|
Post by gatodeoro on Aug 22, 2007 8:18:27 GMT -5
UM and USC have won a bunch of national titles w/o having an on campus stadium. I pretty sure UM will continue to be UM going forward. They are an established program.
The turning point will come for FIU when the fans (students and alumni) beging to truly go to the games and support the team, and we actually have some success on the field.
|
|
|
Post by FIUBlue82 on Aug 22, 2007 10:29:32 GMT -5
The turning point will come for FIU when the fans (students and alumni) beging to truly go to the games and support the team, and we actually have some success on the field. That is a point that is hardly mentioned on this blog because we are the most loyal of FIU supporters. However, it's worth repeating that FIU has dismal fan support. A large number of FIUers found space in their schedules to head over to the OB for the Miami Hurricane game. Yet, when we played any home game, maybe 2,500 were in attendance. Creative accounting inflated the final attendance figures. I vividly recall August 29, 2002, when we had our first game in our history. There were over 17,000 fans in the stands (standing room only). There were banners, posters, kids with their faces painted and old alums that returned to campus for that historic event. Chants of "F-I-U!" were heard all night long. In the press box, then-Governor Jeb Bush, Dan Marino and yes, Greg Cote (FAU alum and Herald writer) all said that FIU was beginning a transformation on that very night. Unfortunately, we have never smelled that kind of attendance since. That is, unless you count an "away" game at Miami last season when an estimated 20,000+ FIUers were in the stands (that number does not include the number of FIU fans who were wearing orange and green). The goal of our program should be to have another August 29, 2002-like crowd at a game in 2007 even if it will be in a borrowed stadium. It should NOT just be for games against Miami and Maryland. It should also come when we play FAU, North Texas or any other Sun Belt opponent. Yes, we need to win and that will come at some point. But our program needs support NOW while it is "under construction". Gaining TRUE, CONSISTENT fan support is a hurdle we MUST overcome to be relevant. Our home schedule begins on September 8th when Maryland visits the OB. The question is: will the FIU community be there?
|
|
|
Post by MaXx on Aug 22, 2007 10:50:14 GMT -5
Hopefully UCG getting out of there will get the Marlins a stadium. I was reading comments on one of those herald articles and laughing at people blaming the Marlins for the Hurricanes leaving the OB. They were saying they would never go to another Marlin game because of it. Last I heard the Marlins have absolutely no influence in what happens down here considering they still do not have a stadium. Interesting tidbit in this article: www.miamiherald.com/606/story/210237.html I'm glad we didn't make that deal, we need our stadium on campus. The only thing i'm confused about is the state funds to pay for renovations. Isn't the rule in Florida that state funds cannot be used to build athletic facilities for universities? Or have I read incorrectly?
|
|
|
Post by fiulife on Aug 22, 2007 12:52:05 GMT -5
Our home schedule begins on September 8th when Maryland visits the OB. The question is: will the FIU community be there? Great question to end a great post! Hopefully the answer will be yes.
|
|
|
Post by MiRi on Aug 22, 2007 19:01:04 GMT -5
They were saying they would never go to another Marlin game because of it. Last I heard the Marlins have absolutely no influence in what happens down here considering they still do not have a stadium. Those people probably have never even been to a Marlins game since 2003 or 2004 after our championship. Had to be UCG "know-it-alls".
|
|
|
Post by FIUFanatic on Aug 22, 2007 19:32:51 GMT -5
First they say it is the City of Miami's fault. Then the freaking Marlins.... , and now some of them, fueled by the comment made by Shalalalalalalalalalala, say it is FIU's fault, because we didn't want to get out of building our own state of the art, ON CAMPUS STADIUM, and move to the OB with them and fund the $$$ needed for renovations. Talk about some inestable bunch of people. Wow!!
|
|
|
Post by FIUPantherFan on Aug 22, 2007 19:57:05 GMT -5
and the best is that they are already planning how to vandalize the Orange Bowl after their last game. And they wonder why everyone around the country thinks they are thugs and criminals. Note to those fans....stealing public property is criminal activity. Way to represent your institution with class (sarcasm!) GO F I U!
|
|
|
Post by FIUFanatic on Aug 22, 2007 20:45:13 GMT -5
and the best is that they are already planning how to vandalize the Orange Bowl after their last game. And they wonder why everyone around the country thinks they are thugs and criminals. Note to those fans....stealing public property is criminal activity. Way to represent your institution with class (sarcasm!) GO F I U! I read that.... Incredible thing is that the ones writing it are proud of that...How stupid can you really be? One local poster over there made another attempt at humor over there....Oh well...
|
|
|
Post by MiRi on Aug 22, 2007 21:50:33 GMT -5
You would think they would be smart enough to not say anything about doing something to the place on the internet, if they really are gonna do something. Fools.
|
|
|
Post by kevinkagy on Aug 22, 2007 22:12:55 GMT -5
Oh well, atleast we'll have our new expanded state-of-the-art ON-CAMPUS stadium and the 'canes can do their 40 minute commute to suburban Miami.
|
|
|
Post by MiRi on Aug 22, 2007 22:31:30 GMT -5
I had a co-worker that is a huge Canes fan. Before this was made official, he was saying that if the Canes move to DS, he wouldn't go to as many games as before.
Hehehehe... I love having our own stadium on campus.
|
|