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7 Solutions to the Student Attendance dilemma.

T

Thirty-Two Dive

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Feb 10, 2013
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My tribute to King Jackie's 7 factors for college football success

This might be satirical, or not...

Solution #1) Fattest pipe of internet at DWS, east of the Mississippi, and South of the Mason-Dixon.
Solution #2) Drinkin' with Lincoln!
Solution #3) Prizes for most unique instagram photo, given away every time State's defense holds without a score.
Solution #4) Convert Quarter highlights on Video Boards to Minecraft replays.
Solution #5) Ncaa 15 being played on video board during halftime, with fans voting on plays via phone app. Included free of charge, mindless Dub-Step music resonating throughout Oktibbeha County...
Solution #6) Bulldog Club points, redeemable at graduation, for all sporting events attended.
Solution #7) Give away 10 iPhone 6 Pluses*, to students present at end of game. (*contract required)

The topic of dwindling nationwide student attendance, was brought up on ED. A worthy transplanted, or hijacked, topic...
 
GloryDawg

GloryDawg

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Mar 3, 2005
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I would say give free WI FI in the stadium but that doesn't work for Ole Miss.
 
C

Crazy Cotton

All-Conference
Aug 26, 2012
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that instagram photo thing has a lot of merit.

we have the jumbotrons, let them twitter in real time photos from the stands and have somebody culling them and posting a few during the game. Students would produce some pretty cool stuff if they new it had a shot at getting them their 15 minutes of fame on the big board.
 
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tb2

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Aug 22, 2012
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I know this is meant to be funny, but regarding number 1.

The amount of bandwidth required to supply 60k people with bandwidth in a stadium has to be damn near impossible to pull off. Especially in a remote city like Oxford or Starkville where you would probably have to do it with multiple metro ethernet connections. You would need banks of wireless access points.
 
HD6

HD6

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Apr 8, 2003
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They are already doing that, plenty of Tweets and Instagram photos are on the board throughout the game.
 
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Shamoan

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Jun 27, 2013
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beer sales would make the fastest and most significant impact on attendance. truth.
 
Arthur2478

Arthur2478

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Oct 17, 2010
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My non sarcastic recommendations:

1. Don't allow students inside the stadium earlier than 45 minutes before kickoff. Anytime there is a thread complaining about students leaving early, their number 1 and completely legitimate excuse is they had to get there 2 hours early to get a seat. So just don't allow them to come in that early.
2. Discounted concessions for anyone with a student ID. $5 bottled waters for students isn't necessary. Write that up in the next Amark contract and let them know that's how it going to be otherwise we'll just find a different vendor.
3. Start some sort of 2nd half/4th quarter tradition that the students would want to stick around for to be a part off. Wisconsin has Jump Around, the Red Sox fans sing Sweet Caroline, etc. I don't know what, but something fun that requires their participation. Sing a song, start a chant, something.
4. The overly obvious: Sell beer. The bulk of them are leaving to go back to the tailgate to drink. Pagan or not, that's the truth. Let them drink in the stadium.
 
DawgatAuburn

DawgatAuburn

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Apr 25, 2006
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I fail to see how beer sales would increase attendance. Are you suggesting the 4,000 person gap between games 1 and 2 would not have existed if you could buy a cold one at the game?
 
D

dogmatic

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Aug 22, 2012
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I graduated in '94 and I remember most of us drank smuggled-in whiskey at the games. Beer sales would be novel. Maybe the different pace of alcohol intake would keep folks from being exhausted halfway through. I don't see this option as realistic, though. Laws and such.

I really don't remember students flaking out early being a problem back then, though. Do I have selective amnesia, or is this a fairly new development?
 
uptowndawg

uptowndawg

Senior
Jul 15, 2010
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Maybe we should let them in and out with a used ticket so they can grab a beer at halftime from the junction then come back in for the 2nd half.
 
N

natchezdawg

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Oct 4, 2009
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The students were not the only ones that left early...

I think people left early partly because of the heat, but primarily because we looked like leftover microwaved dog **** for the better part of the first half. Neither of those are reason to leave in my personal opinion, but I think that was the main driver....
 
A

allhailjumbotrons

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Sep 11, 2014
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As a student who stays for the whole game, he are my suggestions to get others to stay
1. Concessions actually cheaper than the cost of tuition
2. Give away signed footballs and stuff or t shirts
3. Lastly, and most cruel, punish the kids who leave at half time by taking away their privileges of buying student tickets if they leave early a lot. I know alot of kids who would love to have those tickets that our students waste to go throw their beers in the air then leave whenever the band gets on the field. Embarrassing
 
aTotal360

aTotal360

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Nov 12, 2009
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Don't sell season tickets. Sell a single game ticket at the beginning of the season. At the end of the game, have a couple kiosks that sell tickets to the next game. Whatever tickets aren't claimed, sell them the next day at the ticket office.

And 50% off concessions to students. Even at half off, there is plenty left on the bone for the university.
 
HotMop

HotMop

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May 8, 2006
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Assigned seats in the student section sold before each game. General admission sucks.
 
S

Shamoan

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attendance as in second half attendance...beer sales might bring more people to the stadium (debatable, but i suspect it would help), but considering students and others are losing their buzz around the start of the 3rd i have little doubt it would curb student attendance during the 3rd and 4th quarter. they obviously want to be there because they show up in the first place...so what is the reason they leave? if you are arguing that beer sales would not matter regarding people leaving early to go drink at their tailgate, i just dont know how to debate such an uninformed opinion...not saying that is your opinion, but it kinda sounds like that.

if we are talking about how to keep people from leaving, you must first think why are they leaving in the first place. take a glance at the junction and you arent looking at students playing cards and talking about bible study...same for young alumni...and really, can you blame them?

 
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Shamoan

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Jun 27, 2013
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i agree that wanting it and doing it are entirely different things. probably not realistic in the near future, but sooner or later, it will grow into the sec...as 36 schools now allow beer sales...21 on campus.

fwiw, the junction was nothing more than a tangle of roads and lights back in '94....there was nothing to go to other than your dorm room back in the day. i guess thats the price of success of an awesome tailgating spot.
 
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Dan Dority

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Aug 25, 2012
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The only problem with the sell beer statement is that it is a NCAA rule that prohibits sale of alcohol in on campus. Plus, if the NCAA changes the rule, how long do you think it takes for the state of MS to get on the bandwagon?
 
DawgatAuburn

DawgatAuburn

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Easy does it. You said beer would improve ATTENDANCE, which is what the original post in the thread was about. I questioned that assertion, and now you are changing your position to mean second half attendance. Attendance and retention are two entirely different things. Perhaps it would be easier to debate if the argument was stated clearly.
 
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KurtRambis4

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Aug 30, 2006
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I think the discrepancy

there can be attributed to 1) the hot as hell weather 2) the game time 3) the opponent.

I know that most of the comments I hear from students that leave at halftime, allude to the idea that they would rather go back to the tailgate and drink.
 
uptowndawg

uptowndawg

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Jul 15, 2010
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SEC has a rule against selling alcohol at sporting events. NCAA has no rules against it.
 
Arthur2478

Arthur2478

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Dan Dority said:
The only problem with the sell beer statement is that it is a NCAA rule that prohibits sale of alcohol in on campus. Plus, if the NCAA changes the rule, how long do you think it takes for the state of MS to get on the bandwagon?
Click to expand...
Complete farce. Every bit of that is 100% false. Plenty of schools sell beer at on-campus stadiums. There is a gentlemen's agreement among SEC schools not to do it, but there is nothing in the SEC bylaws about it. LSU & Arkansas are already selling beer in their luxury areas. Once other SEC schools start doing, State & UM will follow and whatever state laws are preventing it will be quickly changed.
 
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UpTheMiddlex3Punt

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May 28, 2007
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I know I'll get ripped for this, but cut down on enforcement of alcohol prohibition in the stadium. Crack down on students who act like damn fools (throwing bottles, fighting, etc.) but otherwise unofficially tolerate it. Kinda like how you could get a cowbell into the stadium for years even though they were banned.
 
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Shamoan

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Jun 27, 2013
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the OP used the term attendance, so i used attendance. everybody knows what he is talking about as he laid it out very clearly in his list, i was simply replying to his thread offering my opinion. should i say "student second half attendance" when the OP is clearly talking about exactly that, while using the term attendance? seems petty as i think we all know (after reading the OP) what exactly we have been talking about. if you want to comment on attendance vs retention comment on the OP not my response to his post.
 
DawgatAuburn

DawgatAuburn

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uptowndawg

uptowndawg

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We already have the easiest stadium in the SEC to sneak liquor into. As long as you don't have a flask taped to your forehead you should be good.
 
U

UpTheMiddlex3Punt

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Then alcohol sales aren't the problem. If college students are known for one thing it's being cheap. If the choice is between sneaking in $2 worth of Evan Williams poured into a plastic bottle or buying a $8 beer, the decision is simple.
 
jakldawg

jakldawg

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May 1, 2006
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Cincinnati has a pub in their student center (50 ft. away from the stadium) and sells beer in the stadium. It was something seeing the West Virginia fans with enormous grins double fisting $5 10 oz. Miller Lites last time they played (back when in-stadium beers were a novelty for the 'Eers).
I was under the impression that the state of Mississippi prohibits students from possessing alcohol on campus (or at least public consumption), and it'd have to pass the legislature to get that changed? So good luck with aaalllll that.
 
T

Thirty-Two Dive

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Feb 10, 2013
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The only parts that were truly meant to be satirical, was "Drinkin' w/ Lincoln", which was meant as a callback to when I was there 25 years ago, and the Contract required portion of number 7. It was All meant to be light hearted, though.

I was thinking of my teenage children, and what would keep their interest, auxiliary of the play on the field. And with this generation, which includes the college aged, the more tech, the better experience they will have. We need to get in bed with a big tech company, to use our student tech experience as a R&D Petri dish.

When I started the thread, I was hoping for some pragmatism, mixed with some jocularity from you all. I know most of you are smarter, with more wit, than I'll ever admit.

#HailState #GoingBackToWork #PreparingForGrenades
 
uptowndawg

uptowndawg

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The more options you give to the students the better. There's plenty of college kids that can afford to buy several $8 beers each week at a game. And plenty more that will buy just one before switching to the liquor in their pocket.
 
S

Son_of_34

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Sep 30, 2012
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Not an NCAA Rule

Dan Dority said:
The only problem with the sell beer statement is that it is a NCAA rule that prohibits sale of alcohol in on campus. Plus, if the NCAA changes the rule, how long do you think it takes for the state of MS to get on the bandwagon?
Click to expand...

I think its a State of Mississippi Law about having alcohol on school property. UF has a bar right by their union that was grandfathered in and when we went there in 2010 me and some friends got drunk there and was able to walk to the game.

As far as student attendance goes, aren't you people tired of beating the dead horse yet? They've moved the student section to the endzone so it freed up the seats for paying customers and installed a young alumni section which was a great idea. There is nothing you can do or say now that will keep students there except not give them a ticket and sell those to alumni too
 
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Sutterkane

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Jan 23, 2007
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I never understood the need for internet at a football game unless it's halftime. And usually it's for scores. Just make it where there's up to date scores and highlights between periods and during timeouts on the jumbotron and then it's not really needed.

AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE THAT DIFFICULT SCOTT.

You shouldn't have to tweet or text your buddy (or post on sixpack) who's also in the stadium about a ****** call or a great play, THEY SHOULD ALREADY SEE IT.

Having endless internet bandwidth gives students an excuse to not watch and yell during the games because they'll be too busy with their e-lives.
 
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Shamoan

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Jun 27, 2013
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i beg to differ. most of what he posted is in reference to our students leaving the game early. you go ahead and play semantics all you wish. he is clearly referring to attendance at DWS (as seen in items 1,2,5, and 6) which are unique to msu. he is not trying to address a national issue per se, merely our attendance in general. clearly, national attendance is also an issue, but giving away bulldog points wont help anybody else in the nation other than MSU fans even if they have a bulldog mascot. with that and the context of this past weekend, you have to be trying really hard to argue the OP is talking about a nationwide issue despite the plethora of msu references and problems msu specifically has faced. here is the OP again in case you forgot.

[h=2]7 Solutions to the Student Attendance dilemma.[/h]
My tribute to King Jackie's 7 factors for college football success

This might be satirical, or not...

Solution #1) Fattest pipe of internet at DWS, east of the Mississippi, and South of the Mason-Dixon.
Solution #2) Drinkin' with Lincoln!
Solution #3) Prizes for most unique instagram photo, given away every time State's defense holds without a score.
Solution #4) Convert Quarter highlights on Video Boards to Minecraft replays.
Solution #5) Ncaa 15 being played on video board during halftime, with fans voting on plays via phone app. Included free of charge, mindless Dub-Step music resonating throughout Oktibbeha County...
Solution #6) Bulldog Club points, redeemable at graduation, for all sporting events attended.
Solution #7) Give away 10 iPhone 6 Pluses*, to students present at end of game. (*contract required)

The topic of dwindling nationwide student attendance, was brought up on ED. A worthy transplanted, or hijacked, topic...


not sure why you are trying to be so contrarian, as with those references, he is clearly trying to address attendance at msu games. does that mean attendance nationally is not going down? absolutely not, nobody is arguing that. again, why go out of your way to be contrarian? i guess it is the sixpack way, but this argument for argument sake is just stupid. ​
 
FQDawg

FQDawg

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May 1, 2006
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I think you're fighting a losing battle on this one...

If anything, I think you're going to see the opposite happen where schools/teams are going to give people more content on their phones/portable devices during games. I'm pretty sure Baylor already has something set up and I know that the Saints were/are looking into something similar.

The idea is that if people are already looking at their phones between plays or between quarters (and they are), you might as well try to get them looking at your content instead of something else.
 
DawgatAuburn

DawgatAuburn

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Apr 25, 2006
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Contrarian is my middle name! Especially when someone presents a bold statement of opinion as indisputable fact. It's then that I relish questioning a statement that I find unlikely to be true, then watching someone go postal in defending an indefensible position.

Interpret it all as you wish. If the OP meant for all of this to be about keeping students at the game, then he did a terrible job of framing it that way. Perhaps that is what he meant. Your initial reply to the post - the post that said this was about attendance - was that beer would increase attendance. Attendance means coming through the turnstile, not sitting there for four quarters. I think we might agree that both are issues, even if I don't call being there in the fourth quarter attending. I call that staying. Everything else you said is babble to me because we don't agree on how the post was intended, although I am a little insulted that you think I believe Bulldog Club points would be useful in Athens, Georgia or Ruston, Louisiana.

D@A - the OBTUSE buster
 
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