I think the seating rules seriously hurt our student support. Students being able to sit anywhere instead of a designated Student Section allows them to just sit back watch and stay silent. If all the students were forced into section 101 then #1 it would be full, and #2 it would make it a privilege to be at the game, other schools have students line up and wait and some have an online lottery ticket system so when you go its more of a big deal and you have to make a conscious decision to go in advance not at the last second.

As well I think the Campbell could make a huge commitment to the fans and become the first university to offer fan scholarships. No huge numbers maybe a few thousand to hundred dollars. Send a few people out to local schools to scout fans I know for certain I would be excited to do that around the local area. Make people who have received the scholarship attend a certain % of games, set academic requirements, and find excited motivate leaders willing to step up as freshman!

Thoughts?

The main problem with a student fan scholarship is finding somebody to pay for it. The athletic department needs to use that money for running and improving the sports programs. I don't think a department CU's size has the extra money to pay students to come to games.

I feel the biggest problem with student and fan attendance is the quality of the product on the court / field. If you put a consistently good product out there the students and fans will start to come. The basketball program in particular is light years better than when I was a student but it is nowhere near a consistently quality product. While they have some great games we have not been in realistic contention for an TAAC / A-Sun / Big South championship in over a decade or more.

I do agree however with keeping the students in the student section although that would be hard to do with so many other empty seats around the arena.

I understand the concern. However, I don't think it will work. There are already not enough academic scholarships as it is, so why establish one for fans? Also, while some have school spirit, they don't want to be known for their antics in the arena. Given that tuition covers for all students to attend games, the attendance is not high enough to force students to fit in one section. The only time this was in place was against ECU last year. As already mentioned, the results on the field/court is not good enough. The excitement that Eric Griffin brought last year increased attendance, as well as the high expectations at the beginning of this season. However, if things don't turn around, it may not get any better.

Just a little sidenote: It would be nice to see more students attend the women's games, especially on weekends. They do have a better record right now and never get the recognition. I believe at the last game I attended, I saw probably a maximum of 50 students.

I have tried to attend women's games but they always seem to be at weird times, especially before break, they never have any prime time weekday games