bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Jan 12, 2007 9:09:13 GMT -5
A&T's miserable season will end today
Print Email this Article By Rob Daniels Staff Writer GREENSBORO -- OK, so maybe this is the final N.C. A&T-South Carolina State game to be played in Charlotte. At any rate, it's the last game of 2006 for the Aggies, and no matter its location, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
A&T (0-10) closes the most trying of its 83 football seasons at Memorial Stadium in the Queen City, hoping to avoid the first winless record in history. And if the Aggies can't do that, perhaps they can scramble out of last place in several national statistical categories.
"No changes to our preparation," said coach Lee Fobbs. "We talk about playing 60 minutes of football, and I'm pretty sure they'll be ready."
The Aggies enter today's game ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 17 team categories maintained by the NCAA for its 116 Division I-AA schools. That includes last in total offense, scoring offense, pass-efficiency defense and kickoff return defense.
In no phase of play can the Aggies be termed adequate. They hope this is as low as they can go, and they have one final chance to mitigate the damage.
A year ago, A&T and South Carolina State talked about no longer playing the Rivalry Classic at a neutral site. Attendance had stagnated. Planned improvements to both home stadiums -- a scoreboard at A&T and a new playing surface in Orangeburg -- seemed to be another factor in transferring the game to campus sites. South Carolina State has indicated a preference for playing on its campus in 2007.
But earlier this year, A&T changed its mind and asked to keep the game in Charlotte in 2006. The Event Authority, a Greensboro company run by former A&T and UNCG sports marketing director Seth Bennett, is one of three management firms contracted to organize the Rivalry Classic. Today's matchup is the Aggies' nominal home game, which means they collect the lion's share of gate receipts. The $100,000 guarantee seemed attractive when considered in context.
A&T had no illusions that this would be a championship season. While not saying so specifically, Fobbs is not floored by the team's 0-10 record.
If the Aggies were to play another home game this season, they might not draw very well. The Florida A&M game Nov. 4 attracted 8,442 -- about 40 percent of capacity -- and the Nov. 11 game against Elon was witnessed by only 2,768. Even though the teams have played each other for years, this Aggies-Bulldogs game might not have much local appeal.
Based on ticket income from the Aggies' opener, the only game from which reports are available, A&T would have needed to draw a crowd of roughly 12,000 to justify the refusal of the $100,000 guarantee from Charlotte. And that's almost certainly an unreachable figure.
South Carolina State's attendance also has been off -- although only slightly -- and the drive from Orangeburg to Greensboro is almost two hours longer than the trek from Orangeburg to Charlotte.
"It looks like a wise decision at this point," said Wheeler Brown, associate athletics director at A&T. "I would think we're going to make a little more money by going there as opposed to keeping it at home."
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Aggie E
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Post by Aggie E on Jan 12, 2007 9:20:22 GMT -5
A while back there was a rumor that the A&T/SCSU game would return to a home and home series. Is that still in the works or have we abandoned that plan? I think this classic will continue because SC State can't draw fans at home late in the season and A&T has at least a couple of more years before they have a winning record. I don't hold all classics with skeptisms. The Battle of the Border Classic isn't a big classic but it seems that both universities know who and what they are dealing with as it concerns the promoters. The expenses are not huge like when you leave the mid-atlantic region and this is a great opportunity to make a profit that otherwise you wouldn't on the last day of the season. Again, I just caution A&T administration about dealing with people who spring up wanted to have a HBCU classic and the promoters don't have a track record or have a bad track record. I will take the home game with 4,200 fans in the stands versus going cross country and being stuck with a travel expense bill for moving hundreds of people and a ton of equipment. Thanks for the clarification jazz. I remember reading a few posts in the past where folks were complaining about the stadium in Charlotte. As you know a lot of Aggies from the early 80's have never had the opportunity to go to Orangeburg...myself included. But then again, I've never gone to Charlotte for the Battle of the Border.
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Post by viteblufifall80 on Jan 18, 2007 20:13:45 GMT -5
Is it really worth the drama, both programs are in transition, we need to consider that we as HBCU's need to move forward, there is a certain level of responsibility that comes with major college sport, or sure I say making money at the same, the principles of business are starting play an important role in this relationship, while A&T as a school is doing okay with or without sports or even this game. this game is important to NCCU considering the fact that they are trying to get to the next level, there nothing in the CIAA other than a fashion show called a basketball tornament, if the first thing their AD can mention is TV $$ from the MEAC or playing money games it is clear that the move is for money to sustain their programs. I welcome the school to the conference but during the five year period of transition I see no reason to play them, history is long done, nothing to accomplish by wins or losses. I am a proud lifetime alumni of A&T and we could discontinue all sports and it wouldn't change my feeling ( by the way I am a season ticket holder for basketball and football). I have supported all HBCU's but when your bragging rights are limited to how many of your peers you can win against its time to look at the big picture. I can clearly say in all my travels up and down the east coast the most respect for my school has always came from the quality of education so it may be better for A&T to play some money games that will pay them during this transition other playing game that you never recogonize the financial rewards that were agreed upon, Untl things are square with the aggie-eagle i have concerns doing anything with NCCU from a business standpoint we can't continue to susidized their success. They are the reigning HBCU national champs so it is safe to assume that if Hampton couldn't beat NH then NCCU can (picture that), I read these therad just to catch up on recruiting but please look at the big picture which is the student athlete and what you have to offer them to be a more productive citizen- don't worry if it goes down I will be thereonthe fifty yard line-no hating implied in this
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Post by Aggie One on Jan 18, 2007 22:08:56 GMT -5
Well stated. They will be in the MEAC once again soon enough. No need to beat this horse to death - again.
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Jan 19, 2007 0:27:46 GMT -5
Is it really worth the drama, both programs are in transition, we need to consider that we as HBCU's need to move forward, there is a certain level of responsibility that comes with major college sport, or sure I say making money at the same, the principles of business are starting play an important role in this relationship, while A&T as a school is doing okay with or without sports or even this game. this game is important to NCCU considering the fact that they are trying to get to the next level, there nothing in the CIAA other than a fashion show called a basketball tornament, if the first thing their AD can mention is TV $$ from the MEAC or playing money games it is clear that the move is for money to sustain their programs. I welcome the school to the conference but during the five year period of transition I see no reason to play them, history is long done, nothing to accomplish by wins or losses. I am a proud lifetime alumni of A&T and we could discontinue all sports and it wouldn't change my feeling ( by the way I am a season ticket holder for basketball and football). I have supported all HBCU's but when your bragging rights are limited to how many of your peers you can win against its time to look at the big picture. I can clearly say in all my travels up and down the east coast the most respect for my school has always came from the quality of education so it may be better for A&T to play some money games that will pay them during this transition other playing game that you never recogonize the financial rewards that were agreed upon, Untl things are square with the aggie-eagle i have concerns doing anything with NCCU from a business standpoint we can't continue to susidized their success. They are the reigning HBCU national champs so it is safe to assume that if Hampton couldn't beat NH then NCCU can (picture that), I read these therad just to catch up on recruiting but please look at the big picture which is the student athlete and what you have to offer them to be a more productive citizen- don't worry if it goes down I will be thereonthe fifty yard line-no hating implied in this Welcome to the board.
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B&GMM 80
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Post by B&GMM 80 on Jan 19, 2007 10:55:55 GMT -5
PREVIOUSLY QUOTED Is it really worth the drama, both programs are in transition, we need to consider that we as HBCU's need to move forward, there is a certain level of responsibility that comes with major college sport, or sure I say making money at the same, the principles of business are starting play an important role in this relationship, while A&T as a school is doing okay with or without sports or even this game. this game is important to NCCU considering the fact that they are trying to get to the next level, there nothing in the CIAA other than a fashion show called a basketball tornament, if the first thing their AD can mention is TV $$ from the MEAC or playing money games it is clear that the move is for money to sustain their programs. I welcome the school to the conference but during the five year period of transition I see no reason to play them, history is long done, nothing to accomplish by wins or losses. I am a proud lifetime alumni of A&T and we could discontinue all sports and it wouldn't change my feeling ( by the way I am a season ticket holder for basketball and football). I have supported all HBCU's but when your bragging rights are limited to how many of your peers you can win against its time to look at the big picture. I can clearly say in all my travels up and down the east coast the most respect for my school has always came from the quality of education so it may be better for A&T to play some money games that will pay them during this transition other playing game that you never recogonize the financial rewards that were agreed upon, Untl things are square with the aggie-eagle i have concerns doing anything with NCCU from a business standpoint we can't continue to susidized their success. They are the reigning HBCU national champs so it is safe to assume that if Hampton couldn't beat NH then NCCU can (picture that), I read these therad just to catch up on recruiting but please look at the big picture which is the student athlete and what you have to offer them to be a more productive citizen- don't worry if it goes down I will be thereonthe fifty yard line-no hating implied in this Very well stated! I enjoyed reading your assessment, and WELCOME TO "BLUE DEATH VALLEY" AGGIE PRIDE!
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 19, 2007 11:14:43 GMT -5
I agree with a lot of your points viteblu, but we still need a pay game for 2007 and NCCU might represent our best opportunity for that.
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B
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Post by B on Jan 19, 2007 11:32:25 GMT -5
Welcome to the board viteblufi.
Aggie Pride!!!
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Post by truthseeker on Jan 19, 2007 12:16:42 GMT -5
After dropping Elon it would have been ideal to play 2 D-1 schools for hefty payouts (I've seen some schools paying 600k-700k) but here again we make a decision, with no plan to follow up with. We add Charleston So.---- which to me was like playing another Elon except it was gonna cost you. The major schools games are scheduled years in advanced so we missed the boat there. Right now the only way the AD can get something out of football, is to play NCCU. Right now there are only 3 games that will fill Aggie Stadium ----- WSSU, NCCU & Homecoming. Correct me if I'm wrong but if Homecoming makes around 300k then we could have 6 Homecomings a year and still not cover the football budget!! Even if we decide not to play Charleston So.----- who can we get to fill Aggie Stadium since we can't fill it ourselves but once a year!!!
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 19, 2007 14:36:23 GMT -5
A decent team and better promotions might attract more fans to Aggie Stadium. Personally, I think if we can get the product on the field to at least become watchable again, we should be averaging crowds of at least 13,000.
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Post by truthseeker on Jan 19, 2007 16:12:02 GMT -5
When we can start having Homcoming like crowds for each game with tickets in very high demand then we'll be getting somewhere!!!
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Post by viteblufifall80 on Jan 20, 2007 11:22:28 GMT -5
Again maybe I am out of the loop, however reality struck me about 10 minutes into the game with WSSU last fall that things were going to be rough. The following road games showed some improvement, after the La. Lafayette game I felt we could come back home and make a game against MSU, of course we got beaten but looking at the game we elected to beat ourselves on big plays etc. So to make a bad season recap - short as quoting my nephew " we are not that good right now" I feel we have good stuff that need to be worked in the weigh room and committing to off season work between the skill player based on what we plan to do offensively. Defensively i am still in the lab on that?
The necessity for a money game I am not sure its that bad, I agree NCCU may comprised the majority of short list candidates to fill the seats, but we are talking money games and the NCAA structure pretty much dictate that rent- a -beat- down is the way to get money in your budget, take for example Florida Atl or Fa. int play their first four games and got 1.4 million, needless to say lost those games, so if we as HBCU's think we can get funds but no beat downs or we can play classics relying on wannabe promoters and having them underwrite the game on the backs of the city that hosts it - Good luck. The cities hosting these events look for them to be a repeat and a staple for their local economy if hotel rooms are not sold or business patronized no invite back. Again if NCCU goes down i will be in the hissie, who knows maybe old Bill may be officially at the helm ( Good luck Broadway the tradition is in your hands)
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Post by truthseeker on Jan 22, 2007 12:25:18 GMT -5
Viteblufifall80: Let me bring you in the loop.... our athletic dept. is flat broke!! The only revenue sport we play that supports itself is mens b'ball..... which instead of treating the mens program like a cash cow..... they get treated like heifers!!!
1) The AD is at a cross-roads.... does she give resources to b'ball and football or does she continue the course she's on and just supports football???
2) It's a simple answer.... maybe she will figure it out..... I mean that's why she gets paid the big bucks..... RIGHT???
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Jan 22, 2007 14:04:12 GMT -5
Truth, Get off your soapbox. Every HBCU athletic program is broke. Does basketball have a chance to be special? Sure. But is the answer as simple as you propose? Probably not.
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Post by da heretic on Jan 22, 2007 15:03:35 GMT -5
It is as simple as Truthseeker says. Todd hired Fotts on her own. She sinks or swims with him; Therefore, football gets money. See how simple it was? But, then again, I'm simpleminded.
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