The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

I think maybe we should steal this one. No, it won't help with sold tickets this season, but maybe we can grow the crowd over time. It would really help if we got the parking and concession money out of it, but, well, It Ain't Easy Bleeding Green.

Per CoachingSearch.com

http://www.coachingsearch.com/article?a=...eptember-6

Memphis AD offers 2 free season-tickets to every recent graduate

Memphis athletic director Tom Bowen cleverly and kindly offered two football season-tickets to every University of Memphis graduate from last spring. Bowen told WHBQ Sports 56 in Memphis earlier this week, “I’m not going to take credit for all the work that happens in my office and everyone around me and the great administration we have here. I would say that it was an opportunity for us to build a tradition among those we need to be a part of the tradition forward, which are our recent graduates. I’m looking at the Liberty Bowl, its size and stature, and thought there are 4000 individuals that have gotten their degree. I said let’s give them 2 season-tickets and then maybe next year they will buy them. It’s a strategy that has taken off in a way that I never expected. I thought it would be well-received, but it’s been very well-received. With an extraordinary amount of new alums, they’ve come picked up their tickets and thanked me and thanked my staff. I’m excited.” Memphis hosts Duke on Saturday at The Liberty Bowl.

The article mentions 4,000 annual graduates from U of Memphis. How does that number compare to UAB's number of annual grads? If we think the basic idea a good one, might we also include grads from the campuses in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa since many of those will probably move to the metro Jeffco area for employment after they graduate? They might PREFER to become Crimson Tide subscribers, but how many will be able to afford it?

Per Wikipedia

"In academic year 2011-2012, UAB awarded a total 2,009 bachelor's degrees and post-bachelor certificates; 1,547 master's degrees, educational specialist degrees, and post-master's certificates; 286 research doctorates; and 279 professional doctorates."

(09-08-2013 11:58 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  The article mentions 4,000 annual graduates from U of Memphis. How does that number compare to UAB's number of annual grads? If we think the basic idea a good one, might we also include grads from the campuses in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa since many of those will probably move to the metro Jeffco area for employment after they graduate? They might PREFER to become Crimson Tide subscribers, but how many will be able to afford it?

Sorry, but that is a silly idea. When I was a UAB student there was no UAB football and UAT asserted that the CT football team represented the students from all 3 universities (they're not just "campuses"). However, even though they played many of their games at that time at Legion Field, I was not eligible to buy student tickets. So F their JeffCo recent grads.

Back to the original post, I think it's a GREAT idea!

(09-08-2013 11:58 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  The article mentions 4,000 annual graduates from U of Memphis. How does that number compare to UAB's number of annual grads? If we think the basic idea a good one, might we also include grads from the campuses in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa since many of those will probably move to the metro Jeffco area for employment after they graduate? They might PREFER to become Crimson Tide subscribers, but how many will be able to afford it?

It would never include graduates of other schools. That just doesn't make any sense at all. If you do that, you might as well just give them out to anyone who shows up and asks for a free set

I was going to post about this but forgot. It is a great idea. One correction though, as I understand it. The 2 season tickets were offered to those ago had graduated at the end of the summer, not the spring. So they didn't give out as many season tickets as the article leads you to believe. Still they got a ton of positive publicity, and gives their graduates a positive connection to their school's less popular sports program

That promotion coupled with Kroger selling $5.00 tickets resulted in Memphis having around 45,000 for their season opening loss to Duke.

Well since half the season will be over before UAB plays a home game, you can probably give the tickets to fall graduates.

I liked the video where the police were giving out tickets to the Iron Bowl game to dead beat dads & then arrested them.

(09-08-2013 12:13 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-08-2013 11:58 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  The article mentions 4,000 annual graduates from U of Memphis. How does that number compare to UAB's number of annual grads? If we think the basic idea a good one, might we also include grads from the campuses in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa since many of those will probably move to the metro Jeffco area for employment after they graduate? They might PREFER to become Crimson Tide subscribers, but how many will be able to afford it?

It would never include graduates of other schools. That just doesn't make any sense at all. If you do that, you might as well just give them out to anyone who shows up and asks for a free set

That's like suggesting we give season tickets to Samford graduates. Dumb idea as usual.

(09-08-2013 12:12 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  

(09-08-2013 11:58 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  The article mentions 4,000 annual graduates from U of Memphis. How does that number compare to UAB's number of annual grads? If we think the basic idea a good one, might we also include grads from the campuses in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa since many of those will probably move to the metro Jeffco area for employment after they graduate? They might PREFER to become Crimson Tide subscribers, but how many will be able to afford it?

Sorry, but that is a silly idea. When I was a UAB student there was no UAB football and UAT asserted that the CT football team represented the students from all 3 universities (they're not just "campuses"). However, even though they played many of their games at that time at Legion Field, I was not eligible to buy student tickets. So F their JeffCo recent grads.

Back to the original post, I think it's a GREAT idea!

The idea is a starting point for consideration. It might be modified by perhaps providing the initial tickets to grads who originally came from our metro area (who might move back to get jobs), those who already have lined up jobs in our metro area and those from the North Alabama / Huntsville area who may desire a football team they can afford to follow in person. I don't know the demographic makeup of the graduating classes of any of the 3 campuses but it might be worth a look before discarding it out of hand.

Old angry points should not be the basis for judging new approaches to present day problems.

(09-08-2013 12:26 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-08-2013 12:12 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  

(09-08-2013 11:58 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  The article mentions 4,000 annual graduates from U of Memphis. How does that number compare to UAB's number of annual grads? If we think the basic idea a good one, might we also include grads from the campuses in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa since many of those will probably move to the metro Jeffco area for employment after they graduate? They might PREFER to become Crimson Tide subscribers, but how many will be able to afford it?

Sorry, but that is a silly idea. When I was a UAB student there was no UAB football and UAT asserted that the CT football team represented the students from all 3 universities (they're not just "campuses"). However, even though they played many of their games at that time at Legion Field, I was not eligible to buy student tickets. So F their JeffCo recent grads.

Back to the original post, I think it's a GREAT idea!

The idea is a starting point for consideration. It might be modified by perhaps providing the initial tickets to grads who originally came from our metro area (who might move back to get jobs), those who already have lined up jobs in our metro area and those from the North Alabama / Huntsville area who may desire a football team to follow in person. I don't know the demographic makeup of the graduating classes of any of the 3 campuses but it might be worth a look before discarding it out of hand.

No, it's not really worth looking at. Giving free tickets away to alumni of other schools is a non-starter.

One difference though is that the Memphis media probably would not put out a blast attack on Memphis for doing that.

Here locally the media would tear us to shreds.

The idea is to reward graduates of your school and make them feel a continued connection. How special do they feel if you are giving them to other schools graduates.

(09-08-2013 12:33 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  One difference though is that the Memphis media probably would not put out a blast attack on Memphis for doing that.

Here locally the media would tear us to shreds.

It still would have a huge effect. Graduates get nostalgic upon graduating and this plays on that nostalgia, and keeps them connected. I didn't hear about this from the media. I heard about it after a couple of graduates tweeted, "hey look at this email I just got." It caught the graduates by surprise.

For the record, I wouldn't have any problems with it.

(09-08-2013 12:15 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  I liked the video where the police were giving out tickets to the Iron Bowl game to dead beat dads & then arrested them.

Hahaha I forgot about that! Classic.

I think it was the Opelika police, you can probably find it out there.

I think it's a good idea, but I can hear the local media here yapping about how UAB has to give away tickets for people to show up.

they already say it so why worry? just do things that market the program and build fans. this would be a first step. a second one would be make sure the team wins when all these new fans show up

(09-08-2013 12:29 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  No, it's not really worth looking at. Giving free tickets away to alumni of other schools is a non-starter.

This.