Indiana sells 2010 home game against Penn State, will play at Redskins stadium in Landover, Maryland.
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 26, 2009 6:27 AM EDT
19 comments
[EDIT: The original headline said 2009, not 2010. Cut me a little slack, I started writing this thing at 5:45 a.m.]
The only pro is money. I realize, of course, that $3 million is a lot of money, but it's only five percent of the IU athletic department's roughly $55 million budget. So yes, the money will be a bonus, but what are we giving up?
- Competitive advantage. IU has had one winning season out of the last 15. We need every advantage that we can get. Instead, in 2009, we are the only Big Ten team playing six road games. In 2010, when that looked to be changing, IU now not only will play a reduced number of home games, but will play only three Big Ten home games. This isn't the first time that IU has moved a home game off campus. In 1984, IU played Illinois at the then-new Hoosier Dome, and IU played Penn State at the Dome in 2000. I didn't support the 2000 move, but at least that was a good faith effort to market the football program to fans and alumni in Indianapolis. This is different. Fedex Field is a) 650 miles from Bloomington; b) 72 miles from the Pennsylvania border; c) 130 miles from Philadelphia and d) just under 200 miles from Penn State's campus. This isn't a home-neutral game, it's a road-neutral game in which IU fans will be outnumbered 10 to 1, at least. I don't harbor any great illusions about IU's status compared to Penn State: Penn State is a much stronger program. But it's worth looking at the scores. We have played Penn State four times in the last six seasons. IU's average margin of defeat in State College: 36 points. IU's average margin of defeat in Bloomington: 4.5 points. In each of Penn State's last two trips to Bloomington, IU had the ball in the final minute of the game with a chance to win. Now, we won't be playing at home.
- Season ticket sales. I can't imagine that it will help season ticket sales to remove one of the most attractive games from the season ticket package.
- Credibility. This moves strikes me as the equivalent of raiding one's 401(k) or digging into the principal of any similar investment. IU will receive a short term financial boost but will do long-term damage to the program. Even setting aside the near-term competitive disadvantage of IU playing a home game near Washington, DC, it will have longer term effects. This will lead to bad publicity. Haven't we all had enough of IU-football-as-punchline, both from rival fans and from IU fans? Well, Fred, get ready for a bunch of laughs this week and as the game approaches next year. The current marketing campaign tries to convince fans that IU is serious about winning football games. Unfortunately, actions speak louder than words. In 2010, at least, getting paid by Penn State fans has been judged more important than beating Penn State. Also, this will be wonderful recruiting fodder for our rivals: "why would you go to Indiana? Their attendance is so bad that they moved a home game to Washington, DC!"
- Competitive balance. This isn't an original thought (hat-tip to DerrickC on the Rivals football board), but Ohio State fans, for instance, are going to absolutely lose their minds over this. Set aside the fact that IU will be playing only three Big Ten home games. Penn State, a perennial contender for the conference title, essentially will be playing five conference home games.
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Another home game for PSU
Does IU retain ticket rights for the game? Or is that part of the deal? The only thing “home” about a game 4 hours from Penn State and in the middle of one of the largest PSU alumni hubs is the color of the uniforms they’ll wear.
by interrobang on Aug 26, 2009 6:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My vague understanding is that the Redskins, or whoever owns Fedex Field, essentially are buying the game. IU gets $3 million and has to sell 7,000 tickets. Yes, there will be 80,000 Penn State fans there, at least.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 26, 2009 8:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
But is should be a IU "home" game
in the sense that they pick their colors, ect. I think this is better understood as outsourcing your hosting facilities department.
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State" The offseason is long. So is this magazine.
by Kevin HD on Aug 26, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, sure, but those crimson jerseys will be cold comfort when there are 85,000 PSU fans there. As far as I can tell it is more of a sale. IU gets a flat guarantee and the Redskins bear the risk of poor ticket sales.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 26, 2009 11:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
How dastardly of the Herald-Times to make an attempt to stay in business! I guess they should just fold as so many other newspaper have done.
Things must be pretty rough if you can’t pony up 6 bucks a month.
by SYF-YEM on Aug 26, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe the H-T knows something that the vast majority of other newspapers do not. Most papers have made the decision that the benefit of having a major web presence justifies providing content for free. I wish I had access to the H-T, because the paper’s IU coverage is second to none, but with all of the stuff that is available for free, I choose not to pay $6. What’s the point? The info comes out soon anyway, and even if I did pay, I wouldn’t be sharing premium info here. I didn’t say it was dastardly. I simply disagree with it.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 26, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kind of hard to "Defend the Rock" from 650 miles away.
I agree that the real problem here is the message it sends. It contradicts all the talk of “Indiana really is committed to football” that Lynch has been spouting lately with teh stadium addition. I really think Glass has undercut Lynch a bit with this one.
by acelion on Aug 26, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Either I was wrong, or Lynch really just says what he is told to say.
The indianapolis Star has a story up now. the quote from Lynch makes it sound like he was all for it. I love how Glass acts like this is being done for all of the east coast alumni. Nice spin Fred.
As for the home game they are adding, it had better be a big opponent if the season ticket holders are going to not feel jilted.
by acelion on Aug 26, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Lynch quote clearly is from a prepared statement. Only a NASCAR driver could so expertly list all of the relevant parties that way. As I said in the post, Lynch is a company man, and I don’t mean that as an insult. Whatever he actually believes, it advances no one’s interests for him to throw a temper tantrum about it.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 26, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank god for mobile commenting
As I post this from the textbook pickup at T.I.S.
This is perhaps the most embarassing thing to happen to IU football in a long, long time. I wish I could put the anger I feel about this into words, but I think my order is ready.
Dear Mr. Glass,
We’d like our game back please. Students and fans deserve to see good teams (OSU/PSU/etc.) on Memorial Field instead of the garbage we usually see.
by D.M.J. on Aug 26, 2009 1:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Add a little more hyperbole next time, ok DMJ? Seriously though, our student support sucks, so you don’t “deserve” anything. Second, you get to see OSU this year. Third, you will still have 6 home games to attend.
by Jimmy0 on Aug 26, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're Right
As a student who cares about football and desperately wants a half decent football program, I realize you’re right. I’m in the minority for sure, and it’s a sad truth.
by D.M.J. on Aug 27, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its surprising
Its surprising to see all the outrage about losing a “home” game at Memorial Stadium when half of the Hoosier fans are indifferent, and the other half have such a tough time deciding whether to actually enter the stadium while standing outside on the tailgate lots. You are outnumbered in fan attendance in your own stadium, what makes this move any different? At least the stadium will look respectably filled as opposed to just the 50 yard line area in Memorial Stadium. This outrage is just mind boggling to me from a fan base that simply has no credibility when it comes to football attendance. I wouldn’t blame the AD for jumping at the opportunity to move their home game for 3 times what they would otherwise make. And none of you even considered the recruiting benefits? Wow.
by Charlie@nwo on Aug 26, 2009 2:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s pretty simple. For IU to make any strides in attendance and any long term increase in revenue, we have to win more games. Winning home games is easier than winning road games. As I noted above, IU’s home games against Penn State, while all losses, have been much more competitive than the road games. Overall, IU has won only 23 Big Ten games since Bill Mallory was fired. Of those wins, 18 games were home games and 5 were road games. IU needs wins more desperately than it needs a couple million bucks. And giving away home games reduces the likelihood of wins and reduces the likelihood of a successful program generating more revenue in the future.
I really don’t care to be lectured about the “credibility” of IU fans. Penn State has a bigger football fan base, so congrats. But I think it’s safe to assume that the people who care enough about IU football to chime in here are not the people who are standing in the parking lot during the game. I know I’ve never done that.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 26, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure
Sure, you could potentially win this one home game against Penn State. Considering how you have never (I repeat, never) beaten the Nittany Lions since they joined the Big Ten more than a decade ago, I find this sudden outrage of potentially winning this one in 2010 a little ridiculous. But how about the recruiting benefits. You could play teams as close as you want at home, but until you start pulling in better talent (which is abundant in the DC/Maryland/Virginia) area, you will only continue to struggle.
Everyone is bent up over the loss of a home game, but they forget that some of Penn State’s best players are from the area your AD is trying to increase exposure in. So who’s really short sighted here?
by Charlie@nwo on Aug 26, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have said many times in the post and in this thread that I am not claiming that IU would be likely to beat Penn State in the teams played in Bloomington. Still, three of the last four games played in Indiana have been decided by 5 points or less. IU didn’t win any of them, but with the exception of the 1993 game at Penn State, all of the games that IU had a chance to win were played in Bloomington or Indianapolis.
This has nothing to do with a recruiting advantage and this game isn’t going to provide good exposure. It’s a money grab to the competitive detriment of the program.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 26, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't mind the business decision
Although I didn’t go to IU so I can understand why people are upset. The thing that rubbed me the wrong way after hearing Glass on the radio this afternoon was him repeatedly saying this would be like a bowl game for the players. I realize IU’s bowl history but a bowl bid these days isn’t that tough to earn if the program is moving in the right direction. Basically he’s saying fans shouldn’t expect a bowl bid for the next two years.
by Tom Lewis on Aug 26, 2009 9:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If Delaney lets this happen
Your AD will have MSU, Ohio State, Iowa and (at least until games are played and reality smacks them upside the head) Michigan fans furious about giving PSU any advantage for the conference title.
Light a man a fire, he'll stay warm for a day.
Light a man afire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
by Seer on Aug 26, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
According to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN linked in today’s headlines post, conference ADs voted 9-0 in favor with IU and PSU abstaining. For whatever reason, Delany and the other schools are on board.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 27, 2009 7:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
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