Tennessee State played its Homecoming game against Norfolk State in front of a crowd of 13,975. The game’s exciting conclusion, featuring a game-winning Tiger drive that held off the Spartans’ comeback bid, was missed by scores of attendees who departed shortly after halftime or remained in the parking lots.
Tennessee State head coach Eddie George was less than thrilled about the early departures and lackluster attendance at some TSU games, expressing that sentiment in his postgame press conference Saturday night.
“I’m hoping that next week we will have the same crowd that was here today. It was great, I would have loved for it to have been packed for the entire game…We have a special group [and] I want our fanbase to really embrace that,” George said.
The TSU head coach questioned if fans’ prime motivation for attending games was the team and the contests themselves, saying, “I don’t know if they really love football, I just don’t know. I have been for three years and there has only been a couple of game that they come to [with] that many people and be excited. I don’t know if they truly love the game because we are winning. I just encourage people to come out and really support our student-athletes because it makes a big difference when you are cheering on third down, making noise, [and bringing] the energy. It’s hard as coaches, hard as players to constantly build up that energy. We need our home crowd.”
Tennessee State head coach Eddie not a fan of fans leaving early. Encourages them to attend more than just HBCU matchups pic.twitter.com/MXKwH6gGfx
— Brandon King (@HittinTheSteel) October 15, 2023
George also encouraged fans to attend games that do not feature Tennessee State pitted against a fellow HBCU.
“I really would love for them to embrace us and to support us, no matter who we play. It doesn’t have to be another HBCU,” he said. “It doesn’t always have to be a party. I get it, I’ve been there, but if you’re a real fan of football and you’re supporting Tennessee State football student-athletes, come to the games.”
Despite finishing at 3-7 in 2022, Tennessee State ranked second in FCS attendance behind Jackson State, averaging 28,378 fans. This season, the Tigers are averaging 23,906, with that number being largely helped by TSU’s game against Notre Dame on September 2, which was played in front of 77,622.
Last season the Tigers’ first two home games, which were against Lane and Bethune-Cookman, drew an average of 16,892 fans. Tennessee State’s first two home games, which featured opponents Gardner-Webb and Norfolk State this season, have drawn an average crowd of 8,902.
Eddie George, are you kidding? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that TSU fans are fed up being in the white conference the called the OVC. I mean come on, the SWAC has extended a couple of invitations to come on home and be with your fellow rivals, but NO, TSU feels like the only way they are accepted is to be in a predominantly white conference. No one comes to TSU home games while they play PWI. But as soon as TSU plays another HBCU, the attendance sky rockets. WAKE UP Eddie George, athletic director, TSU students and alumni, because the SWAC is where it’s at. Renew your old rivalries that TSU use to play with several of the fellow swac teams, and then you will see your fan base attend the games.
Eddie, the problem began long before you got here. Simply put, TSU has been disrespected by OVC, the TSU Administration, the General Assembly and especially, the Tennessean. which we should boycott, First. What good has come out of TSU belonging to the OVC. They have been the most penalized team in the league. If there is a questionable call in a football game, 9 out of 10 times, TSU will lose. Fans from those schools do not travel to Nashville. If other schools who do not have our legacy can leave the OVC, then why should we stay.! It is embarrassing that we do not have a new home stadium. Division 111 teams have better stadiums. The Tennessean only recognize TSU, when something negative happens. After all the pros and olympians, TSU is found in the section entitled, Other Colleges. A total disrespect. We should boycott the newspaper. Mikki and Eddie. Get real, fans are tired of broken promises. Get it done. A new stadium on campus and get the hell out of the OVC! We will continue to be cheated. It is not fair for our student athletes. Go Big Blure!