Will Sparty Fans Shell Out $$$ for the Alamo?

Submitted by BornInAA on

Would you pay $$$ to see your 6-6 team with 11 members suspended get dismembered by 8-4 Texas Tech?
I think I'd rather go to Disney World.

lilpenny1316

December 11th, 2009 at 9:17 AM ^

More fans would've showed up if they were in Detroit for the Pizza Pizza Bowl. How do you justify shelling out hundreds for a bowl game to see an underachieving team possibly get donkey punched by Tech? Especially with the economy the way it is, particularly in Michigan.

Wolverine In Exile

December 11th, 2009 at 9:17 AM ^

they better... one aspect of being an "elite" program means your fans show up in droves to your bowl games and allow bowl game committees to put your team in more prestigious games than your record would otherwise allow.

Raback Omaba

December 11th, 2009 at 9:19 AM ^

If I were an MSU fan I would rather save the trip for my next big time away game in BBall.

The MSU BBall is something that they should be proud of and support to the fullest extent. It's the epitome of what an athletic program should be. Izzo is classy and has built a strong contender - one of the top 5 teams of the decade. His team deserves every dollar and ounce of support that Dantonio's thugs might get for this Alamo Bowl.

BornInAA

December 11th, 2009 at 11:07 AM ^

that is:
6-6
wildly over matched
11 team members suspended for criminal activity

Will the fanbase show up?

I think it will be interesting to see - it just happens to be the Spartans in this case.
I am no more obsessed with the the Spartans than the gum on the bottom of my shoe.

Maybe if they give a free ticket with every case of beer at the local San Antonio Food Marts then more green will be seen.

formerlyanonymous

December 11th, 2009 at 10:35 AM ^

There are plenty of Spartan fans in Texas, so not all of them are shelling out that much to travel. It's not that much different than when I went to see our 7-5 team play Nebraska. It'll probably end up with about 70+% Tech fans in the AlamoDome, just like the 70+% sea of Nebraska red during our game.

Yinka Double Dare

December 11th, 2009 at 11:12 AM ^

If you're a single person, you'd rather go to San Antonio than Orlando. My ratings of Big 10 bowls for the younger set (not including Rose, because who cares what it's like if you've made it to the Rose Bowl, right?)

Outback
Alamo
Insight
Citrus/Champs Sports
Pizza

Frankly, it kinda sucks that we're replacing San Antonio, which at least has the riverwalk, with freaking Jacksonville next year and yet another matchup with the SEC in a bowl. The Pizza Bowl may beat out the Gator as far as enjoyable destinations.

M-Wolverine

December 11th, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^

I agree that the Alamo was underrated, and will be missed. The Riverwalk was awesome. I was kinda hoping that's where we'd end up in the last one this year. And the new bowls and match-ups do NOT inspire me (how many times can you go to Florida? 4 of the next 5 bowls send you there).

However, I'm not sure about the Outback. Yeah, on New Year's Eve it's pretty good...if you take a cab to the street with all the outdoor bars...and it's not pouring rain....which it often is in December... But other than that, it's more downtown, and there's way less to do. And the hotels aren't as nice.

Orlando has the best team hotel (which is also the only one I've been at that throws it's own New Year's Party, that's FREE to boot), and you can find ANYTHING to do on International Drive, day or night, even if you can't stand amusement parks.

The Rose isn't actually as convenient to do things as the others, unless you plan on paying for a lot of cab rides, but as you said, it's the Rose. And the game itself is played in perhaps the most beautiful environment there is for football.

pullin4blue

December 11th, 2009 at 11:16 AM ^

I think the Sparty fans will show up but in small numbers. Part of the reason to go to a bowl game when you live in Michigan is to get away from snow and ice. If you love your team, the warm weather is just a bonus. Michigan always gets consideration from bowl selection committees because we have the largest number of living alums. We went to a great university and for the most part have good jobs and disposable income. We can afford to follow our team to bowl games, and we do.
There are not alot of large animal vets who can take time off to go watch a football game in Texas. Might as well just watch them on TV.

Elise

December 11th, 2009 at 12:09 PM ^

San Antonio's actually a pretty nice city. The River Walk is beautiful, the Alamo is neat if underwhelming, and the steak is to die for.

Football game? What football game?

ijohnb

December 11th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^

quite a few empty seats, even with Texas Tech playing close to home, its just not that compelling of a match up. In fact, looking at all of the bowl matchups, Uhg. Just not that good of a bowl season.

DeuceInTheDeuce

December 11th, 2009 at 1:41 PM ^

People seem to be enjoying Possegate 2 too much. Although it reflects very poorly on MSU and the team, most of this has not been pinned on Dantonio (except the bad call on Winston's second chance, obv.). For the most part MD is portrayed, rightly or wrongly, as doing the best he can with a trying situation.

The problem is that Possegate 2 has turned this bowl game into a no-win situation for Tech.

If Tech wins:
-They beat an middling B10 team that was missing key players and is going through so much adversity that it would be difficult for them to emotionally and mentally prepare for the game (You fucking bullies, Tech!).

If State wins:
-MD works miracles with inferior talent, knows how to pull a team together through armageddon-like chaos, and has demonstrated the ability to travel across the country to beat great teams in their own backyard. Many will consider him an elite coach, despite the fact that he hasn't accomplished anything significant.

This could blow up in Michigan's face in a major way. This is like B10 teams playing MAC schools.

If you don't like Dantonio, you'd better root for a blowout. A close loss won't do.

DeuceInTheDeuce

December 11th, 2009 at 8:49 PM ^

That is more likely, because Tech taking MSU to the woodshed is more likely. Almost certainly this game is somewhat insignificant from a national perspective, however, a backs-against-the-wall win for MD won't soon be forgotten by the local media. A loss will.

As a FB coach, maybe I'm just envious of being able to play a game knowing no one will fault me if we lose. RR could use a little bit of that right now.

Having said all that, you probably still disagree with me. In a way, I hope you're right.

Happyshooter

December 11th, 2009 at 7:11 PM ^

I was trying to come up with a joke about how if Sparty students don't pony up for tickets MarkD will have the team run into the dorm and beat the cash out of them...

but I can't figure out how to word it to sound funny or clever.

Can someone help me out?