Let me preface this as I haven't been around terribly long. My Tiger basketball started in the late 80's early 90's as a kid. Elliott Perry, Earnest Smith, Ben Spiva, Billy Smith, Penny, Lorenzen, Chris Garner etc..My buddy was the stepson of former Tiger assistant Tim Morgan and I use to go to games with him and hang out in the locker room and stuff. I attended Memphis from 02-07 (5 year plan, lol) and graduated the semester after the Final Four. I've had season tickets since I graduated and maybe miss a handful of games a year due to work.

My wife's job allows us to use her work tickets and sit down low. Over the past 5 years, I've been told numerous times to sit down, while standing up on fast breaks and after exciting plays. The band does a decent job of making noise, and the Blue Crew/Student section is mainly nonexistent. The building does get loud at times, but the overall atmosphere sucks. I know we don't mention Cal's name, but the overall atmosphere at games when he was here was "Ridiculous". People came to Tiger games to be seen. It was always hoppin. Out in the lobby, headed to the forum, after the game, etc... You could feel the electricity. Despite being in a new conference and playing better competition, now you can't even "give" tickets away to games.

When I was in school there, not that long ago Memphis games were "it". I just don't know despite having a ranked team, what has changed?

Nothing will ever compare to what we experienced as kids. We got old, cynical, and jaded.

I was there during the Cal years. Even then, when the Tigers played sub par teams (Rice), the atmosphere was dead compared to playing big name teams (Texas,Gonzaga). There were also empty seats at many of those weak games.. I'm thinking maybe your perception has changed.

Does seem a little tame lately...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Its a pro arena

Nothing ever stays the same.

(02-05-2014 01:23 PM)Phillip26r Wrote:  Nothing will ever compare to what we experienced as kids. We got old, cynical, and jaded.

sad but true

It's just a sign of the times. To be honest it wasn't that great at the Pyramid either except for maybe a dozen games. And I was told to sit down in the coliseum quite a bit as well. It all depends on where you sit. I never had an issue with anyone in 106. Now that I'm on the floor it's not an issue either.

lol 2004-2005 was the worst...some game they announced 10,000 at the forum...may have been 8k there

(02-05-2014 01:23 PM)Phillip26r Wrote:  Nothing will ever compare to what we experienced as kids. We got old, cynical, and jaded.

Agree, times are so different. Just in the past 25 years what constitutes entertainment has changed so drastically. There is so much out there. I honestly believe attention spans are also shorter since there are so many choices. Of course like Phil said, I'm looking at this issue through old, cynical and jaded eyes.

"You know stallion, it's a shame we had to go and get old" - AC

(02-05-2014 01:28 PM)memtgr Wrote:  I was there during the Cal years. Even then, when the Tigers played sub par teams (Rice), the atmosphere was dead compared to playing big name teams (Texas,Gonzaga). There were also empty seats at many of those weak games.. I'm thinking maybe your perception has changed.

Yep, people's memory are short. I remember the Cal years at the forum and they are just about the same as now other than an more active BLUE Crew.Now it was loud last year at the forum when a ranked Louisville came into town and that's the point, when any ranked team comes in then it will be raucous and lively as when ranked teams came in during the Cal's years

Memphis is an event town. Always has been.

(02-05-2014 01:23 PM)Phillip26r Wrote:  Nothing will ever compare to what we experienced as kids. We got old, cynical, and jaded.

Great response and I couldn't agree more.

I place 100% of the blame on dance for your dinner

I think the emotion for the team has deteriorated over the last 40 years. There is a lot more to do in this great city of ours and the Grizzlies divide the attention even further.

70's
When I started going to games. That was it, Memphis State Basketball. I remember Finch and Robinson coming to my elementary schools and playing with us on the black top. After the NCAA finals ( we ran outside during halftime of the Providence game and played basketball until we were called back in for the second half, then we played for hours afterwards), the games were amazing for a few years. I was still screaming during the Yates years, but losing hurts the average fan's enthusiasm.

80's
When Kirk started, the crowd was there, but kinda quiet. Then Keith Lee and ESPN showed up and for the next 4-5 years the coliseum was as electric as any place on earth. Ba-ba-ba-ba-basketball. The waiting list for tickets was in the thousands.

90's
Finch fed of the final four for many years and the Arkansas games in the Pyramid were as loud as the coliseum was. There were nights at the Pyramid where students lined up for hours and hours to try and get a seat. But enthusiasm was dwindling a bit and when Finch was stupidly fired, and some life seemed to be permanently sucked out of the program.

00's
Calipari won a ton of games. Called the complainers "miserables" and told us what we could and couldn't and should and shouldn't do. His players were mostly hired guns and although I loved winning and even went to San Antonio, it wasn't the same. Calipari was a selfish egotistical bast@rd and did as much harm as good to the program.

10's
Pastner is bringing back real players and putting together real teams. We expect to be top 5, when we should only expect our players to play hard and have fun and entertain us. Pastner will find a Finch…Lee…Hardaway...Rose, he just hasn't yet. When he does we'll be back on top and the crowds will swell once again.

But I think the days of the universe centering around Memphis State Basketball are over. I don't think I'll ever be driving through the fairgrounds parking lot to see when the next game is ever again. And I'll never be 18 years old again either.

(02-05-2014 01:20 PM)UMTiger02 Wrote:  Let me preface this as I haven't been around terribly long. My Tiger basketball started in the late 80's early 90's as a kid. Elliott Perry, Earnest Smith, Ben Spiva, Billy Smith, Penny, Lorenzen, Chris Garner etc..My buddy was the stepson of former Tiger assistant Tim Morgan and I use to go to games with him and hang out in the locker room and stuff. I attended Memphis from 02-07 (5 year plan, lol) and graduated the semester after the Final Four. I've had season tickets since I graduated and maybe miss a handful of games a year due to work.

My wife's job allows us to use her work tickets and sit down low. Over the past 5 years, I've been told numerous times to sit down, while standing up on fast breaks and after exciting plays. The band does a decent job of making noise, and the Blue Crew/Student section is mainly nonexistent. The building does get loud at times, but the overall atmosphere sucks. I know we don't mention Cal's name, but the overall atmosphere at games when he was here was "Ridiculous". People came to Tiger games to be seen. It was always hoppin. Out in the lobby, headed to the forum, after the game, etc... You could feel the electricity. Despite being in a new conference and playing better competition, now you can't even "give" tickets away to games.

When I was in school there, not that long ago Memphis games were "it". I just don't know despite having a ranked team, what has changed?

It's been that way (being told to sit down) since the Coliseum Golden Circle days. We always heard that there were like 15,000 people on a waiting list for tickets. The move to The Pyramid was great but unless it was a big game, it could get pretty dead in there.

It's just my opinion, only been to a few games at FedEx Forum, but I notice the similar happenings at the "too plush" Cowboys stadium, it's almost like you are going to a show instead of a sporting event. The crowd can get loud, but never as intimidating as it should be.

I don't know what's changed either except the venue.

(02-05-2014 02:09 PM)Willie Becton Wrote:  I place 100% of the blame on dance for your dinner

I blame the kiss cam

The KISS CAM is awesome!

I think part of it is the Grizzlies. A lot of the people who came to the Tigers games to be seen are now spending their money to sit down low at the Grizzlies' games to be seen.

(02-05-2014 02:19 PM)MtownTigers916 Wrote:  I think part of it is the Grizzlies. A lot of the people who came to the Tigers games to be seen are now spending their money to sit down low at the Grizzlies' games to be seen.

"Goody" goes back and forth. Right now he's getting ready for his tennis exhibition.