Last season’s 7-3 record was the best that DePauw’s football program had put together since a nine-win campaign in 2010.
Yet DePauw’s average attendance was their worst since the school started recording the numbers in 1998. For the first time since records were kept, the Tigers averaged less than a thousand fans at their home games.
“We love to have big crowds and great student support,” Head Coach Bill Lynch said. “That makes for a great event.”
Yet for some reason, the attendance numbers took a dive last year.
DePauw football games used to be a hot ticket in Greencastle. In recent history, as in 2011 when the team won only four games, the Tigers averaged almost 3,700 fans per game, their highest mark since the numbers began to be recorded.
Lynch cites the large number of events on campus as the reason Blackstock Stadium isn’t packed each Saturday.
On any given fall Saturday, there could be soccer or field hockey games taking place at Reavis Stadium and events from the School of Music taking place on campus. Philanthropy events and club meetings also contribute to filling up students’ time.
“We’ve got so many positive things going out there right now besides just football,” Lynch said. “Between men’s and women’s soccer [and] women’s field hockey.”
Then there’s the problem that arises when the Tigers play at home during Fall Break. With one home game taking place during the weeklong break, attendance numbers drop off significantly for the Tigers.
Students cite a lack of school spirit as to why they don’t attend, however.
“I guess I don’t go because no one really goes,” junior Grace Cusack said. “All my friends stay out at the tailgate, and then when that gets shut down, we either go into the game for a little or go back home. I would go if there was more school spirit, but even in the game no one’s really cheering or anything.”
“I would probably be more likely to go if there were more school spirit,” junior Oliver Mauk agreed.
Yet there seems to be no correlation between DePauw wins and more fans in the Blackstock bleachers.
In their three losing seasons since 1998, the Tigers have averaged almost 2,600 fans at games, a good mark for a team playing in a stadium with seats down only one sideline. When the Tigers are winning, however, even fewer fans show up.
In their last 14 winning seasons, the average attendance at Blackstock has been just 2,323 fans at games.
The numbers are also skewed by events centered around football. As a general rule, games on Old Gold Weekend and Family Weekend are some of the most attended on the schedule. And then every other year when the Monon Bell Game is played in Greencastle, the number of fans in the stands jumps up sometimes as high as 8,000.
But for some reason, people aren’t attending Tiger games on regular Saturdays. On Senior Day a year ago, in the midst of DePauw’s best season in three years, just 575 fans came out to see the Tigers trounce Hiram College 45-12.
As the team continues its rise, we’ll see if the attendance numbers make a turn and follow suit.
