School Specific Message Boards

**nodak651** · February 15th, 2019, 02:55 PM

Kind of a random topic, but it's the off season and it's slow here, and this has bugged me for a while.

Why the hell do fan bases use premium message boards like rivals, where they are required to pay?

Schools like Montana, Montana State, UND, SDSU, NDSU, and many other FCS schools have quality message boards that are free. Why do so many FBS schools have fan bases that rely on message boards like rivals, where payment is required? And it seems like those message boards normally only have like 3-5 topics many of the time, like football, football recruiting, basketball, and off topic.

This is especially confusing because CSNBBS has a legit platform with the potential for any school to have an active and FREE message board. I think JMU uses this platform.

This bother anyone else? I can't think of a reason why it is so difficult to find a decent message boards for many FBS and P5 schools, that are free. You would think that a privatly owned website at a p5 school would get enough web traffic to be successful, especially since so many FCS schools do it, and do it better than Rivals and 247.

**DFW HOYA** · February 15th, 2019, 03:03 PM

I've maintained an independent web site and message board for 23 years (ouch!) and there aren't many of us left.

In many cases, the lure of click-throughs and banner ad revenues steered many of the formerly independent sites to Rivals, Scout, the second iteration of Rivals, 247 Sports, and SB Nation, but it left the sites to sign up fans on premium memberships to exist. I've never asked for a dime from the visitors to HoyaSaxa.com and the HoyaTalk boards and have no intention to do so, but others see such "affiliated" sites as a revenue producing operation.

Others start their own business out of it. Tech Sideline.com (the former "Hokie Central") started about the same time I did and went into a JV with Virginia's TheSabre.com. They host a platform for six other sites.

**SDFS** · February 15th, 2019, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by DFW HOYA

I've maintained an independent web site and message board for 23 years (ouch!) and there aren't many of us left.

In many cases, the lure of click-throughs and banner ad revenues steered many of the formerly independent sites to Rivals, Scout, the second iteration of Rivals, 247 Sports, and SB Nation, but it left the sites to sign up fans on premium memberships to exist. I've never asked for a dime from the visitors to HoyaSaxa.com and the HoyaTalk boards and have no intention to do so, but others see such "affiliated" sites as a revenue producing operation.

Others start their own business out of it. Tech Sideline.com (the former "Hokie Central") started about the same time I did and went into a JV with Virginia's TheSabre.com. They host a platform for six other sites.

Does traffic to the site cover all costs of hosting?

**grayghost06** · February 19th, 2019, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by DFW HOYA

I've maintained an independent web site and message board for 23 years (ouch!) and there aren't many of us left.

In many cases, the lure of click-throughs and banner ad revenues steered many of the formerly independent sites to Rivals, Scout, the second iteration of Rivals, 247 Sports, and SB Nation, but it left the sites to sign up fans on premium memberships to exist. I've never asked for a dime from the visitors to HoyaSaxa.com and the HoyaTalk boards and have no intention to do so, but others see such "affiliated" sites as a revenue producing operation.

Others start their own business out of it. Tech Sideline.com (the former "Hokie Central") started about the same time I did and went into a JV with Virginia's TheSabre.com. They host a platform for six other sites.

DFW, I'm curious of your opinion on the layout of message boards like The Sabre. I never understood the appeal of a string of one sentence responses. There is never any in depth discussion on any points or topic. I'm sure there must be reason but I just don't see it. Maybe I'm missing something though.

**The Boogie Down** · February 21st, 2019, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by grayghost06

I never understood the appeal of a string of one sentence responses. There is never any in depth discussion on any points or topic. I'm sure there must be reason but I just don't see it. Maybe I'm missing something though.

The Helmet Project has a Voy forum like that. It's so retro-chic I only check it out via AOL while cranking up the ol' desktop.

**AggieFinn** · February 15th, 2019, 06:09 PM

http://www.aggiesportstalk.com/

Used to be on Yuku, now created through PlushForums

Tight knit group, with regulars over the last 10 years, new people come on at the start of football season, new students, recent alumni, most come and go, some stay for a while.