Exactly. Take a look back at the Mack Brown era and the game against FSU. Kenan was electric that evening and there is zero reason why it can't be that way again and throughout the majority of the schedule. An although the results of that game was disappointing, big time football had arrived in Chapel Hill.
Aside from winning, there has got to be something that Bubba and the administration can come up with that will allow for Kenan to stay packed and charged up. Maybe a phone campaign to determine whether season ticket holders are coming or not. If not, give the sits to the students. One of the best games I went to for bball was when a ice storm came through. Seating was relegated to general admission and students filled the Dome. I was fortunate enough to sit in airplane seats for the high dollar boosters. Dude had about ten seats and only needed three. I know logistically it is more than likely a nightmare but something has to be done.
Another would be to grow the band and exactly field a college size band. Then make the directors go to A&T and get music for the stands. Get them to be creative with using all types of music throughout the game. The first couple of bars of Bulls of Parade by Rage Against the Machine would be great for defensive stops of big offensive plays. UGa plays Krypton from Superman prior to the fourth quarter and then goes directly into the fight song. Why is it so difficult for our directors to think along those lines? Why not play a couple of bars of "Mars" from the Planets, or Black Sabbath's "Ironman"?
Finally, instead of adding on to Kenan, renovate it and change the bench seating to stadium seats. Also, the Blue Zone was a great idea but poorly executed. Why place the suits at the endzone and guarantee a camera shot of empty seats? I know hindsight is 20/20 but luxury seating and suites should have been added where the press box currently stand. They could have been placed on the home side, from end zone to end zone. Then add a new press box above them. Still add seating where the current Blue Zone stands but make it a student section as well.
Time to debunk some myths:
Myth 1: There's a litany of students waiting to get into Kenan who don't have tickets
--
FALSE! All the students who want to go to the games, can and do. Everyone gets tickets via their One Card. End of story. It isn't like basketball where we could actually hand over empty seats to eagerly waiting students who legitimately couldn't get tickets. Am I bashing student attendance for football? No not at all. For how lousy we usually are, the student section is generally quite solid....and it's the only section that makes any noise. But that being said, probably around ~20% of students don't attend games (due to lack of interest, not ticket shortage) so any plan to give empty seats to students is useless.
Myth 2: The '97 FSU game atmosphere is what every home game atmosphere can and should be.
-- False. It just isn't in the cards. Not with this fanbase, not with the socioeconomic tilt of our alumni base, and not with the existence of current technology that lets you watch every game at home. Sorry, our fans just don't crave live football as rabidly as your more blue collar B1G and SEC schools. We've all heard the stories of how bad the crowd was at the Duke game AFTER the infamous '97 FSU game. Back to normal. The only way to ensure rabid crowds every game is to suddenly transform into Alabama-level of competitiveness year in and year out.
Myth 3: We will eventually do something to "punish" season-ticket holders who don't make use of their tickets.
-- False. Man, I wish this could happen so badly. But it never will. The athletic department is NOT going to piss off those who buy tickets. Honestly, our ticket sales are pretty decent compared to what the crowds look like....people just don't care enough to ensure their bought tickets are used. No way to counter this, and even if there was a way, we wouldn't do it. Folks already have an opportunity to turn their tickets back in (for Rams Club points) and that's about the best we can do.
Myth 4: Changes to the band, lyrics on video boards, improved cheerleader techniques, et al. will make the rest of the stadium (student section excluded) participate and be loud.
-- Categorically False. I don't exactly know why, but our fanbase just refuses to participate and get into the game. You see the exact same thing in basketball. An attitude of "well, it's not MY job to clap and be loud, that's the STUDENTS' job" permeates the stands at both football and basketball games. No one even claps along to the damn fight song. Hello?? I know dang well that at least SOME of the sitting around me are alumni, but whenever fight songs are played, people sorta just sit there with their head cocked as if they're thinking "hmm what is this foreign space music..?" I truly do not get this. Go to ANY -- and I mean ANY -- other college stadium and 80% or more of the stadium clap and sing to the fight song. Yet at Carolina we do not. Hell, I bet half the students these days don't even know the words to "Here Comes Carolina" because it ain't taught. Our traditions are eroding away.
As for the Blue Zone, Lord I wish that thing could go away. Level the top row and keep the middle and bottom rows of seating and that's it.......but nothing will happen to the Blue Zone. It cost too much and is still being funded. But yes, whoever ultimately OK'd it to be behind one of the endzones is a dumbass.