Fans

[Game_Cocks]

We packed out WB in 1998 & 1999 despite the poor play. What has changed in support of team? I know we were spoiled by 2010 and 2011 and some of the new baseball fans couldnt name a player from the pre 2010 team but the quit in the fans has been equally disappointing as the struggles on the field to me. Surely somebody has to agree that all the kings of the keyboard are pretty disgusting.

[Gamecockman12]

Football is different for me than baseball and I'm sure that applies to the majority of our fanbase as well. Football is a once a week event. And for our family that's a special time that involves tailgating and spending time with people you don't get to see throughout the year. So even when the team was terrible (1998/1999), it was still easy for us to make it to games. Baseball on the other hand can be as much as 5 times a week and typically people only go for the game itself. So, if the team is struggling like they are this year, a lot of people aren't as enthusiastic about going to the games.

[USCBatgirl21]

Honestly, it's quite simple. We expect more from our baseball program than we do our football program. And we will show our displeasure when they are not meeting standards.

For many baseball fans, we can handle losing IF we are playing good, solid baseball. But we're not doing that. And haven't for some time.

I love Carolina Baseball more than 99% of the fans out there, but I've had it. And that's saying a lot.

[kathym]

Originally Posted by USCBatgirl21

Honestly, it's quite simple. We expect more from our baseball program than we do our football program. And we will show our displeasure when they are not meeting standards.

For many baseball fans, we can handle losing IF we are playing good, solid baseball. But we're not doing that. And haven't for some time.

I love Carolina Baseball more than 99% of the fans out there, but I've had it. And that's saying a lot.

Completely agree! We've continued to come and stay to the end but
it has been very difficult to watch for the reasons you stated.

[nin_usc_freak92]

I second everyone else's opinion that football isn't comparable to baseball in terms of attendance, but as technology has gotten better and people are trying to be cost efficient, it's convenient as hell to watch an online stream of the team you pull for 4-5 times a week. I still try to go to games here and there, but the expenses involved with traveling, food and ticket prices aren't as feasible for some as it is for others week in and week out. Plus when the team you pull for isn't showing much fight or care regardless of who they play, it makes it much easier to be content with watching from home.

[gsgp]

Agree 100% well stated

[Game_Cocks]

The Fireflies and Tebow Time have hurt also.

[uscGRAD04]

The fact that we literally have to walk past nat'l championship trophies to get to our seats doesn't help matters.

[Jim Lahey]

Another "I'm a better fan than you" thread.

[Spurticus]

FACE THE TRUTH

Football is King. Every college in the nation that has multiple sports programs have the
majority of their Athletic Department funded by the Football program (with maybe
the exception of the Tobacco Road Schools in the ACC). Fans simply will come out to
watch College Football just because "It's College Football". The tailgating, the fellowship,
the "gala" that surrounds it just makes fans come out to watch it live.

With the rest of the sports, the fan support (at any program) will be supported on the
same level as wins or losses. Look at our Basketball Programs here. Our Women's
team was good to get 150 / 200 fans in the stands for most of the 80s and 90s, then
Dawn Staley happened, and after a few years of work, she now has the #1 ranked fans
support of it's program in the nation ......To go along with that #1 team in the country.
Look at what Frank Martin has done slowly over his five years here. Our baseball team
had the top attendance in the SEC, and in the Top 10 in the nations while Ray was putting
this program in the NCAA post season regularly, and it increased of course when we
were regulars at Omaha. .... Now,
If you are the coach of a program other than College Football, then you're going to
have to WIN, and keep your team among the Top in your conference each year if you
want to fans asses in the seats. Limp, stumble your way into the post season, OR
don't get there at all a year or two and you'll be playing in front of a quiet crowd and
hesr the echos of the ump calling your guys out routinely. ....... WIN and the crowds
will be there.

[Ace Dilcock]

God post, Spurt.

I honestly thought there was a chance that Chad would survive for another year, due to Ray Tanner's support, recruiting well and the high number of injuries this year.

But....BatGirl says she has pulled her support. That means that Chad is like Deshaun Watson - he gone.

[Cocklover]

As Forrest Gump said "That's all I have to say about that."

[wincocks84]

Call me a fair weather fan, but if we are terrible in any sport, I won't be paying to watch.

[Nureye]

The issue in football is technology. Every school is facing smaller attendance.

The problem is baseball is apathy.

I had much more fun at the Fireflies last night than i would have at the Carolina game. Oh, and we need beer at Carolina games. The SEC needs to get on board with that.

[uscjeremynca]

Originally Posted by Spurticus

FACE THE TRUTH

Football is King. Every college in the nation that has multiple sports programs have the
majority of their Athletic Department funded by the Football program (with maybe
the exception of the Tobacco Road Schools in the ACC). Fans simply will come out to
watch College Football just because "It's College Football". The tailgating, the fellowship,
the "gala" that surrounds it just makes fans come out to watch it live.

With the rest of the sports, the fan support (at any program) will be supported on the
same level as wins or losses. Look at our Basketball Programs here. Our Women's
team was good to get 150 / 200 fans in the stands for most of the 80s and 90s, then
Dawn Staley happened, and after a few years of work, she now has the #1 ranked fans
support of it's program in the nation ......To go along with that #1 team in the country.
Look at what Frank Martin has done slowly over his five years here. Our baseball team
had the top attendance in the SEC, and in the Top 10 in the nations while Ray was putting
this program in the NCAA post season regularly, and it increased of course when we
were regulars at Omaha. .... Now,
If you are the coach of a program other than College Football, then you're going to
have to WIN, and keep your team among the Top in your conference each year if you
want to fans asses in the seats. Limp, stumble your way into the post season, OR
don't get there at all a year or two and you'll be playing in front of a quiet crowd and
hesr the echos of the ump calling your guys out routinely. ....... WIN and the crowds
will be there.

I don't agree completely. I believe there are some conferences and schools where basketball is king. Kansas and Kentucky are good examples. Granted, those programs don't really lose but I think some schools have basketball support in the same way SEC schools have football support. I believe the pool of basketballs schools who are like this is much smaller but an athletic department like Syracuse and Kansas are going to make money on basketball, not football.

[Emery]

I try to make a game per year with my kids, but I'm not going to sit out there with two or three kids, in blazing hot weather, to watch a few hours of hot garbage. I cared earlier in the season (as much as I usually care about baseball season, which isn't really that much compared to football and basketball) but now I barely know who and when we are playing. I don't care. And I'm sure the vast, vast majority of Gamecock fans are in the same boat.

And that's the reason that there needs to be a coaching change.

[GregoryHouse]

When I saw this thread title I said to myself, "Aw shit..."

[ConwayGamecock]

As stated several times above: CFB is more about the college atmosphere and environment: tailgating, big school bands, fanbase spirit. A lot of fans go for that scene as much as they do the actual FB games, although it really helps if the team is also winning.

With college baseball, its more about the love for the game itself, and that's the case even with professional baseball: tons of more people tailgating for NFL FB games than they do for MLB baseball games. The food eating for FB gms are all about in the parking lot before the games begin, while for BB gms its about eating hotdogs and peanuts in the stands while watching the games.

So when the CFB team struggle to win, there's still much more reason for a fanbase to go and show support for the team in all the other festivities and experiences involved, but for a CBB team that's struggling, all there really is, are the games. And they become hard to watch when the team is struggling.

And has also been stated above, the perception is not the team is struggling due to bad breaks, injuries, etc. although we've had our fair share this season - its due to the constant belief that the team was not prepared to play to its best capability by its coaching staff, and give lackluster efforts in important games. That's even more frustrating to watch time and time again than the fact that the team is losing those games...

[rioninusc]

Originally Posted by Cocklover

As Forrest Gump said "That's all I have to say about that."

He also said USC baseball under CCH is like a box of chocolates, with all the bad flavors. You never know what you're going to get, but they're all bad anyway.

[cockybusiness2]

come on RAY