We will be discussing where the Spartan Football team needs to go, and how to get there... With a exciting year behind us, a Bowl game in front of us... Time to take a look at where we go from here....

This includes  who the peers should be, how to fill the stadium, but we will not discuss the players or the recruiting needs until Spring 2009, the recruiting area is so covered by most other blogs..  We will get to it, but want to focus on a couple other areas.

First of all who are our peers, and how should we measure success.

The Spartans need to be in the first, second or third in the Big Ten for 6 out of the next 8 years. Placing First at least 2 times.

The teams that have done that in the SEC, Big 12, Pac 10, ACC, Big Ten and Big East since the year 2000 are as follows, including a pareto chart of those top teams are below(Click here for file):







These are the teams I would expect us to be ranked among annually.

Now How do we get there…..
1) Win, and Win for the long term: This is being accomplished. Their seems to be a successful plan / direction implemented.  Sure we have the coach and the staff, but we need to further review specific player needs. We won’t do this until Spring 2009. Stay tuned……

2) Change the Culture / Attitude / of the Team, Staff, Students, Fans, Families, Alumni and media (Detroit based media doesn’t count, their jaded). This is the biggest success to date. Check that box !

3) Improving the Tail gate experience: Separate posting next week....

4) Fill the stadium: Sellouts contribute to on field success.

• MSU has a Huge fan base, that extends to all corners of the globe. It is proven that MSU’s dedicated Fan base travels in mass to away and Bowl games. But this can be improved.

The Spartan football games should be the entertainment of choice for Saturdays in the fall. The idea is to raise attendance for the long term. Increase dedicated fan base who will either buy season tickets or at least attend 50% of the games, providing a sell out in Spartan Stadium.

How to do this: Reduce ticket prices, thereby increasing demand. Prices for season tickets have remained at $287.00 for the  last 2 seasons. But with the economy in shambles, the State spiraling into a recession/depression,  the prices should be reduced 20% to make sure we not only meet last years levels, but provide a sell out.  Drop the 2009 season ticket prices to $231.00 or $33 per game.

And for the game at Ford Field against Western Michigan, have $10 tickets for the entire upper tier available to ensure maximum  attendance.

Once sell outs are ensured, ticket prices can eventually rise to match demand. But since demand is less than what Fans are wiling to pay, Spartan Stadium will not sell out. Look at at the upper decks. (Note: best and easiest to use bathrooms and concession stands are in the upper decks). Add to the mix the crappy economy, means even with Dantonio’s success, which would normally increase ticket sales, sell outs are not probable.

So.. all of this combined to help to perennially propel us to the national stage.

1)We know who we want to compete against nationally, and get them on the preseason schedules….
2) Lower ticket prices to meet the lower demand due to the economy and sell out the stadium...
3) Dantoinio and his Staff & Players continue with successes on the field….

More Opinions to come….

Sparty On !!!