ATT will be a big home field advantage for us, once we get used to playing on it. Better than the Boise field.

Dirt/grass. Different sideline-to-sideline and end-to-end grades. Tight end zone run outs. Odd team bench layouts. Odd seating proximity.

This will be very different for visiting teams never having played on something like this, especially on offense. Visitors will score 7 fewer points, on average, because of this alone.

Rushinbear;550524 said:

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ATT will be a big home field advantage for us, once we get used to playing on it. Better than the Boise field.

Dirt/grass. Different sideline-to-sideline and end-to-end grades. Tight end zone run outs. Odd team bench layouts. Odd seating proximity.

This will be very different for visiting teams never having played on something like this, especially on offense. Visitors will score 7 fewer points, on average, because of this alone.

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If the Giants don't make the playoffs, I don't think the dirt will be in any game except against Presbyterian. If they do make the playoffs, we might get moved anyway.

They would sod the dirt areas? Even better - those temporary sod installations are terrible and make for tricky transitions in footing. One second you have traction, the next you are hung up in clods.

Rushinbear;550524 said:

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ATT will be a big home field advantage for us, once we get used to playing on it. Better than the Boise field.

Dirt/grass. Different sideline-to-sideline and end-to-end grades. Tight end zone run outs. Odd team bench layouts. Odd seating proximity.

This will be very different for visiting teams never having played on something like this, especially on offense. Visitors will score 7 fewer points, on average, because of this alone.

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I buy it Rush. Good post

RonO;550529 said:

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I buy it Rush. Good post

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me like.

I think the smell of garlic fries wafting from the stands will be a distraction.

I know I will be distracted by my daughter's constant pleas to go to the coke bottle slide in left field. So if we can just make sure the players on the visiting team bring their 8 year old kids to the game....

The main factor in our home field advantage, by a long shot, is the student section at Memorial, because the rest of our fan base hardly makes any noise. If we can get a student block of similar size and positioning at AT&T (highly doubtful) then we will preserve the home field advantage, otherwise we will be weaker there. The other factors cited by Rushingbear are fairly marginal.

Well, then you are sure to be disappointed. The Student Section at AT&T is located behind the North End Zone (in the Left Field Bleachers) and the capacity is only about 60% of Sections R, RR, S, and SS (4200 at AT&T vs. 7500 at CMS).

The AT&T analogous positions are Sections B & C in the Sideline Bleachers. But Cal's bench would have to be in front of those sections, while the visitors would be in the shade of the 3rd baseline. Ergo, the students were moved to Left Field.

As was mentioned, the student section has always made CMS a total home field advantage..In recent years, they have carried the ball with their enthusiasm and noise..I fear that will be lacking this season in a big way and for obvious reasons. The burden will be on the rest of us who are there to carry the ball this year!

Right on, 72CB...

Thanks for the info, David. The makeshift student section is indeed smaller, but 4,200 would still be a nice size block if totally packed, and those bleachers do look to be close to the field. Looking at things on the bright side, those are going to be the most passionate 4,200 students. That is going to make for some potentially inspiring goal line stands if we're defending the north endzone.

Cal88;550934 said:

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Right on, 72CB...

Thanks for the info, David. The makeshift student section is indeed smaller, but 4,200 would still be a nice size block if totally packed, and those bleachers do look to be close to the field. Looking at things on the bright side, those are going to be the most passionate 4,200 students. That is going to make for some potentially inspiring goal line stands if we're defending the north endzone.

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I actually think we are going to make more noise overall. When we are at CMS, seems like Old Blues say to themselves, "OK, I'll just concentrate on the game and let the young uns scream their lungs out." It's like this illustration. And don't tell my wife this. When I was single, I used to do way more chores. But when I got married, my wife was more willing and better at getting things done, so my mind got lazy and deferred. We've had many talks about this over the years (enjoyable ones, right, LOL). I still have to get my mind back on track (i.e. get my mind conditioned) to get back to taking more responsibility. But you get the picture?

I think per capita we make more noise overall at road games as I believe people think the noise depends on them and because there's no designated student section. I'm hoping that's the dynamic with such a small student section, that young, middle and old blues take it upon themselves to bring up the overall noise, since at AT&T the student section will not have that much impact. But the funny thing is that when people realize that if everyone contributes, it makes more impact than even the noise that our great student section produces but pretty much by itself.

drunkoski;550546 said:

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also teams staying in SF instead of near the oakland airport the night before the game is better distractionwise.

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We need to find them one of those hotels you rent by the hour in the Tenderloin! :p

No home field advantage at all. Although it must be cool playing there for us and the visiting teams. Students will be sorely missed.

but when we return to Memorial next year will the students still remain on the 50? Obviously you could make way more money selling those seats like SC and UCLA.

drunkoski;550546 said:

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also teams staying in SF instead of near the oakland airport the night before the game is better distractionwise.

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As I recall ucla stayed in the city last year and there were reports that some of their starters went out the night before the game. Their play on the field certainly supported the theory, because they were sleep walking.