FOLIOby TOM WEPPEL
During these Fall days, in which football weekends simply dominate everyone’s attention, it is always interesting to observe how teams fill stadiums…and how fans follow their favorite teams. In so many cases, the intensity and the quantity of fans who get into various teams all comes down to one simple aspect…Winning. Nothing more…nothing less.
When a team wins…or starts winning, depending on the sport…interest will always begin to swell. More stories will be written. More interviews with players and coaches will be done. And more people will watch games, either live in town and places they call home, or on TV, where ratings will increase. It is a beautiful thing, without question…and it is easily the driving force behind almost every single franchise in every single League and sport, either on an amateur or professional level.
On the other end, you have the other aspect of sports that all teams and franchises simply despise…losing! When a team or franchise loses…whether it is one game, or a multitude…then losing will absolutely kick the ass of every single participant. That includes players, fans, coaches…even stadium employees and those whose job is somehow connected to that team…losing will bring out harsh realities that nobody likes whatsoever.
What is even more intriguing is when you compare and/or observe a situation where you have two major teams for all intents located within the same city, market, or region. When that is the case, as it very-much is in a multitude of places around the country…those teams are easily in competition with each other for the interest…and the dollar…of the sports/football fan.
I bring all this up (and out!) because a lot of people simply do not realize or give thought to how one winning football team can take away a lot of the fan base of the losing football team when they are both located within the same market.
Here are some examples…
For years in Atlanta, football fans haven’t necessarily been interested in the Falcons. The team for years has not filled the Georgia Dome, and their TV ratings have not been that impressive, especially when they have essentially had to compete with the consistently winning Bulldogs and the SEC for fans and viewers. UGA has easily been the dominant football team of interest in Georgia and the Atlanta area, while the Falcons have been looked upon as more of an also-ran.
But in the last few season, the Falcons have started to show some prowess, putting together winning seasons. It has gotten people into the team on various levels, from more fan viewership and discussion, to higher attendance numbers and attraction. And that has taken away some of the interest in the ’Dogs, even though they are still winning a majority of the games on their schedule. People simply don’t have the demeanor they used to carry back in the days of Herschel Walker, when there was a feeling the Bulldogs would challenge for the National Championship. In those years, football fans didn’t give a crap about the Falcons!
How about Ohio? In that state, football fans have been simply obsessed with the Buckeyes, as they produced nationally prominent teams year-in and year-out. They always go to major Bowl games, with the Rose Bowl for years having been the ultimate destiny. Ohio State football has been very, very popular in all ways…both on the field, and off.
But do you ever hear or see Browns fans around the state (or country) beating their chests to show off their affection for the Browns? Hell, no! Why? Because the Browns have not (and are not) winning games or producing a successful reputation for people to feel good or proud about!
And it has been that way for years! There are plenty of places where someone from Ohio will talk to you about the Scarlet-and-Gray, and what they are all about. When you talk to a football or sports fan from Ohio, and ask them about the Browns, the first person they will mention is legendary RB Jim Brown…from four decades ago!
It is a shame, because the Browns easily could cultivate a solid following if they were to put together a winning season. Until they do that, football fans will talk about Saturday games and what the Buckeyes are all about…
Even up in Michigan, interest during the Fall weekends will almost always go to and for the Wolverines and Spartans, as they have been pretty good for the last few decades. Michigan and Michigan State fill their stadiums to respective capacity, and grab attention nationwide when they play their games.
Meanwhile, the Lions have simply NOT done much at all when it comes to winning, and that has led to a total lack of interest and respect…both locally in Detroit, and nationally. Hence, people end up not really caring at all what the Lions do, in games on Sundays, or between games, during the week, before and after losses!
If the Lions ever break out one day and actually make a strong push, I guarantee you there will be a lot more going on in following and covering the team…
While these examples show the strength of college football teams and their popularity competing against NFL teams, it can go the other way. One good example certainly is in Dallas, where the Cowboys have been a good, successful, entertaining franchise for the last few decades…to the point where they draw fans and interest in the DFW area, as well as the whole state…and the entire country, actually! And, because of their winning ways, they certainly are a more popular team and franchise than, say, the Longhorns, the Texas A&M Aggies, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, or the Baylor Bears…all of whom have produced at least one or two winning seasons over the last decade or so.
And so, when you get the chance, give it some thought, if you want. Can a college or NFL team cultivate fans, interest, and respect with everything they do, for all intents and purposes?
Or is it all simply about winning?
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