College Football: 10 Big Time Programs with Terrible Home Game Attendance
Where is everybody?
These schools have fewer than expected fans at their home games.
When compared to teams such as Ohio State, Michigan, Tennessee, Alabama and LSU, some programs don't always have the most avid fans.
From Waco to Miami and Pittsburgh to Palo Alto, it seems fans of these schools are somewhat less ardent in their fandom than at other programs...
Either that or their fans would rather be in the comfort of their own homes for football games.
Either way, attendance needs a boost at these schools.
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys
1 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 60,218
2010 Attendance: 50,812
T. Boone Pickens may have helped fund one of the most beautiful facilities in the country, but he can't fill it by himself.
The Cowboys, even with their explosive offense and dynamic playmakers, managed to leave almost 10,000 seats empty during home games.
With the buzz surrounding this season's squad, maybe that number will improve.
9. Stanford Cardinal
2 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 50,000
2010 Attendance: 40,042
OK, throw out the fact that the Cardinal were a Top-Five team last season.
They averaged over 10,000 empty seats per home game last season.
Where is the love?
Maybe the return of wunderkind Andrew Luck will help this miserable number, but it's doubtful.
8. Baylor Bears
3 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 50,000
2010 Attendance: 40,043
Once again, 10,000 empty seats during a home game will put you on this list.
The Bears have a very dynamic offense, highlighted by the athletic play of quarterback Robert Griffin III, but cannot draw the big crowds.
When compared with the numbers of the other Texas schools, Baylor's attendance numbers are just abominable.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Boise State Broncos
4 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 35,000
2010 Attendance: 33,269
This one is a little unfair, but somewhat warranted.
While the Broncos almost fill the house to capacity, when compared with other schools, this attendance is a bit underwhelming.
For instance, Air Force averaged over 40,000, TCU over 42,000 and BYU over 61,000.
Maybe if the university and its fans started taking the Broncos seriously, the rest of the country would.
6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
5 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 55,000
2010 Attendance: 46,449
Tech has a long, storied tradition.
They have enjoyed some moderate success in recent years.
Bobby Dodd Stadium has one of the best game-day experiences offered in the country.
So where is everybody?
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders
6 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 60,454
2010 Attendance: 57,108
Once again, this is not a matter of not filling the stadium, as you can see from the Red Raiders' numbers in 2010.
The problem is, if Tech wants to compete with Texas and A&M, it is going to have to get more ambitious.
Compare A&M's 82,600 capacity and Texas' DKR stadium capacity of over 100,000 to the meager 60,000 at Tech.
Not even close.
Granted, Lubbock is not as large as some of the other metro areas.
4. Colorado Buffaloes
7 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 53,750
2010 Attendance: 46,864
Beautiful vista in this photograph.
But the Buffs' recent attendance is not so pretty.
For a team that won the national championship not all that long ago, the Buffaloes struggle to fill the stadium.
Granted, a team that actually competes might help that, and the change of scenery in the Pac-12 might help Colorado up those meager attendance numbers.
3. Pittsburgh Panthers
8 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 60,500
2010 Attendance: 52,165
Pitt is part of the Big Least.
It's almost expected that it has fewer fans than other schools.
That being said, compare its attendance with in-state foe Penn State.
Almost 50,000 more for the Nittany Lions.
Not good.
2. Miami Hurricanes
9 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 75,162
2010 Attendance: 52,575
If anybody should draw big crowds, it is the 'Canes.
After their decades of dominance and the fact that they seem to be headed back in the right direction, you would think they would have so many avid followers that it would be difficult to find seating.
Couple that with the beautiful fall weather in Miami, and you should have a winner, right?
Nope—the Hurricanes routinely failed to fill over 20,000 of their seats last season.
1. Purdue Boilermakers
10 of 10
Stadium Capacity: 67,332
2010 Attendance: 48,063
It's easy to see how fans are less than eager to attend Boilermaker games in the last few seasons.
Other than the upset of Ohio State back in '09, there hasn't been a whole lot to cheer about.
But to leave an average of 19,000 seats empty?
That is sad.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
