UCA is in it as high as they can go.
This administration does not have the funds or foresight to get UCA to the Sunbelt or any equivalent conference that is lower FBS.
I attended UCA when the visitor side was the homeside.
We built on and MORE people came.
We moved up to division I and more people have come.
Sam Houston has had great success this past decade in the FCS and their fans complain about attendance...even after winning a national championship. They don't travel very well either. I could count the number of their fans at our game.
Yes, we need a bigger stadium.
Yes, we need an exciting campaign to raise funds to make FBS happen BEFORE we even think about doing it. We need the momentum to not only go FBS but to establish a solid fan base to be there. You don't do that by restricting tailgating 6 hours before kickoff or half an hour after the game. You don't do that by holding beg-a-thons sparsely throughout the year. You don't do that by NOT advertising games to Arkansans. You don't do that by creating a high school environment at football games with awards given out every 5 minutes, band and music speakers blasting at the same time, and little fan interaction on the big board (who doesn't want to be on the big screen???? ).
Let's look at McNeese's tailgating and get some clue on tailgating.
Let's look at SFA's big board fan interactions and get the fans involved.
Simply put, people go to things because they are fun.
Watch the frats and sorors on Bruce Street.
No alcohol isn't necessarily needed but some home games early in the year would be GREAT. Some departmental interactions are awesome too. How about establishing connections with local high school football teams to get them and their families to the games and give them a shoutout?? The bands rock gotta say.
We have TONS to learn about being a party atmosphere but the good news is other schools have been doing it for YEARS. We can look at what they do and use some of their ideas and try whatever works and make it better.
UCA can do this. Most of it is free and fan driven.
Just my 2 cents. Yes, I've said it before.