ESPN: Nick Saban 'disappointed' in spotty Bama student-attendance numbers

per ESPN:

Alabama coach Nick Saban has seen the empty seats around Bryant-Denny Stadium, and he doesn't like it.

During a news conference on Wednesday night, Saban took aim at the student section, which he said was only half full during Saturday's 56-14 home win over Louisiana-Lafayette.

"I can honestly say I was a little disappointed there weren't more students at the last game," Saban told reporters in Tuscaloosa. "I think we're trying to address that. I don't think they're entitled to anything, either. Me, personally, I think it ought to be first-come, first-serve. If they don't want to come to the game, they don't have to come. But I'm sure there's enough people around here that would like to go to the games, and we'd like for them to come too because they support the players."

A few players, including long-snapper Thomas Fletcher, took to Twitter to echo Saban's frustration with the empty seats in Bryant-Denny Stadium's student section.

Attendance has been a pet peeve of Saban's in recent years. His mini-rant on Wednesday came out of left field when he was asked about the support fans have shown for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, not the capacity of the student section.

In 2013, Saban said that if his players are asked to compete for 60 minutes then "you should stay there and support the team for the game." He said that recruits are there and "we like to see a full stadium."

But as Alabama keeps winning, it seems that fans have become less inclined to attend lower-profile games such as Saturday's, which matched the Crimson Tide against a Group of 5 opponent.

"When I first came here, you used to play that tradition [video] thing up there and everybody was cheering and excited and happy and there was great spirit," Saban said. "Now, they don't even cheer. They introduce our players and nobody even cheers. So I don't know, maybe there's something else somebody else ought to talk about. Maybe I shouldn't talk about it. Maybe I already talked about it more than I should."

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...students-not-showing-louisiana-lafayette-game

Go Gophers!!

BleedGopher said:

per ESPN:

Alabama coach Nick Saban has seen the empty seats around Bryant-Denny Stadium, and he doesn't like it.

During a news conference on Wednesday night, Saban took aim at the student section, which he said was only half full during Saturday's 56-14 home win over Louisiana-Lafayette.

"I can honestly say I was a little disappointed there weren't more students at the last game," Saban told reporters in Tuscaloosa. "I think we're trying to address that. I don't think they're entitled to anything, either. Me, personally, I think it ought to be first-come, first-serve. If they don't want to come to the game, they don't have to come. But I'm sure there's enough people around here that would like to go to the games, and we'd like for them to come too because they support the players."

A few players, including long-snapper Thomas Fletcher, took to Twitter to echo Saban's frustration with the empty seats in Bryant-Denny Stadium's student section.

Attendance has been a pet peeve of Saban's in recent years. His mini-rant on Wednesday came out of left field when he was asked about the support fans have shown for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, not the capacity of the student section.

In 2013, Saban said that if his players are asked to compete for 60 minutes then "you should stay there and support the team for the game." He said that recruits are there and "we like to see a full stadium."

But as Alabama keeps winning, it seems that fans have become less inclined to attend lower-profile games such as Saturday's, which matched the Crimson Tide against a Group of 5 opponent.

"When I first came here, you used to play that tradition [video] thing up there and everybody was cheering and excited and happy and there was great spirit," Saban said. "Now, they don't even cheer. They introduce our players and nobody even cheers. So I don't know, maybe there's something else somebody else ought to talk about. Maybe I shouldn't talk about it. Maybe I already talked about it more than I should."

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...students-not-showing-louisiana-lafayette-game

Go Gophers!!

Click to expand...

Isn't that a majority of Alabama's home games?

I have not seen any kids at the local park playing any sports either except for organized sports and mostly soccer. This downward trend will continue in all sports attendance and will be more severe in certain markets. Too many other things to do and mom thinks all sports are dangerous so there is little encouragement. It will not come back.

I believe Alabama was up 49-0 at the half last weekend.

Parties at Alabama frat houses are probably much more fun than non conference games.