McKenzie looking for home-field advantage

by Ed Valentine on Dec 14, 2007 8:07 AM EST in New York Giants News

New York Giants offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie is calling out Giants' fans.

"When's the last time that you heard such a loud, boisterous crowd and you said, 'Wow, I really can't hear?'" McKenzie said yesterday. When a reporter pressed the tackle on his answer, McKenzie responded: "I couldn't tell you. We thrive on crowd participation also."

The Giants are just 3-3 in their own building compared to 6-1 on the road. They are coming off two impressive wins at Chicago and at Philadelphia, and McKenzie is hoping for a more sanguine atmosphere in East Rutherford.

"It's not comfortable," he said. "You're sitting there, you're playing the game and you're getting booed for your performance. ...Who really wants their home crowd booing them?"

McKenzie said he wouldn't complain if his team were on par with, say, the winless Dolphins. This is a team entrenched in a playoff chase. It makes the booing hard to explain.

"I don't know," McKenzie said. "(The fans) do what they do best."

Personally, I could understand the booing during the Minnesota debacle. McKenzie does have a point, though.

Why is it that Giants Stadium crowds never seem to reach the rocking, raucous, deafening levels the Giants seem to encounter so often on the road?

I don't know. Your thoughts?

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Pressy my Staples "Easy" button

Because for the most part, Giants Stadium is full of old men and women who will die with their tickets in hand, and quite frankly will make a hell of lot more noise with their boos than their cheers. Toomer made remarks about this a few years ago.

As mush as I hate Jets fans, I wish our home crowds had as much "in game" energy as Jet home crowds. (Notice I said "in game", we know about their halftime energy)

You may, may, hear a louder crowd Sunday night, as the bad weather will probably cause many of the Metamucil Mafia of the Meadowlands to give their tickets away.

I have long maintained that Giants season tickets should be a 10 year limit. Once you've had your tickets for 10 years, time to move on, let the next guy on the list have his chance. It would keep the home crowds young and energetic. Our home crowds are old, cranky and complacent. I doubt it will change, its been this way a long time.

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 14, 2007 8:27 AM EST reply actions

PS

Thats why to me its no surprise the Giants are better on the road. I don't ever recall hearing players on other teams having to ask their fans for support, but for some reason every time the Giants have a big game at home late in the season, one of the players or coaches the days before the game is imploring, practically begging the crowd to make noise.

Ok, for now I am done

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 14, 2007 8:30 AM EST reply actions

This is all very true

You've hit the nail on the head. I wonder if the players realize who the Giants stadium constituents are? I just hope they know that there are fans out there like me who jump up and down and scream during a game.

If I'm going to break them, I'm going to break them both. - LT

by potroast on Dec 14, 2007 8:52 AM EST up reply actions

I guarantee you

I make more noise in my living room, both positive and negative, watching the game than most fans at Giants Stadium

I swear my daughters first complete sentence is going to be "Eli, what the hell are you doing?"

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 14, 2007 9:39 AM EST reply actions

been to only a few games at giants stadium

but yeah its pretty tame. ticket prices, and the affluent fan base that comes with it, i guess. i heard a pretty boisterous giant fan at the bar last week. he pissed just about everyone else off (i was in dc). he cursed. it was great.

by DieEaglesDie on Dec 14, 2007 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

It's bad but has been worse.

Actually one of the games I went to this year ,it was either the jests or the niners was the loudest I've heard the stadium in 20 years and was FOR the giants so the crowd IS capable. I don't get to go to all the games but generally get all the preseason and at least a couple reg season games. Definately there were times during Fassels reign of terror when the place was absolutely quite. McKenzie,1940 and PR are right though, the crowd is getting older and more silent ( except possibly for gastric distress) all the time. Even now the folks I go with tend to clap a lot which you can't hear and if I was as loud as I used to be probably would not be asked back. Kind of a sad commentary on the times. All in all Kareem should have stated facts differenly, a more dominant offense would probably not have to ask for more noise. For the record Mr. McKenzie I booed you during your ass whipping by the Vikings,in fact I felt ripped off due to the offenses efforts, sorry, you want the crowd , you gotta earn them.

by big blue wrecking crew on Dec 14, 2007 10:24 AM EST reply actions

Crowd

I am loving the fact that this topic seems to have drawn some emotion from Big Blue View Nation. Keep the comments coming on this one.

by Ed Valentine on Dec 14, 2007 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

last time i heard a really loud crowd

(at least through my TV) was the bears game last year. when kiwi had that pick and jacobs finished it off with the TD run, the Stadium was rocking.

they were also really loud during the Colts opener in '06 as well.

i cant think really of one game that ive watched on tv where they've been loud at all. not even the dallas game a few weeks ago.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Dec 14, 2007 11:11 AM EST reply actions

hmm, I've often wondered about the huge decibel

level in some of the stadiums of teams the Giants play. I attributed it to acoustics. I think that explains some of it, but jrs hits on something more important. At one time the fans in the seats at Giants home games were downright boisterous. No longer. When was the last time cops had to quell near-riot conditions?
I do believe that the construction of Giants Stadium muffles noise more than does the construction of most other stadiums, but the reserve of the season ticket holders is undeniable and a much more important ingredient explaining the low decibel level.

by george cronin on Dec 14, 2007 2:22 PM EST reply actions

it's the crowd

As everyone pointed out, it's an old crowd at many Giants games. When we had the "home" game against the Saints a couple years ago after the hurricane, and the seats were on general sale rather than the season ticket base, and it was fucking LOUD.

by Josh @ Big Blue View on Dec 14, 2007 2:39 PM EST reply actions

crowd stinks

i've been lucky last few years when i visit family in nj to score tickets to a game or two.

Everytime I've gone - i have had some old season ticket fan tell me that he doesn't appreciate my excitement and why can't I quietly watch the game.

I don't swear, or say rude things, this I get from standing on big plays and cheering for the defense.

When I was in seattle last year for gmen game - those fans were so vocal and supportive on every play it made me ashamed of our crowd but hey still better then a battery throwing eagles crowd or d section jets fans.

by gmanfanstuckonwestcoast on Dec 15, 2007 9:30 PM EST reply actions