Football as 'Religion'

0 Kudos

Add Reply New Topic New Poll

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Author

Comment

BiasedGuy

Football as 'Religion'

Lead

[-]

All-Searn 1st Team

Posts: 1598

09/01/08 1:03 PM

Forum Donor

Tags : None

I have made my feelings known about the Circus Formerly known as Mlive, now M(orons)Live HS East Forum I guess outta respect for the knowledge of the posters on this forum I get sand up my azz when M(orons)Live posters people take shots and call out the more knowledgeable posters here.

Recent case in point. A (certain bombastic arse) M(orons)Live poster appears very knowledgeable, and makes no bnes about it. But here is another rub with him. He is adamant that HS football, as a 'religion' in Ohio is something that MI FB fans just don't understand. I am calling BS on that., and ask my West Michigan brethren to hear me out.

While watching a bit of the Elder (Cinn OH) hosting St Thomas Aquinas HS FB game on ESPN, the commentators made an interesting point. I believe in talking to the Elder coach he said that something on the order of 100,000 fans watch HS FB most weekends in Cinncy. That go me thinking, 'cause in my mind HS FB is 'religion' in W MI.

Looking up the Cinncy Metro area reveals a metropolitan population of about 2.1M. Using the actual numbers, 100,000 viewing fans turned out to be 4.7% of the population. 1 in 20 watching. Impressive.

But the Grand Rapids Metro is about 777,000 peoplel. 4.7% of that works out to 36,500. Based upon the size of some of the stadiums in the area, I think it is entirely reasonable that at least in W MI, the HS FB fans are at least as serious about their FB as those inbreeds in Ohio.

Do any of you posters who are familar with GR area football agree with me? That on any given weekend 36000 plus fans watch HS FB in the surrounding area? Seems like a no-brainer to me, but I have no way of quantifying that. Please weigh in.

And as far as Ohio HS FB goes......all I have to say today is GO ST THOMAS AQUINAS!!!!!

bold equals the edit for the overly sensitive twits with 'spies' and not just a lurker.

Last Edited By: BiasedGuy 10/19/08 9:46 AM. Edited 1 time.

Reply Quote

Muskyfan

#1

[-]

Junior

Posts: 46

09/01/08 1:45 PM

Last fall over 12,000 fans attended the Muskegon vs Hudsonville game at Hudsonville, setting a new attendance record there. That's a lot, obviously, but I don't think that was 1/3 of all the fans in attendance at football games in West Michigan on that day. I'd put that figure at maybe 1/5 of all West Michigan football attendees that night but that's just a guess.

Reply Quote

aowwt

#2

[-]

All-Searn 1st Team

Posts: 1950

09/01/08 7:01 PM

Dean of Stadiums
Forum Donor

first that metro number for GR is wrong when you consider the OK conf. So if we use the largest possible census number which does include Muskegon and Holland, we are looking at 1.3 million. Now you take that 4.7% number you get 62k people that would need to attend games. Now given that I think on average we have 2,000 going to every game in the OK conf given that some games go above those numbers and others go below that. With 26 games on each friday night just for the OK Conf you have around 52k in attendence. Add in the 4 games from the lakes 8 and the additional 4 games from the west michigan conf you have 16k in attendence. My guess is west michigan puts in the stands at least 68k in attendence. Add to that the occasional Lowell vs muskegon game and you may get a spike or egr vs lowell. In anycase the bottom line is that West michigan packs in a lot of people in thier stands.

	OK Conference Coverage, Predictions, and Standings at Searn Football
	Need to find a facility or find infomation about a facility for High School Football in the State of Michigan. Come to Michigan High School Stadium Site for a visit and to find the info you are looking for.

Reply Quote

EastGuRu

#3

[-]

Senior

Posts: 126

09/01/08 9:07 PM

aowwt's numbers seem reasonable (if not slightly conservative). One thing that Ohio may have over WM is that they may have been this fanatic for much longer than WM. Having been a resident of this side of the state for.........ahem, a long time..........I can safely say that it wasn't always like this. When I was in HS (back in the day) it was common to have parents, a hundred old men, and a smattering of students, who were mostly paying attention to each other. 3,000 for a game was a real rarity and 10,000 was unheard of. I'd estimate that attendance has tripled from as recently as 15 years ago. No proof of this, just my sense of things (and yes, it has been much longer than that since I played).

Reply Quote

Mr NCAA

#4

[-]

All-Searn Hall of Fame

Posts: 5709

09/01/08 9:22 PM

MHSAA Football Stats

At some Maple football games that I've attended throughout the years there were a couple of occasions where the estimated crowd was at 10K+, which is close to half the population.

Reply Quote

EKDAD

#5

[-]

Senior

Posts: 337

09/02/08 6:33 AM

Forum Donor

We have lived here in Kentwood for 25+ years, and following fb every year. I remember the first EK game we went to at Pat Pattersen Field, and it was packed. Not sure of the capacity, AOWWT can help us with that, but it was packed. There have been some years where the visitors side wasn't full, but by and large the home side was. I have attended games at East, and they were always packed. I remember growing up in central Michigan, and those games were always packed. Especially back then, going to the game was cool. MAybe because there wasn't much of anything else to do, except hang out at the drive in... or go parking at look out hill... or well maybe there was something better to do! Anyway I digress. Sorry about that. My neighbors grew up here in west Michigan, and they alledge that the games have always been packed here in Kentwood, and the Caldonia area.

My two cents, and a bag of chips!

GO EK!!

Reply Quote

aowwt

#6

[-]

All-Searn 1st Team

Posts: 1953

09/02/08 7:56 AM

Dean of Stadiums
Forum Donor

1900 for the home side, 1350 for the away. That makes it a quick 3250 for Patterson which it still has. Although by the time Shilito was there they added some 1000 more home side bleachers. Those were the portables that the school bought. I dare bet most games EK was sitting at something like 4500 for each game.

	OK Conference Coverage, Predictions, and Standings at Searn Football
	Need to find a facility or find infomation about a facility for High School Football in the State of Michigan. Come to Michigan High School Stadium Site for a visit and to find the info you are looking for.

Reply Quote

EKDAD

Agree...

#7

[-]

Senior

Posts: 340

09/02/08 8:09 AM

Forum Donor

I would agree. There were many Fridays that the stands were filled, the fences were filled, and the weather was less then inviting for the Falcon faithful. The fire marshall got involved and clsoed the gates at some point every Friday night. Hence, another reason to move the 'home' playoff games to FHC.

GO EK!!

Reply Quote

EastGuRu

#8

[-]

Senior

Posts: 128

09/02/08 8:30 AM

Well, been attending East games since the early 80's. While EGR has most always had a good attendance, I can tell you that alot of games we went to where we were the visitors were not well attended. Ottawa, Park, Sparta, Cedar, Kenowa, Holland. Can remember many games where we as the visitors brought more than the home side. Even Hudsonville's old stadium only supported about 400-500 on the visitor side. It was wretched. Maybe triple was an overstatement. But most schools who were not perennial powers and knew they had no shot at the playoffs with 1 (or sometimes) zero losses struggled to "pack them in". Some schools have routinely drawn well. The difference now is that almost all schools are drawing well thanks in part to expanded playoff and TV coverage (IMO).

BTW, for what it's worth, I went to a current OK Red school before there was an OK Red and we struggled to fill the stands. It's better now.

Reply Quote

aowwt

#9

[-]

All-Searn 1st Team

Posts: 1955

09/02/08 8:42 AM

Dean of Stadiums
Forum Donor

Well the OK Red was formed in 1965. So thats a while ago IMHO. Heck my dad was still in middle school when it was formed. It was wyo rogers, wyo park, hudsonville, forest hills, zeeland, and west ottawa. But I do agree that even when I was going to school the stands were never completely full. Now with the playoffs expanded it does help a lot.

	OK Conference Coverage, Predictions, and Standings at Searn Football
	Need to find a facility or find infomation about a facility for High School Football in the State of Michigan. Come to Michigan High School Stadium Site for a visit and to find the info you are looking for.

Reply Quote

EastGuRu

#10

[-]

Senior

Posts: 129

09/02/08 9:49 AM

My bad. Should have said before "we" joined the Red. No great secret here...I'm speaking of Grand Haven, back when they were in the Lake Michigan Conference. We Had a few good crowds against Muskegon, Traverse, Spring Lake, and Holland. But, nothing like the consistency of today's crowds.

Reply Quote

pavlov

#11

[-]

All-Area

Posts: 160

09/02/08 2:38 PM

Is this the same guy (different username name) that claimed HS football was bigger than religion in Ohio last year or year before? Also claimed had 15-18 D1 scholarship kids on his team (claimed to be a coach) nearly every year?

Reply Quote

Muskyfan

#12

[-]

Junior

Posts: 47

09/02/08 2:56 PM

Back in the 50's and earlier, a Muskegon - Muskegon Hieghts game used to draw 10,000 people, so I'm told by some of the old timers in Muskegon. I've also been told that TC Muskegon games used to bring 14,000 people to Thirlby Field. Maybe some alumni can confirm my numbers here.

Reply Quote

EastGuRu

#13

[-]

Senior

Posts: 131

09/03/08 12:01 AM

Well, since Thirlby Field seated 4500 folks in 1990 and possibly less in 1950, I have a hard time believing that 14,000 were crammed in. Source:http://www.handsongeography.org/geoquiz_where8a.asp

Reply Quote

aowwt

#14

[-]

All-Searn 1st Team

Posts: 1958

09/03/08 2:57 AM

Dean of Stadiums
Forum Donor

Actually they used to draw that many. But it was at Muskegon. They used the cement bleachers as the starting point and then ringed the entire field with wooden bleachers. Doing that would easily put 14k in attendence. You have to remember that Muskegon is nearly 6000 right now and it was slightly bigger back in the early days. They had to remodel the lower few rows for handicap access.

	OK Conference Coverage, Predictions, and Standings at Searn Football
	Need to find a facility or find infomation about a facility for High School Football in the State of Michigan. Come to Michigan High School Stadium Site for a visit and to find the info you are looking for.

Reply Quote

statman24

#15

[-]

All-Area

Posts: 371

09/03/08 4:32 AM

Helmet Guy

It has ALWAYS been my opinion that HS football was at least 1 tier higher in Ohio than in Michigan (yes.. this is a general statement). Ohio is not Texas, but it does (in general) draw more on average than it does here in Michigan.

Just my 2 cents.

Reply Quote

Blue

#16

[-]

Senior

Posts: 321

09/03/08 9:36 AM

Detroit Catholic Central's Boys' Bowl back in the 1940s(?) used to draw over 40,000

Where have those days gone?

Reply Quote

BiasedGuy

#17

[-]

All-Searn 1st Team

Posts: 1599

09/03/08 11:13 AM

Forum Donor

It sounds to me as if HS FB as really taken off in Western MI within fairly recent memory. But reading the responses from our Western MI posters it sure sounds like they 'Get it' in a similar fashion as the good ole folks in Ohio. And while nothing concrete, it sounds like W MI might come out in numbers rivalling those of Cinncinnati.

aowwt. The numbers are going to vary somewhat based upon what is considered the GR Metro area. The US Census link includes Musky for example. Mine was meant to be a quick calculation as such I did not worry about obtaining the specifics; especially in light of a general statement that I heard on TV during the game.

Pav, he sure sounds like the same guy. Knowledgeable, but loves to blow his horn and prostrate himself at the altar if Ohio HS FB.

Stats, I don't disagree with you regarding the entire state of MI as compared to the entire state of Ohio. I just think that W Mich DOES have a clue, as the M(orons)Live poster would insist we do not. Hey. Even the moms are into it in W MI. I can rattle off stuff about the Red Arrow's coach, and former Holt coach that don't need rattling off.

Blue, What do you think the attendance of say one of the more recent BBR v CC Boys Bowl games was? I dunno myself, but it had to be a bunch. I recall one year a BBR dad one just this side of $5000 in 50/50 tickets. What does Wisner hold? That year both sides were almost full with many many around the W endzone.

Reply Quote

Blue

#18

[-]

Senior

Posts: 323

09/03/08 11:58 AM

BiasedGuy wrote:
.

Blue, What do you think the attendance of say one of the more recent BBR v CC Boys Bowl games was? I dunno myself, but it had to be a bunch. I recall one year a BBR dad one just this side of $5000 in 50/50 tickets. What does Wisner hold? That year both sides were almost full with many many around the W endzone.

The Boy's Bowl were never the same after 1997 when they screwed with things.

At that time with a completely packed house and people standing the Free Press reported about 9,500 around 95-97. --- I would have to think Wisner holds at least 6,500?

Reply Quote

statman24

#19

[-]

All-Area

Posts: 374

09/03/08 5:18 PM

Helmet Guy

BiasedGuy wrote:
Stats, I don't disagree with you regarding the entire state of MI as compared to the entire state of Ohio. I just think that W Mich DOES have a clue, as the M(orons)Live poster would insist we do not. Hey. Even the moms are into it in W MI. I can rattle off stuff about the Red Arrow's coach, and former Holt coach that don't need rattling off.

Cool. Unfortunately, I've never been to a game on the west side of the state.

Reply Quote

aowwt

#20

[-]

All-Searn 1st Team

Posts: 1960

09/03/08 7:07 PM

Dean of Stadiums
Forum Donor

Well Statman the best time to see a HUGE stadium packed full is when you see EGR play at lowell, or when the OK Red big 3 play each other or if EK is used for a Div 2 or 3 semi final game. Those tend to get some nice crowds. As for wisner it holds 6600 fyi. pulled from searn being there and providing the dimensions.

	OK Conference Coverage, Predictions, and Standings at Searn Football
	Need to find a facility or find infomation about a facility for High School Football in the State of Michigan. Come to Michigan High School Stadium Site for a visit and to find the info you are looking for.

Reply Quote

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Add Reply

Michigan-Football.com	West Michigan All Star Blog	MI HS Football Stadium	Mich. Helmet Project
Prepseer.com	Snooze's MHSAA Playoff Maps	Michigan Sports Radio - Preps	MHSAA
The Write Referee Blog	Michigan Small School Football	Upper Peninsula High School Football	Other Links

Yuku free message boards

Football as 'Religion'

Football as 'Religion'