Wow! ESPN viewing numbers for UM/ASU

[Ronbo]

Per a post on the Mountaineers message board;

It states the Neilsen ratings for that ESPN broadcast was the highest ever for any FCS postseason game.

2,547,000 viewers, a 1.9 rating (for a 4 share).

By the way, that is also better than 6 of the bowl games last season:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/13/ncaa-college-football-bowl-game-ratings-2008-9/10685

[TexasTerror]

Did not hurt that it was the lead-in to the Heisman Trophy presentation nor that these are the two most well-known FCS schools on a national level IMO...

[ASU_Fanatic]

Wow, nice.

[Native]

Per a post on the Mountaineers message board;

It states the Neilsen ratings for that ESPN broadcast was the highest ever for any FCS postseason game.

2,547,000 viewers, a 1.9 rating (for a 4 share).

By the way, that is also better than 6 of the bowl games last season:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/13/ncaa-college-football-bowl-game-ratings-2008-9/10685

http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/tvratings (By the way, that is also better than 6 of the bowl games last season:)

That does it! From now on, Montana and Appalachian State must be seeded #1 and #2 each year, to ensure maximum viewership, income and marketing exposure for the FCS! xrolleyesx

[proasu89]

That does it! From now on, Montana and Appalachian State must be seeded #1 and #2 each year, to ensure maximum viership, income and marketing exposure for the FCS! xrolleyesx

Seems like 2.5 million viewers agreexlolx

[Ronbo]

That does it! From now on, Montana and Appalachian State must be seeded #1 and #2 each year, to ensure maximum viership, income and marketing exposure for the FCS! xrolleyesx

LMFAO xlolxxlolx

[HenZoneNation]

Ditka said he was watching...it didn't hurt when that UM fan raised the 13-0 sign.

That was a great, great game...I just never get how guys like Robert Smith can still make an arguemnet against a playoff series.

[JALMOND]

By the way, that is also better than 6 of the bowl games last season:

My guess, looking at the bowl lineup this year, that it will eclipse more than 6 of them this year.

[trouthunter]

Wow those are amazing numbers. Tangentially, I was able to tivo the game and watch it today. I was very pleased at the broadcasters, there was very little mention of the FBS as opposed to years past.

Only a pipe dream--but I wonder how many AGS'ers/FCS fans contacted ESPN based upon that request that went out on the boards a few weeks back.

[Zangzigger]

Very nice numbers. I'm glad we're getting the exposure on ESPN

[seattlespider]

Maybe they'll think twice about putting the Selection Show on ESPNNEWS for about 4 minutes, with incorrect information.

[chattanoogamocs]

Maybe those numbers will make ESPN consider showing the UM/ASU regular season series the next couple of years. Congrats to both programs.

[GoneTribal]

great game for the 2.5 million to see for sure


That was a great, great game...I just never get how guys like Robert Smith can still make an arguement against a playoff series.

It was laughable to hear that numnutz state that there was no way to make it work financially. On these boards alone, there are about 10 viable options that people have created. I wanted to punch him in the sack when I heard him say that, with that smug look on his face.

[UNH Fanboi]

Those are actually really good numbers. I'm glad so many people were able to see such a great game and get a flavor for the awesome atmosphere at WaGriz. That's great exposure for FCS. Hopefully this encourages ESPN to televise the quarterfinals next year, especially since there won't be any FBS games that weekend. Montana and App alumni didn't account for 2.5 million people. I think people will watch FCS in big numbers if there's no FBS competition.

[UNH Fanboi]

It was laughable to hear that numnutz state that there was no way to make it work financially. On these boards alone, there are about 10 viable options that people have created. I wanted to punch him in the sack when I heard him say that, with that smug look on his face.

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL can make a playoff system work, but somehow college football, with all the money that gets spent and earned on it, simply cannot find a way to make a playoff system work.

[elkmcc]

Actually my first thought when I saw the numbers was that ESPN just might be contacting UM and AP St about televising future games. TV ratings talk. This, in the short term is very good news for these respective programs, but it also is good news for FCS programs around the country.

[elkmcc]

Seems like 2.5 million viewers agreexlolx

LMFAO

[CrackerRiley]

Another thing that may have helped a little was the fact that this game was a choice for ESPN's Streak for the Cash. I know a lot of people who play that will watch the game just to see if they are gonna keep their streak.

Lots of people on the comments section for the game were saying how amazing a game it was, as well.

Hooray FCS!

[argh!]

those kind of numbers aren't going to be generated by any fcs game other than montana-app state, at montana. i will watch almost any football game on the tube. i tuned in to villannoying's home games during the playoffs, and saw a half-empty high school stadium as a 'backdrop'. much worse was that the angles the cameras could use were determined by the stadium. the result was the equivalent of a tv broadcast of an important high school game, done by the local crew. i felt sad that even espn could not show the obviously great game being played in the manner it deserved.

[onbison09]

Ditka said he was watching...it didn't hurt when that UM fan raised the 13-0 sign.

That was a great, great game...I just never get how guys like Robert Smith can still make an arguemnet against a playoff series.

But it would take away from class time. I wonder how the lower division students pass their finals every year. xreadx

[Native]

great game for the 2.5 million to see for sure

It was laughable to hear that numnutz state that there was no way to make it work financially. On these boards alone, there are about 10 viable options that people have created. I wanted to punch him in the sack when I heard him say that, with that smug look on his face.

xflaggedx There is absolutely nothing in the history of the NCAA to suggest that it can out perform the bowl system financially.

xdeadhorsex Why all the FBS penis envy? xbabycryx

[ronpayne]

But it would take away from class time. I wonder how the lower division students pass their finals every year. xreadx

or the NCAA BBall teams, or hockey, or every other sport that hosts a national playoff system.... I do believe almost every NCAA sport has a playoff system.... yet it won't work for the "premier" sport, even though the NCAA has a 64 team NCAA tourney that takes an entire month?

I call b.s. on that argument!

[KiddBrewer]

Did not hurt that it was the lead-in to the Heisman Trophy presentation nor that these are the two most well-known FCS schools on a national level IMO...

yea, probably had a little influencexrolleyesx

[mtgrizfan4life]

or the NCAA BBall teams, or hockey, or every other sport that hosts a national playoff system.... I do believe almost every NCAA sport has a playoff system.... yet it won't work for the "premier" sport, even though the NCAA has a 64 team NCAA tourney that takes an entire month?

I call b.s. on that argument!


BTW, they are planning to expand the tournament now. Are basketball players smarter than football players? xthumbsupx

[Hoyadestroya85]

It helped that it was a saturday afternoon with no other games on plus the Heisman Trophy was being awarded right afterward. If you put the heisman trophy presentation on after synchronized swimming, you'll get good numbers.

[mtgrizfan4life]

I do not care what is on before or after anything I watch. I know what time something is on and tune that program when it is time. Why watch something of no interest just because it comes on before or after something you want to watch? Then again, some people cannot tell time I guess.

[MaximumBobcat]

xflaggedx There is absolutely nothing in the history of the NCAA to suggest that it can out perform the bowl system financially.

xdeadhorsex Why all the FBS penis envy? xbabycryx

No history, but common sense tells us it will.

[Native]

No history, but common sense tells us it will.

"Common sense" tells us that the NCAA will outperform the Bowl System financially?

xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolx xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolx

[MaximumBobcat]

"Common sense" tells us that the NCAA will outperform the Bowl System financially?

xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolx xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolx

You're talking about an NCAA playoff right? if that's the case, then yes, that's common sense.

[MaximumBobcat]

They can still make all the money they want from the lower tier bowls by continuing to have them for teams that don't qualify for the playoffs, and they will make the same amount of money they already make from the current BCS bowls which will basically be 1st round playoff games. Add in a 2nd, or 3rd round and a real NC game...wow, it could rival the NFL playoffs in TV contracts and $$$.

[blur2005]

"Common sense" tells us that the NCAA will outperform the Bowl System financially?

xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolx xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolx
The viewership for a playoff, the excitement it would build, would far outweigh a bowl system aside from the current national championship (but with two fairly matched opponents determined on the field, I expect the ratings for it could be higher). Ratings = advertising money. I don't think there would be much difficulty. You could, of course, keep bowl games for teams that didn't make it to give them a financial boost.

[Big Al]

No, not common sense. Common sense coupled with a dispassionate economic analysis. See, the thing is the bowls are all middlemen, they collect the sponsorship money and retain a portion for salaries and operating costs. If nothing else, the NCAA could do that for a fraction of what the various bowl organizing committees choose to spend.

Even if no more money was generated, more would go back to the colleges, with a likely more even distribution among the various conferences. I don't think a reasonable analysis would deny that the Big 6 conferences would be net losers financially speaking, if a playoff were to ever come to fruition.

Don't mistake that as being less money overall, though. The MWC, WAC, MAC, C-USA and the Sun Belt would all benefit greatly from a playoff system.


"Common sense" tells us that the NCAA will outperform the Bowl System financially?

xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolx xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxlolx

[seattlespider]

I do not care what is on before or after anything I watch. I know what time something is on and tune that program when it is time. Why watch something of no interest just because it comes on before or after something you want to watch? Then again, some people cannot tell time I guess.

Or they are incredibly lazy.

[WyomingGrizFan]

Hell, I had to watch the second half of the LaSalle - Kansas basketball game on this past saturday's ESPN coverage waiting for the the Griz game to come on. The NCAA could have had the game start at noon with no weather problems whatsoever for the second half but ESPN just had to have that LaSalle - Kansas game on in it's entirety instead: live no less, and the Griz game on at two in the afternoon. This to make certain the channel was on ESPN and not some channel having their forty-second rerun of some episode of 'Gunsmoke' or something.

[TokyoGriz]

Id like to get a DVD copy of the game. Save it and watch it on rainy days with no other sports on. Seriously classic game worth keeping for the video files.

It was in the best stadium and atmosphere between the FCS Titans and the 2 most enthusiastic fanbases in FCS. xnodx

Great exposure for the FCS! xthumbsupx

[bluedog]

Per a post on the Mountaineers message board;

It states the Neilsen ratings for that ESPN broadcast was the highest ever for any FCS postseason game.

2,547,000 viewers, a 1.9 rating (for a 4 share).

By the way, that is also better than 6 of the bowl games last season:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/13/ncaa-college-football-bowl-game-ratings-2008-9/10685

Where does it says that at? All I see are BCS/FBS Bowl game ratings.

[Ronbo]

That link was provided to compare the rating to bowl games. here's the release (http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/index.php/2009/12/15/asu-montana-the-highest-rated-fcs-broadc?blog=2). Maybe someone can look it up somewhere. I have no idea where to look.


BOONE, N.C. — ESPN’s broadcast of last Saturday’s NCAA Division I Football Championship semifinal between Appalachian State University and Montana was the highest-rated FCS postseason game ever, according to data compiled by the Nielsen Company and the NCAA.

The broadcast of the 24-17 thriller drew a 1.9 rating (4 share) and an estimated 2,547,000 viewers nationwide. The 1.9 rating is highest ever for an FCS postseason game on CBS, ESPN or ESPN2.

Information courtesy of the Neilsen Company and the NCAA.

[Native]

No, not common sense. Common sense coupled with a dispassionate economic analysis. See, the thing is the bowls are all middlemen, they collect the sponsorship money and retain a portion for salaries and operating costs. If nothing else, the NCAA could do that for a fraction of what the various bowl organizing committees choose to spend.

Even if no more money was generated, more would go back to the colleges, with a likely more even distribution among the various conferences. I don't think a reasonable analysis would deny that the Big 6 conferences would be net losers financially speaking, if a playoff were to ever come to fruition.

Don't mistake that as being less money overall, though. The MWC, WAC, MAC, C-USA and the Sun Belt would all benefit greatly from a playoff system.

So, in other words, just a another re-distributionist scheme concocted by those who have never organized financially successful events, based on fantasy theories proven over and over not to work. xrolleyesx xnonono2x xnonox

While we're at the game of punishing the productive in order to spread the wealth around, why not just tax the Montana and Appalachian State programs to pay for the rest of our sorry arses?!??? Hell, why not make sure that any team which manages to place more than one player on an All-American team must transfer the second and subsequent all-Americans to another team without any all-Americans. Why not raise tuition and taxes so we can have a 245-team football playoff every year? xoopsx

Can you cite an actual "dispassionate economic analysis?" xeyebrowx

[BEAR]

I watched the game because I was familiar with FCS football. All my coworkets and friends saw the last part of it because they wanted to see who won the Heisman. It was a really good game though and had them talking the next day. I think FCS football owes the Heisman people something for scheduling it right before that ceremony just as much as espn owes both teams for putting on such a good show. xthumbsupx

[Bam]

I was talking to a fellow EKU fan & we both agreed that was a great game & gave a good boost for the FCS & playoff football. One day soon we could see our Maroons in the Semi's or even in the second rd every now & then?

[Rekdiver]

Sports viewing does not work like regular TV. The carry over from a basketball game to a FCS game does not help. What sold this game was the time it was played, the main channel it was on and the two teams that were playing. I believe there were a lot of curious people who test drove the game.

[89Hen]

It was an awesome game and a fantastic atmosphere. Both teams and the Griz fans came through. xthumbsupx xbowx

[rudy1648]

It helped that it was a saturday afternoon with no other games on plus the Heisman Trophy was being awarded right afterward. If you put the heisman trophy presentation on after synchronized swimming, you'll get good numbers.

Do you really think people sat down and turned on their tvs 4 hours before the Heisman show? These new tvs don't have to warm up their vacuum tubes that long before a show comes on. I do agree that more people watched because there were no other national games on at that time, but to say Heisman brought in a million people is stretching it.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

They can still make all the money they want from the lower tier bowls by continuing to have them for teams that don't qualify for the playoffs, and they will make the same amount of money they already make from the current BCS bowls which will basically be 1st round playoff games. Add in a 2nd, or 3rd round and a real NC game...wow, it could rival the NFL playoffs in TV contracts and $$$.

Something to keep in mind about this: I know for a fact that the "lower-tier" bowls, the ones that have the MAC/Sun Belt champions, only survive since the member schools pay money to the conference to sponsor the bowl. So those schools are paying, say, $200,000 a year whether they go 0-12 or 12-0. When they do get to the bowl and get a payout, they're mostly just getting back they've already put in the bowl already - just like how casinos work.

Now the BC$ Bowls, that's another animal. Those are their own corporations that seemingly can mint their own money.

The benefits to this for Montana/App State are not really tangible ones right away. It's that App State and Montana are more likely to get checks from ESPN to televise their regular season games in the future, more Montana/App State donors, and the like. Of course, Montana gets money from the paid crowd, concessions, and stuff like that, too.

But I'm really pleased about the viewing numbers, and it goes to show that playoff games get MORE people in front of TV sets than bad bowls. Anyone know if this can be called the highest-rated FCS game ever? It sure seems like it, at least in the Cable era.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Do you really think people sat down and turned on their tvs 4 hours before the Heisman show? These new tvs don't have to warm up their vacuum tubes that long before a show comes on. I do agree that more people watched because there were no other national games on at that time, but to say Heisman brought in a million people is stretching it.

I think a lot of people tuned in because it was a "snow game", App State and a beautiful stadium (and crazy fans) in Montana. At the time folks were making fun of the fact that the announcing team repeated "winter storm warning" a million times, but I bet that was a big factor in bringing in more casual fans. On top of that, those fans stayed until the end, too.

xthumbsupx

[Bam]

I loved it one time when they panned the croud a dude held up a Bud can. I love a stadium that sells Bud in cans. xthumbsupx

[89Hen]

I love a stadium that sells Bud in cans. xthumbsupx
Ummmm... xwhistlex

[Pard4Life]

I think a lot of people tuned in because it was a "snow game", App State and a beautiful stadium (and crazy fans) in Montana. At the time folks were making fun of the fact that the announcing team repeated "winter storm warning" a million times, but I bet that was a big factor in bringing in more casual fans. On top of that, those fans stayed until the end, too.

xthumbsupx

And repeated mention of "Hell's Gate Canyon" too. This was a better game than Florida-Alabama!

Any word on Nova-WM? Great game that I should have stayed home to watch. The TV timeouts and bitter cold made it near unbearable in the stands.

[Grrrrriz]

I loved it one time when they panned the croud a dude held up a Bud can. I love a stadium that sells Bud in cans. xthumbsupx

Oh we don't, just the more stealthy resourceful of us figure out ways to get it in.

[McNeese72]

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL can make a playoff system work, but somehow college football, with all the money that gets spent and earned on it, simply cannot find a way to make a playoff system work.

I think it is not like they can't make it work but more like they don't want to make it work.

Doc

[putter]

Something to keep in mind about this: I know for a fact that the "lower-tier" bowls, the ones that have the MAC/Sun Belt champions, only survive since the member schools pay money to the conference to sponsor the bowl. So those schools are paying, say, $200,000 a year whether they go 0-12 or 12-0. When they do get to the bowl and get a payout, they're mostly just getting back they've already put in the bowl already - just like how casinos work.

Now the BC$ Bowls, that's another animal. Those are their own corporations that seemingly can mint their own money.

The benefits to this for Montana/App State are not really tangible ones right away. It's that App State and Montana are more likely to get checks from ESPN to televise their regular season games in the future, more Montana/App State donors, and the like. Of course, Montana gets money from the paid crowd, concessions, and stuff like that, too.

But I'm really pleased about the viewing numbers, and it goes to show that playoff games get MORE people in front of TV sets than bad bowls. Anyone know if this can be called the highest-rated FCS game ever? It sure seems like it, at least in the Cable era.

also they were able to showcast their programs. It helped Montana because it showed the nation what the program has for a facility, team and fanbase. I hate the move-up threads but any conferences looking to pick up teams were watching.

[bluedog]

That link was provided to compare the rating to bowl games. here's the release (http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/index.php/2009/12/15/asu-montana-the-highest-rated-fcs-broadc?blog=2). Maybe someone can look it up somewhere. I have no idea where to look.


Thanks

[Grrrrriz]

Things like this could actually be a pretty big thing for recruiting I would imagine.

[bluedog]

I think it is not like they can't make it work but more like they don't want to make it work.

Doc

We've been trying to get some of you to see that for years.

They can make work whatever they want too and to accommodate all interested parties, if that's what they really wanted.

[headdressguy]

And repeated mention of "Hell's Gate Canyon" too. This was a better game than Florida-Alabama!

Any word on Nova-WM? Great game that I should have stayed home to watch. The TV timeouts and bitter cold made it near unbearable in the stands.

At least it didn't rain. It wasn't that bad in the stands (didn't hurt that the added layers made it easier to smuggle in a little liquid warmth). Of course, it would have been better if there were more people packed in there, and if the score turned out a little different, but c'est la vie.

[Torgo]

Things like this could actually be a pretty big thing for recruiting I would imagine.


Sure as hell won't hurt, that's for sure. I'm definitely thinking both schools will walk away with at least one good prospect that they probably wouldn't have before that game.

[henfan]

It was laughable to hear that numnutz state that there was no way to make it work financially. On these boards alone, there are about 10 viable options that people have created. I wanted to punch him in the sack when I heard him say that, with that smug look on his face.

I gotta say I don't follow FBS football with any regularity and didn't know who Robert Smith was prior to hearing him make those silly comments. It sounded to me like he was completely in the bag for the BCS. Later, I discovered he was the same Robert Smith who played for the Vikings and went to Ohio State.

Some of these folks will never give up the ghost. They know damn well how profitable an FBS playoff could be. A playoff would absolutely blow bowl revenue right out of the water. It's completely disingenuous to suggest that the BCS couldn't have bowls work within the context of a playoff system. For Smith to write it off without offering any evidence calls into question the guy's professional integrity.

All of that said, Robert Smith seems like a great guy personally. He's just dead wrong to be peddling the BCS' crap.

A huge congrats to App & UM. This is great news, not only for those schools, but all of the FCS.

[GrizBowl]

I loved it one time when they panned the croud a dude held up a Bud can. I love a stadium that sells Bud in cans. xthumbsupx

they don't, alcohol is prohibited in WA Griz but winter coats have big pockets

[gbhmt]

they don't, alcohol is prohibited in WA Griz but winter coats have big pockets

The people that sat in front of me in all my years in the North Endzone took a swig out of a flask every time we scored. Must have been a fun first two rounds of playoffs!

[Poker Alan]

The people that sat in front of me in all my years in the North Endzone took a swig out of a flask every time we scored. Must have been a fun first two rounds of playoffs!

Yeah, *technically* alcohol isn't allowed, but, they really only look for liquor or beer bottles/cans... Any thermos is allowed and not checked, and as someone pointed out, with winter gear and minimal patting/checking, you can basically take in and drink what you want, especially if you are not at the end of a row. The guys sitting in front of me last weekend had a total of 5 bottles (3 fifths and 2 pints), managed to consume virtually all of it, get completely plowed, but had a great time, never got messed with, and likely don't even remember the 2nd half of the game. I have more than one friend who work security at the games, and they are exceedingly tolerant unless a problem arises.

[MaximumBobcat]

So, in other words, just a another re-distributionist scheme concocted by those who have never organized financially successful events, based on fantasy theories proven over and over not to work. xrolleyesx xnonono2x xnonox

While we're at the game of punishing the productive in order to spread the wealth around, why not just tax the Montana and Appalachian State programs to pay for the rest of our sorry arses?!??? Hell, why not make sure that any team which manages to place more than one player on an All-American team must transfer the second and subsequent all-Americans to another team without any all-Americans. Why not raise tuition and taxes so we can have a 245-team football playoff every year? xoopsx

Can you cite an actual "dispassionate economic analysis?" xeyebrowx

I agree partially with what Big Al is saying, but I still stand by that it's just common sense. I'm not going to get into Native's redistributionist tangent... The FBS post season has 5 big bowl games now...playoffs will allow those same big games, plus an extra 2nd or 3rd round and a NC game...more big time games = more tv = more viewers = more advertising = more money.

[BloomHusky'01]

I was the D2 championship in Alabama on Saturday, but I watched the entire replay of this game on espn360.com. That looked like so much fun! What an an awesome game to showcase the FCS and playoff football.

[GannonFan]

Things like this could actually be a pretty big thing for recruiting I would imagine.


Would it, though? Who is Montana going to get that they aren't already getting? Among FCS schools in the area, Montana is probably winning most of those battles anyway - does the potential of one game a year getting a 1 something rating really going to sway someone who isn't already turned onto to Montana?

[bshgriz]

Would it, though? Who is Montana going to get that they aren't already getting? Among FCS schools in the area, Montana is probably winning most of those battles anyway - does the potential of one game a year getting a 1 something rating really going to sway someone who isn't already turned onto to Montana? Maybe..:D Can't hurt with all the kids in Cali, Washington and Oregon who would never see a Montana game otherwise. xthumbsupx

[aust42]

Yeah, *technically* alcohol isn't allowed, but, they really only look for liquor or beer bottles/cans... Any thermos is allowed and not checked, and as someone pointed out, with winter gear and minimal patting/checking, you can basically take in and drink what you want, especially if you are not at the end of a row. The guys sitting in front of me last weekend had a total of 5 bottles (3 fifths and 2 pints), managed to consume virtually all of it, get completely plowed, but had a great time, never got messed with, and likely don't even remember the 2nd half of the game. I have more than one friend who work security at the games, and they are exceedingly tolerant unless a problem arises.

Sounds like Delaware. My season ticket buddies and I sneak in a 6 pack each with shorts and t-shirts on and we never get checked. Although I have noticed just the past couple years they are frisking some people.

[Ronbo]

Would it, though? Who is Montana going to get that they aren't already getting? Among FCS schools in the area, Montana is probably winning most of those battles anyway - does the potential of one game a year getting a 1 something rating really going to sway someone who isn't already turned onto to Montana?




We deal with alot of FBS/FCS borderline players, you know the 2 star guys. We lose some to the Boise's, Nevada's, Washington State's, etc. They go there and sit for 4 years behind better athletes. If we can show them an exciting atmosphere that affords them a 2-3 year starting opportunity then yes we might land a couple of those guys that we would have lost.

[Torgo]

We deal with alot of FBS/FCS borderline players, you know the 2 star guys. We lose some to the Boise's, Nevada's, Washington State's, etc. They go there and sit for 4 years behind better athletes. If we can show them an exciting atmosphere that affords them a 2-3 year starting opportunity then yes we might land a couple of those guys that we would have lost.

Precisely. This isn't going to sway anyone from Montana, but the rest of the Pacific Northwest perhaps. Would you rather be a back-up on Washington State or have a chance to start on Montana right now?

Those 2 star kids on the fence is who its going to affect.

[Shellin]

Precisely. This isn't going to sway anyone from Montana, but the rest of the Pacific Northwest perhaps. Would you rather be a back-up on Washington State or have a chance to start on Montana right now?

Those 2 star kids on the fence is who its going to affect.

As a WSU student I would argue that there are quite a few players on the Griz that would've started for us these past two season... xbawlingx

But yeah, I agree with Torgo and Ronbo here, there is a chance that it might help us land one or two of those borderline guys. I doubt the impact will be very big at all, but the national exposure definitely can't hurt xthumbsupx

[GannonFan]

We deal with alot of FBS/FCS borderline players, you know the 2 star guys. We lose some to the Boise's, Nevada's, Washington State's, etc. They go there and sit for 4 years behind better athletes. If we can show them an exciting atmosphere that affords them a 2-3 year starting opportunity then yes we might land a couple of those guys that we would have lost.

Most of these guys make official or unofficial visits, so how could they not already know what Montana's atmosphere is like? If a kid's good enough to play FCS or FBS and has contact with Montana, I can't imagine them being in the dark about the plusses and minuses of Montana football.

[appmaj]

My guess, looking at the bowl lineup this year, that it will eclipse more than 6 of them this year.

AT LEAST 6!!! (Maybe more like 9)


Maybe they'll think twice about putting the Selection Show on ESPNNEWS for about 4 minutes, with incorrect information.

One would think...but ESPN has baseball news to report!! xrolleyesx


Maybe those numbers will make ESPN consider showing the UM/ASU regular season series the next couple of years. Congrats to both programs.

Would make too much sense for ESPN.


Sports viewing does not work like regular TV. The carry over from a basketball game to a FCS game does not help. What sold this game was the time it was played, the main channel it was on and the two teams that were playing. I believe there were a lot of curious people who test drove the game.


I agree people around the office who previously asked me about the mini helmet and flag in my office (i.e. what team is that) were telling me Monday about how they watched the agme and how exciting it was.

[Torgo]

Most of these guys make official or unofficial visits, so how could they not already know what Montana's atmosphere is like? If a kid's good enough to play FCS or FBS and has contact with Montana, I can't imagine them being in the dark about the plusses and minuses of Montana football.

Well if not this season, then what about next, or even after that?

Maybe something like this is enough to put Montana on a kid's radar where he wouldn't have thought about it before.



I'm not saying it will have an overwhelming impact, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

[mtmike]

Think Yo Humphrey, saw us playing the 'Cats one year and gave us a look.

[CSN-info]

See http://www.anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67419 for a clarification on this thread.

[GannonFan]

See http://www.anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67419 for a clarification on this thread.

Why the new thread on the same topic??? xconfusedx

[CSN-info]

Why the new thread on the same topic??? xconfusedx

Did you read it? It is not the same. Our article is a breakdown of the numbers that provides a clarification of the erroneous one provided in this thread and a completely different conclusion. xcoffeex

[Sonic98]

I do not care what is on before or after anything I watch. I know what time something is on and tune that program when it is time. Why watch something of no interest just because it comes on before or after something you want to watch? Then again, some people cannot tell time I guess.

Maybe they just put the channel on ESPN and left it sitting til the show came on. I'm pretty sure this can't be the first time 1 to 2 million people watched an FCS game. I'm sure there have been non-ESPN games we just don't have the numbers for. But either way it's good for future ratings because all you need to do well is for people to think you are or can do well. You know people think other people are watching so they watch.

[jmufan999]

why are we re-hashing ridiculously old threads?

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Maybe they just put the channel on ESPN and left it sitting til the show came on. I'm pretty sure this can't be the first time 1 to 2 million people watched an FCS game. I'm sure there have been non-ESPN games we just don't have the numbers for. But either way it's good for future ratings because all you need to do well is for people to think you are or can do well. You know people think other people are watching so they watch.

This game (Montana/App State) had a better rating that any FCS playoff game ever on cable. It was worthy of the rating, too, as it was one of the more thrilling games of the year and it was played in the snow.

The original FCS championship games that were on CBS had a larger share of households watching the game since there were fewer channels (in 1990/1/2/3/4).

The Bayou Classic, I think, remains the highest TV ratings of any FCS game. I'm not sure if Harvard/Yale might have eclipsed them in the 1980s when they first were I-AA, but I don't think so. But technically, you're right, when it comes to FCS games there have been other games with 1 million+ viewers. And that doesn't count folks watching it only over the internet - a number that's growing by leaps and bounds.

[SideLine Shooter]

why are we re-hashing ridiculously old threads?


I have a need to discuss FOOTBALL. This was a classic game. I was disappointed with the final score but, UM is a GREAT venue, the fans are awesome, they love their Grizz and it was a GREAT GAME. I can't wait for my next time in Missoula.xhurrayxxhurrayxxthumbsupx

[GaSouthern]

I have a need to discuss FOOTBALL. This was a classic game. I was disappointed with the final score but, UM is a GREAT venue, the fans are awesome, they love their Grizz and it was a GREAT GAME. I can't wait for my next time in Missoula.xhurrayxxhurrayxxthumbsupx

That shows a LOT about a school, if a team comes in and gets beat and the away team compliments the fans then that is proof of an amazing venue!

[SideLine Shooter]

That shows a LOT about a school, if a team comes in and gets beat and the away team compliments the fans then that is proof of an amazing venue!


xoutofrepx

EXACTLY!

[AppIAA]

I have a need to discuss FOOTBALL. This was a classic game. I was disappointed with the final score but, UM is a GREAT venue, the fans are awesome, they love their Grizz and it was a GREAT GAME. I can't wait for my next time in Missoula.xhurrayxxhurrayxxthumbsupx

Was it loud and cold there? xsmiley_wix

I joke, I joke! It was an amazing game to watch -- just wish Armanti and Co. was able to pull off the win

[PhoenixSupreme]

I put off a great deal many things that day so I could watch that game...EPIC!

[SideLine Shooter]

Was it loud and cold there? xsmiley_wix

I joke, I joke! It was an amazing game to watch -- just wish Armanti and Co. was able to pull off the win

It was about as loud as Kidd Brewer in a big game but we put 6,000 + more in our stadium than thay can put in Grizz Stadium.

It was cold, but it was football, and when the game started I didn't think about the cold again.

[Grizo406]

Two things about this game...

#1. Despite the outcome, and ESPN viewing numbers, it was the absolute BEST game I've seen played @ Washington/Grizzly stadium!

#2. Despite the outcome, and ESPN viewing numbers, it was absolutely the COLDEST game I've ever been to @ Washington/Grizzly stadium!

Even after such a heart breaker, EVERY ASU fan I met/talked with was nothing but pure class!

[SideLine Shooter]

Two things about this game...

#1. Despite the outcome, and ESPN viewing numbers, it was the absolute BEST game I've seen played @ Washington/Grizzly stadium!

#2. Despite the outcome, and ESPN viewing numbers, it was absolutely the COLDEST game I've ever been to @ Washington/Grizzly stadium!

Even after such a heart breaker, EVERY ASU fan I met/talked with was nothing but pure class!

Thanks for the kind words.

I think I have stated pretty much the same. The game was a Classic. The players put it all on the field. This is what happens when 2 Class Programs meet. Fans included.