I really don't know if it will happen, but if we win our next two games it will be a travesty if we don't. It will be a chance to suppport 2 division champions for the price of one. ASU fans will likely help, but I don't expect a big contingent from Jonesboro considering their disappointing season. Still a bunch of their Central Arkansas alums should show up. Now, I'm really getting delusion but it would nice, and would help, if our Sports Editor wrote a pregame column and came to the game, rather than going to watch the pigs play a terrible Auburn team.

If we do sell all the tickets, the problem will be that we can't force the season ticket holders in the cushioned seats to show up (although a fair number of those somehow end up in the hands of ASU fans, which is quite irritating). Really can't do much about folks who have tickets and don't show up. I am hopeful that we will have 5000 folks in the building, regardless.

(02-17-2012 06:17 PM)mjs Wrote:  I really don't know if it will happen, but if we win our next two games it will be a travesty if we don't. It will be a chance to suppport 2 division champions for the price of one. ASU fans will likely help, but I don't expect a big contingent from Jonesboro considering their disappointing season. Still a bunch of their Central Arkansas alums should show up. Now, I'm really getting delusion but it would nice, and would help, if our Sports Editor wrote a pregame column and came to the game, rather than going to watch the pigs play a terrible Auburn team.

If we do sell all the tickets, the problem will be that we can't force the season ticket holders in the cushioned seats to show up (although a fair number of those somehow end up in the hands of ASU fans, which is quite irritating). Really can't do much about folks who have tickets and don't show up. I am hopeful that we will have 5000 folks in the building, regardless.

I have been told by a very reliable source that Wally Small is pissed at Steve Shields because he didn't hire a friend of his as an assistant coach. Now that would really be a shocker wouldn't it! And it wouldn't be the first time Wally Small got bent out of shape because he couldn't dictate hires at UALR. Remember when we didn't hire his buddy Jimmy Dykes as head coach? Of course we did Dykes a favor in the long run as he has found a great career in broadcasting. And I'm told that Small has also had a falling out with Brady, no doubt for some perceived affront to Small's honor.

So since the two head coaches don't bow and scrape to the small person and small minded sports editor, don't expect him to acknowledge that the game is even happening.

That said however, I do expect that we will have an excellent crowd for the regular season's final game against Arkansas State. A total sellout might be a bit much to expect from our town, where true sports fans are not very numerous. (True sports fans are not to be confused with Chickenhawg fans who only care about things concerning the Chickenhawgs and next to nothing else).

(02-17-2012 07:06 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(02-17-2012 06:17 PM)mjs Wrote:  I really don't know if it will happen, but if we win our next two games it will be a travesty if we don't. It will be a chance to suppport 2 division champions for the price of one. ASU fans will likely help, but I don't expect a big contingent from Jonesboro considering their disappointing season. Still a bunch of their Central Arkansas alums should show up. Now, I'm really getting delusion but it would nice, and would help, if our Sports Editor wrote a pregame column and came to the game, rather than going to watch the pigs play a terrible Auburn team.

If we do sell all the tickets, the problem will be that we can't force the season ticket holders in the cushioned seats to show up (although a fair number of those somehow end up in the hands of ASU fans, which is quite irritating). Really can't do much about folks who have tickets and don't show up. I am hopeful that we will have 5000 folks in the building, regardless.

I have been told by a very reliable source that Wally Small is pissed at Steve Shields because he didn't hire a friend of his as an assistant coach. Now that would really be a shocker wouldn't it! And it wouldn't be the first time Wally Small got bent out of shape because he couldn't dictate hires at UALR. Remember when we didn't hire his buddy Jimmy Dykes as head coach? Of course we did Dykes a favor in the long run as he has found a great career in broadcasting. And I'm told that Small has also had a falling out with Brady, no doubt for some perceived affront to Small's honor.

So since the two head coaches don't bow and scrape to the small person and small minded sports editor, don't expect him to acknowledge that the game is even happening.

That said however, I do expect that we will have an excellent crowd for the regular season's final game against Arkansas State. A total sellout might be a bit much to expect from our town, where true sports fans are not very numerous. (True sports fans are not to be confused with Chickenhawg fans who only care about things concerning the Chickenhawgs and next to nothing else).

I forgot about that. Wally's "falling out" with the program occurred when his buddy Newell left and then UALR didn't hire Wally's hand-picked choice, Jimmy Dykes. He's really not shown much, if any, interest in the program since. We actually lost a candidate or two, because Wally had a "mole" (some of us know who it was) on the selection committee who would leak the candidates to Wally. Wally would then put it in the paper (ex. Thompson, the coach at Rice) and then the candidate would withdraw their name. Hamrick caught on to what was going on and told the committee that the next in line was Jerry Green (I believe he was an assistant at Kansas who ended up coaching at Tennessee). Wally, of course, ran with the information and did a column about it- of course, Green was never actually a candidate. So for those who didn't like Jim Platt, you can indirectly thank Wally for that. No Wally didn't pick him, but he sabotoged a couple of other coaches, we might have been hired, in his attempt to get his buddy Dykes the job. I forgot about all this crap until PTJR reminded me. Wonder who his buddy was this time- Baker the guy who coached at Shorter College or the Ingram guy who comes on his radio show?

It will be tough, unless the school really promotes.

(02-18-2012 09:20 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  It will be tough, unless the school really promotes.

It is sad the sports section of our local paper is run by a personality-disordered (narcisstic, passive-aggressive, etc.) sports editor. Unfortunately, in a one-paper town, he does have the power to hurt our program and he does his best. Maybe not his best, I guess he could write "negative" columns but that would actually take some work. He tried his best to run-off Nolan Richardson with mean-spirited, inflamatory columns but in the end that backfired. He has been kissing up to that program ever since. Still, I don't think Nolan has ever talked to him since. PTJR's information, at least, helps explain what's been going on. A local sports editor doesn't just ignore a home team that is in first place coming off an NCAA tournament appearance.

If that's true I don't think I've EVER heard of a more massive ego in my entire life.

I expect a 5000 ish crowd -- full-looking with a little elbow room here and there. And lots of Diamond Bear beer flowing.

If we win tonight, we at least clinch a share of the West Division title. It would be really nice to clinch an out right title at home next week in front of really great crowds.

I believe it was Baker Wally wanted hired. Don't know about Ingram. I also heard Ron Crawford has been working behind the scenes to keep players from going to UALR. That might have been part of why we didn't get Hooper. Crawford and Shields had a falling out when Crawford had a player he wanted Shields to sign just so Crawford could say all his Wings players signed Div. 1 scholarships. Shields was not looking for that type of player so he didn't offer a scholly. But, we signed Stetson Billings who plays for the Wings so I may be constipated.

(02-18-2012 04:21 PM)ez272 Wrote:  I believe it was Baker Wally wanted hired. Don't know about Ingram. I also heard Ron Crawford has been working behind the scenes to keep players from going to UALR. That might have been part of why we didn't get Hooper. Crawford and Shields had a falling out when Crawford had a player he wanted Shields to sign just so Crawford could say all his Wings players signed Div. 1 scholarships. Shields was not looking for that type of player so he didn't offer a scholly. But, we signed Stetson Billings who plays for the Wings so I may be constipated.

Crawford is a tool for UAF. Couldn't care less about UALR- whether he works against us, I don't have a clue.

I don't look for ASU to bring as many as usual. Reading their board, there sure is a lot of apathy with both the men's and women's teams. It seems almost as bad as it was the last few years of the Nutt. No sellout Mick. Our fans sure won't do it, so with the ASU fans down on their teams some, it looks like no sellout. And if it were to actually sell out, I'd say that maybe 500 to a thousand of the leather seats will be occupied as usual by the ghosts. They don't make a lot of noise for the home team. They do Boo every now and them when there is a bad call.

Given that ASU has so many Alumni in Central Arkansas, I think ASU will have good fan support. May not be as many from Jonesboro but I expect a lot of ASU fans.

(02-20-2012 03:34 PM)RBL Wrote:  Given that ASU has so many Alumni in Central Arkansas, I think ASU will have good fan support. May not be as many from Jonesboro but I expect a lot of ASU fans.

I suspect they'll have as many as we will(that'll make it a crowd of about 4,500-5,000), but several of the longtime regulars talk like they won't make the trip this time. I don't bet, but if I did, I'd bet it won't sell out. It has never been sold out, so why would it now?

I just hope for a large crowd for our last home game and also a win

I've seen Ron at many of our games, so he must have some interest in the program. I've also heard him make nice comments about Steve on the radio. Yes he probably loves the Hogs, which is no sin. But as far as working against UALR that might be a little paranoia
at work. For whatever ultimate motives, he's done a lot to help young kids with their basketball careers, and he's always been nice to me when I've seen him, so as far as I'm concerned, until proven otherwise, I think he's allright.

(02-20-2012 03:53 PM)RBL Wrote:  I just hope for a large crowd for our last home game and also a win

I usually pretty pessimistic when it comes to our attendance. Still I really believe we'll have announced attendance of over 5000. I can't predict how many of the leather seat holders will show-up, but I think it's one game where most either show up or give their tickets to someone who will.

Bob, I think we have had 2 sell-outs. A sell-out means all the tickets have been sold. Really nothing we can do about folks who don't use their tickets. Probably won't sell all the tickets on Saturday, but I hope we are close to doing so.

(02-20-2012 05:17 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(02-20-2012 03:53 PM)RBL Wrote:  I just hope for a large crowd for our last home game and also a win

I usually pretty pessimistic when it comes to our attendance. Still I really believe we'll have announced attendance of over 5000. I can't predict how many of the leather seat holders will show-up, but I think it's one game where most either show up or give their tickets to someone who will.

Bob, I think we have had 2 sell-outs. A sell-out means all the tickets have been sold. Really nothing we can do about folks who don't use their tickets. Probably won't sell all the tickets on Saturday, but I hope we are close to doing so.

Which game other than the Navy game to open the arena? I remember that Stephens bought all remaining tickets, but that's not really a true sellout. I realize that many of the ghosts won't show. As you say, nothing we can do about that.

(02-20-2012 05:39 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(02-20-2012 05:17 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(02-20-2012 03:53 PM)RBL Wrote:  I just hope for a large crowd for our last home game and also a win

I usually pretty pessimistic when it comes to our attendance. Still I really believe we'll have announced attendance of over 5000. I can't predict how many of the leather seat holders will show-up, but I think it's one game where most either show up or give their tickets to someone who will.

Bob, I think we have had 2 sell-outs. A sell-out means all the tickets have been sold. Really nothing we can do about folks who don't use their tickets. Probably won't sell all the tickets on Saturday, but I hope we are close to doing so.

Which game other than the Navy game to open the arena? I remember that Stephens bought all remaining tickets, but that's not really a true sellout. I realize that many of the ghosts won't show. As you say, nothing we can do about that.

I'm pretty sure we had a "sell-out" against ASU on one occassion. I remember being told their were folks outside that couldn't get in because all the tickets were gone. But, as you've said, there were plenty of empty seats inside. I recall posting, after that game, that it is a rather difficult problem since you can't resell seats without the buyers permission. I recommended selling "standing room" tickets and then possibly telling those folks they can sit in any open seat they find after halftime. I'm sure there may be some problems with that idea, but it would bring in extra money and, possibly, actually fill the place up. Regardless, there should be a plan in place the next time it happens.

I can't see Chris agreeing to that. If one person showed up at halftime, and somebody was sitting hin his seat, and he got upset, it wouldn't be good, so unfortunately I don't see that happening.

[/quote]


Which game other than the Navy game to open the arena? I remember that Stephens bought all remaining tickets, but that's not really a true sellout. I realize that many of the ghosts won't show. As you say, nothing we can do about that.

[/quote]

Huh? What do you consider a true sellout? If every ticket is sold then it is a sellout isn't it? Regardless if every seat has a butt in it, it is still a sellout. Perhaps what you are looking for is a full house. I would love a full house. Realistically, you could have a full house and not have a sellout.