I was listening to Keith Jones on the radio a couple of days ago and he thinks the ACC is definitely going to a 9 game schedule. I'll give you my thoughts on this and ask for yours.
I have been saying for a long time that FSU needs to replace one of our annual cupcake games with a good home and away. I like the idea of playing a marquee out of conference game because of national exposure, a chance to make our strength of schedule strong enough to absorb a loss and still make the playoffs, it maintains our reputation as a "national team" and because I am convinced we make more money that way even if we lose a home game every other year. I'm talking about money we don't have to share with the rest of the ACC.
For example, I believe that if we announced we had a home and away scheduled with Oklahoma for the next two years, TCU the two years after that, Oregon the two years after that, and Texas and Notre Dame the two years after that, we would see a significant spike in season ticket sales. We would be able to sell out each of those five home games charging at least $100 a ticket and it would make far more money for FSU than paying Charleston Southern type teams to come here every year.
Sound far fetched? Well that is exactly what Ohio State is doing between now and 2023 and they play 9 conference games. To me, that is no different than us playing 8 conference game and UF.
If we go to a 9 game conference schedule the one positive from it will be that at least we'll know we play one less cupcake (unless we do what some are suggesting and drop the Boise State series). It will be nice on the years we play Va. Tech but I think it's a crapshoot after that. It's nice playing UNC this year but I don't think you can really count on anyone else on that side of the conference being a top 25 team on any kind of a regular basis.
I don't think this will be the worst thing that's ever happened to us, but FSU could definitely do better.
I have been saying for a long time that FSU needs to replace one of our annual cupcake games with a good home and away. I like the idea of playing a marquee out of conference game because of national exposure, a chance to make our strength of schedule strong enough to absorb a loss and still make the playoffs, it maintains our reputation as a "national team" and because I am convinced we make more money that way even if we lose a home game every other year. I'm talking about money we don't have to share with the rest of the ACC.
For example, I believe that if we announced we had a home and away scheduled with Oklahoma for the next two years, TCU the two years after that, Oregon the two years after that, and Texas and Notre Dame the two years after that, we would see a significant spike in season ticket sales. We would be able to sell out each of those five home games charging at least $100 a ticket and it would make far more money for FSU than paying Charleston Southern type teams to come here every year.
Sound far fetched? Well that is exactly what Ohio State is doing between now and 2023 and they play 9 conference games. To me, that is no different than us playing 8 conference game and UF.
If we go to a 9 game conference schedule the one positive from it will be that at least we'll know we play one less cupcake (unless we do what some are suggesting and drop the Boise State series). It will be nice on the years we play Va. Tech but I think it's a crapshoot after that. It's nice playing UNC this year but I don't think you can really count on anyone else on that side of the conference being a top 25 team on any kind of a regular basis.
I don't think this will be the worst thing that's ever happened to us, but FSU could definitely do better.
