Terps want big buildup

A ton of mis-information here amongst you blogger types when it comes to the history of UM single game attendance records at Byrd and season averages. The single-season average attendance of 51,236 for six home dates set in 2005 (breaking the 49,385 for five home dates in 1985, when Maryland ranked Number 1 pre-season by Sporting News, only to drop the first game of the season at home in a steam-bath against Penn State (who will ever forget Stan Gelbaugh checking off and throwing a pick on the first series, leading to a quick six for the Lions)).

As for largest crowds, all occurred in the Claiborne or Ross era, when temporary bleachers the norm, ringing the upper deck in the Claiborne days, 1972-81, with end zone seats added as well for the "mega-tilts" against PSU and Alabama.

The largest crowd was the 58,973 for the November 1, 1975 game against Penn State. The last conventional-style Maryland placekicker (hint-- he was a D-lineman from PA, initials "MS"), apparently forgetting what graduating senior Steve Mike-Meyer told him before Steve went off to kick for the San Francisco 49er's, relative to how the wind twists when it goes over the closed end of the stadium, MS pushing the game-winning wide as time expires, final score State 15- UM 13.

The second-largest Byrd crowd was the game against WVa on 9/17/83(Byrd's first night game), with Long Island's Norman Julis "Boomer" E-man out gunned by WVa's Jeff "The Hoss" Hostetler in a 31-21 loss.

Third highest attended home game in UM history was Alabama on 9/14/74 . Anyone out there in cyberspace old enough to remember that great 3rd down quick-kick by Harrisburgh native Leroy Hughes out of the I-formation? I think that ball is still rolling, yet Bear Bryant barely escapes with a win over the school which gave him his first head coaching job in 1945, beating one of his former players at Kentucky, Jerry Claiborne, in the process).

4th largest crowd: PSU again on 10/06/79 and finally, coming in at Number 5, it's Clemson on 11/13/82. Glad an oldtimer still has some utility, right, Coach Krivak, and all you Terp players it was my pleasure to know, circa 1971-1991.

Wow, the general whining and moaning about MD's football and basketball programs never ceases to amaze me.

I attended during the very dark post-Bias years and let me tell you something...what Fridge and Gary have accomplished in the last several years has been nothing short of amazing.

I remember half-empty stadiums, non-competetive football teams (except that stellar Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl team that went a whopping 6-5), 12-10 losses coached by Krivak, 55-44 losses coached by Duffner, Bob Wade going 1-11 in ACC play, and two years of basketball probation post-Wade.

Yet, I still attended every game I could and tried to cheer for the team. That's what you do as a student and a fan.

The problem now is that everyone, especially recent grads, is spoiled by the incredible 2001 - 2004 run of success by the school's major programs.

Everyone is calling for Fridge's head, yet he has a .644 winning percentage as head coach. If I'm not mistaken, the Krivak-Duffer era that I suffered through as a student was in the .380 range.

Anyone who thinks that MD will ever have a Bowden-like or a Paterno-like coach is freaking nuts. It won't happen, deal with it. Fridge is the school's 33rd football coach...33rd!

The bottom line is that football has been extremely competitive with few exceptions for the past eight seasons - the numbers don't lie.

Stop whining, babies.

Oh yeah - to the guy crying about giving up his season tickets because of parking and having to do so much walking - Boo Freaking Hoo...maybe if you up your Terp Club donation each year, you'll get better seats.

BDD wrote:

Wow, the general whining and moaning about Oh yeah - to the guy crying about giving up his season tickets because of parking and having to do so much walking - Boo Freaking Hoo...maybe if you up your Terp Club donation each year, you'll get better seats.

Seats are fine, walking doesn't bother me. Its sitting in a deck space for over an hour while the police sit in their cars and let the traffic lights direct traffic, while I see the lot I paid to park in is empty. And actually, that lot is a farther walk than the deck. However, if I pay for a spot, and there are spaces still available 3.5 hours before the game, I expect to be placed in that lot, not in some deck in which I have to sit in my space well over an hour after the game is over, and then listen and read that they want to try to expand the stadium when they can't manage the traffic as it is.
I do nothave a problem with how either teams are doing, and am glad we have both our head coaches. That is one thing I won't whine about.
Back to parking, from a strictly marketing standpoint, it would behoove officials to rectify the parking situation. Think you are going to attract new fans if that is the first experience they have? They'll say, s**** this, I'll watch it on TV. Then see how pathetic it looks having a half filled 60K stadium. It's not rocket science. Any PR worth his salary knows such things turn off fans. Ever wonder why they have LOTS at Ravens Stadium and OPCY? More so for football for tailgating. But plice there actually direct traffic and overide the lights in order to have a smooth traffic strwam out, rather than everyone sitting at a red-light with no traffic coming through the green light, and the officer sitting in his car watching?
It will be nice to see the program upgrade the schedule a little bit. Not thrilled to pay $38 to see DE and EMI. Cal is a treat. They are the only reason I kept my season tix. I am kind of foolish, it would be cheaper to drop my terp club membership and just by tix outside the stadium. Just like we did under Duffner. Why pay $30+ when you can get tix for $6 to see these teams? I hate to say it, but I think UConn, Syracuse or Vanderbilt would be steps up and have more appeal.

I think Ralph's ideas are great. No guy on the team wants to be the guy with nothing to show. Start traditions that are going to make the players proud and appreciative that they are getting the chance to play for the University of Maryland. UMD doesn't have the same history of success like the perennial powerhouses do. You see kids growing up in different states saying, "I want to play for USC, one day," or Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and the list goes on. If we ever want to get to that level then we need to get, and keep, the player athletes on the right course.