They get perfect marks in attendance
If you’re judging only by attendance, college football is having a great year. Eighteen of the top 25 teams in attendance this year are playing to at least 100% of listed capacity in their home stadiums, led by the University of Texas, averaging 97,696 in three home games at Memorial Stadium -- 103.8% of capacity.
The Longhorns’ numbers are up 14.7% over last year. That’s a lot of Bevo, to be sure, but for total attendance you’ve got to go to Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Wolverines are averaging 108,326 in three home games at Michigan Stadium, or 102% of capacity. Penn State is second (107,367) and Ohio State is third (104,544).
USC has played just once at the Coliseum and is sixth at 93,607. UCLA’s attendance is off 9.2% at the Rose Bowl and the Bruins rank 23rd with an average of 69,314.
Of course, that would be lower without all the Fresno State fans.
Trivia time
What team leads the Southeastern Conference in average home attendance?
Long goodbye
Good news for anyone who can’t get enough of Yankee Stadium. The Yankees are going to extend the tours of the stadium until the end of the year, with a chance to walk across the field to Monument Park, according to the New York Post.
E-5
That billboard at Times Square designed to publicize TBS’ baseball playoff coverage? Yes, it’s the New York Mets’ David Wright, who appears in the playoffs on billboards only.
Superdunker
The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard, who won the dunking contest at the All-Star game wearing a Superman costume, is entering a deal in which he will wear the Superman emblem on the back of his shoes, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Fired up
According to sportsmediachallenge.com, Al Davis’ firing of coach Lane Kiffin was the most-blogged about topic of the period, even greater than the White Sox beating the Twins in a thriller, a one-game playoff for the American League Central title.
Trivia answer
Tennessee, averaging 102,172.
And finally
From wide receiver Dante Hall of the 0-4 and 3-17 (dating back to last season) St. Louis Rams: “I was just thinking. We’ve won three games in 20 tries. That’s bad man.”
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