowl game, again with sparse attendance and perhaps a negative payout.

Dunno, just a wild thought.  UNC needs to try something, like say hiring an aging coach with a name.

UGA has scheduled 11 P5 teams for three years running 2026-2028 or so. FSU/Texas, Clemson, and GT.  Maybe GT won't be P5 by then though.

UNC non-conference P5 of late:
2018 - Cal, UCF was there but I’m sure that doesn’t count
2017 - Cal, ND
2016 - UGA, Illinois
2015 - South Carolina, Illinois
2014 - Notre Dame
2013 - South Carolina
2012 - Louisville

My rule of thumb is this. Most people who are fans of a team care very little about the opponent beyond the name. Bill and Mary might be better than some bad P5 they face, but it gets an eyeroll. And in the past, I bet Illinois and Cal did too.

And if you only don’t roll eyes at teams that beat your brains in, you’re gonna end up leaving the stadium rolling your eyes at the team you care about.

 I wonder what on earth these people are thinking who run the show at Iowa. Appeasing Iowa State should not be a Hawkeye goal to accomplish, but the administration does a pretty good job of appeasement.

I'm guessing these people are more about appeasing the state government than their peers in Ames.

Keeping a P5 game of high interest in the state generates much more revenue than playing in South Bend

Okay, so take all of that into consideration, and then imagine if you're a school with an annual neutral-site game.  There's another monkey in your wrench.

Unlike a lot of people on here, I don't have anything against neutral site games.  In fact, I REALLY like the traditional neutral site games like the WLOCP, Red River, etc. 

I don't know much about the financial angle.  How does the revenue for Florida and Georgia compare in playing two years in Jacksonville as opposed to one home game each? 

Over a two year period Florida has seven SEC home games, seven SEC road games, two neutral site SEC games, one home game with FSU, one road game at FSU, and room to schedule six more games.  If the revenue is about equal or better (it might be better) then I see the neutral site game as largely irrelevant.