Quote:(I screamed last year that Hawk and DK had to convince DW to let all out).

Why do you think they didnt try? I know 1st hand they did try.

As far as Shayne, I guess we will have to disagree with each other until next season. He may not be the 4-5 answer you are looking for, But IMO he is going to be way better than you think.

(02-26-2011 01:21 PM)okgc Wrote:  

Quote:(I screamed last year that Hawk and DK had to convince DW to let all out).

Why do you think they didnt try? I know 1st hand they did try.

As far as Shayne, I guess we will have to disagree with each other until next season. He may not be the 4-5 answer you are looking for, But IMO he is going to be way better than you think.

The fact I "screamed" doesnt mean they didn't try. Not my implication. I find it hard to believe that an opportunity like that was not grabbed.

Saw Shayne in a 2 1/2 scrimmage. Good kid, runs the floor but was in a "shell" when it came to holding both ground and his own in skill. I recognized then his wrist was giving him problems. But Flen was moving him off the block at will to the point that Shayne looked to not want any part of it.

My hope is that he heals up, gets stronger and plays with purpose taking the initiative. He deserved the year to develop but it was a shame it wasnt last year.

The 4-5 combo I was pining for, like the perimeter (Brown) would be more offensively skilled and confident while desiring to bang inside.

(02-26-2011 10:37 AM)JBStemp5 Wrote:  dont put the students in the chair back section

I would do what all sport teams do...the longer you have season tickets the closer you get to the court. no donor or advertiser is going to want to sit away from the court, being close to the game and feeling the energy is why people attend games.

the biggest thing for me is our community. We are above .500 and doing well...but still no sign of our "supportive community"

I dont know how far "up" the chair back section goes, but I would remove the first 8-10 rows and put in bleachers for the student body to sit and or stand.

I would let season ticket holders pick their seats and not assign a "section". Do people pay the big bucks to be close to the game so they can feel the energy is the reason folk go to the games? If that's why they come to the game let them really feel it and stand with the Fat Heads.

Two here already, The General and ESSS, have weighed in, if I am correct, that they enjoy seeing the game and not feeling it. Being on next to the court at head level and below you have zero depth perception. You must see through bodies running up and down with no ability to accurately judge spacing and depth. The players on the court block your view.

I understand the knucklehead (said in a loving way) students want to be apart of the hazing of Bo Boroski et al, and don't care that they are too close to the forest so you can't see the trees. Fine. Let them feel all they want. Make it a Cameron area and let the feeling begin.

For those students who want better sight lines (there really isnt a single seat in UA too far away) they can sit behind the upper lower bowl and lower upper bowl (my new config terms). Let the Geriatric set sit, see and enjoy the game. Let the enthusiastic yute make and feel the energy surrounding the court and at the baselines.

Believe me, between the 74-75/75-76 seasons you could feel the energy with even 6k in Buck Read's House that capped out at 10,500. When we had 10,900 and the Fire Marshal's were nervous you could really feel the energy. But you could also see the game. People were standing 8 deep in each corner (4) between the sideline and baseline bleachers.

Yes, winning is the fuel.

Managing and staging it for combustion is in the planning. That is on the AD, Pres and staff.

The Oxygen to burn is the community. The community are the students.

Believe me, if a team wins the value will be perceived. If there is value the folks will pay to partake. Even the students. But first things first. Give the students an appropriate section and get them involved.

(02-26-2011 10:37 AM)JBStemp5 Wrote:  what the student section is missing is a student or two who can run "The Zoo". This type of organization will bring more students to the game.

Excellent - and often overlooked - point. The Zoo is a student organization that seemingly lacks leadership right now.

^^ FWIW - The press row side of Read Fieldhouse has bench seating. :muttering:
Also Season ticket holders have had assigned seats for years. The assigned season ticket holder "sections" went away with Muscle Cars. Most posters here probably have no idea what "ticket holder sections" were like.

As far as having students sit in the lower 8-10 rows. This will not work as the ticket holders in rows 11 and up will be complaining that they cant see over the students that want to stand. There is enough of a problem with existing ticket holders that still want to "Stand for Defense" at the beginning of the game.

When you call to get season tickets there's not a seat to be had in the lower bowl. But come game day there's empty seats galore.

I agree the students need better seats, but it seems to me the simplest answer is to just give them a different section. I'm thinking section 112. That way they could stand, sit, or skip to my loo and it wouldn't bother the people behind them as the break for the walkway behind it would provide a proper angle to see the game. Secondly I would create a ticket exchange for season ticket holders that may not want to attend a certain game. Just a little page on wmubroncos.com that allows season ticket holder to post their unsused tickets for sale at face value. Both things would likely help fill in the lower level and create a more dynamic atmospere.

Of course the reason neither of these things will happen is money. Right now the school sells most of their seats in 112 and that would mean less revenue if the seats were given away to the students. Allowing people to buy the unused tickets of season ticket holders, would mean they wouldn't buy different seats, thus lost revenue.

Thirdly, I would take the seats on the upper level of the baselines and convert them into comfortable seating with tables, lots of leg room and space between seats. Kind of an open air suite. Similar to the loft suites you find at Lawson. I think enough season ticket holders/boosters would pay a bit more to have a more comfortable and prestigous section to call their own. This to me is the only idea that has a shot at being put into place as it turns otherwise cheap seats into big time money makers. But with rumors that the basketball team may move to the downtown event center, I imagine the powers that be maybe reluctant to invest any more money in UA.

Lastly, I would move the press away from courtside. I am amazed they did this in the first place, think of all the money lost by not having Nicholson seats for sale. Make a press box in the upper part of sections 211 and 212, up by the camera stand. It's not like we are getting a lot of national interest here, and wwmt, the bronco radio network and the gazette will come regardless of where you put them. Also, because it will be in the permanent seating area, it will create a place for the press during other events in the arena, ie gymnastics, volleyball etc. It's not like the view would be terrible, I have sat in the worst seats in UA, and even the worst seats are pretty good.

I gotta believe these last two changes to UA would only cost a few hundred grand, and would likely pay for themselves in the long run.

Get the students to the game some how. I don't care if you kidnap them or tell them that they are going to be going to the bar to get free drinks. Just put them on a bus and get them to UA. Make sure it is somewhat of a decent game. (CMU just because of the rivalry or a lower to middle end BCS opponent) Once in UA - allow them to sit behind press row - filling up the whole side. Before the game, take a projector screen out on to the floor and play videos of great student sections through the nation to give them ideas. Get the students pumped up some how like "promising" free beer if the broncos score 70 or more points but only if they are loud as hell. Have some students that normally go to the games lead them in cheers. Turn UA into a wasps nest. If we do score 70 points - hand out root beers.

(02-27-2011 09:27 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  

(02-26-2011 10:37 AM)JBStemp5 Wrote:  what the student section is missing is a student or two who can run "The Zoo". This type of organization will bring more students to the game.

Excellent - and often overlooked - point. The Zoo is a student organization that seemingly lacks leadership right now.

Seems like at the first game of the year there were two new ZOO leaders introduced. Don't they get a $500 (?) tuition refund/reduction for their participation? Anyone care to expound on this?

One change I would like to see is when the WMU Cheer and Dance teams throw t-shirts and stuff. Throw most of them to the STUDENTS. Those old codgers near the sideline floor that get them now are not going to wear em anyway. It appears the t-shirt launcher has died again.

Now to talk of how to get the students involved. It seems to me there is one thing all students at all colleges want nationwide is to party. If you want the students to get involved you have to create a party atmosphere. When I was living in Bend, Oregon we had a winterfest, but it wasn't some lame ice sculpture contest with a few food booths. It was a giant tent with space heater and a whole lot of beer! (Also hot alcohol, gluswien hot buttered rum etc.) It was chilly, but the party atmosphere was electric. I am thinking that we could make a tent like this for tailgating, you only get in if you have a ticket to the game. Provide beer cheap, real cheap, students love that. Maybe get some local band to play. Let the party go for an hour or two before the game, but shut it down 15 min prior to the game. The students come for the beer, they stay for the game and they will be loud.... after all, the first brain cells alcohol kills is the quiet cells, so you say everything real loud. It's a simple equation, party + cheap booze = students

The NCAA does not allow beer at any college games held on a college campus.

how about better prizes? Coke zero isnt the best choice.

(02-26-2011 11:15 AM)thegeneral Wrote:  Back in my day, students sat behind the media. Those were good seats. I'm glad I wasn't forced to sit on the baselines. Those seats stink (no offense gbl). They stink even more when they moved them back 10 feet (thanks a lot Bronco Bridage).

That was my era too. I never understood why the students were under/above the WMU basket in the second half and the band on the opponent's side. The bandies seem a little handcuffed to do anything to really distract a free throw attempt.

If they are going to keep the students on the end line, switch sides and put them as close to the basket as possible. That youtube of the Utah State kid made it look like the student seats were as close to the court as they could get.

(02-27-2011 01:29 PM)WMU69 Wrote:  how about better prizes? Coke zero isnt the best choice.

Well so far this year, I have seen a number of Direct Air round trip airline tickets given away. Six at one game alone (great for spring break in Florida)
A $200 shopping spree to TJMax.
Seems like at another game a student got a 32" LCD tv.

(02-27-2011 06:54 PM)okgc Wrote:  

(02-27-2011 01:29 PM)WMU69 Wrote:  how about better prizes? Coke zero isnt the best choice.

Well so far this year, I have seen a number of Direct Air round trip airline tickets given away. Six at one game alone (great for spring break in Florida)
A $200 shopping spree to TJMax.
Seems like at another game a student got a 32" LCD tv.

Yeah, cheap give aways are not the problem. Lazy, unmotivated, scUM and MSU wannabees is the problem.

(02-27-2011 01:21 PM)okgc Wrote:  The NCAA does not allow beer at any college games held on a college campus.

That is false. You can buy beer at the Carrier Dome and for the longest time, you could buy beer at Folsom Field (Colorado).

You can also buy booze in the luxury accommodation at my adopted school, George Washington University.

Quote:from NCAA.org •The NCAA has for years banned sales and venue advertising of all alcohol at its 88 championships. Host sites are required to cover up any ads for alcoholic drinks.
•The NCAA does not control the regular season in any sport, nor does it run the postseason for the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Individual schools and conferences oversee the regular season, including game operations, broadcasting and advertising. The postseason for Division I Football Bowl Subdivision is controlled by the Bowl Championship Series and individual bowl committees.

Apparently alcohol sales at regular season games is now regulated by the conferences.

(02-27-2011 08:53 PM)Chipdip Wrote:  Yeah, cheap give aways are not the problem. Lazy, unmotivated, scUM and MSU wannabees is the problem.

This.