MGoBlog membership interest in the NFL
A long time ago, the Michigan Athletic Department polled Michigan season ticket holders to ask (among many other things) how many of them also had tickets to NFL games. In reporting the results, Michigan reported that very few season ticket holders had NFL tickets as well. They took it to mean that Michigan football fans (at least the season ticket holders, which may be a far different demographic than "Michigan fans" in general) were uniquely interested in college football.
Of course, taking just Michigan as an example may not be representative of college football more broadly. Particularly given the fortunes of the NFL franchise in the state of Michigan. There may be a lot more crossover among season ticket holders for the University of Pittsburgh and the Steelers. The University of Wisconsin and the Packers. USC/UCLA and whatever NFL franchise resides in Los Angeles this year. Et cetera.
I don't have a good simple poll formulated for this, but I thought I'd open it up to anecdotal comments on the MGoBoard to try to guage it.
I have not watched a single NFL game start to finish this year, or the previous year or the year before that. I would be tempted to say that I haven't really watched an NFL game in 10 years. But there have probably been a couple of Super Bowls or random games where I was trapped socially, and watched. I have seen somewhat-entertaining portions of some games; a quarter here or there; usually less than that.
I have not purchased a ticket to an NFL game that I can recall. I went to a handful -- a small handful -- of games in the Silverdome, including the electrifying first game when I thought that rookie WR and former Michigan QB Dennis Franklin might have gotten killed on a crossing route. I think it was his last play in football. And I have been to one game as a guest at Ford Field.
In contrast, like many of you, I attend 7 or 8 or 9 Michigan games a year, in Ann Arbor and on the road. The rest I watch start to finish on television. There is almost nothing about college football that does not interest me; there is almost nothing about the NFL that does interest me.
So as we see more and more players leave college football before their eligibility is finished, and now even before their final seasons are over, I am just wondering how many MGoBoard members will watch our departing players in the NFL?
December 20th, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
I rarely watch the NFL. It's super boring.
December 20th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
I will occasionally subject myself to the pain of watching the Lions, but I will also tune in for some of the better matchups on Sunday and Monday night. Thursday night games, with some noted exceptions, have been traditionally awful.
December 20th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
I have Browns season tickets.
December 20th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
Zero interest except occasionally during the late stages of the playoffs. The product is usually boring and cookie cutter and the people who own the teams are some of the worst of the worst. The idea of giving them my money makes sick.
December 20th, 2018 at 4:03 PM ^
I wouldn't watch NFL without fantasy.
December 20th, 2018 at 4:20 PM ^
Clearly it's cool to hate pro sports around here for some reason, but that doesn't mean it's not super popular still. If you listen to the mgoblog population you'd think NFL is unpopular overall. In reality it absolutely dominates everything else in terms of popularity. For perspective, the highest rated NCAA football game is the national championship and gets about 25 million viewers. That is the only NCAA football game in the top 50 sports games of 2017. NFL accounts for 43 of the top 50 games, including 6 games over 30 million and the Super Bowl getting 111 million viewers. NBA comes in 2nd with 4 games, MLB and NCAA basketball gets 1 game. NFL is king and it's not close. They'll get more viewers for a big Monday night game than all other sports get for their championship games.
Personally, I am way more into NCAA football but it's largely due to me attending UofM and having some of my best memories in life involving football saturdays. I don't have that kind of connection to the Lions. I live out of state now and travel for at least 1 M game each year, maybe 2. I will also travel to hit a Lions road game most years. The majority of the population did not go to a football school and has more of a connection with NFL teams.
Finally, I'll point out that I think the NFL is screwing up by locking down ownership of games. Any given Saturday I could probably watch 50 college games (and always M). For NFL i get the 3 night games and 3 or 4 day games on Sunday. If you won't let me watch the Lions (without buying Dish or whoever) then it's hard to be a dedicated fan. They have the clout to do that now but that's a bad long term plan.
December 20th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
Whatever is up with MGoBlog throwing all these ads into the body of posts/articles, I am not about it
December 20th, 2018 at 4:50 PM ^
I watch all of our players in the NFL... Obviously man crushing on Funchess since he is here in Charlotte but we suck this year... Almost bought a Peppers Browns jersey... I am that annoying guy that says "......from the University of Michigan" everytime one of our players does anything regardless of how small... Also f ohio everytime an ohio player does something even Curtis Samuel...
December 20th, 2018 at 5:01 PM ^
I dont really follow the NFL very closely. I havent watched a full NFL game in about 3 or 4 years. But I generally know the scores and the big storylines simply because its so omnipresent in the sports media.
December 20th, 2018 at 5:38 PM ^
Bears are actually good this year so I have been watching a lot more. Some of it does depend on my work schedule. If I am home on Sunday the TV will have an NFL game on. I may not sit and actually watch the whole thing but football will be on all day. Also, I completely gave up fantasy football and now I actually enjoy watching games.
December 20th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
I love football and will usually watch almost any game on TV. I usually have a rooting interest in most college games. When I watch the NFL, I rarely care who wins. I'm actually more interested in watching players with whom I was familiar when they played in college.
My son-in-law is a Browns fan so I usually root for them to win; he's been miserable long enough.
December 20th, 2018 at 6:55 PM ^
I have little to no interest in the NFL. I will watch some of the playoffs and most of the Super Bowl for the social aspect. I do not care who wins or loses or care what players are in the game. I am a college football fan and spend my time and money on that.
December 20th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
To each his own, but I enjoy the NFL and I’m a UM season ticket holder.
I play fantasy football, some daily fantasy, and some light gambling.
I agree with those saying college football has more pageantry, traditions, and heart. I am way more passionate about UM football than anything else. But I enjoy the high level of elite talent playing in the NFL. Some find games boring, but I don’t. I’d rather watch many NFL games than Georgia plowing through an FCS school. Again, to each their own.
December 20th, 2018 at 7:30 PM ^
Long-term season ticket holder for UM football and Indianapolis Colts. When there is a conflict (e.g. UM night game - 1:00 pm Colts kickoff) - the Colts tickets get sold.
December 20th, 2018 at 8:14 PM ^
I don't watch the NFL - but I love hearing about our Michigan guys succeeding at the next level.
December 20th, 2018 at 8:19 PM ^
I don’t like Pro anything.
i stopped watching MLB when Alan Trammel supported the strike/lockout. If they don’t care about the fans I don’t care about them. The NBA and NFL were soon to follow.
i will watch New England because of their offensive precision (and GOAT).
i wish all former Michigan players well in their pro careers, but once they leave Michigan, I couldn’t even tell you where they play (or if they are still playing), except Brady.
December 20th, 2018 at 8:52 PM ^
I have Packers season tickets. It means as much to be as Michigan football.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:01 PM ^
This. I don’t get why it’s so “cool” to hate on the NFL here. The level of play, X’s and O’s, and coaching chess match is just at such a high level in the NFL.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
When my team isn’t good (not this year though: Go Bears!) and I don’t have very competitve fantasy team, it’s like it doesn’t exist.
I’ll watch any CFB game ever over an NFL game I have no strong rooting interests in.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:28 PM ^
I've been to exactly one NFL game - the Detroit Lions against the Buffalo Bills - worst 3 hours ever, players didn't even look like they cared to play, just going through the motions during the Jim Schwartz era.
Stopped watching the NFL - want sports without any politics. Just trying to enjoy the game for what it is. I don't care much for the owners and only follow former Michigan players. College players play their heart out and give it their best cause they have purpose.
December 20th, 2018 at 11:05 PM ^
I dont watch nfl games. Dont care about those. I watch every michigan football game and look forward especially to any bowl game they are in.
December 21st, 2018 at 12:32 AM ^
A few reasons why I like CFB much more than the NFL:
1. They play on Saturday, not Sunday. Most of the time, of course.
2. The teams have much more history and depth. Rivals are rivals in the truest sense of the word.
3. CFB is where football stars are born and gain most of their notoriety.
4. Winning a game 79-0 or 56-10 happens frequently. I think that's pretty cool.
5. Recruiting and signing day antics are more interesting and entertaining than a draft.
December 21st, 2018 at 4:50 AM ^
NFL is like watching clones with different unis play each other. Very sterile, all business and not many differences in the teams. The athleticism can be awesome to watch but CFB is more like religion...NFL is more like going to a concert event or something.
December 21st, 2018 at 8:04 AM ^
Haven't watched one down of NFL this year. Generally don't give a rat's ass about pro sports in general. Usually watch the Super Bowl because of annual party I attend and buy squares. Also because Tom Brady is usually playing in it.
December 21st, 2018 at 8:30 AM ^
I just cannot get enough of college football and of course M football. I’m gradually becoming fanatical as well about M basketball. But the NFL?
The only NFL I watch is the playoffs...if... it’s New England and Tom Brady. Other than that, I haven’t been to or watched an NFL game in years. No interest.
December 21st, 2018 at 9:06 AM ^
In general, I actually prefer the NFL to CFB. I'll pay closer attention to CFB as long as Michigan is relevant, but once Michigan has a couple losses, I'll really only care about Michigan games and not CFB as a whole.
This ties in to the playoff debate, but I actually think there are way too many meaningless CFB games. The last month of the season, there are really only a couple games per week that matter (a lot of teams that are still relevant have non-competitive games). Around November, the NFL really heats up where most games have implications.
December 21st, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
With the exception of a marquee matchup like chiefs/patriots, chiefs/rams, I don't watch the NFL anymore. I've watched 3 games this season and I'll probably watch 3-4 playoff games. Contrast that to my college football watching, I tune in all day/night on Saturdays.