State of High School Football....

[Pull-A-Roy]

You know I was talking with someone the other day about high school football in general. I can only speak for the state of Mississippi when I say this. The game has changed so much over the last 25 - 30 years. While players are bigger , faster , stronger , and teams are doing much more offensively and defensively the overall pride in programs has dwindled. Smart phones , social media, ticket prices ect.... has taken from the game to a certain extent. People have more to do now, and the ability to stream games and access  to get updated scores instantly has taken some of the pride out of the communities to follow their local team. It used to be that the whole town rallied around the football program. It was must see entertainment every Friday night. That is not the case anymore. You don't see the great crowds on a week to week basis. What is your opinion?

[Vott]

46 minutes ago, Pull-A-Roy said:

You know I was talking with someone the other day about high school football in general. I can only speak for the state of Mississippi when I say this. The game has changed so much over the last 25 - 30 years. While players are bigger , faster , stronger , and teams are doing much more offensively and defensively the overall pride in programs has dwindled. Smart phones , social media, ticket prices ect.... has taken from the game to a certain extent. People have more to do now, and the ability to stream games and access  to get updated scores instantly has taken some of the pride out of the communities to follow their local team. It used to be that the whole town rallied around the football program. It was must see entertainment every Friday night. That is not the case anymore. You don't see the great crowds on a week to week basis. What is your opinion?

 

46 minutes ago, Pull-A-Roy said:

You know I was talking with someone the other day about high school football in general. I can only speak for the state of Mississippi when I say this. The game has changed so much over the last 25 - 30 years. While players are bigger , faster , stronger , and teams are doing much more offensively and defensively the overall pride in programs has dwindled. Smart phones , social media, ticket prices ect.... has taken from the game to a certain extent. People have more to do now, and the ability to stream games and access  to get updated scores instantly has taken some of the pride out of the communities to follow their local team. It used to be that the whole town rallied around the football program. It was must see entertainment every Friday night. That is not the case anymore. You don't see the great crowds on a week to week basis. What is your opinion?

It may not be in your town, but go somewhere like Lumberton, Biggersville, Charleston, or Jeff Davis Co and I guarantee you that the stands will be packed and nothing will be going on in town that night with the exception of an eating place being open before the game. Small town football schools roll up the streets about 6pm on Friday nights

[Pull-A-Roy]

I am sure there are pockets of places like that throughout the state , but as a whole there has been a definite decrease in my opinion. 

[Hash_Marks]

1 hour ago, Pull-A-Roy said:

You know I was talking with someone the other day about high school football in general. I can only speak for the state of Mississippi when I say this. The game has changed so much over the last 25 - 30 years. While players are bigger , faster , stronger , and teams are doing much more offensively and defensively the overall pride in programs has dwindled. Smart phones , social media, ticket prices ect.... has taken from the game to a certain extent. People have more to do now, and the ability to stream games and access  to get updated scores instantly has taken some of the pride out of the communities to follow their local team. It used to be that the whole town rallied around the football program. It was must see entertainment every Friday night. That is not the case anymore. You don't see the great crowds on a week to week basis. What is your opinion?

This is my opinion on the original post. 

[maroontide06]

5 minutes ago, Pull-A-Roy said:

I am sure there are pockets of places like that throughout the state , but as a whole there has been a definite decrease in my opinion. 

Like Vott said it'll have to depend on where you are.  I know that Picayune, Poplarville & PRC pack the stands for home football games.  Heck Picayune even travels real well, but we've always done that.  Whatever side we had of MM Roberts stadium for the '19, '21, & '22 state titles it was slam full.  I'm sure we've gotten West Jones to think about expansion as well LOL!

[Pull-A-Roy]

Just now, Hash_Marks said:

This is my opinion on the original post. 

lol definitely not trying to be that . just stating my opinion

[maroontide06]

If you don't want to see a decline in attendance in home football games where you live, keep the culture strong and show up and support your hometown team.  I realize that's easier said than done, but there's got to be some excitement there and it's probably a good thing to unplug yourself from technology for 3-4 hours a week and watch the game in person.  Thankfully high school football ticket prices are still affordable, so I don't buy the whole ticket price thing.  If it's a college or NFL game, that's a different story.  The only effort it takes is getting in your car and driving to the stadium.

[MSSportsGuy]

I can agree with some of this. I think these days it's just tougher to get the community and students interested in much of anything. Everyone is super busy or thinks they are. Parents still support their kids but the kids are more "entertained" now than even when I was young.  

 

Youth sports culture, for better or worse, has replaced high school teams for how young spend their extracurricular time and also a chunk of the family's entertainment. My wife and I did it for our kids but not to the degree some families do. Plus, and I saw this with my own kids, many schools have so many student centered activities going on it makes it difficult for the average student to pay much attention to the school teams

 

I think ticket, concession, and gas prices are a concern for a middle to lower middle class family who may opt to stream or keep up with the game via social media rather than pay the expense

[Chunky6617]

I agree with you. It’s not the same anymore 

[Wareaglefan1us]

Most people will stay home and livestream the games rather than attend. I believe that has played a big role in attendance falling off.

[Rebel Bert]

Work schedule  gets a lot of folks away from the game.

[Former Coach]

14 hours ago, Wareaglefan1us said:

Most people will stay home and livestream the games rather than attend. I believe that has played a big role in attendance falling off.

I agree, and I'm sorry but if I'm the AD, none of our sports are live streaming, at least not home games.

[maroontide06]

27 minutes ago, Former Coach said:

I agree, and I'm sorry but if I'm the AD, none of our sports are live streaming, at least not home games.

Why do the whole livestream thing when you can take an away trip to Pascagoula and either get sun fried or get monsooned on?  You're taking the fun out of it LOL!

[Dubaction]

1 hour ago, Former Coach said:

I agree, and I'm sorry but if I'm the AD, none of our sports are live streaming, at least not home games.

Uh no. As someone who now lives in a different state and has to catch my Alma mater’s games via live stream I disagree with this 100%

Edited March 1, 2024 by Dubaction

[Wareaglefan1us]

1 hour ago, Dubaction said:

Uh no. As someone who now lives in a different state and has to catch my Alma mater’s games via live stream I disagree with this 100%

Dub I get it with you and even people working away from home. But it has definitely had a negative effect on attendance. I know WC isn’t the team they once were and that has an effect. But attendance is down everywhere even at OG. Livestream has a lot to do with it but not the only reason. 

[Bender20]

On 2/29/2024 at 10:38 AM, Hash_Marks said:

This is my opinion on the original post. 

Cept he some right.  Fans don't support school sports no more in a lot small town cause all the people gone and these new people don't go.  I bet we didn't average 200 fans this year and we use to pack out every game anywhere we play.  Don't nobody but a hang full of people help no more.  Small towns be dying is the biggest thing to me.

[Dubaction]

1 hour ago, Wareaglefan1us said:

Dub I get it with you and even people working away from home. But it has definitely had a negative effect on attendance. I know WC isn’t the team they once were and that has an effect. But attendance is down everywhere even at OG. Livestream has a lot to do with it but not the only reason. 

I can’t speak for everyone… but when I was still living in OG I didn’t miss a home game. I standby my stance that the in person atmosphere is unmatched. But for those that absolutely can’t be there in person the live stream is convenient. 

[Admiral4Life]

This trend is in all sports.  You'll see some parents and family at games, you'll see some students, you'll see some of the general community...  Regardless, you'll see the ratio of those increase per game the more the team wins and is worth showing up for.  For some of the larger schools though, if the band isn't performing at halftime, you'll see a 75% decrease or more in the size of the crowd.  There is just so much more to do now unless you have a direct link to the players or team.  In the "olden days" a lot of people just went to the games because it was the only thing going on and you were guaranteed to meet up with old friends.  Now, that's just not the case.  

 

Throw in the lack of school spirit, lack of team commitment, lack of general interest in anything other than getting high or playing on phones/social media and you've got a great recipe for apathy and disinterest.  Start winning games and having a chance to accomplish something?  Then you'll see the fair weather fans and random nobodies come back.