Riding home last night, we started talking about attendance and the effects of the 2015 situation and now the struggles of Odom’s regime. We also mentioned some historical aspects of this state and other factors, such as the impact of wall-to-wall HDTV games all day and games running over 4 hours.
But it occurred to me that there may be one other factor at play here at Mizzou. The echo effect of the wilderness years. Throughout that time, especially towards the end of that era, many of us bemoaned the fact that we may very well have lost a generation of fans. Students stayed away in droves back then. They didn’t have the experience that I and my contemporaries enjoyed in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. They weren’t as committed to coming back (and bringing their kids) like previous generations. As I look through the stands, I get a similar feeling as looking around my congregation, the assembled are getting older, gradually dying off, and Gen X and Millennials are not replenishing the base.
Generational differences are seen in many aspects of society and all over the country. But I think we are harvesting what was sown lo those many years ago.
But it occurred to me that there may be one other factor at play here at Mizzou. The echo effect of the wilderness years. Throughout that time, especially towards the end of that era, many of us bemoaned the fact that we may very well have lost a generation of fans. Students stayed away in droves back then. They didn’t have the experience that I and my contemporaries enjoyed in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. They weren’t as committed to coming back (and bringing their kids) like previous generations. As I look through the stands, I get a similar feeling as looking around my congregation, the assembled are getting older, gradually dying off, and Gen X and Millennials are not replenishing the base.
Generational differences are seen in many aspects of society and all over the country. But I think we are harvesting what was sown lo those many years ago.
