Aaron and I just got back from the game where the Titans were on the receiving end of a serious drubbing administered by the Colts. The best thing that could be said about the game was that at least this time I remembered to wear sunscreen... actually... Susie made me wear sunscreen because she didn't want to hear me whining later on.
It took all of 3 and a half minutes for the Colts to score on the opening drive and they never looked back. Still, we sat and cheered the home team on in hopes that they might make a game of it.
Halftime in section 342
With 38 seconds left in the third quarter, down by three touchdowns, the Titans faced 4th and 1 on Indy's 15 yard line. Obviously they were going for it, but before getting the play off, the Titans were flagged for a false start pushing them back 5 yards. "Well that'll make it tougher to get the first down, but we can do it", I thought. "We can cut this to a 14 point deficit and go into the 4th quarter with a little hope". Before I could fully convince myself of this improbability, the coaching staff indicated that they had already conceded the game by sending in the field goal unit. This daring bit of strategy was rewarded by the football gods with a miss. Wide left.
When you are down 21 points, facing the prospect of a 1-3 start to the season, you go for it! At worst we turn the ball over on downs, but at least we go down swinging. If it works, we're back in the game with a reenergized crowd and perhaps a bit of momentum. Which leads me, ever so slowly, to the point of this post.
There once was a time when opponents coming into the Coliseum could expect to encounter some of the loudest, boisterous fans in the NFL. Over the years that advantage has steadily decreased as the crowd has become more and more subdued. And I keep hearing people on "sports talk" lament the fact that the crowd just isn't as into it as they once were. While the talking heads may claim that it's because there is less to cheer about, I have another theory (and it's mine): Beer.
In 1999 the Titans the price of beer at the Coliseum was something like $3.00 and while that's nearly the cost of a six-pack in the real world, we happily paid the premium, drank our beer and, with our inhibitions lowered ever so slightly, cheered our team with enthusiasm suggesting we were getting a cut of the team's payroll. The Titans went 8-0 at home that season, went to the Super Bowl and came up a yard short you may recall.
Fast forward to 2004. The price of beer at the games has risen to $7.00 and many in the crowd, myself included, simply can't bring ourselves to cough up that kind of money for a beer. Preferring instead to stick to a $3.00 water, which is a relative bargain. In 2004 the Titans went 2-6 at home. In 2005 the beer has, mercifully, remained at $7.00.
Can there be any doubt that cheaper beer makes for enthusiastic crowds which can only help the home team? And even if it doesn't, at least it increases the likelihood of seeing a streaker, insane shirtless guys in 20 degree weather, a tussle between fans, or even boobie flash! And isn't that really what football is all about?
