Utah State University told to boost attendance

Utah State University was one of three Western Athletic Conference institutions to receive a letter of notice from the NCAA for not meeting the required minimum of 15,000 fans for football games as mandated by the collegiate sports governing body, and if the Aggies miss the mark again in 2006, they could face sanctions.

"We need to make it this year or we will, as Karl (Benson, WAC Commissioner) said, face postseason (penalties)," Utah State athletic director Randy Spetman said.

Utah State, San Jose State, New Mexico State and 10 other Division I institutions received the letter.

In 2004, the NCAA said: "Institutions must meet the requirements to remain a Division I-A institution in the sport of football. If a college or university does not meet the requirements in a given year, it will receive a notice letter. If it does not meet the standards again at any time during a 10-year period, the institution will be placed in restricted status and not be eligible for postseason competition in football."

Per NCAA bylaws, should any team miss the mark three times in a 10-year period, it could lose its Division I-A status in football only.

Eastern Michigan drew the fewest fans, averaging 5,219 per game. It was behind Kent State (6,658); Buffalo (8,914); Rice (10,072); Akron (10,893) and Utah State (10,896).

San Jose State averaged 12,506 and New Mexico State 12,557. Others receiving letters were Temple (12,735), Ball State (12,953), Tulane (14,242), Louisiana Monroe (14,617) and Bowling Green (14,929).

Spetman, who saw the attendance number drop by nearly 9,000 from 2005, doesn't anticipate missing the number again.

"We have a plan to ensure that it doesn't happen through marketing and selling tickets," Spetman said. "We've let our fans know and our alumni know we need to be comfortable in meeting our 15,000 average. I am reasonably comfortable because we have Utah at our place and we'll sell that out so it gives us a buffer in case we get a big snowstorm for the last New Mexico State game."

The Aggies averaged 10,896 fans last year in five home dates, which ranked 112th of 117 teams. They originally had a six-game schedules, but the season opener with Nicholls State was canceled due to Hurricane Katrina.

Spetman said filling Romney Stadium comes down to one element — winning.

"If we're winning, we'll have great crowds," he said.

Last year, the Aggies finished 3-8 and two of the three wins came at home over UNLV and San Jose State.