Originally posted by FHstinger:
Your right IM, TECH did leave the SEC in '63.
But, the reason the '86 UT game was not a sell out was because it was raining that day, October 14, 1986. I know, 'cause I was there. TECH squeaked out a win, 14-13, when the UT kicker slipped on the wet astroturf on a chip shot, last second, field goal attempt. The '82(31-21 win) and '84 (21-24 loss) UT games were close to sell outs. I was at those games, too.
TECH had Auburn beat in 1985, was ahead 14-10 and leading almost the entire game. Then, in the final minutes, Bo Jackson broke loose for a 75 yard TD run around the right end, headin' to the north end zone. TECH lost 17-14, and I almost cried.
Those were the days. I remember them like yesterday.
<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">Back to the books:
Until 1985 BDS capacity was more or less 59,000 with a reported capacity of 58,121. The largest home crowds were UGA 83 and 85 (who can forget Ted Roof and Gary Lee in that game?). Attendance for the 82 UT game was 43,182 and for the 84 UT game 45,167, or an average of 76% of reported capacity. The UT game in 80 drew 50,127, 86% of reported capacity. Auburn 81 drew about the same amount, and Clemson 84 drew more than either (57,704).
Over the years, it appears that our most frequent opponents are UGA, Auburn, Duke, Clemson, Alabama, UT, Florida, and UNC. Against those teams we have winning records with Duke Clemson, UNC, & Florida, or all of our most frequent ACC opponents, but only one of our most frequent SEC opponents. And that one is a team that, if we had played in the past 10 (or more) years, we would have most likely lost to every time. While I agree, that, on the average, attendance is better with the SEC teams, record is much worse. And record is all important in determining BCS bids, bowl positions, etc. Thats why UGA looks for weak OOC opponents. A loss to a strong OOC opponent, even in a close game, does much more harm than a win over a "sisters of the poor" OOC patsy that comes to their house to get whipped.
Right now we are in a conference that we have a reasonable chance of winning, if we can get past FSU, and avoid games like BC 98, WFU 99, Clemson 01, Maryland 01, etc, etc, etc. Win 8 ACC games, and 2 OCC games against the likes of UCONN, UCF, Navy, etc, and we are in the BCS. What could be easier? Based on past records, we have little or no chance in an SEC division with UT, UF, and UGA. It took UGA 20+ years and 4 Head Coaches to solve the SEC East puzzle, even without the special limitations that GT, by its nature, imposes on our Athletic department.
My point is that, except for UGA, the 80's show that simply putting an SEC game on the schedule does not produce an automatic sell out, unless it is the visiting team that is buying up the tickets. This is espically true if the SEC team comes in highly favored. (Only South Carolina fans - bless them - show up in full strength no matter what the odds against them are).
As for the 86 UT game, I believe that the attendance figures reported by Tech are based on tickets sold, not fannies in the seats. If that is the case, then, certainly we were not hoping to sell half the tickets on game day, were we?
Please don't take this as a "sharp shooting" attack. We are both GT grads and fans, and no doubt, show up and support our Jackets, win or lose. However, I am convinced that, both short and long term, winning is in our best interest, and our best opportunity to win is to remain in the ACC.
