An All Inclusive Spring Weekend?
by NoleCC on Feb 7, 2012 10:40 AM EST
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PrintGather around TNers. Daddy NoleCC has one of his old man stories to tell you. No, I'm not asking you to get off my lawn, you already know that. I'm talking about FSU spring football. This one is about tailgating and enjoying early April in Tallahassee and that we should think about returning to a great tradition. I've yet to find a better Spring than Tallahassee's, and not too long ago it was enhanced by having the FSU spring game, a Miami / FSU baseball game and a bunch of other events on the same day.
Shocking idea, right?
The last few spring games were focused solely on FSU Football at Doak. Let's bring back former players, let's play it up on ESPN3 and let's have a real good time. I get it. I understand the thought behind featuring your bread and butter program individually, rather than share the spotlight with non-revenue generating sports. But, as is often the case, the seemingly best business decision isn't always the best fan decision. I think there's a way to feature the scrimmage and also boost it with a bunch of other FSU events.
Back in the late 90s and early 00s the schedule was very different and looked something like this:
- Park under some giant Oak tree near Dick Howser in a dirt lot.
- Commence beverage intake from 10am until it was time to meander into Doak Campbell Stadium for the scrimmage.
- Talk smack to the Canes fans scattered around.
- Watch Garnet vs. Gold with no touchy touchy of the QBs after Kendra blew out his knee. (Prior to that Kenda injury, our coaching staff actually let our defense maul our QBs because it built "character" or something.)
- Look for smuggled minis to add to beverages.
- Leave Doak to head back to the Oak for food, beverages and to kill time hanging around the tailgate, softball, track and tennis areas until FSU Baseball took on the Canes.
- Get rowdy in the RF General Admission seats for 9 innings of some of the highest quality college baseball in the country.
- Wonder why Martin bunted there.
- Watch Keith Cottrell yell and make fun of roommate Matt Diaz in RF.
- Watch Keith yell at the peanut vendor kid, Zach "Peeeeeeeee knottttts".
- Laugh when Zach calls Keith a loser and tells him to go fake an injury.
- Wonder if I should have gone to check out the circus at some point in addition to everything else that was going on.
- Wonder how long we're going to hang with a guy that can't find the plate and possible blow this 4 run lead.
- Leave the best part of Tallahassee (hopefully with a W over the Canes) in some awesome cool evening air ready to finish up the Canes series on Sunday.
I'm not sure whether that's better or not, but the weekend felt like a big event. I know that, as a fan, I miss that type of day and personally I lack interest in going down to Doak for "just a practice". It also felt more inclusive and brought together most of the FSU family. At the same time there was the circus, football, baseball, softball, tennis and track taking place. The whole campus migrated down to that Dick Howser / Doak area and made their way through the old Pensacola Street tunnel and back. Canes baseball fans added some extra spice to the weekend and reminded us that the real football season wasn't far off. It was the perfect weather, in the perfect spot, on a perfect spring day. I think the FSU community could benefit by going back to a similar, but improved structure, including events to raise money for athletics and / or a fun raiser to the Kidz 1st Fund. Why not take an opportunity to raise more money, show off our best and bring Noles closer together one extra weekend per year? Let's make FSU community bonds stronger and maximize our returns at the same time!
What do you think? Is it better to feature football only or to make a big show of an entire spring weekend in Tallahassee? Would it be good to bring this together with the Springtime Tallahassee Festival? How does this fit in with the vision for the future College Town area? If the weekend were more than spring football would it spur out of town fans to come to Tallahassee?
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I liked when we had double headers with UM baseball
Springtime Tallahassee starts with the Friday night festivities, Saturday breakfast, 10 k run and then the parade with the various craft sales/kiosks thrown in. All day affair in other words.
Obviously couldn’t have all the FSU drinking and carousing going on at the same time you were attending the Springtime event and a daytime football game would be out of the question. Although a Sunday game could work.
Make for one hell of a weekend but might be trying to do too much and the Springtime powers that be (who have some political weight in the local community) might not want to share the spotlight.
Sunday game referred to palying UM in baseball.
as a Saturday baseball game at night would have to be replaced with a Saturday football game.
I got the sniffles ...
Those were my last years inTally. I have been on the move since. First as a dependent, now as Active Duty.
I miss it … nice piece.
A Texan humbles himself before God; there the list ends. - Gen. S. Houston
Hope you don't mind moving it to front page, Bill.
Good read, bro.
by Dr.KennethNoisewater on Feb 7, 2012 12:54 PM EST reply actions
I miss the baseball games
on the weekend of the spring game but I think the format of the last few years is really working. Selfishly I want as many sporting events as possible during that weekend but I think the administration has shown it intends on keeping the spring game as the spotlight event. They seem to be doing a better job of A) promoting the game and 2) having events that tie into the game such as the BBQ cook off and Down town get down. My opinion is that they probably see the success and attendance numbers and see that their plan is working so their is no need to cloud the weekend w/ more sports that could possibly take away from the G&G game. I would think the recent attendance figures are due to a bunch of different things but why change what is working. I know 7 or 8 years ago none of my friends wanted to come visit for the spring game and now they all do.
7 or 8 years ago the format was brutal and we were on an obvious downswing too. Not disagreeing with you, just saying other things were at play too.
"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." - Wes Westrum, Mets Manager
2 years ago
I fully enjoyed watching the FSU lacrosse team maul uf, the game was in Doak and played about an hour prior to the kickoff of the spring game.
It is fun to have some “extra” stuff to do around campus for the weekend.
by atonole on Feb 7, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Completely agree
That whole offense vs defense was horrible. I am just assuming though that the admin sees football as the money maker and after making the needed tweaks to the game they now want to promote it as much as possible. Again, I am only going off of theories and would personally love a home series that weekend since I live in town, but I would not be surprised if they use that weekend for booster purposes. The idea being that if they can show potential donors a great weekend in April with the main attraction being a practice it would show that they are serious about making improvements (IPF, new dorms, coahces saleries) This may help fence sitters. I could be way off though.
Dumb question probably, but where are the courts?
"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." - Wes Westrum, Mets Manager
Are they called courts?
I played in a beach volley ball league in Ft. Lauderdale in the 80’s, just sandlot ball. We never did decide what to call the playing area.
for the pro women's game
they’re called sweet spots
Dogs bark in the night but the caravan moves on.
I think some folks will be sorely disappointed in the uniforms.
http://www.seminoles.com/sports/b-volley/mtt/fsu-b-volley-mtt.html
"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." - Wes Westrum, Mets Manager
I never realized beach volley was so popular in Serbia and Turkey.
>------::----::------->Spearing 'em and Scalping 'em like it's 1999
I'm not so sure this Jimbo fella is the right man for the job.
The two girls from Serbia were originally on Tulane’s regular volleyball team. Apparently they fell in love with sand volleyball and transferred. I’m excited that I now have an “in” for the team.
My photo appeared in the Nightlife photo collage of the FSView for six weeks in-a-row. That’s who I am.
Are you a Serb? Do you speak Serbian? Cool.
>------::----::------->Spearing 'em and Scalping 'em like it's 1999
I'm not so sure this Jimbo fella is the right man for the job.
No, no, yes.
My photo appeared in the Nightlife photo collage of the FSView for six weeks in-a-row. That’s who I am.
That last post was made with the understanding that everyone knew everything about me. I guess you guys aren’t as good of friends as I thought… :(
My photo appeared in the Nightlife photo collage of the FSView for six weeks in-a-row. That’s who I am.
There's a transfer from ETSU too which is strange.
I went to ETSU and live 10 min away and there is no beach volleyball there or not that I know of anyway. Do indoor volleyball players switch to beach in some cases?
"A better ending could not have been scripted. Of course, if we had won, that would have been better." -Bobby Bowden
I think with it being a new sport there are players that probably prefer the sand game over indoor and they’ve taken the opportunity to play it. Perhaps it is a more lucrative road for them or a better Olympic opportunity?
"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." - Wes Westrum, Mets Manager
Well it definitely looks like a road with an opportunity to be a
lucrative sex symbol which probably isnt likely with indoor volleyball. I mean if you catch the eye of the right person you might not even have to be that good to capitalize on other opportunities much like a Kournikova type.
"A better ending could not have been scripted. Of course, if we had won, that would have been better." -Bobby Bowden
Can you say Gaby?
>------::----::------->Spearing 'em and Scalping 'em like it's 1999
I'm not so sure this Jimbo fella is the right man for the job.
And the players
If we can't laugh at ourselves, Packer fans will call us crybabies and we will be forced to kick their tooth in. I really don't want to go to jail (again).
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Feb 7, 2012 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
Harsh.
Mike Martin should go coach Hawaii. Then he could have all the poi's he ever wanted - MattDNole
Follow @shonole
ding ding ding
We have a winner… Ladies Beach Volleyball is the way to go
"When in doubt - SPEAR IT"
Coach Coley
FSU Admin & Tally..
Are really dropping the ball on an opportunity to fill Tallahassee with fans and revenue in the middle of the spring.
Follow @RobbedbyJT
Not dropping the ball so much as there’s room for improvement when you have ’Bama setting the standard with 90k in the stands for a practice. lol
"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." - Wes Westrum, Mets Manager
As soon as the spring game date is announced I scurry over to the baseball schedule to see if they got it right. Dissappointment again. Me and my pals always head over for the spring game. It wasn’t that long ago that it was on Miami weekend. I remember it raining. 05 or 06?
I just think the powers that be are missing an opportunity to get 60k people in Doak instead of whatever we are pulling now..30k? With more activites like baseball & circus fans are more likely to stay the night and heads in beds make for happy hotels and restaurants.
Follow @RobbedbyJT
Bama fans have nothing else going on.
One of those self worth directly related to the success of the local college football team deals. Its much the same way here in TN with the vol fans. 100k will show up to watch them get beat at home by Wyoming.
"A better ending could not have been scripted. Of course, if we had won, that would have been better." -Bobby Bowden
I think they believe they are maximizing it, but spreading it out over two weekends.
Therefore allowing more people the opportunity to attend.
Even though, clearly, the smarter move would be to schedule the events after the Spring Game, so that you capitalize on those extra fans being brought in.
Mike Martin should go coach Hawaii. Then he could have all the poi's he ever wanted - MattDNole
Follow @shonole
Two years ago
Is it just me or was the spring game weekend two years ago a big event? If I remember correctly, there was both men’s and women’s tennis going on, a lacrosse game vs UF, a track meet (Dix was there on a special appearance, if I remember correctly), and there was a baseball game following the spring game (not sure if the baseball game was against Miami or someone else). There may have been a softball game, but I don’t remember. Oh yeah, and the circus was that day as well. I remember thinking it was awesome that so many sports were going on at once and it was great for all the people who came to town just for the spring game.
Agreed
There was also a softball game and a volleyball game. The track meet was outstanding. It would not be difficult for FSU to make this work. I brought my grandkids and they loved he all day long event afer event.
RWHUGHESJR
Annoyed Sports Radio Host: I'm looking for one brave Gators fan to call, just one. Oh so Gators fans talk trash all the time but when they play a game and lose nobody has the guts to call in?
Leonard: What are Gators?
Henry Desalvo: Football. College.
Confused Sports Radio Call In: I'm a Gators fan.
Annoyed Sports Radio Host: And what do you have to say?
Confused Sports Radio Call In: You said that Gators fans don't have the guts to call in.
Annoyed Sports Radio Host: Your point?
Confused Sports Radio Call In: My point is that I'm calling you now.
Leonard: [notices Snake and Eddie escorting Arthur wearing dark-colored pantyhose on their head] Is that him?
Henry Desalvo: I think we got Gator fans.
Well now that Gaines street
Is only 1.5 lanes and all the other impending lane closures, i am quite happy to have only one event. I never liked competing with the circus people for parking. But it still beats those years we went to Capitol Stadium.
As for the green jerseys, Im all for safety, but those prior quarterbacks knew how to move in the pocket on opening day. Thats how I remember it anyway
Gus, don't be EJ Manuel's shoulder.
Kendra didn't move so well on opening day
or ever again. That was a shame. He was a great, hard working young man. We know that, but now we will never know what he might have accomplished on the field. IIRC, he was not the only QB not wearing a green jersey who was injured that day.
As a student, I will be at the spring game regardless of what else is going on,
But my parents and family are far more likely to come up if it includes a Baseball game, circus performance and anything else that might add to the occasion. It makes dropping $100 in gas a worthwhile for the people who aren’t as big on football but still want to support the team.
Count me in for the Mega-Weekend
I agree completely with CCNole. Although spring in Tallahassee is a world-class attraction in its own right, FSU should maximize the premium experience of spring football + baseball + everything else.
Total agreement with NoleCC
What he described is what I experienced in Tallahassee from 1998-2002. One of the best weekends of the year.
Now that does bring back some memories...
And we probably were sitting in the same section out there in the right field bleachers. Keith Cottrell and Diaz were quite entertaining. And of course ragging on the UM pitchers as they warmed up next to us.
I end marrying a Nole girl who happen to participate in the circus, so it was much easier to make a spring Tally trip happen if there was more than just the G&G game. We’d go to the Friday nite and Sunday afternoon baseball games, G&G game Saturday afternoon and FSU Circus Sat nite. Fun filled FSU weekend making our 4 hour drive worth it.
Gripper
Tommyhawk Nation: Bobby Bowden is the all-time ACC leader in conference titles, conference wins, total wins, winning percentage, bowl appearances & wins and owns the longest conference winning streak.
I think they want to keep the weekend open for wooing booster members.
The FSU Celebrity Golf Classic is taking place that weekend for Seminole Boosters and FSU Varsity Club Athletes (Just got my invite). They can’t have boosters busy attending other sporting events while they are trying to talk them into larger donations.
I'm all for a huge spring game weekend.
I think if it included more than just the spring game (which I love, regardless), I might be able to woo my boyfriend down for the weekend. He’s a busy guy, and although an invested Booster, I still don’t think I could convince him to go. I think a baseball game and a couple days to really enjoy Tallahassee would turn the argument in my favor. Somehow, he’s managed to be an alumnus for decades, but he still doesn’t know much about campus or the surrounding area. Why not make the weekend about reacquainting long-time alumni with not only the football team, but about the school itself and the city we lived in for several years of our lives? I think it would be a great opportunity for the Boosters, the Alumni Association, the city and its tourism office, and University officials to showcase why traveling to Tallahassee to see the Noles is a great investment for all involved.
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I'm killing them all on my own little mission
by JustLikeYouOnlyPrettier on Feb 7, 2012 4:09 PM EST reply actions
Aside: I will be deeply uninterested in a sand volleyball game, unless it’s played behind the TEP house at 3 AM. Ha. But if it brings people in, add that, too.
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I'm killing them all on my own little mission
by JustLikeYouOnlyPrettier on Feb 7, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
TEP? Really?
Shot a Gator in Jean Shorts just to watch him die.
by AMFKNole on Feb 10, 2012 4:32 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
2011 Spring Game
For last years spring game, we got pretty wild in Indian Village… most of us didn’t make it to the game though…
Something that popped into my mind
Depending on how the new Cascades Park comes out downtown, it would be a great place to have music / entertainment on the same weekend, potentially on Friday night.
"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." - Wes Westrum, Mets Manager
Circus Home Show!
That is an activity going on this weekend, and it is the 65th anniversary as well!
Response from the AD
I asked this same question last year in the “Ask the AD” feature on Seminoles.com. Read the response below. Biggest pile of $#!T ever!! Sounded like they did not want to put forth the effort to me!
I will say
He made a very valid point about the baseball tickets. He mentions there are only 1,500 single game tickets available to the general public for baseball games. So there might be 30k fans driving multiple hours to Tallahassee for the spring game and only 1,500 of them would be able to attend a baseball series. That doesn’t even consider the Tallahassee locals that would purchase single game tickets that weekend. So I don’t think that’s a large enough number to make a significant difference.
I think bull$h!t too. While the baseball schedule might be set that far in advance, I am willing to bet an good Athletic Director
could convince the HC to try to try to pick one of the weekends the baseball team was home, at least every other year or more.
Unless of course they don’t want the football game to draw attendance away from the baseball game on the day the spring football game is played, since they’re usually 3 game series’.
I could be wrong but I also don’t buy that Fisher doesn’t know exactly when he will start spring practice. I would think he probably starts planning for it as soon as he knows what date the bowl game is going to be played, or at the latest, right after the bowl game.
Even if he can’t get the dates to coincide with a baseball weekend, you would think they should be able to have some other sports or activities to make it a full weekend.
It would also be interesting to see which of our other rival that he mentioned have their spring game and a baseballt on the same weekend this year. Someone should follow up as soon as all the dates are announced.
>------::----::------->Spearing 'em and Scalping 'em like it's 1999
I'm not so sure this Jimbo fella is the right man for the job.
I think you're actually selling Jimbo short.
Wouldn’t he be planning spring practices year(s) in advance? I mean, all he needs to know as far as the players are concerned is when spring break is. And for the coaches, he just needs to line up with recruiting periods and various camps – is there even opportunity for the coaches to recruit in person during March and April, is that a dead period? Regardless, both the NCAA calendar and FSU’s academic calendar are published well in advance, so beyond the slight chance that he may adjust for a key player recovering from a minor surgery (or other personal events), I don’t see why he wouldn’t have his schedule penciled in at least a year in advance, if he’s not going to cater to baseball schedules.
2 words:
Comedy. Show.
"D.RUSSO IS THE MAN" -DA-2
Follow me on Twitter for all the outrageous sh!t I can't say on Tomahawk Nation...
Follow @DRusso97
#shamelessselfpromotion
If we can't laugh at ourselves, Packer fans will call us crybabies and we will be forced to kick their tooth in. I really don't want to go to jail (again).
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Feb 7, 2012 9:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Indeed. If I can make a few $$ doing what I love......why not explore that possibility?
"D.RUSSO IS THE MAN" -DA-2
Follow me on Twitter for all the outrageous sh!t I can't say on Tomahawk Nation...
Follow @DRusso97
I think it'd be a great event for a TN meet & greet.
Formerly known as Randall W. Spetman.
by CornNole on Feb 8, 2012 2:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'll count that as a +1...
"D.RUSSO IS THE MAN" -DA-2
Follow me on Twitter for all the outrageous sh!t I can't say on Tomahawk Nation...
Follow @DRusso97
That would be pretty cool, actually.
by Dr.KennethNoisewater on Feb 9, 2012 8:16 AM EST up reply actions
+2...
"D.RUSSO IS THE MAN" -DA-2
Follow me on Twitter for all the outrageous sh!t I can't say on Tomahawk Nation...
Follow @DRusso97
Username nametags FTW
Shot a Gator in Jean Shorts just to watch him die.
by AMFKNole on Feb 10, 2012 4:34 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
I was thinking we could just be anonymous, and try to figure it out. But since there’s like, FIVE women, that would be of little challenge.
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I'm killing them all on my own little mission
by JustLikeYouOnlyPrettier on Feb 10, 2012 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve already offered like, twice to host a meet and greet. What the french, toast?
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I'm killing them all on my own little mission
by JustLikeYouOnlyPrettier on Feb 9, 2012 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
#ThisCouldHappen
P.S. – My show is pro-boyfriend…
"D.RUSSO IS THE MAN" -DA-2
Follow me on Twitter for all the outrageous sh!t I can't say on Tomahawk Nation...
Follow @DRusso97
Bad luck in a way.
Not condoning Mizell or condemning Leach, but CJ picked the wrong time to punch and run.
Dogs bark in the night but the caravan moves on.
Give me back the Full Monty!
NoleCC, thanks for saying what I’ve been nostalgically thinking for years. Your chronology of events, though, (at least for my crew and I) only delivered the main course (Saturday afternoon/evening). The whole menu went more like this: 1. Various alumni buds (10 or 13) gather from all points Florida throughout Friday afternoon at Ken’s, 2) around 5 wander across to the Travelodge to check in to the dumpiest, most convenient bed in town, 3) walk across campus to DH, 4. pick up tix at will-call, 5) vocally abuse cane players, 6) Wished I’d remembered how chilly the 12th inning could get at midnight in Tally, 7) Catch the last set at Bullwinkles, 8. Stumble home to the TL, 9) Wake Saturday to dousing of water by obnoxious ex-bud (temporarily, anyway), 10. Rally to the call to watch FSU men’s, then women’s Rugby Clubs beat to smithereens some other club, (See NoleCC’s chronology for rest of Saturday), 22) talk handful of crew into sticking around for Sunday’s desert, carrying brooms across campus to DH, 23. abuse cane shortstop some more, 24) drive home, wishing through fading eyelids the whole drive home for Scottie to beem me up!
I hit the breaks, turned to her with a wry smile and said, "I had the pork chops too!"
I wish you folks would realize that there is more
on the spring game weekend ….
Friday Night – free entertaiment (last year – Jake Owens, a nationally famous recording artist,,, also a Seminole grad)
Saturday this year,,, A home track meet (Seminole Showdown).
Keep in mind FSU’s best sport (of late) is T/F.
Come cheer them on ,,,, Quit living in the past with baseball.
Z
Formerly known as Randall W. Spetman.
by CornNole on Feb 8, 2012 2:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Now let's think about those four words...
all, inclusive, spring, weekend.
See you in Panama
Shot a Gator in Jean Shorts just to watch him die.
by AMFKNole on Feb 10, 2012 4:36 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
I'd head to Tally for that weekend
Might make the spring game my next trip back to visit the family, but I would already have my mind made up there was a Miami/FSU baseball game.
FSU, home of the Bandit! Enough said!
Need to get Greeks involved too
As a graduate of Auburn, BUT a FSU fan what made the Spring games a big event at Auburn was that for all the fraternities and the sorotories, it was the biggest social event each Spring. The alumni came back to attend the game and then each fraternity had a huge party with bands. In addition, most organizations had a major meeting for those members to attend either on Saturday or Sunday as well. Get the Greek people involved and get their members back for a weekned event and that will help. Make it like “homecoming” weekend in the Spring.
not gonna lie
More Greeks makes the weekend less appealing to me.
by nolesdude on Feb 12, 2012 8:16 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs
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