Game 12: Muskingum

[5string]

Dec 28, 2023 20:22:03 GMT -5 GetRowdyGetR... said:

Dec 22, 2023 15:36:24 GMT -5 refrigeratorraider said:

I didn't see anything to entice people to go to this matinee game. No giveaways, no special ticket prices, etc. Did I miss something? I expected something to try to get families/youth teams to come to the game. Maybe for the best as the atmosphere is usually poor during winter break without the band and they might be less likely to come back.

I hope the scheduling philosophy can be reassessed. I haven't been as critical as others of playing non D1 teams, but outside of giving minutes to some players who haven't seen many minutes, this game does nothing. I believe the 2019-2020 season was the last time WSU paid a D1 team to come to the Nutter Center. Back then, the way the rankings/metrics worked, blowing out a bad D1 team wouldn't help you-- it might even hurt your metrics/NET ranking. With changes made to the NET formula (though the NCAA still refuses to be transparent with it), blowing out a D1 team will now improve your NET ranking, so it could be worthwhile paying a SWAC school to play at the Nutter Center. I'm not sure how the finances are in the athletic department these days--I just feel this middle of the season non-D1 game needs to go.

Just an observation here...
I was at the game and noticed that there was a group of middle school kids in the first rows of our student section.  They were holding up the signs that the WSU students usually hold up during Raider games.  Those kids were having the time of their lives and enjoying every minute of the game!!!

I told my wife (who had to work that day) the same thing -- I thought those kids did an awesome job.