I didn't get to hear it all, but this morning on the Ref, James Hale (I think he was still on) was discussing with callers the ever popular topic of how to make OU games more exciting.

What, they aren't exciting enough? Let's see ... OU has a football team that has won a national championship within the past five years (and isn't exactly a slouch even in an "off" year), two top notch basketball teams that BOTH went to their respective Final Fours (and the distaff side of that equation having gone all the way to the national final). OU has fielded a national champion softball team (although softball isn't a revenue sport, nor does it really turn me on, this is still a good thing).

Sure there are some Deadbolts (those who sit there like they're dead throughout a game and then bolt for the doors to beat traffic with five or so minutes left. There are deadbolts everywhere, this isn't an issue exclusive to Oklahoma). But, if OU fields such awesome teams, what is not exciting about OU sports? And yet this issue gets play more often than not -- especially during hoops season.

Okay, you guys take it from here. What can we do to "liven up" (as if it needs it) OU sporting events.

I can offer only one suggestion. I sort of wish the basketball pep band would expand its repetoire.

Okay, your turn.

--soonerterp.

Well, as far as basketball goes, we need to just get butts in the seats. If every game could be like the Maryland game last year, then we'd be in great shape. I thought student involvement in basketball was pretty poor throughout the year, so I'd really try to promote basketball to the students(football as well).

As far as football goes, I'll have to think on it.

Great topic, though!

<small>[ May 09, 2002, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: CollegeFight ]</small>

well they already serve beer at the football games so there goes that idea.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by EatLeadCommie:
well they already serve beer at the football games so there goes that idea.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Um, I'm not sure about that at OU. They serve beer at every place off campus, certainly that are adjacent (O'Connell's, everything in Campus Corner), but I don't think they serve it at Memorial Stadium. No beer sales at Lloyd Noble Center either.

Sometimes I wonder if that might help.

--st.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CollegeFight:
Well, as far as basketball goes, we need to just get butts in the seats. If every game could be like the Maryland game last year, then we'd be in great shape. I thought student involvement in basketball was pretty poor throughout the year, so I'd really try to promote basketball to the students(football as well).

As far as football goes, I'll have to think on it.

Great topic, though!</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I wish every game could be like last December's game against Maryland too. Unfortunately, it was kind of an anomaly. The Texas Tech game was pretty hype too.

But then again, these games sort of had something in common, mainly the notoriety and/or profile of the visitor. Maryland was coming off its first Final Four appearance ever and boasted a lineup that included the likes of Juan Dixon. Texas Tech? Well, two words: Bob Knight. I attended both games, and out of the games I was able to attend (six), those two were the most "alive" of the bunch.

I would expect a game against an opponent like High Point (last December a week before the Terps came to town) to not be a tremendous draw. But I would have expected a little better in games against conference opponents (Texas A&M, Missouri -- also a nationally televised game). Even traditional, deeply bitter rival Texas, although well attended, that game wasn't nearly as rowdy as I would have expected (I was also sitting surrounded by a bunch of 65 + types that looked like they'd hit me with a steel ruler if I so much as moved).

I've never really figured out where the student section at Lloyd Noble is actually situated. I think there are some schools (among them OSU maybe) that have like the first few rows of seats all the way around the perimeter of the court -- or at least a section of REALLY GOOD SEATS -- as student seating (someone might want to clear me up on this).

And then again, I am wont to wonder if basketball -- no matter how awesome a team is in a given year -- will always be second fiddle to football. It seems like the "football culture" was the topic of a recent column in The Worst Newspaper In America, but since I won't even use it for cat box liner, let alone read it, I'm not sure. I know it was the topic of discussion for a day or two.

--soonerterp.

As far as beer sales, you can get it almost anywhere outside of Memorial Stadium, but not once you're in. I don't think it would be too beneficial though, and it would probably cause more problems.

I understand that we're going to draw less against teams like High Point and what not, but don't you expect a sold out Memorial Stadium when South Florida comes to town? I'm not saying I expect all those games to be sold out or anything, but I think near capacity crowds would be nice, especially for conference games(like you mentioned).

The students have about 5 full sections for basketball, with lower and upper sections. The tickets arn't bad at all, especially the lower level ones.

For some reason I thought that they were selling beer at the KSU game this year. Maybe not. I can't remember rightly if they sold it at this year's Cotton Bowl or if they do for the Red River Shootout.