QUOTE(InterestedObserver @ Nov 18 2007, 09:54 PM) [snapback]77986[/snapback]
I know I'm gonna get fried for this, but I don't really care.
I've been on this board since the original FFF days and follow TCU about as close as any non-TCU alumn I know. I know some of the coaches, some of the players, go to Frog Club events on occasion and married a Horned Frog. We attend 3-4 games a year, but "attend games" might be stretching it.
Maybe I'm different, but I'll give you a few reason I'm one of the folks who spends a great deal more time in the parking lot than in the game.
1. The play on the field is just boring. This is true in good years and bad. I just don't like the style of offense preferred by Patterson. I love his defense, but watching two teams grind out to a field goal contest doesn't do much for me. The exception is when TCU has a healthy LT, Hobbs, Merrill. Brown, Gunn, Hassell, Ballard, etc., but how often is TCU really healthy? It's the style of offense that causes these injuries which frustrates me further.
2. The opponents aren't interesting. I'm not really sure what TCU can do about this. It's my opinion that the MWC is worse than CUSA was, though the exciting teams from CUSA are all in the Big East now with the exception of S. Miss. I don't see the Big 12 offereing a spot anytime soon, if ever, so this may just be the way it is until there is another major reshuffling of the conferences. With parity the way it is in college football, that may happen either sooner than expected or never, depending on which way you think about it.
3. My wife doesn't care. Maybe this should be #1, but it's a good point. The fact is, she'd much rather visit with friends in the parking lot than go into a game. Given some of the better tailgates around the stadium, I don't blame her. I'd rather watch a good game on a big screen, have some good food, visit with friends I don't see much, than go in and watch a less intriguing matchup on the field.
4. The game day production is terrible. I know this will hack some folks off, but even for bigger match-ups, there is nothing about the way TCU handles game-day that says "big time". If you go to a game at LSU, Texas, OU, Tech, etc., it's just all handled better. Having been in both Waco and ACS a few times the last few years, even Baylor does a much better job than TCU. It's all the things people here complain about: The jumbotron, the lack of videos, the lack of music, the horrid restrooms, the stadium itself. I know many here like to talk about ACS being "historic", "quaint", "iconic", and a variety of other descriptions. The fact is it's a relic. The new endzone complex will be great, but the rest of the stadium is in need of major work.
5. TCU fans are a big part of the problem. We all realize how big of a jack-[Deleted] Goo is on this board, but the fact is, there are many TCU fans here in town that are pretty visible and have a bit of "Goo" in them. This is far from an endearing quality and does more to hurt TCU's chances of gaining supporters than just about anything else. TCU and it's supporters make up an incredibly small percentage of the town population comparred with most of the other schools in this region. Fort Worth will never become a "TCU" college town, but I would like to think that over time, enough folks could become TCU fans that the atmosphere would improve. Of course, if they aren't welcomed with open arms, they won't come back. #4 really needs to improve to get these folks to return.
Now, go ahead and flame away all you'd like. These are my perceptions and they come from a person who tries to support TCU, buys tickets, travels to interesting away games, and cares enough about TCU to spend time on this board. Many of my friends went to TCU and I assume I'll spend the rest of my life around TCU since I don't plan to ever move.
It's because I plan to always be here, that I would like to see things improve at TCU. The school and it's supporters are great assets to the Fort Worth community. It would be great for both if more people became aware of how good of an asset there really is hidden on the south side of Fort Worth.
Also, if TCU ever did decide to do a "sweep" to get more folks in the games, it would be a very large mistake in my opinion. At least the folks in the parking lot are coming to TCU to have a good time whether or not that includes going into the game itself. TCU needs as many people as possible equating an enjoyable time with being on campus whether or not that includes sitting in the stands during a football game.
Serving beer inside is a bad idea in my opinion as well for a variety of reasons.
I don't like you, but I respect you. Thanks for having the balls to state the case from the "other-side" if you will rather than just giggling in silence. You're not fired.
h34r: 
