SBNation.com User Blog: SanDiegoHusky

CenturyLink Field Atmosphere

SanDiegoHusky — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 22:37:31 -0000

By Brent Parker

A crowd of 53,742 was treated to a 21-12 Husky win in the home opener at CenturyLink Field. This total is the lowest attendance in the Sarkisian era, and many are concerned that the problem lies more in a growing apathy among fans than the change of stadium.

By Brent Parker

While this total is only 79% of capacity, there were some moments it got pretty loud. A "Go Huskies" chant even emerged in the 4th quarter with the Dawg Pack in the South Endzone yelling the former, with the North Endzone producing the latter. It was not as loud or as passionate as the ones that went on at Husky Stadium, but it was not bad.

The Dawg Pack, UW's student section, was loud and excited. There were some empty seats, but this is definitely due to school not being in session at the University yet, with the first day of classes beginning on September 24th. UW Students started the "Go Huskies" chant, sang their fight songs, and made some noise. The Dawg Pack had a very successful night at The Clink.

On the other hand, the rest of the stadium seemed relatively tired and lethargic for most of the game. Only a few in attendance participated in the kickoff rituals. The fans between the end zones better bring it in the next five home games.

The music was either too quiet or too loud, and the siren was barely audible when the Huskies scored. The band played well, but not often enough, and none of the music played by the band or the stadium speakers were motivational enough to pump up the crowd.

It was a warm-up for Husky fans. Only the second game at a stadium that isn't theirs definitely produced some cobwebs. Portland State won't generate much excitement, but Husky fans better bring it when Stanford and USC come to town. A win over LSU would also generate a ton of excitement and possibly give CenturyLink the added edge to become a huge home-field advantage in 2012 for Washington.

UW vs SDSU: Attendance

SanDiegoHusky — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:16:30 -0000

As of this Friday, only 48,254 tickets have been sold for Saturday's season opener against San Diego State. While SDSU is hardly a marquee opponent that people get excited to see, the school year is not yet in session at the University of Washington, and it is Labor Day Weekend, the lack of ticket sales is troubling.

The move to CenturyLink Field does create obstacles for fans who for years attended games at Husky Stadium, but CenturyLink Field is not some run-down, old stadium that isn't remotely close to Husky Stadium. CenturyLink Field is only 4.8 miles away from Husky Stadium, so for those who are not attending the game due to the change in home field need to find another excuse for not showing up.

Empty seats haven't been an unfamiliar sight to Husky fans in the last few years.

The lowest attendance at a Husky game in the Steve Sarkisian era was 58,088, in last year's home opener against Eastern Washington. There are still a few days for UW to sell tickets, and a few thousand more should be sold, but it would be a huge surprise if the actual in-game attendance on Saturday surpasses the total at last year's home opener.

The Huskies enter the 2012 season with much hype. A revamped defense, two straight winning seasons, a Heisman-worthy Quarterback, and a jam-packed schedule full of marquee opponents, should have been enough to generate ticket sales. But, barring an influx of ticket-hungry Husky fans in the next three days, CenturyLink Field will have many pockets of open seats, a sight that has been all too familiar in recent years at Washington Husky games.

Empty seats haven't been an unfamiliar sight to Husky fans in the last few years.

Why Shaq Thompson is Going to be a Star at UW

SanDiegoHusky — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 03:02:56 -0000

Why Shaq Thompson is Going to be a Star

Rated as the best safety in the nation for the Class
of 2012, the five-star recruit recruit from Sacramento, California committed to the University of Washington on January 31st, after previously committing to the University of California, Berkeley.

In June, Thompson was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round of the MLB Draft. After deciding to sign with Boston and play baseball in the summer before heading to Seattle, Thompson would go on to make national headlines after posting one of the worst stat lines in Minor League Baseball history, going 0 for 39 with 37 strikeouts in 13 games with Boston's Gulf Coast League Team.

However, Thompson's dreadful beginning to his baseball career could be a blessing in disguise for the Washington Huskies. Thompson has never known failure when it comes to sports. In his last two years at Grant High School, Thompson led the Pacers to a 21-5 record, while playing quarterback, running back, safety, and even on occasion, punter. His disastrous start in baseball could be beneficial because for the first time in his sports career, he has experienced failure, a necessary aspect in achieving success. While his baseball and football careers are completely separate, the criticism that he has already endured could motivate him to work even harder to be a star at the University of Washington. That isn't to say his work ethic isn't strong already, in fact, Huskies Head Coach Steve Sarkisian has praised Thompson's work ethic as "tremendous" and says that he is an "excellent leader".

At 6-2, 215, and having ran a 40-yard dash of 4.57, Thompson possesses both strength and speed. This combination of strength and speed, combined with his versatility of playing multiple positions, should enable Thompson to become a star player not just in the Pac-12, but on the national level.

After graduating Grant High School with a 3.2 GPA, Thompson has shown that he is not only committed to his performance on the field, but off the field as well. In an era of student-athletes underperforming in the classroom, his commitment to academics will ensure that Thompson is a smart football player who stays out of trouble and makes plays on the field during his time at the University of Washington.

Follow me on twitter @bparker17 or via email at bphusky@uw.edu

Why Shaq Thompson is Going to be a Star

Three Reasons Why the New Husky Stadium Will be Louder than the Old Husky Stadium

SanDiegoHusky — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:54:54 -0000

By SanDiegoHusky

After developing numerous structural problems from the combination of wet weather and age, 92-year-old Husky Stadium was torn down in December 2011 as part of a $250 million renovation process that will see the new Husky Stadium completed in time for the 2013 season.
Many Washington fans have worried that the new Husky Stadium will not be as loud as it was before the renovation, a stadium that in a game against Nebraska in 1992 recorded a pain-inducing 133.6 decibels, the loudest ever recorded at a college football game. With a decrease in seating capacity from 72,500 to 71,197, and the addition of a private lounge, luxury and patio suites, Husky fans have reason to believe the decibels will drop.
However, here are three reasons why the new Husky Stadium will be just as loud, if not louder than the old Husky Stadium, and be one of the loudest stadiums in all of college football.

1. The Huskies are Winning

Nothing brings fans to the stadium more than winning. That isn't to say Husky fans are fair-weather, in fact, just the opposite. During the 2008 season, when the Huskies went winless at 0-12, Husky Stadium averaged an impressive 63,640 fans a game.
Combine this loyalty with back-to-back bowl appearances, a head coach who is committed to winning in Steve Sarkisian, and an impressive squad that includes legitimate Heisman-contender Keith Price at Quarterback, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, one of the best Tight End's in the country, and the top-ranked safety in the Class of 2012, Shaq Thompson, and the fans will continue to make noise on Montlake for years to come.

2. The Overhanging Roofs Remain

Part of the reason why the old Husky Stadium was so loud was due to the two overhanging roofs that covered the North and South grandstands. Instead of crowd noise escaping into the air and being projected upwards like in most football stadiums, noise generated at Husky Stadium would bounce off of the overhanging roofs, and be pushed onto the field.

Preliminary designs of the new Husky Stadium show the roofs will remain, and as long as they do noise will continue to bounce off these overhangs and be projected at the players on the field and on the sidelines.

3. Location of Seats

While many stadiums in college football have a higher seating capacity than old Husky Stadium did, the location of these seats was a big factor in creating its noise. With almost 70 percent of its seats located between the end zones, the noise generated by the crowd is sent directly at the players on the sidelines and on the field.

The new Husky Stadium's capacity will be decreased by about 1,300, but many of these extra seats at old Husky Stadium were ones with obstructed views, and at times empty. The seating design remains the same, however, as the majority of seats will be between the end zones, creating the same affect it did the old Husky Stadium. Always loyal, Husky fans will continue to pack and make a ton of noise at the new Husky Stadium starting in 2013, just as as they did at the old Husky Stadium.

By SanDiegoHusky

1. The Huskies are Winning

New Free Husky Fans Message Boards

SanDiegoHusky — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:31:17 -0000

http://thedawgnation.proboards.com/index.cgi?

I like this forum, but there isn't much activity on here, and I'm creating this free message boards for UW fans, so check it out and come on by. I apologize for the spam, but I just want to get the word out to fellow Husky fans. I added a chat feature for gamedays, and i want the forums to get as lively as possible, so sign up whenever you want!

http://thedawgnation.proboards.com/index.cgi?