TuTigers2012

1 hour ago, Chris Datres said:

As I said in a chat a couple games back, what's it say about the coaching staff and style of play that he couldn't see the field at RUTGERS??  Their stupidity is our gain, that's for sure.

I mean...

Posted this on the 7/8 Wins thread also... just thought it was interesting..

At Large Records (Regular Season Records) /Teams with 7+ Wins and over.500 In Conference Who Missed Playoffs, since 2014:  

**only includes eligible conferences (No MEAC, SWAC and IVY)** 

2014 Morgan St made it out of the MEAC. and that season had 12 Regular Season Games. 

2014:

In: Montana 8-4, Montana St. 7-5, Liberty 8-4, Nova 10-2, JMU 9-3, Richmond 8-4, Ill. State 10-1, UNI 8-4, South Dakota St. 8-4, Indiana St. 7-5, Eastern KY. 8-4, SELA 8-4, SFA 7-5

9 of 13 At Large Begin in Preseason Top 25

Out: Idaho St, Cal Poly, Norther Ariz., Charleston Southern, Wagner, Bryant, Bucknell, Lamar, Western Carolina, Samford, Jacksonville, Dayton, Drake  13 (8 minus the Pioneer and NEC) 

2015:

In: Portland State 9-2, Montana 7-4, Coastal 9-2, Ill. State 9-2, UNI, 7-4, South Dakota State 8-3, Western Ill. 6-5, Eastern Ill. 7-4, Fordham 8-3, Citadel 8-3, Sam Houston 8-3, UNH 7-4

10 of 14 At Large Began in Preseason Top 25

Out: North Dakota, Northern Ariz., UT-Martin, Morehead State, San Diego, Western Carolina, Central Arkansas, Towson  8 (6 minus Pioneer and NEC)

2016: 

IN: Weber St 7-4, Cal Poly 7-4, Nova 8-3, Richmond 8-3, Youngstown St 8-3, Ill. State 6-5, Chattanooga 8-3, Samford 7-4, Wofford 8-3, Central Ark. 9-2, UNH 7-4

9 of 14 At Large Began in Preseason Top 25

Out: Duquense, Fordham, UT-Martin, Tenn. St., Dayton, Drake, SELA., Kennesaw  8 (5 minus Pioneer and NEC)

2017:

In: Weber St. 9-2, Northern Ariz. 7-4, Monmouth 9-2, Stony Brook 9-2, Elon 7-4, South Dakota State 9-2, UNI 7-4, Western Ill. 8-3, South Dakota, 7-4, Samford 8-3, Furman 7-4, Sam Houston 10-1, Nicholls St. 7-4, UNH 7-4

Out: Eastern Wash., Montana, Sac. State, Delaware, Duquense, Austin Peay, Colgate, Drake, Jacksonville, Western Carolina  10 (7 minus Pioneer and NEC)

7 of 14 At Large Began in Preseason Top 25

Teams that made the playoffs and started the season in Top 25, 35-55, 64%.

Since 2009 only 5 times has a CAA team had atleast 7 wins and over .500 in conference and missed the playoffs: 

2017- Delaware, 2015- Towson, 2012- Towson(Only CO-Champ to not make it), JMU   2011-Delaware.

At Large Records (Regular Season Records) /Teams with 7+ Wins and over.500 In Conference Who Missed Playoffs, since 2014:  

**only includes eligible conferences (No MEAC, SWAC and IVY)** 

2014 Morgan St made it out of the MEAC. and that season had 12 Regular Season Games. 

2014:

In: Montana 8-4, Montana St. 7-5, Liberty 8-4, Nova 10-2, JMU 9-3, Richmond 8-4, Ill. State 10-1, UNI 8-4, South Dakota St. 8-4, Indiana St. 7-5, Eastern KY. 8-4, SELA 8-4, SFA 7-5

9 of 13 At Large Begin in Preseason Top 25

Out: Idaho St, Cal Poly, Norther Ariz., Charleston Southern, Wagner, Bryant, Bucknell, Lamar, Western Carolina, Samford, Jacksonville, Dayton, Drake  13 (8 minus the Pioneer and NEC) 

2015:

In: Portland State 9-2, Montana 7-4, Coastal 9-2, Ill. State 9-2, UNI, 7-4, South Dakota State 8-3, Western Ill. 6-5, Eastern Ill. 7-4, Fordham 8-3, Citadel 8-3, Sam Houston 8-3, UNH 7-4

10 of 14 At Large Began in Preseason Top 25

Out: North Dakota, Northern Ariz., UT-Martin, Morehead State, San Diego, Western Carolina, Central Arkansas, Towson  8 (6 minus Pioneer and NEC)

2016: 

IN: Weber St 7-4, Cal Poly 7-4, Nova 8-3, Richmond 8-3, Youngstown St 8-3, Ill. State 6-5, Chattanooga 8-3, Samford 7-4, Wofford 8-3, Central Ark. 9-2, UNH 7-4

9 of 14 At Large Began in Preseason Top 25

Out: Duquense, Fordham, UT-Martin, Tenn. St., Dayton, Drake, SELA., Kennesaw  8 (5 minus Pioneer and NEC)

2017:

In: Weber St. 9-2, Northern Ariz. 7-4, Monmouth 9-2, Stony Brook 9-2, Elon 7-4, South Dakota State 9-2, UNI 7-4, Western Ill. 8-3, South Dakota, 7-4, Samford 8-3, Furman 7-4, Sam Houston 10-1, Nicholls St. 7-4, UNH 7-4

Out: Eastern Wash., Montana, Sac. State, Delaware, Duquense, Austin Peay, Colgate, Drake, Jacksonville, Western Carolina  10 (7 minus Pioneer and NEC)

7 of 14 At Large Began in Preseason Top 25

Teams that made the playoffs and started the season in Top 25, 35-55, 64%.

Since 2009 only 5 times has a CAA team had atleast 7 wins and over .500 in conference and missed the playoffs: 

2017- Delaware, 2015- Towson, 2012- Towson(Only CO-Champ to not make it), JMU   2011-Delaware.

4 minutes ago, Chris Datres said:

As things are shaping up, just need JMU to find another loss before we play them.  That way, it’s possible that game won’t matter for the CAA title.  THAT is what we should start looking at now.  Everything else would take care of itself. 

Yes, that would be ideal, but I think that Elon loss got their attention and focus 

12 minutes ago, AtlantaTiger said:

Oooooh, so you're telling me that they were grossly overrated to begin with, for no good reason.  Still doesn't explain it.  Oh well.

same with jacksonville state and SHSU, they are vastly overrated and get smoked by a good team in the playoffs every year.

2 hours ago, AtlantaTiger said:

I guess I just want to know why KSU is ranked ahead of Towson.  If someone can explain or rationalize how Kennesaw State is worthy of such praise, I’d love to hear it. I’ve seen them in person this season. They would have big problems against most CAA teams, let alone North Dakota State, whom the coaches evidently believe are the only team better than them.

Well they started the season ranked 6th, which doesn't matter!!! (It does shhhh)

7 hours ago, TigersTigers said:

Like where we're at. If you were to ask me at the start of the year if we'd ever even be ranked, I'd have said absolutely not. Only thing we can do now is get to 6-1.

Great post.  I don’t think anyone thought that we’d be here 

20 minutes ago, TSU88 said:

I’ll be pulling for Richmond (playing Elon), W&M (playing Maine), UNH (playing Delaware) & Stony Brook (playing Rhode Island) this weekend.

It’s fun to be scoreboard watching for the 1st time since 2013.

 

 

Opposite for me.  Would rather all the teams we play be ranked so if we win it goes further down the road. 

53 minutes ago, TSU88 said:

We moved up 4 spots in the coaches poll, after not blowing the doors off W&M. That doesn’t seem too bad

I meant the poll as a whole.  Kennesaw, JSU state and SHSU that high

43 minutes ago, AtlantaTiger said:

Mat, do you have any knowledge or insights into what Coach Ambrose's reputation is among other FCS coaches both in the CAA and across the country?  Just wondering if any coaches have an axe to grind with Rob.  I feel like there's a bit of disrespect or hesitancy on the part of other coaches to acknowledge what Towson is doing right now.

I haven't seen every other ranked FCS team play this season but living in Atlanta, I'm up to speed on Kennesaw State's program.  While they're putting up crazy offensive numbers, they're not doing it against CAA-caliber teams.  I'm not sure why they're ranked so high.  I'm not saying Towson should be #2 in the country, but c'mon.....I think something's a little screwy with these polls.

You answered your own question.  Also, only 10 teams are undefeated against FCS opponents. and only 1 team has beaten 2 top 15 teams..

Athlon: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/fcs-rankings-power-poll-following-week-7-2018 #9

AGS: http://thefcswedge.com/ags-poll/ags-poll-week-7-top-25-results/#6

Massey: https://www.masseyratings.com/cf/fcs/ratings #9

Saragin: http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm #18

Coaches (LOL): https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fcs/fcs-coaches-poll #14

Stats: #13

3 4 6 10 11 15 all lost yesterday.  Crazy day in fcs and fbs for ranked teams 

Any caa team not named Towson 7-4 (5-3) gets in. We need 8 unless it’s a very soft bubble 

How far do we drop Monday?

sometimes you have to grind one out against a lower caliber team.   The next two on the road scare me and make the last 3 very big.   We will play 3 top 15 teams the last 3 weeks 

15 hours ago, TuTiger10 said:

Teams do help draw , but in my mind it’s a culture issue at Towson. How does the athletic department get kids to come to games and make it fun? When I was there 04-07 they consistently drew large student crowds who atleast stayed through halftime and we played lesser opponents than now. . Let’s face it, we aren’t scheduling better than what we have this year so we need to figure something else out. Tailgating did deter many from coming out and tailgating -what every other college football school does. Also a police state does not help Tim Leonard. Yes let’s make sure things do not get out of hand but let college kids be college kids and enjoy tailgating. Just my own opinion. 

Thats the difficult part, riding that fine line.  I personally saw lots of students during my time get way out of control at tailgates. They all belonged to one group and most if not all RARELY made it inside the gates. Maybe they got other students to come out and they wandered into the stadium.  Its difficult to please both sides on this.

59 minutes ago, tualum said:

Why I don't really go back and forth here.. lol. You didn't address the issue about how to get better teams here. No one has expectations of getting LSU or Florida coming here. You could possibly look at lower to mid tier FBS teams or high quality FCS teams. But again, it would be difficult to do so based on a myriad of things. Point is competition does draw...

"lol"-- there is no way to get better teams.  FBS teams, even the Slum Belt and Conference USA will NEVER play an FCS away game.  

I gave you perfect reasoning why no quality OOC FCS teams will come..  

Also, we do have high quality FCS teams come.. Stony Brook, JMU,  Delaware, UNH and guess what we dont draw.

7 minutes ago, tualum said:

The opponents DO matter. Even the most recent grad from here suggested UMD and other schools would be more attractive. Myself and others have no interest to traveling to games to watch Holy Cross and Morgan State play us at home. The same is true in basketball (look from the past success in scheduling some better teams, e.g. Temple, and others..). The Citadel was a different scenario due to the celebration of the football program. Why do you think no one showed up the following game? lol. But yes, they do matter but the issue is HOW to get these teams to come and play us (if possible at all...)

Screw going to the Swamp next year! Just have them come up to Auburn Drive and play us!  No good FCS team is going to schedule a game in which they aren't going to be paid, or have a high shot of winning. In an 11 game season you need to go 8-2 in FCS to make the playoffs. Would a Jacksonville State, or Chattanooga, or Montana risk losing a game and a ton of money traveling out here.  A top level FCS team in earlier September is not going to sell out Unitas. (unless its NDSU and it will be 1/2 green and gold)

We played Stony Brook, because we were obligated to..

15 minutes ago, tualum said:

Thanks for the input from a recent grad. Seems like the tailgating issue hasn't been fully rectified by the school. A lot of us agree that better competition needs to be scheduled to gain more interest. UMD would be a good fit but difficult. The whole argument about scheduling lesser known teams like Holy Cross, etc. to get easy wins just doesn't float. Yes, you may get a win but there is not certainty that you will make the playoffs and coupled with low attendance you have a recipe for a failed program...

8 hours ago, TU2018 said:

As a 2018 Towson grad I would like to share some of my insight on this topic.

During my time at Towson, (2015-2018) going to football games was never considered cool or even a thought in most of my friends minds. My freshman year, yeah we went to the first one for the free t-shirt and then never went to another. Most of my Saturdays were spent going out and drinking during the day at Uptown bars (hundreds of students are found here during the day on Saturdays). It's not that I wasn't interested in going to the game, it was just nearly impossible to try to find friends to go with. Most students at this school after freshman year don't go to a single game and do not even follow or know when games are. My friends that graduated before me all used to go (tailgating era) and as soon as tailgating was banned (wasn't actually banned but with all the stupid regulations everyone basically considered it banded) none of them had any interest in going to a game.

It's pretty simple in my eyes, no tailgating culture = no strong student attendance. The whole tailgating thing is a joke. Without a strong tailgating atmosphere how do you expect the community/older adults to come out. Tailgating is a major part of the atmosphere of going to a college/NFL game. Add on top a weak student section, you have a crowd that resembles a high school football game (I've heard students call it a high school atmosphere before).

The attitude by school administration to cover there asses by implementing all these tailgating policies is idiotic. Look at schools down south in the SEC or even UMD. There are thousands of kids on top of tables dancing, in tents, jumping on tables, doing keg stands in the parking lot and the school still allows it.

Another thought to increase attendance is schedule Maryland every year, (or Navy, or WVU). In 2017, many of my friends made the trek down to college park for the game. The same friends who have never attended a Towson home game. Most Towson students are friends with many students at College Park and it was an excellent atmosphere in the tailgating lots and at the game between both rival schools. I know Maryland would never come to us but still it raises the profile of Towson football among students that the games can be fun and may result to them coming out to a home game. 

I would love to hear the feedback from you all, figuring most of you may be older and have an older perspective.

Sorry, but playing @ maryland everywhere and losing convincingly does not help us. if anything it makes the fan-base even worse, as they cant complete with a bottom 50 FBS team.

Sorry alum, but winning games helps you get into the playoffs.  Play the lower level teams, win big and scrape together 4-5 conference wins and you are in the playoffs! 

Lets be realistic, it really doesnt matter who we play, our attendance is going to consistently be between 6-9k a year depending on game times and the teams performance 

Promotions for this week: 

This Weekend's Giveaways
Rally Towels for the first 1,500 fans in Johnny Unitas Stadium
Weis is Right - $25 Gift Card to Weis Markets
2,000 Utz Crab Chips and 1,000 cans of Pepsi at the start of the third quarter
GRAND PRIZE: Amazon Fire in the Fourth Quarter
500 Glory Days Coupons for a Free Appetizer Upon Exit from Unitas Stadium

I've gotten emails with this back to back weeks (don't remember if I did for Citadel) from the ticket office with a preview of the weekends game/events and link to buy tickets. It is actually pretty well done. 

Also, can we please get highlights/review from the previous game on the big screen before the game?!  I've been clamoring for this with basketball as well.  Shouldn't be hard to do! I know we have ad spots on the board, but it seems like most is "whose who at TU" on a continual loop

1 hour ago, sr16 said:

Thought this was interesting from post citadel game 

https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/citadel-s-loss-to-towson-reveals-crack-in-college-football/article_70af23e0-cbfd-11e8-a24f-cbcfe8c1f23c.html

sounds like sour grapes. would he be complaining if citadel won?

7 hours ago, TheGoldCrotchPiece said:

But the questions we need to be asking are: 

• How did we allow one person to yield so much power by turning into the no fun police? And how do we stop it as alumni? 
• How do we have an AD that seemingly has no concept to what marketing is and has no power at all in university affairs.
• What is our forum to voice these concerns other than complaining here?
  • Do they send out a season ticket holder survey? Not to my knowledge but a basic thing to start.
  • How about an open feedback session.

 

They do sent out season ticket surveys that includes "game day atmosphere and events"

37 minutes ago, tualum said:

Good points. I do agree with scheduling better competition for home games if possible. Who wants to watch the Citadel and Holy Cross? NDSU, EKU, would definitely be more appealing. Other problem is that we are now just getting better after a couple of years of mediocrity. Most students probably don't even know we are nationally ranked due to the absymal past seasons. You have to win consistently at this level to generate momentum and interest. 

Again, Sorry, but I would rather 5,000 fans at Unitas for a win then 7,500 for a loss against NDSU, JMU, Wofford, JSU, SHSU. (honestly most Towson fans, students, and alums, know about Colgate, Holy Cross, Morgan than the upper level FCS Teams. Just because we do on here doesn't mean the common fans know) And the goal is to make the playoffs.

 NDSU isnt coming to Towson for anything less than a 2 for, if that. Travel expenses for those games would make the game even more of a loss. (most of the big time FCS schools are in the middle of nowhere)

There arent many known FCS teams in the Northeast with a following for a reason.. pro sports.  

another thing, we cant fix now, but the stands are SO far from the field. It takes away from the atmosphere. 

As much as our attendance sucks, the team was pretty terrible the past 3-4 years and played a boring brand of football. We also arent the only ones at the 1AA level with difficulty drawing.  Attendance has been on the decline year after year.

16 minutes ago, RundaPower said:

Fake poll. Back room phone calls from AD’s to one another to influence the polls.   This is an absolute sham and really a disgrace.  STATS and NCAA coaches polls are both being influenced by the AD,s.  What quality wins does Colgate have?  How many top 15 wins does URI have?  How many wins over teams with winning records do both teams have.?  CAA leaugue office is behind this.  

Never forget 2012: “Your. losses to FBS  top 25 Kent State and #3 LSU cancelled out your 65-35 win (700 yds) against UNH” the day before the selections were made.

This.  Hence why it does matter if/where we are ranked.  I know you risk injury and everything, but when you're Towson and have the chance to blow opponents out and run it up, you better go for the jugular. JMU and NDSU rarely let their foot off the gas. 

24 minutes ago, AtlantaTiger said:

A lot of very valid points and suggestions made thus far on how to improve attendance.  I would also look the schedule as well to generate more buzz.  Towson has little or no name recognition outside of the mid-Atlantic.  While I respect Towson for taking on the likes of LSU, West Virginia, Northwestern, IU and USF in recent years, that does nothing for us from a respect or credibility standpoint (even though we gave LSU all they could handle) if we get pummeled. 

I think scheduling FBS games against mid and low-tier programs like Marshall, Tulane, Charlotte, UMass, Georgia State would be more beneficial in that they are much more winnable games.  If we can become known as the FCS program that regularly beats FBS teams, regardless of their conference affiliation, I think helps to sell the interest in the team to potential fans and ticket buyers.

With regard to our HOME non-conference games, we need to schedule better than Citadel and St. Francis and Holy Cross, etc.  Let's get some FCS heavyweights in here....let's schedule home & homes with North Dakota State, Montana, Eastern Washington, etc....I know FBS schools don't travel to FCS schools, but let's schedule the best-of-the-best in FCS for some home games.

Even though we evidently have a very good and talented team this year, until we string together SEVERAL seasons of winning football with a few playoff appearances and perhaps a National Championship or two, most people will be apathetic about Towson Football.  Towson doesn't have a football heritage or culture that people outside of the program itself can identify with.

 

Two problems with your statement:

1. Besides NDSU no FCS teams regularly beat FBS teams and that includes bottom tier FBS programs.

2. There is ZERO incentive for any FCS team to schedule good Home and Home's with other good FCS programs. NONE. The name of the game is to get 8 wins (7 if you are in a strong conference and have name recognition, Delaware, UNH, Richmond, Nova, UNI, Montana, SHSU, etc.) By scheduling tougher games it only makes the road to the playoffs more difficult.

Finally moving up a bit, "But rankings dont matter."  Every two loss team ranked ahead of towson in the coaches poll has two things in common.. made the playoffs in 2017 and started the season ranked in the top 20.