Home Field advantage???

[Master Guns]

IE Team Mates,

Found this comment on the South Bend Tribune online addition:

I do agree that ND Stadium is a snoozefest. I have actually been told to "sit down." It's a football game! Get up and cheer! I don't care if you're a alum or a lifelong fan...That place is way too quiet. I don't think anybody is afraid of playing here anymore.
Too many rich people who are too good to cheer. I guess that's what you get when you charge $65 a pop though.

Having never had the thrill of attending a home game myself, I was wondering is there any merit to this comment. Its not the first time I have heard it either. I have seen the Irish play in the Orange Bowl (Florida State) and at last year at Ravens Stadium, Baltimore (Navy) and the crowds were bland. One time I went nuts on a ND touchdown and some ND students looked at me like....sit down.

Anyway, what is the ground truth. On TV ND crowds look pretty quite to me.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I don't know, I was at the Air Force game and the crowd was loud up until we figured the game was over. This occured after the nice pass completion that was promptly fumbled (the first play of the game).

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Here's a rant....why the hell are we running ACE up the middle on first down. Are we excited about 2nd and 8, or just glad that it's not a sack?

 

[Master Guns]

Here's a rant....why the hell are we running ACE up the middle on first down. Are we excited about 2nd and 8, or just glad that it's not a sack?

I don't know bro, but your comment above about the crown being out of it after JCQB's pass to JCTE was fumbled was spot on. On the other hand I think if it had went for the 28 yards and more, it may have been the spark to crush AF. That play was more critical than some may think. A crowd silencer for sure.

 

[SouthernIrish]

I have been to 11 Irish football games. NEVER was it a "snoozefest". Of course, those games were during Montana, the Rocket etc so there was a little more to cheer about. I was doing online shopping during this last game. I can't think of a fan base in any sport that would be totally pumped up with one win...

 

[goldandblue]

There are some fans in the stadium that tend to be the quiet sit down type. It's surely not the loudest stadium. I sit pretty close to the student section and they are always loud and stand up the whole game.

 

[Timugen]

IE Team Mates,

Found this comment on the South Bend Tribune online addition:

I do agree that ND Stadium is a snoozefest. I have actually been told to "sit down." It's a football game! Get up and cheer! I don't care if you're a alum or a lifelong fan...That place is way too quiet. I don't think anybody is afraid of playing here anymore.
Too many rich people who are too good to cheer. I guess that's what you get when you charge $65 a pop though.

Having never had the thrill of attending a home game myself, I was wondering is there any merit to this comment. Its not the first time I have heard it either. I have seen the Irish play in the Orange Bowl (Florida State) and at last year at Ravens Stadium, Baltimore (Navy) and the crowds were bland. One time I went nuts on a ND touchdown and some ND students looked at me like....sit down.

Anyway, what is the ground truth. On TV ND crowds look pretty quite to me.

I would say that comment is pretty accurate. I've been to dozens of games over 2 decades and I think it would be a fair statement to say that the crowd is rather subdued. The student section is a completely different story, but that hardly makes up for the rest of the stadium.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

The crowd was geared up, but it died quickly....I had my head in my hands after 30 seconds, whaddya expect.

 

[KamaraPolice]

i have family members that are nd grads and I've heard them say that when it's too cold, they leave at halftime. what?!

 

[NDSMC78]

I have missed 5 home games in the last 25 years, so I think I know what the crowd is like at ND. ND can be a very tough place to play. When the team is playing well, and it is a good opponent, the place can be deafening. But Notre Dame Stadium is never a place where people just yell and scream for 60 minutes, like they (supposedly) do in the SEC. When the team is playing poorly and we are getting blown out, it is pretty quiet. It's hard to go nuts when the team is losing 38-0.
I personally get tired with people who say that ND fans should stand the entire game. If standing were so important, Texas A&M would never lose a game. One can yell and cheer sitting down. I agree that no one should tell someone to sit down when we are mounting a rally or when the other team is trying to make a comeback, but I have seen people who seem to think it is their right to stand in front of other fans for the entire game. No need for that.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm with ya 78.

 

[notredomer23]

I dont think thats an accurate statement. Its in the top 20 stadiums for loudness, but no where near LSU. I thought it was a pretty good experience agaisnt air force.

 

[SoCalDomer]

i have family members that are nd grads and I've heard them say that when it's too cold, they leave at halftime. what?!

I went to the UNC game last year and it was pretty cold at 32* not including the wind. I stuck through it. Even my wife who gets cold very easily didn't think of leaving. I bought a gallon or so of hot chocolate though.

 

[johnnd05]

Yeah, it's pretty accurate. Outside the student section, lots of the fans are pretty lame.

 

[SouthernIrish]

i was at some pretty exciting games so the crowd was in to it. But I would take ND over some of the SEC games I have been to. There is really not a whole lot to be said for the World's Largest Cocktail Party other than yes, they are loud. I went to the UGA game this year against Western Carolina and it was a tomb even though the first half was pretty close. Saw Alabama play UGA this year at Bryant Denney and that was one loud crowd. But they boo as fast and loud as they cheer and are known for some pretty fast exits too. They also threw a bunch of trash/bottles/glasses on the bulldawgs when the lost the game. I have never seen debris thrown on the field at any of the ND games I went to.

There is a lot of hard drinking at those SEC game tailgates. Usually starts up the night before. That might account for the more rowdier atmosphere. I never thought of ND as being as big of partiers at the tailgates, not compared to the SEC games I have been to.

 

[Junkhead]

I've been to about 10 ND home games. There are WAY too many old people there. It still gets loud, but not the energy it could be.

 

[SteveM]

I've never been to the stadium, but keep in mind two things.

First, ND has a much smaller student body than a state school. Cram another 10 - 15 thousand kids in there and you'd have more noise.

Second, ND is a bowl type stadium. Tiered stadiums have more elevated stands that better contain the noise inside.

So part of it is numbers and part of it is physics. (And acknowledge that part of it could be old farts.)

 

[NDSMC78]

I've been to about 10 ND home games. There are WAY too many old people there. It still gets loud, but not the energy it could be.

Yeah, once alums get old, they should not be allowed into the stadium. To hell with the fact that they went to school there and love the university. If they can't yell for 4 hours non-stop and behave like raving lunatics, we don't want them.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

I think the Notre Dame football experience has (d)evolved into a session of the Historical Preservation Society. There is nothing wrong with our young and old wealthy alums coming to the games and watching the Irish.

However, having seen games in other venues including Big 10 and SEC schools, I think an ND crowd brings with it a disproportionate numbers of spectators that are there for the experience of going to ND; are more concerned with the tour (Basilica, TDJ, Hammes, etc.) than supporting the team on the field.

In conjunction with that thought, I think you can get 2 different gameday experiences, depending on which side of the 50 yd-line you are on. The students do a pretty good job of keeping that side of the stadium going for much of the game. On the opposite side of the stadium, it frequently depends on the opponent. It is very difficult to get consistent energy in that area when the opposing team brings a full band and WON'T STOP PLAYING. If we're winning or competing, the crowd is good. But ND is an event game for practically every opponent, and these teams frequently bring their bands to these games. When you're getting beat 38-0 and you hear 'Fight On' for the 346th time in a row, it's hard to get fired up.

I don't think it would be a bad idea to consider moving our band to the sideline somewhere, in an effort to get the whole stadium involved. My season tickets are in the corner of the end zone behind the opponents' band, and I certainly felt like more of a spectator than a fan this season. Not saying I did not scream my lungs out, but the action just seems so far away.

 

[ACamp1900]

I have never been by I agree totally with those who have said it seems much quieter than most other venues in cfb on TV... noticibly so

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

I've been to about 10 ND home games. There are WAY too many old people there. It still gets loud, but not the energy it could be.

Agreed. I think we brought this up last year but there are waaaaaaaay 2 many old people that go 2 the games...Its plain ridiculous. No offense but I think they should just watch the game at home and realize they are not helping our "homefield advantage" at all by sitting down and not saying a word the whole game. I'm afraid 2 stand up anymore cuz I know sum old guy is going to tell me to sit down and be quiet...Its like these old people treat me like I'm in their house...Its plain ridiculous and one of many problems ND must fix.

 

[JeremyND07]

Agreed. I think we brought this up last year but there are waaaaaaaay 2 many old people that go 2 the games...Its plain ridiculous. No offense but I think they should just watch the game at home and realize they are not helping our "homefield advantage" at all by sitting down and not saying a word the whole game. I'm afraid 2 stand up anymore cuz I know sum old guy is going to tell me to sit down and be quiet...Its like these old people treat me like I'm in their house...Its plain ridiculous and one of many problems ND must fix.

I agree! I have only been to (2) games and both were with my (2) younger brothers. Both times when we stood up and cheered people would glare at you or tell you to sit down they cannot see....the experience was great overall but the stadium is very quiet!!!! It was a close game both times too. I go to a lot of Browns home games and that place is loud no matter what!!!!

 

[NDSMC78]

Agreed. I think we brought this up last year but there are waaaaaaaay 2 many old people that go 2 the games...Its plain ridiculous. No offense but I think they should just watch the game at home

Unbelievable. What do you think the age cut off should be for admittance to Notre Dame Stadium? Should people over 70 be forbidden from entering the stadium? Under 60? Under 50?
And maybe we should have unmarked spies observing the fans at Notre Dame Stadium. They could eject anyone who is deemed to not be cheering loud enough.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

Unbelievable. What do you think the age cut off should be for admittance to Notre Dame Stadium? Should people over 70 be forbidden from entering the stadium? Under 60? Under 50?
And maybe we should have unmarked spies observing the fans at Notre Dame Stadium. They could eject anyone who is deemed to not be cheering loud enough.

You're not getting my point bro. I'm just stating a fact that ND is probably the only premeir football program to not have a significant home field advantage. This is do in large part to their loyalty of alums and thats great. I respect that. You don't have to get all defensive man...its not like their policy is going to change anyways...

 

[NDSMC78]

You're not getting my point bro. I'm just stating a fact that ND is probably the only premeir football program to not have a significant home field advantage. This is do in large part to their loyalty of alums and thats great. I respect that. You don't have to get all defensive man...its not like their policy is going to change anyways...

Yeah, I do get defensive. As an older alum (class of 1978), and someone who goes to virtually every home game, it irks me greatly when people suggest that old folks are not good fans and should be put out to pasture.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

Jeez sorry man, I said I respect my elders but I was just bringing up a point. I never said older people are not as good of fans! I apologize id I offended you in any way, that was not my intent.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Dammit c2k, you had to go there! LOL

Let's agree that younger fans (especially students) tend to be louder, and for longer periods of time. That said, there ain't a whole lot we can do about bringing in a younger audience, nor should we in some peoples minds......so why worry about it. It is what it is.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

Dammit c2k, you had to go there! LOL

Let's agree that younger fans (especially students) tend to be louder, and for longer periods of time. That said, there ain't a whole lot we can do about bringing in a younger audience, nor should we in some peoples minds......so why worry about it. It is what it is.

I know, should not have even mentioned it, my bad. I now see how disrespectful my statement came off to be, once again my bad, and I'll lay off the alchy for a few days!

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Hey, let's not get drastic!

 

[NDSMC78]

I know, should not have even mentioned it, my bad. I now see how disrespectful my statement came off to be, once again my bad, and I'll lay off the alchy for a few days!

No problem. We all pull for the same team, after all. You should know that some of us old codgers still have some fight left in us.