It’s been interesting this season listening to first-year Texas Southern coach Cris Dishman as he has figured out the nuances that come with Tigers’ football.
Some things are almost impossible to evaluate from the pre-employment curb.
We’ve heard Dishman react out loud to some of the special circumstances he faces while trying to turn around a program that hasn’t had a winning season in decades. His first shock was TSU’s not-so-cozy Air-B-N-B occupancy deal with Shell Energy Stadium and its two primary residents, the Dynamo and Dash.
You can visit but don’t make yourself at home.
The Tigers can’t get into Shell Energy Stadium for practices and their kickers must work around practicing on turf but playing on grass. Dishman, as a result, has sent out some low-key zingers, saying they feel like guests at home. The funniest referred to the Shell Energy Stadium as “their cousin’s home stadium.”
The latest dose of reality—the lack of fan and alumni support at home games—has probably bothered the former Houston Oiler cornerback the most. Dishman looked up in the stands and saw few fans while his Tigers were on their way to an impressive 17-14 win in their home finale.
Dishman sounded off unprompted during his opening comments during the weekly SWAC Football Coaches Media Call.
“The most frustrating thing was to see not that many people in the stands,” Dishman said. “I think that everyone from Texas Southern should come out and support Texas Southern sports. Get in the stands and cheer these guys on.”
Dishman wasn’t wrong.
With a vast Houston alumni base, the support should be better for the Third Ward school.
Dishman delivered on his promise to improve the program when he took the job last January. The Tigers have been far more competitive and finished the season on a two-game winning streak. They ended the 2024 campaign, posting a .500 record in the tough SWAC West with a 4-4 record and 5-6 overall after being picked to finish dead last in the division in the SWAC Preseason Poll.
But the return from the fans for what the Tigers have done hasn’t been there.
Officially, there were 6,916 fans in Shell Energy Stadium for the final home game against Bethune-Cookman. But in reality, it was far less as the 20,656-seat venue seemed empty for what was also senior night.
If you believe the official attendance account, the Tigers averaged 10,224 fans during five home games (including the Homecoming Game played at Durley Stadium on campus) this season.
The football program deserves better support. They’ve earned it.
“We probably had less than 1,500 people and that’s the most disappointing thing to see in a 30,000-seat stadium,” Dishman said. “For those of you who came, thank you guys for coming. For those who weren’t there, get your tickets and come to the game. Stop saying what you should do and do it.”
