Teams seek home on road
New NCAA attendance requirements have nearly every Sun Belt school scrambling to fill seats.
Some schools, including Idaho, are filling seats at other stadiums in striving to meet the new rule, which requires 15,000 fans per home game (actual attendance, not tickets sold).
More than 34,000 (tickets sold) saw Idaho lose 49-8 to Washington State at Martin Stadium on Saturday in a designated UI home game. The NCAA requires a team to play at least 50 percent of its games at a designated home site. In Idaho’s case, that amounts to two games at Martin Stadium – WSU and Arkansas State on Nov. 6.
Louisiana-Monroe was the biggest winner at the gate last week. The Indians lost 49-20 to Arkansas in front of 55,652 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The game counted as a home game for the Indians and almost assures UL-Monroe will reach attendance requirements this season. Not only that, UL-Monroe pocketed $500,000 from Arkansas.
Elsewhere, Arkansas State established an Indian Stadium record when 30,427 viewed Saturday’s 47-35 loss to Memphis.
“This is a fabulous night for our fans, our football program and this athletic department,” ASU athletic director Dean Lee told the Jonesboro (Ark.) Sun.
ASU averaged 17,488 last season.
Middle Tennessee billed its game with Florida Atlantic as “Operation: Full House II.” The operation was half successful. The game, won by Florida Atlantic, drew 13,348, less than half of capacity at Floyd Stadium.
The biggest stumbling block for most Sun Belt schools remains lack of wins. Only Troy has a winning record. Middle Tennessee is next at 1-1. Four schools, including Idaho, are winless.
Dandy debut
Ideally, North Texas true freshman running back Jamario Thomas would have redshirted this season. So how did Thomas run for a freshman record 247 yards against Colorado last Saturday?
Thomas moved up the depth chart because of Patrick Cobbs’ knee injury and the suspension of sophomore Kevin Moore for an off-the-field issue.
“During two-a-days he looked awfully good,” UNT coach Darrell Dickey said of Thomas. “Had he remained a third-teamer, he would have redshirted. His opportunity came a little early in his career, but he responded quite well.”
Questionable question
Troy, riding high with a 2-0 start and a win over then-nationally ranked Missouri, lost its Sun Belt opener to New Mexico State 22-18 as the Aggies mounted a clutch drive late in the fourth quarter.
The loss prompted one reporter to ask Troy coach Larry Blakeney a regrettable question Monday – something along the lines of how he felt.
“Like dirt,” Blakeney said tersely. “How do you think I felt? What kind of question is that?”
Notes
Idaho offensive tackle Hank Therien (knee contusion) has a chance to play Saturday against Oregon. Defensive tackle Siua Musika (knee) is expected to play.