I have a serious question

#1
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Just being honest
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#1
Why is it so difficult to play on the road in college football? It would be great if somebody out there had some actual experience they could share to explain why many teams, including ours, are a different team at home versus on the road. My personal experience doesn't really help here - I played baseball through the college level and I loved playing on the road. But baseball is a different animal and I played small college ball so the crowd was never much of a factor. But think about it....in football you call the same plays, run the same routes, have the same blocking assignments, the field is still 100 yards, etc. But yet you see 2 different personalities between home and away for many teams and its just an accepted fact that playing at home is an advantage - both pro and college. Most will point to the crowd, but do they really make that much difference to affect a player's performance?? I would like to know what my homies think here on VN.
 
#2
#2
Same reason it is pretty hard for opposing teams to play in Neyland!

Its called "Home Field Advantage" for a reason!



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#3
#3
fade route said:
Why is it so difficult to play on the road in college football? It would be great if somebody out there had some actual experience they could share to explain why many teams, including ours, are a different team at home versus on the road. My personal experience doesn't really help here - I played baseball through the college level and I loved playing on the road. But baseball is a different animal and I played small college ball so the crowd was never much of a factor. But think about it....in football you call the same plays, run the same routes, have the same blocking assignments, the field is still 100 yards, etc. But yet you see 2 different personalities between home and away for many teams and its just an accepted fact that playing at home is an advantage - both pro and college. Most will point to the crowd, but do they really make that much difference to affect a player's performance?? I would like to know what my homies think here on VN.
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I think a lot of it could be unfamiliarity..the travel to the town can be another factor.
 
#6
#6
i think that it is a combination of everything. at home you don't travel, you have your facilities, sleep in your bed, eat in the same place as always, warm up on your field and feed off of the crowd that supports you and it is just the environment you are used to and have played in many times as opposed to being the away team where all of these things are slightly different and it throws off the routine.
 
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#8
#8
I believe it's momentum swings. You have a lot more when you have 100,000 plus hyping you up.
 
#11
#11
The numbers say it makes a difference but there really is no reason why it should. The field is still 100 yrs long, no one comes out of the stands to make a tackle, etc. If a team is well trained and focused on their jobs the question of home or away should not be a factor......noise interfering with play calling would be the exception.
 
#12
#12
EricberryFAN said:
I believe it's momentum swings. You have a lot more when you have 100,000 plus hyping you up.
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I think it's this.

Getting down behind early on the road is a recipe for disaster. You have no crowd support, and you're playing against the crowd. They cheer when you make a mistake or get penalized. They go berserk when you give up a TD.

Once the momentum swings to the home team, it's very, very difficult to stop it.
 
#14
#14
I have no idea Fade,but i did see Troy Fleming,Fred White and Jason Swain say that they liked away games better this past Sunday,they said it was easier for them,because there were no distractions,no friends and family wanting tickets or to tie up your time after the game,for supper, parties or whatever,that's all i heard from ex players
 
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#15
#15
Yeah its fishy and sad that home field advantage is good for 3 points in most vegas spreads, but I think for out team, you could easily make that a 10 point swing either way.
 
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#18
#18
Chilmonty said:
Same reason it is pretty hard for opposing teams to play in Neyland!

Its called "Home Field Advantage" for a reason!



.
Click to expand...

This isn't the 1990's anymore!

In the last 10 seasons (counting this one), UT is 47-22 at home for a 68% winning percentage. That's not too great of a home field advantage considering in that time:

UF has won 4 times
Bama has won 3 times
UGA has won 3 times
LSU has won 2 times (only 2 trips)
Auburn has won 2 times (only 2 trips)
S. Carolina has won 2 times

I guess to the likes of APSU, WKU, and UK it's a home field advantage but not to the big boys.
 
#19
#19
I think it has a decent amount to do with confidence. At home it's easier to feel good about closing out a game even after some things go wrong when a stadium full of people are willing you on. On the road when the crowd gets crazier the more you mess up, my guess is that it really magnifies any insecurities your team has.

After the Dooley fiasco, most of the players on this team who aren't true freshmen most likely has some sort of confidence issues. At home the fans keep their spirits up, but on the road after giving up a big play or turning the ball over, it wouldn't surprise me if they start thinking "here we go again". So far it seems like the freshmen are the ones who more consistently show up on the road. IMO it just speaks to the mentality that CBJ is trying to weed out that's been instilled over the past few years.
 
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#21
#21
there is something to be said for momentum and young kids that aren't typically used to travel

however there are football reasons as well

the crowd is screaming in a tight game when you are on the road and that makes it more difficult for your qb to make checks at the line scrimmage and communicate and get everyone on the same page so you are less likely to get into favorable plays at the line of scrimmage

so there are a few factors - usually though i think it is overblown - great teams usually have great home field atmospheres - those great teams when at home - not necessarily b/c of the atmosphere but b/c they are a great team - does it help, sure, but not near as much as some commentators would have you believe
 
#22
#22
gnm53108 said:
I'd like to hear Casey Clausen's answer to this question.
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For real. That guy was the ultimate road warrior. I think it has a lot to do with mentality. Some players love playing on the road because they thrive off shutting up a hostile crowd. You have to be really confident to carry that through a whole game though.
 
#23
#23
jjay2518 said:
I think it has a decent amount to do with confidence. At home it's easier to feel good about closing out a game even after some things go wrong when a stadium full of people are willing you on. On the road when the crowd gets crazier the more you mess up, my guess is that it really magnifies any insecurities your team has.

After the Dooley fiasco, most of the players on this team who aren't true freshmen most likely has some sort of confidence issues. At home the fans keep their spirits up, but on the road after giving up a big play or turning the ball over, it wouldn't surprise me if they start thinking "here we go again". So far it seems like the freshmen are the ones who more consistently show up on the road. IMO it just speaks to the mentality that CBJ is trying to weed out that's been instilled over the past few years.
Click to expand...

Thats something I noticed too.
 
#24
#24
There were many on here downplaying Mizzou's stadium last week talking about how UT's open practice would be more intimidating for Dobbs.
 
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#25
#25
I agree about it being "home field advantage".. It will eventually come to these young men on the road..

GO VOLS..
GO BIG ORANGE ... :rock:
 
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