Question for "oldtimers" considering giving up tickets

[RU848789]

This thread has nothing to do with whether you think Flood should be fired or what you think of Herman, Barchi or Mr. Magoo. It's intended for people who were season ticket holders since at least the Shea Error, many of whom presumably kept their tickets under Shea, but who now appear to be saying they're going to drop their season tickets if we don't fire Flood. I just don't get that.

While RU under Flood has been disappointing, at times, and moderately successful, at times (two pretty good years and two pretty bad years), we're 27-23 under Flood, which isn't even in the same universe as the 11-44 we were under Shea. We're nowhere near as bad as we were under Shea and we're at least in the B1G - so, if you didn't drop your tix under Shea, why would you drop them now? I get being disappointed, angry, etc., as I am - I just don't understand the logic of dropping tix now, if you didn't drop them under Shea. So?

 

[vkj91]

I've only been around since 07 but what were the costs for tickets, parking, seat donations under Shea? It's not like people are dropping tickets to save 140$ a season.

 

[SirScarlet]

I will not be dropping any tix.

I get the frustration...but I am a supporter for life...good or bad. Doesn't make me better or worse...or smarter or dumber...

It's just the way I am wired

 

[zappaa]

GS and 2006 changed the landscape. My vision and dream from 1975 came to fruition that year…seeing that helmet go around the screen on "college football today" was intoxicating, and i've been chasing it ever since.

We had no BIg Boy football success before 2006, all those good Burns teams, decent Anderson, Graber and bad Shea teams had no standard to live up to.

We were lovable losers, like the 1962 METS

 

[vkj91]

I will not be dropping any tix.

I get the frustration...but I am a supporter for life...good or bad. Doesn't make me better or worse...or smarter or dumber...

It's just the way I am wired

I doubt many will go cold Turkey but lots are going to give up their "extras".

 

[RUinPinehurst]

This thread has nothing to do with whether you think Flood should be fired or what you think of Herman, Barchi or Mr. Magoo. It's intended for people who were season ticket holders since at least the Shea Error, many of whom presumably kept their tickets under Shea, but who now appear to be saying they're going to drop their season tickets if we don't fire Flood. I just don't get that.

While RU under Flood has been disappointing, at times, and moderately successful, at times (two pretty good years and two pretty bad years), we're 27-23 under Flood, which isn't even in the same universe as the 11-44 we were under Shea. We're nowhere near as bad as we were under Shea and we're at least in the B1G - so, if you didn't drop your tix under Shea, why would you drop them now? I get being disappointed, angry, etc., as I am - I just don't understand the logic of dropping tix now, if you didn't drop them under Shea. So?

Logic? Emotion too often betrays logic. Longtime fans who do not renew are just flat out frustrated and may have reached an emotional tipping point should no coaching changes be made. That's understandable, maybe even acceptable. If I were the adminstration or the AD, I'd be much more concerned over alumni who held tickets for many seasons and who now decide to disconnect.

 

[Scarletwoman]

I may be giving up my Audi seats this season and I have four. The product doesn't jive with me and I don't think the Administration cares much, I have let them know. But I may keep my 126 seats which are only 2.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Vkj nails this

We hit a price point this year...and maybe over shot it.

There were a bunch of people who bought extras to their packages that will drop them if demand isn't high (which is directly related to the product on the field)

Most of the loyal of the loyal aren't dropping out, but going to trim seats

And this will be a good number on top of the mid-level fans who could give up seats in droves (see drop from 2009 to 2012 from 30k to 18k season tickets)

 

[RUJohnny99]

Season tickets were $99 in 1999. Season parking was $40. It was a lot easier to stomach $#!tty football at $20/game than $120/game.

 

[BigRnj]

You're just hearing the squakers. Very few that actually sat in the rain with 4K fans watching Temple crush us, or watched WVU HANG 80+ on us are really going to leave based on our record.

At the same time I sense something different. For sure there is a lot of frustration driven by on the field performance, but more than that there is a new frustration driven by disappointment and embarrassment. Many of us took pride in the "type" of program we had. In RELATIVE terms we believed RU Football had good character. We were doing it the right way and that was a selling point that would bring us future success. But the off the field crap has injected doubt into those beliefs.

I am disappointed in how all of this has gone down and the lack of effective leadership to right the ship. The HC (who is a pretty average guy if you ask me) appears desperate and dishonest, the AD is nowhere to be seen/heard, and the President appears detached. It is embarrassing to have our RU dragged through the mud (going back to Pernetti and Rice) all without an effective response from those in charge.

These are some of the reasons I believe Flood needs to go. He may be a great guy to some, but he hurt the brand and tarnished the Rutgers name, REGARDLESS of his intentions.

P.S. In the future when we hire new HCs we can't hire people without HC experience. You don't cut your teeth as a first time HC in a major conference. You build a resume first. Just look at the missteps of Fred Hill Jr and Flood.

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

The issue is that people are being asked to pay Filet Mignon prices for Scrapple.

 

[NickKnight 1]

This thread has nothing to do with whether you think Flood should be fired or what you think of Herman, Barchi or Mr. Magoo. It's intended for people who were season ticket holders since at least the Shea Error, many of whom presumably kept their tickets under Shea, but who now appear to be saying they're going to drop their season tickets if we don't fire Flood. I just don't get that.

While RU under Flood has been disappointing, at times, and moderately successful, at times (two pretty good years and two pretty bad years), we're 27-23 under Flood, which isn't even in the same universe as the 11-44 we were under Shea. We're nowhere near as bad as we were under Shea and we're at least in the B1G - so, if you didn't drop your tix under Shea, why would you drop them now? I get being disappointed, angry, etc., as I am - I just don't understand the logic of dropping tix now, if you didn't drop them under Shea. So?

I was a season ticket for Shea here's my perspective on the difference of
then and now.
1. Check the roster of the last Graber year, he left Shea a empty cupboard.
Flood did not take over an empty cupboard.
2. Shea took over a team with Fred G. as AD for many many years.
Flood had a big advantage there.
3. Shea took over a team with absolutely no academic support.
Flood took over a team with one of the best in the nation.
4. When Shea took over, Rutgers was getting no support from NJ
media and NJ High school coaches.
5. By the time Flood took over NJ Media and high schools were in
love with the RU program.
6. Shea showed he could actually coach a team on the field.
( national coach of the year, and the least penalized team
in the big east.
Flood has not.
7. Shea Never refused to play a 4 star
Of course Flood has and will.
8. Flood has humiliated Rettig and Laviano in front of a whole nation.
Shea did not humiliate his players. They actually played their
hearts out for him.
9. Shea took over a "What a Rutgers"
Flood took over an expanded stadium and even
drawing 52,000, better TV coverage, with a national
following.
I could go on and on but let's see what you think so far.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

It is painful to watch Flood's style of football.. win or lose. So that doesn't help.

The players on this team are better than that... but if Flood stays he will make sure the talent level descends to a point where playing to minimize the margin of defeat is actually a good plan.. ie.. Flood's go-to position.

It is sad to see what GS... and really ALL OF US in supporting the vision... especially the current and former players... sad to see what they built be squandered to mismanagement.

 

[keav8447]

Many on point here. I had 2 tickets when Shea was the coach and my buddy and I both used to use our 2nd ticket to get back in the stadium after we went to have a couple more beers at halftime- couldn't give those tickets away. We parked in the yellow lot and the cost was nominal. Now I have 5 seats and the mandatory donation for each seat is close to what I paid 'all in' back in the day. It has been said many times here- that is the cost of big time football and I am fully on board, but not if there is no commitment from the school. There is a difference between paying $500 bucks a year (before donations) and $3500. There is a tipping point for most people.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

We have 25 season tickets. They are owned by alumni between 29 and 48. We are looking at 4-8 LESS next year if Fudd is still HC. Probably lose 0-2 with a change OR add with a "WOW" hire.

 

[RU848789]

I was a season ticket for Shea here's my perspective on the difference of
then and now.
1. Check the roster of the last Graber year, he left Shea a empty cupboard.
Flood did not take over an empty cupboard.
2. Shea took over a team with Fred G. as AD for many many years.
Flood had a big advantage there.
3. Shea took over a team with absolutely no academic support.
Flood took over a team with one of the best in the nation.
4. When Shea took over, Rutgers was getting no support from NJ
media and NJ High school coaches.
5. By the time Flood took over NJ Media and high schools were in
love with the RU program.
6. Shea showed he could actually coach a team on the field.
( national coach of the year, and the least penalized team
in the big east.
Flood has not. Shea's coaching was horrible, c'mon.
7. Shea Never refused to play a 4 star
Of course Flood has and will. Silly comparison, since Shea never landed any 4-stars that anyone else was after.
8. Flood has humiliated Rettig and Laviano in front of a whole nation.
Shea did not humiliate his players. They actually played their
hearts out for him. Plenty of Shea games where the players gave up.
9. Shea took over a "What a Rutgers" That game was 1979; Shea took over in 1996.
Flood took over an expanded stadium and even
drawing 52,000, better TV coverage, with a national
following.
I could go on and on but let's see what you think so far.

I understand and remember some of that (although you have some facts wrong on 6-9, as per my comments in italics), but Flood's 27-23 is light years from Shea's 11-44 and yet, most of us stayed with our tickets through Shea and some are talking about dumping tickets now. I do think it's probably hitting some long time fans harder who actually remember the horror of the Shea years and fear that all the progress made under Schiano could unravel and take us back to the Shea level (it hasn't yet, despite all comments to the contrary). That's my greatest fear and why I want a coaching change - I simply have no desire to give up my tix, though.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I understand and remember some of that (although you have some facts wrong on 6-9, as per my comments in italics), but Flood's 27-23 is light years from Shea's 11-44 and yet, most of us stayed with our tickets through Shea and some are talking about dumping tickets now. I do think it's probably hitting some long time fans harder who actually remember the horror of the Shea years and fear that all the progress made under Schiano could unravel and take us back to the Shea level (it hasn't yet, despite all comments to the contrary). That's my greatest fear and why I want a coaching change - I simply have no desire to give up my tix, though.

Flood is something like 2-25 against teams with winning records. This year we have beaten:

NFSU 4-7
Kansas 0-11
Indiana 5-6
Army 2-11 ((including a loss to Fordham)

 

[Local Shill]

I was a season ticket for Shea here's my perspective on the difference of
then and now.
1. Check the roster of the last Graber year, he left Shea a empty cupboard.
Flood did not take over an empty cupboard.
2. Shea took over a team with Fred G. as AD for many many years.
Flood had a big advantage there.
3. Shea took over a team with absolutely no academic support.
Flood took over a team with one of the best in the nation.
4. When Shea took over, Rutgers was getting no support from NJ
media and NJ High school coaches.
5. By the time Flood took over NJ Media and high schools were in
love with the RU program.
6. Shea showed he could actually coach a team on the field.
( national coach of the year, and the least penalized team
in the big east.
Flood has not.
7. Shea Never refused to play a 4 star
Of course Flood has and will.
8. Flood has humiliated Rettig and Laviano in front of a whole nation.
Shea did not humiliate his players. They actually played their
hearts out for him.
9. Shea took over a "What a Rutgers"
Flood took over an expanded stadium and even
drawing 52,000, better TV coverage, with a national
following.
I could go on and on but let's see what you think so far.

He was the Big East coach of the year by going 5-6 in '98. Never the national coach of the year.

 

[dollarbill_rivals328823]

My feeling is that things changed once we joined the B1G. I watch the Mets and Devils. They have their ups and downs, but I always feel there is a chance they can make the playoffs and make the season interesting so I keep watching and attending a few games. In our new setup, I just don't see how we can finish ahead of Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, and Michigan and get to the conference championship. Without hope, there is no fun watching a sporting event. Maybe a great young coach will come in and start keeping the best talent at home. Until then, this will be a slowly dying product. $$$$

 

[NickKnight 1]

He was the Big East coach of the year by going 5-6 in '98. Never the national coach of the year.

you are right about that, I got carried away for a while.

 

[RU-ROCS]

I will not be dropping any tix.

I get the frustration...but I am a supporter for life...good or bad. Doesn't make me better or worse...or smarter or dumber...

It's just the way I am wired

I feel the same way. I've had tix since I graduated in 1985.

 

[AnitaRimjob]

You don't understand that it's 10 times more expensive to watch bad football now? Seriously?

 

[Scarletwoman]

You're just hearing the squakers. Very few that actually sat in the rain with 4K fans watching Temple crush us, or watched WVU HANG 80+ on us are really going to leave based on our record.

At the same time I sense something different. For sure there is a lot of frustration driven by on the field performance, but more than that there is a new frustration driven by disappointment and embarrassment. Many of us took pride in the "type" of program we had. In RELATIVE terms we believed RU Football had good character. We were doing it the right way and that was a selling point that would bring us future success. But the off the field crap has injected doubt into those beliefs.

I am disappointed in how all of this has gone down and the lack of effective leadership to right the ship. The HC (who is a pretty average guy if you ask me) appears desperate and dishonest, the AD is nowhere to be seen/heard, and the President appears detached. It is embarrassing to have our RU dragged through the mud (going back to Pernetti and Rice) all without an effective response from those in charge.

These are some of the reasons I believe Flood needs to go. He may be a great guy to some, but he hurt the brand and tarnished the Rutgers name, REGARDLESS of his intentions.

P.S. In the future when we hire new HCs we can't hire people without HC experience. You don't cut your teeth as a first time HC in a major conference. You build a resume first. Just look at the missteps of Fred Hill Jr and Flood.

I sat in that freaking storm and stayed because the RU guys looked back and saw emptiness except for me and my husband and gave us the thumbs up. So STFU.

 

[BigRnj]

I sat in that freaking storm and stayed because the RU guys looked back and saw emptiness except for me and my husband and gave us the thumbs up. So STFU.

And your point is???? This is the most confusing and irrational post I've read in a long time. You're exercising your internet muscles to tell me to STFU why? Read my post slowly and tell me what has you so feisty (gotta admit though I kinda like it... Is hubby out bowling again?)

 

[PhDKnight]

Dropping my extras if Flood stays. There is no risk to this path.

 

[wheezer]

The issue is that people are being asked to pay Filet Mignon prices for Scrapple.

----
Couple of things...... I would hope the university stops any price increases, maybe even easing lot requirements a bit if season ticket holder numbers dwindle..... They should not be foolish here

I also would wager that at least half of those dropping tickets will change their minds if a coaching change is made and we hire someone with a pulse..... Some one who possibly excites the masses with the true possibility of getting us to the promised land........

We are asking people what they will be doing now and you get a lot of knee jerk reactions

 

[ruhudsonfan]

I made the point on a different thread yesterday.

It's not about going to zero. It's guys like vkj who have TWO DOZEN seats...going to 6 or 8.

A person we all know here has another commitment today. He offered up 2 seats downstairs on the 40 and a Blue Lot pass. He couldn't GIVE IT AWAY.

COULD. NOT. GIVE. THEM. AWAY.

It's not about deactivating your account and losing all your PPs. It's about not throwing good money after bad. That is where the department would have gotten hurt if Fludd was retained. The guy who goes from 6 to 4. Or from 24 to 8. From 4 Yellow passes to 2.

 

[mikebal9]

I'm guessing my group will drop out extras, but keep the other 7. Honestly, we go for the tailgate now. We have so little interest in the game, but it does give us 6 or 7 forced get togethers per year.