Here’s a good formulation of the problem:
This is a typical problem around the country. College demographics are changing and nowhere is that more clear that at the University of Georgia. The student body is approaching 65% women and 35% men. Higher admission standards coupled with more prestigious academic programs result in fewer legacy students. The typical Georgia student doesn’t show up for a basketball game.
The question, then, is how to reverse these trends.
June 25th, 2014 at 9:53AM
all we are saying is give bubbas a chance…
June 25th, 2014 at 11:37AM
dmf, rock on, bro’.
Some years back our local Podunk Tech team was leaving its pre-game luncheon. Looking at those behemoths, some of whom know to a certainty they’re being used, I remarked to the woman I was with, “They’ve got foreheads, they’ve got chins, aren’t they supposed to have faces in the middle?”
We, both of us, are way past college age, but I thought she almost peed herself with laughter.
June 25th, 2014 at 11:42AM
This has been taking place within the California State University system for quite some time. All but a handful of those schools have football teams anymore, and the reason that they got rid of them was because of demographics. The average CalState student was, up to about a decade ago, female, older, late 20’s, early 30’s, many worked. That ain’t the marketing segment that’s waiting in line for tickets, tailgating, painting their faces, patronizing local watering holes on game day, burning sofas, or getting into bar fights after games….
June 25th, 2014 at 3:01PM
“The question, then, is how to reverse these trends.”
unfortunately, there are all too many presidents and athletic directors who really see it that way… as you tirelessly document.
June 26th, 2014 at 11:44AM
… and because Title IX requires proportional spending on women’s athletics, the shifting gender balance is making football more and more expensive as attendance declines.