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Dodge Ball
Published: 9/30/2008 1:56 PM
Last Modified: 9/30/2008 1:56 PM

Tulsa put 30,000 people in the seats for a grand re-opening game at Chapman Stadium.
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State had open dates that weekend, which means that the Hurricane had the opportunity to pick up a few stray fans.
In the second game at refurbished Chapman Stadium, TU drew just over 20,000 fans. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the game kicked off at 6 p.m. OU and OSU home games kicked off at exactly the same time.
So, all that leads to this question: Should TU schedule kickoff times in such a way as to avoid direct conflicts with OU and OSU?
For instance, if TU had played an 11 a.m. or noon game last Saturday, Cowboy fans and Sooner fans could have attended the Hurricane game before watching their favorite teams in person or on television.
Of course, the scheduling arrangement in the Big 12 would make it hard for TU to plan non-conflicting kickoffs. Start times for Big 12 games aren't finalized until just over a week in advance because of television possibilities.
But, just my opinion, TU would be wise to avoid going head-to-head with the Sooners and Cowboys at the box office.



Reader Comments 6 Total
Dash Riprock (4 years ago)
JT, A good point indeed, I think it would be very wise for TU to look at game start times that are in conflict with the other state schools. I feel like Tulsa is certainly moving in a proactive way with their football operations. I was kinda disappointed at the attendance for the Central Arkansas game, considering the new additions to Chapman Stadium and how really well the Golden Hurricane are playing now. Here's hoping the program continues to move in a positive direction...and the university does all it can to fill ALL the seats.
cyco myko (4 years ago)
J.T. (can I call you J.T.?)
You're correct about the whole scheduling thing, but what can TU do? It seems like over the last couple of years they had a couple games on Friday and were on TV. I notice that didn't happen this year with the exception of a Sunday night game sometime later. I also notice that they haven't closed 11th street and had a band or something out there, also something they did in the past. And maybe last week's turnout was due to the fair being in town, I don't know. I hope this city can continue to show more support for TU, as they are obviously making the effort to give the city a higher quality program.
former (4 years ago)
Doesn't matter. TU competes with restaurants and childrens' activities more than they do OU or OSU
Dave (4 years ago)
Why does everyone assume that by scheduling at different times the attendance will make a significant jump? As an OSU alum I never, not once, even considered attending a TU game. Note to TU...quit looking to OU and OSU alumni to fill your stadium. That's what TU alumni are supposed to do.
cyco myko (4 years ago)
Dave, I wouldn't say that TU would ever look to OSU alumni to fill their stadium, OSU alumni can't even fill their own stadium, much less someone else's. I believe they, like any school, are relying on football fans in general to come check out the game. You're obviously not a football fan or you would understand this.
MikeTU (4 years ago)
Note to DAVE..... TU has the SMALLEST alumni base in the area of the three, and with the smallest undergrad enrollment in the FBS (Rice is 2nd), it is harder for TU to fill the stadium. TU doesn't go and search out OSU and OU fans, they invite Tulsans, and, if the time of the game does not conflict with an OSU or OU home/TV game, then it doesn't hurt to point it out.
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Tulsa World sports writer Jimmie Tramel is a former class president at Locust Grove High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a journalism degree and, while attending college, was sports editor of the Pryor Daily Times. He joined the Tulsa World on Oct. 17, 1989, the same day an earthquake struck the World Series. He is the OSU basketball beat writer and a columnist and feature writer during football season. In 2007, he wrote a book about Oklahoma State football with former Cowboy coach Pat Jones.

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