On Your Mark: If you build a teal field, will the fans come?

Now, I’m sure there’s some higher power – much more in tune with the Twitterverse – who rules on this sort of subject, but here’s my shot at some hashtags for Saturday: #TealDay, #Chantiteal, #FeelTheTeal, #TealAngeloHenderson ...

I think that last one has legs.

If you’re not quite in the loop with the goings on of Coastal Carolina University, there’s a quick and easy explanation for all the colorful hashtags. On Saturday at 6 p.m., the Chanticleers will host Western Illinois in their home opener, gracing their newly minted teal turf for the first time.

It’s a significant moment for the Chanticleers for several reasons, the most obvious being that the No. 1-ranked FCS team will be playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, and the first time since announcing their huge step up to the Sun Belt Conference and the FBS level in the coming seasons.

More importantly, it’s a calling card for a team that’s struggled with something of an identity crisis, looking for a foothold in a state dominated by FBS stalwarts USC and Clemson. Where would North Dakota State be without the FargoDome, one of the loudest venues in college sports (the Bison are 121-21 there all time). Where would Boise State be without their signature blue turf? Relevant, I’m sure, but not nearly on the national level they’ve risen to.

The teal turf can be the draw that sets Chanticleer football apart from the many attractions along the Grand Strand. Based in an economy centered around beautiful weather and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, what tourist wouldn’t be interested in checking out the only college in the nation that plays on a teal-lined racetrack?

I say racetrack, because the way the offense has exploded in recent years, it often seems more like the Chants are on the NASCAR circuit than facing off with fellow college defenses.

While reported attendance can often be a moving target, I look back at the number 5,601. That was reported attendance at a 2014 playoff game against Richmond, hosted at Brooks Stadium (capacity of close to 9,400, and soon to increase with the move to FBS). Two years ago in a playoff game against Bethune-Cookman: 3,007. If you’re not going to those games, which ones are you going to?

Isn’t it time attendance begins to reflect the quality of football being had in Conway? I sure think so.

Pelicans get another shot at Mills Cup

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans have made the Mills Cup playoffs of the Carolina League for the past five seasons. After three first-round exits, they finally made it to the championship series last year before losing to the Potomac Nationals in four games.

Is this the year they finally break through?

The Pelicans opened up this year’s five-game set with a 3-2, 10-inning win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Sunday. They edged the Winston-Salem Dash in the first round 2-1, winning the final two games at home.

Game 2 will also be played in Wilmington at 6:35 p.m., before the remainder of the series shifts to Myrtle Beach. The Pelicans plan to send right-hander Tyler Skulina (3-6) to the mound to face off with Wilmington’s Jake Junis (5-11).

Games 3, 4* and 5* will be Wednesday-Friday, each at 7:05 p.m.

*If necessary

Of note

After a week off, the Fedex Cup returns to action at the BMW Championship on Thurday, where Jordan Spieth will look to get on track after missing the first two cuts in the PGA tour playoffs, and many fringe contenders look to qualify for the TOUR Championship. The event is played at Conway Farms Golf Club in Chicago... Week 2 NFL viewing schedule: Thursday: Denver at Kansas City, 8:25 p.m., CBS/NFL; Sunday: Houston at Carolina, 1 p.m., CBS; San Francisco at Pittsbugh, 1 p.m., Fox; Dallas at Philadelphia, 4 p.m., Fox; Seattle at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m., NBC; Monday: N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis, 8:30 p.m., ESPN.

This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 10:00 PM with the headline "On Your Mark: If you build a teal field, will the fans come?."