Williams will be back this week with limited playing time. It will be nice to finally have him and Blowe back to full strength in a few weeks

Dwj21 said:

Not according to Google

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Well Google AI so I guess it's probably wrong bc AI is atrocious.

TDHelmick said:

There was just over 24K living in Cumberland in 1994. FH had 1100 students. Now 660 students. Almost half. But yes, mostly senior citizens here now.

Homecoming still today attracts roughly 4000 fans despite the competitive unbalance. Playoff games and other Friday nights maybe 600 fans. Half of those are visitors.

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Not according to Google

I've been reading on the MOCO site about how two 4A schools in PG county can't field a football team, High Point being one, and several others just barley having enough with around 20 players. Hard to believe schools with 14-1500 enrollments can't field football teams.

Dwj21 said:

Attendance isn't a population issue. Not in the sense that there's not enough people here. In 1994 when homecoming was estimated at 14k people Cumberland's population was just over 17,000 and now in 2024 there's just over 18,600. The issue is the older fans are dying off and the younger generation isn't replacing them. I go to as many games as I can but I don't see many folks my age at the games. There's a few but it's not a lot. People don't care like they used to and that's sad. We could pack that stadium each weekend, the people are here.

As far as a student section, we had one last year in the top left of the home stands as you face them. It rained almost every gone game last year and they stopped coming. I guess they didn't start it back up this year.

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There was just over 24K living in Cumberland in 1994. FH had 1100 students. Now 660 students. Almost half. But yes, mostly senior citizens here now.

Homecoming still today attracts roughly 4000 fans despite the competitive unbalance. Playoff games and other Friday nights maybe 600 fans. Half of those are visitors.

Attendance isn't a population issue. Not in the sense that there's not enough people here. In 1994 when homecoming was estimated at 14k people Cumberland's population was just over 17,000 and now in 2024 there's just over 18,600. The issue is the older fans are dying off and the younger generation isn't replacing them. I go to as many games as I can but I don't see many folks my age at the games. There's a few but it's not a lot. People don't care like they used to and that's sad. We could pack that stadium each weekend, the people are here.

As far as a student section, we had one last year in the top left of the home stands as you face them. It rained almost every gone game last year and they stopped coming. I guess they didn't start it back up this year.

The Bulldogs...............

My guess is Bridgeport. Morgantown a close 2nd

Would have to assume one of three
Martinsburg
Bridgeport
Morgantown

At some point kids have to play 4 quarters.

The injury issue really comes down to over exertion. A player who has basically been on the field for the whole game runs the risk of an overuse injury. But I am with you Bleedred, generally.

Oh Todd. If you were a girl, you'd be known as the biggest tease! LOL

I disagree. While you might pick up more bumps and bruises, I think that you'll pick up more injuries playing teams with lesser talent. There're more late or bad hits along with people laying on the ground.

SS610 said:

Todd, can you verify/ deny?

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NO. Where did that rumor start? 😄

Frankfort knows there is always an option to play FH in football no matter what the contract time length involves. If it was ever going to happen, this year would have been the time. FH was desperate to fill the Oct. 18 slot, so was Frankfort. The Falcons chose to drive 3 hours and play Williamstown. FH had to get a team from NY. Given the fact these two teams look like the two best in this area at this moment, it would have made for a good fall Friday night with a jam packed house.

I'm not here to bash Frankfort, or Keyser because you have to walk in their shoes. The million dollar question everyone really wants to ask is why won't Frankfort play FH?

If you talk to the in-the-know Ridgeley football people that matter and people that I respect/consider friends (coaches, admins and newspaper folks) - this is their reply, not mine.

- If Frankfort played FH 40 times, FH would win 39 times. So it does the Falcons no good to be put in that situation.
- When Frankfort plays FH, they lose players to injury for sometimes weeks because FH is so physical both in weight room strength and the style of football they play.
- The roster that exists for the Super Bowl Rams youth teams and Hawks/Colts pee wee teams are not the same rosters when those players become high school juniors and seniors. Kids transfer, choose not to play, choose to play other sports, have other interests.
- The dedication to football is widely different year round between these two

Those people not in-the-know (fans, parents) are the ones that may take a leap of boldness in the moment to challenge FH on paper. This could be one of those years as the schedule difficulty difference is extreme and Frankfort is good enough to run the table. I really thought a few weeks ago that FH may lose three games or so due to that schedule while Frankfort made a run. Yea, I can see a local area poll stick the Falcons as the top area team at some point based solely on wins and losses regardless of schedules. But those involved and in-the-know know.

It's not just Frankfort. There are only two teams in the entire state of WV that will play FH. With a little luck, one of those teams people are begging for could be a reality in 2025 <wink>. We'll see.

TDHelmick said:

You can rectify all of these things and maybe increase attendance by 400 people, not 2000 people. Not many live here anymore and those that do are mostly senior citizens.

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That's at least 400 more people. I think we all realize the days of 12000 people at Homecoming and being relegated to the far end zone seats on a regular season Friday night are just not happening again.

But there is a way to make it a more attractive choice to go to a HS game on a Friday night for the most fans we can. The game should be about the students and FOR the students. It feels like these games are being taken from the students, sit in one place, don't be too silly, act like old people and if you don't like it don't come.

The county doesn't even want to fix the scoreboard issues. The sound system is still horribly subpar with no speakers on the far side yet. The flashing lights were cool ..until another adult in an official capacity felt it should be taken away. I don't like the vibe at all. There's a solution. No one in place to implement a plan, is doing a thing about it.

Let's face it. Cumberland has been dying a slow death since Kelly Springfield moved out. And it doesn't seem to matter who is voted mayor or as county commissioners, they seem unable....or unwilling to bring industrial or any other type jobs into this area. It shouldn't be surprising that the population has dropped. What's to keep the younger generation here? Sitting within two hours of three major metropolitan ares, with a large resort area within close proximity to the west, access to the railroad, one would think it would be an attractive area to advertisers, but apparently not.

You can rectify all of these things and maybe increase attendance by 400 people, not 2000 people. Not many live here anymore and those that do are mostly senior citizens.

They have reserved seating for the adults, why not try having a student section? We've all seen this at other schools. It appears to work well. Unfortunately, there are more problems floating around than just bad behavior by the kids. In the last few years, the Band parents working the concession stands have been less than cordial toward the patrons. I have even heard one band parent say, "if they didn't get waited on, too bad." when referring to a customer. But that's another issue. Bottom line, the games need to be a fun experience. The only drama should be on the field.

4R341 said:

Downside to playing tough, talented schools - injuries.

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To clarify, the downside to playing two-way starters for 4 quarters against tough, talented schools = injuries.

westernMD said:

$6 to get in. Stadium pizza is now $4 per slice. 2 slices and a drink costs $11. Security cracking down on student movement also hurts attendance. I know there was a bad middle school student fight last year at the stadium, but we all remember our high school days and how much fun we had walking around the stadium during games with our friends. Little wonder kids don't want to attend.

I would cut ticket prices back to $5 which is more in line to what other schools charge (Hollidaysburg and Albert Gallatin both charge $5). 1,000 x $5 is greater revenue than 800 x $6.

Maybe have a pizza special, 1 slice and a drink for $5.

Keep a strong security presence but let the kids be kids and allow them to socialize.

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Kids safety. In my day we would walk the track, get in fights with kids from other schools, but be hanging out together a few hours later, with some bumps, and bruises, and the occasional black eye. Today those fights escalate to the level that your child may not make it home that night. Always and I mean always err on the side of caution. Kids and adults well being will always be more important than attendance numbers. Always agreeable on lower prices. LOL.

Ironically enough the only place that Fort Hill does't get the respect it should is here in Western Maryland. Spending the better part of 40 plus years down state, Allegany County football has always been well regarded all over the state. Regardless of classification the county schools have always been well respected, as you can tell by scheduling difficulties. For some reason that Red/Blue line, and now with the success of MR, locals try to find fault with anything that each other accomplishes. Maybe its time to recognize the success the area has in all athletics, instead of minimizing their accomplishments. Believe me, the rest of the state does respect Allegany County.

$6 to get in. Stadium pizza is now $4 per slice. 2 slices and a drink costs $11. Security cracking down on student movement also hurts attendance. I know there was a bad middle school student fight last year at the stadium, but we all remember our high school days and how much fun we had walking around the stadium during games with our friends. Little wonder kids don't want to attend.

I would cut ticket prices back to $5 which is more in line to what other schools charge (Hollidaysburg and Albert Gallatin both charge $5). 1,000 x $5 is greater revenue than 800 x $6.

Maybe have a pizza special, 1 slice and a drink for $5.

Keep a strong security presence but let the kids be kids and allow them to socialize.

Downside to playing tough, talented schools - injuries.

They won't do it because they don't have to. Nothing to gain and too much to lose.

Going out on a limb but pretty sure they would decline even with all home games and no sharing of the gate.