Another spring, another spring football flop

Piscis

Senior
Nov 30, 2001
23,454
976
113
Hasn't been quite that long for me, but it's been a while. I would guess close to 20 years, maybe more, since I have been to a USC game. Now it's just not worth the time/expense/travel to see a potential loss. If I'm taking time off work, driving 10 hours (or flying), getting a hotel, etc, it's gotta be for a win over a good team. Have been to a couple PSU/MD games since I live in MD and my nephew comes down, but he pays, so I don't count those.

All-in-all, yes, watching TV is superior. Far better view, far more comfortable, far better food, far cheaper food, easy access to clean bathrooms. As an added bonus, I can turn the game if I get ticked.

Only part of the live game experience I never got to enjoy was a legit tailgating, and that always looked fun to me. I had some low-budget tailgates (takeout BBQ and drinks from a cooler), but nothing like the big setups you see.
For me, the actual game itself has become not much more than the catalyst for the fun and fellowship of seeing friends I only really see at games and going back to campus and getting that feeling of being young again walking around where I used to go to class and being with some of my college friends. Our tailgate isn't over the top but we have a group of about 20 or so who come together on game days.

Yes, watching on TV is better for actually watching the game, especially if you have the ability to pause, rewind and replay. You don't have to wait for commercials to go get food or drink or take a bathroom break and if you pause for 20-30 minutes at the first tv timeout you can generally fast forward through the rest of the commercial breaks. The tailgating and the live atmosphere cannot be duplicated at home though.
 

Lurker123

All-Conference
May 4, 2020
4,034
3,394
113
Tailgating was a big deal for me. The end was when my kids started becoming teenagers, and decided they didn't want to "waste" the whole day.

It was fun to go all day, but I have to admit, as I get older, watching a game and being done in 3 hours is kind of nice.

As the game has become NFL light, I don't even really miss the game day experience as much.
 

atl-cock

All-Conference
Jan 18, 2022
2,600
1,359
113
Hasn't been quite that long for me, but it's been a while. I would guess close to 20 years, maybe more, since I have been to a USC game. Now it's just not worth the time/expense/travel to see a potential loss. If I'm taking time off work, driving 10 hours (or flying), getting a hotel, etc, it's gotta be for a win over a good team. Have been to a couple PSU/MD games since I live in MD and my nephew comes down, but he pays, so I don't count those.

All-in-all, yes, watching TV is superior. Far better view, far more comfortable, far better food, far cheaper food, easy access to clean bathrooms. As an added bonus, I can turn the game if I get ticked.

Only part of the live game experience I never got to enjoy was a legit tailgating, and that always looked fun to me. I had some low-budget tailgates (takeout BBQ and drinks from a cooler), but nothing like the big setups you see.
I have been to baseball and women's basketball games over the past few years. Ticket prices are far more reasonable than football and a lot less hassle getting to and leaving the venue.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
15,003
12,869
113
Just read that half of the league's 8 teams average fewer than 10,000 fans per game. The Memphis team plays in a stadium with a capacity of 58,325. For comparison, imagine how lively a game at WB would be with 13,000 in attendance.
 

will110

Joined Aug 17, 2018
Jan 20, 2022
12,514
32,239
113
I've never been interested in tailgating. Why move your kitchen and living room into the heat and inconvenience of a packed tailgating lot? It's so much more comfortable at home.

That said, there's something special about live sports in person. The crowd, the comradery, the excitement...there aren't many activities that provide a similar experience. I was at the Missouri game last fall and it was electric.

The problem, though, is you can't guarantee that's what you're going to see. It could just as easily be the 2022 Missouri game, which I had the "privilege" of seeing in person as well.

All-in-all, I enjoy going to games in person, but I would never want to attend every game. The expense, inconvenience, time commitment just isn't worth it.
 

atl-cock

All-Conference
Jan 18, 2022
2,600
1,359
113
I've never been interested in tailgating. Why move your kitchen and living room into the heat and inconvenience of a packed tailgating lot? It's so much more comfortable at home.

That said, there's something special about live sports in person. The crowd, the comradery, the excitement...there aren't many activities that provide a similar experience. I was at the Missouri game last fall and it was electric.

The problem, though, is you can't guarantee that's what you're going to see. It could just as easily be the 2022 Missouri game, which I had the "privilege" of seeing in person as well.

All-in-all, I enjoy going to games in person, but I would never want to attend every game. The expense, inconvenience, time commitment just isn't worth it.
The last time I "tailgated" was at the 2006 Super Regional in Athens. It was the day after the game in which USC hit 5 consecutive home runs.

I rode to Athens from Atlanta with an attorney who worked at the law firm which employed my wife (he is a Dawg fan, but at least he has a sister who lives in Irmo). We picked up some fried chicken and "picniced" on the old UGA campus, then went to the game. As we were leaving the parking lot, someone walked up to the car as asked us what was the result of the game. I replied that we lost. My travelling companion quickly added "South Carolina lost." :LOL:

Good times, even though our pitching was weak that season.