Leatherneck Nation

vatusay wrote: Sat Sep 27, 2025 11:22 pm Just so sad to go to these games. Walk up the literally crumbling steps. Sit on splintered benches. Watch the team barely compete (usually lose) in the weak OVC, all while trying to tell my kids how it used to be. The hills would be full of people, the pit FULL of tailgaters, peach blossoms making it fun, a cool cannon before kick off, churning out NFL players every year, and to top it off we competed with the best teams in the country in all of 1AA football. Pretty impressive downfall. 

 

So depressing. Heck, back in the days when I attended WIU, we weren't even division 1 yet; and we still had great football teams. The 'Necks back then were particularly noted for their goal line defense - tough to score on them. I miss those days, and later days when the 'Necks were a powerhouse. Listened to Herb Donaldson on the half-time show. Now, those were the days......................

rocki wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 4:24 pm

vatusay wrote: Sat Sep 27, 2025 11:22 pm Just so sad to go to these games. Walk up the literally crumbling steps. Sit on splintered benches. Watch the team barely compete (usually lose) in the weak OVC, all while trying to tell my kids how it used to be. The hills would be full of people, the pit FULL of tailgaters, peach blossoms making it fun, a cool cannon before kick off, churning out NFL players every year, and to top it off we competed with the best teams in the country in all of 1AA football. Pretty impressive downfall. 


 

So depressing. Heck, back in the days when I attended WIU, we weren't even division 1 yet; and we still had great football teams. The 'Necks back then were particularly noted for their goal line defense - tough to score on them. I miss those days, and later days when the 'Necks were a powerhouse. Listened to Herb Donaldson on the half-time show. Now, those were the days......................

 

Couldn't agree more... It is sad going to games now. Outside of the students in the band and on the field, not sure there are anymore or at least they don't support or go to the games.

I feel like the school spirit is at an all time low and I know the school is going through some tough times but man driving through Macomb on Saturday is scary, looks like a ghost town.

As far as the product on the field... we can't keep losing in this conference, I would say this might be the easiest in the FCS. I like our head coach, and I think he will start the freshman QB
 

4EverPurple&Gold wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 9:44 pm

rocki wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 4:24 pm

vatusay wrote: Sat Sep 27, 2025 11:22 pm Just so sad to go to these games. Walk up the literally crumbling steps. Sit on splintered benches. Watch the team barely compete (usually lose) in the weak OVC, all while trying to tell my kids how it used to be. The hills would be full of people, the pit FULL of tailgaters, peach blossoms making it fun, a cool cannon before kick off, churning out NFL players every year, and to top it off we competed with the best teams in the country in all of 1AA football. Pretty impressive downfall. 



 

So depressing. Heck, back in the days when I attended WIU, we weren't even division 1 yet; and we still had great football teams. The 'Necks back then were particularly noted for their goal line defense - tough to score on them. I miss those days, and later days when the 'Necks were a powerhouse. Listened to Herb Donaldson on the half-time show. Now, those were the days......................


 

Couldn't agree more... It is sad going to games now. Outside of the students in the band and on the field, not sure there are anymore or at least they don't support or go to the games.

I feel like the school spirit is at an all time low and I know the school is going through some tough times but man driving through Macomb on Saturday is scary, looks like a ghost town.

As far as the product on the field... we can't keep losing in this conference, I would say this might be the easiest in the FCS. I like our head coach, and I think he will start the freshman QB
 

 

Not to take this topic off the rails or anything, but just curious as to the thoughts of others. Back in the day, Saturday football games were THE place to be (like I said, even before we were Division 1). Totally different story today - my question is, is it just because of our crummy record, or are we seeing the sad future of sports in general? Are they going to go the way of the dodo due to lack of interest from the current crop of students? (And I've noticed it isn't just WIU that has a problem with attendance, it seems to be pretty widespread among college sports today unless you are a HUGE program). I'm wondering if we are looking at the eventual end of pro sports altogether due to lack of interest.
 

Flagship programs with large guaranteed national exposure will continue to thrive.  Lesser programs with a winning culture and/or good sponsorships will also be in the black.  Everyone else will struggle to get reasonably talented kids on the court or field and a few fans in the bleachers on a regular basis.

Interestingly, professional pool/billiards is making a big comeback these days thanks to good streaming with fan commentary mixed in.  When ESPN dropped it, interest waned.  Now multiple associations (WPA, WPBA, etc.) and table manufacturers host tournaments around the globe.  We have three or four young ladies still in their teens on the pro circuit pretty much full time.
 

rocki wrote: Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:07 pmNot to take this topic off the rails or anything, but just curious as to the thoughts of others. Back in the day, Saturday football games were THE place to be (like I said, even before we were Division 1). Totally different story today - my question is, is it just because of our crummy record, or are we seeing the sad future of sports in general? Are they going to go the way of the dodo due to lack of interest from the current crop of students? (And I've noticed it isn't just WIU that has a problem with attendance, it seems to be pretty widespread among college sports today unless you are a HUGE program). I'm wondering if we are looking at the eventual end of pro sports altogether due to lack of interest.

This is just sports today. Students have more options. If you're a football fan, you can take your pick of 100+ DI football games every weekend across broadcast and streaming platforms. If you're not that into football, you've got movies and tv streaming, video games, internet, etc.

Even the top FBS programs are having issues with attendance. A few years back, I remember Nick Saban complaining about the student attendance issues at Alabama. Schools and pro teams that are renovating their stadiums or building new ones are building/renovating with the intent of reducing seats for regular fans and increasing expensive skyboxes for high-money boosters and big-spenders. It's just the trend now, but obviously hits smaller schools and schools with poor records in recent history much harder than the "big boys".

I contribute most of it to the same thing I do for the downfall of society. Cell phones and social media. 
 

vatusay wrote: Wed Oct 01, 2025 10:12 am I contribute most of it to the same thing I do for the downfall of society. Cell phones and social media. 
 

 

I can't argue with that...............