Column: Troy will continue attendance struggles

By Jeremy Wise

Published: November 20, 2008

This week, an article appeared in the Dothan Eagle about the lack of attendance and “true fans” at Troy Trojans football games.

The article has a complaint—only 17,893 fans showed up for the Trojans’ game last year with Florida Atlantic – a game the Trojans needed to win to clinch the Sun Belt title outright.

It is a situation the Trojans find themselves in again this week as they host Louisiana-Lafayette and Dec.6, when Arkansas State pays a visit.

Another complaint from Troy officials was the emptying of the student section after halftime of Troy’s homecoming game with Western Kentucky.

The results have prompted Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins to mass e-mail the student body.

The “call to arms” is something Hawkins has not done in his 20 years at Troy, according to the article.

Athletic Director Steve Dennis weighed in, and even a few players hade a few words in the column.

The article has quotes from linebacker Boris Lee about how a full house inspires players.

As a Troy alumnus, I got a pre-recorded phone call from head coach Larry Blakeney, urging support for his team by showing up at the game.

I think the efforts may be in vain, because it is going to be a while before Troy has great, packed-house crowds for several reasons.

—Troy is not Alabama or Auburn.

Since Troy got to the Football Bowl Subdivision level (formerly Division I-A) in 2001, the chief complaint I heard around Troy is that students and alumni are Troy fans second to Alabama or Auburn.

Troy, collectively, has the “underdog” or “little brother” syndrome, and it is something that will take a long time to go away, if it ever does.

Troy is about 109 years behind Alabama as far as playing on the top level of college football, and somewhere in that neighborhood with Auburn,

That’s a heckuva head start.

Growing up, I could root for Alabama and Troy because they were on separate levels.

A couple of more age groups behind me have experienced the same thing.

Troy is a choice for a college student because it is a solid school choice, and mainly because it is close to home for people in Montgomery, Dothan, Eufaula, etc.

It is not usually chosen because the athletics are a huge draw.

In a year where Alabama is making a run to the national title, people likely left the homecoming game to catch the second half of the LSU-Alabama contest.

The same can be said about Troy games when Auburn has good teams.

Since it was homecoming, maybe the students went to party.

Troy puts a good product on the field, but it is not at the level of Alabama, Auburn and most SEC opponents.

Most high-level recruits do not grow up dreaming of playing at Troy.

In this state, they dream of Alabama or Auburn.

In Florida, it is Florida, Florida State or Miami.

In Georgia, it is Georgia Tech or Georgia.

That leads me to my next point.

—Troy plays in the Sun Belt and does not get good home games.

The Sun Belt is not the SEC.

And if you say that does not matter, look at the LSU game.

Troy was slaughtering the defending national champions 31-3 ON THE ROAD.

Then, a lack of a running game and offensive production led to a worn-out defense and a Tiger comeback.

That is depth issues.

To get top recruits, those players must feel like they are going to be on the big stage, some place the Sun Belt is not.

That allows them to be viewed by millions of people, and more importantly, NFL teams, with ease.

The more top-level recruits you get, the better depth you have.

Troy has had big draws. When Missouri came to town, only about 2,000 seats were empty for a Thursday night game.

With people working until 5 p.m., that is pretty good, I believe.

Missouri was also ranked, and the game was on TV, reasons not to attend.

While Troy has scared a lot of big boys on the road, they have beaten them at home.

Oklahoma State and Missouri, two Big 12 schools, have taken beatings here, and now bigger schools are afraid to come to Troy.

Iowa State has cancelled a trip to Troy before.

For the past two years, home games have been Alcorn State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Western Kentucky, Florida Inter-national, Arkansas State, Oklahoma State,
Louisiana-Monroe, North Texas, Middle Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic.

While a few of those have been good games, the only big name is Oklahoma State.

—Troy plays few home games.

If you noticed the list above, Troy has played 10 home games in two seasons.

They have spent 14 weeks on the road.

While the difference is not disparaging, it can make a difference.

We are three weeks from the close of football season, and Troy has played THREE home games.

While a lot of fans can go to home games, not as many will travel long distances.

They are left at home to try to find Troy on TV or radio, or they can go to a home Alabama or Auburn game.

Those two teams usually play seven home contests a year.

In a year when Alabama or Auburn is winning, the lack of opportunities to see Troy allows them to have more interest in the two big dogs of the state.

—Several cultural reasons result in a weaker student/alumni base.

It has not been long since I walked the halls of Troy as a student, so I do know one thing to be true.

Troy is a “suitcase” college.

What I mean by that is students live out of a suitcase during the week, in a sense, and go home for the weekend.

Troy, and for that matter the whole Wiregrass area, is a rural area that lacks good nighttime recreation and enter-tainment.

Troy University’s main campus has about 7,000 students.

Troy, Ala., is a town of about 14,000 people.

While Troy University has a tremendous economic impact in the Troy area, the town is not really a college town.

That, and the fact most Troy students are close to home, leads to a tradition of going home for the weekend.

The rural area also is a factor with alumni.

While Troy is a good college, jobs in many fields are hard to come by in South Alabama.

That means graduates are scattered to the four winds to find work.

For those closer to Troy, tough economic times may be a cause.

Driving to Troy, buying tickets and concessions can be a bit pricey for the average family.

Then again, I think the problem is a little hyped.

Attendance at Troy games this year has averaged more than 20,000 per game. I do not think that is bad for a small university.

I love my alma mater and love to attend Troy games.

I hope the stadium is packed for the last two home games before the Trojans (likely) go bowling.

Until a few things change, like better and more home games, I think a few more calls-to-arms may be issued.