Already I can sense anguished cries of protest but read on. It's distracting enough for remaining fans - and more importantly the players - to have much of the crowd begin drifting off with still minutes til halftime, but it's the start of the second half that is the major downer. Case in point: the only lackluster series by the Griz Saturday was the emotionless three and out to start the second half with fewer than half the fans back in their seats. It was if all the air (smoky as it was) of an exciting game had been sucked clean out of the stadium.
It's clear to anybody who's ever attended a home game that the energy level just goes to hell at halftime and usually it's nearly halfway into the third quarter before it comes back to life. Few if any other programs deem it necessary to turn fans lose at the half like UM to grab another beer and/or take a leak in the Clark Fork. Coaches who elect to kickoff to start the game do so with the anticipation of grabbing the momentum to start the second half. Stitt inferred as much in his ESPN radio bit today - but he also learned Saturday that that doesn't work in Wa-Griz.
Half an hour of downtime is the only thing wrong with a Wa-Griz Saturday. Haslam should give the idea some serious thought.
It's clear to anybody who's ever attended a home game that the energy level just goes to hell at halftime and usually it's nearly halfway into the third quarter before it comes back to life. Few if any other programs deem it necessary to turn fans lose at the half like UM to grab another beer and/or take a leak in the Clark Fork. Coaches who elect to kickoff to start the game do so with the anticipation of grabbing the momentum to start the second half. Stitt inferred as much in his ESPN radio bit today - but he also learned Saturday that that doesn't work in Wa-Griz.
Half an hour of downtime is the only thing wrong with a Wa-Griz Saturday. Haslam should give the idea some serious thought.
