The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(11-17-2014 04:57 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  More students make for better game atmosphere, but the athletic department appears to be perfectly happy as long as the big donors are happy. I make this statement because if this were not the case things would change. I find it hard to believe we can't find 500 students out of student body of 20,000 or so to come to a basketball game.

There were definitely more than 500 in the stands on Saturday.

They were just all sitting on their hands...No direction for the last 5 years means they have no idea what good atmosphere even looks like.

Need fundamental change. Has to start with University leadership (Director of Game Atmosphere, Band, Cheer Squads, Monarch Maniacs)

Great dialog folks....i hope someone is paying attention to this like they have for football. My hope is that some things would have carried forward into basketball from football. Someone in the admin. needs to do some bench marking and start building a strong sense of school spirit and pride through active student attendance and participation at game.

I hate to take anything from VCU, but what they do well is their band leads the student section. Those guys are cool and fun, and people want to be a part of it. They lead the cheers in the place much more than the cheerleaders. They may get gross and risque sometimes, but theres no denying they improve the volume and spirit.

The quality of music from our band has improved since the inception of football - but they are lacking in the participation department I feel.

I sat behind them Saturday, and they were not nearly as invested into the action as they have been in years past. (No offense to any current band-members who post here - as I said, music wise, things have never been better...I just feel participation is lacking during play).

(11-17-2014 04:59 PM)Quagmire Wrote:  I think all responsible parties need to look at each event (this includes Football) as a Show. Each show has Directors, Producers and Writers to make it come to life. Jack Ankerson reading from a vanilla script is not the way to go.

Be careful what you ask for. The last spirit-related initiative launched by the Selig administration was ....

Bobby Hollywood.

(11-17-2014 05:44 PM)MonarchManiac Wrote:  The quality of music from our band has improved since the inception of football - but they are lacking in the participation department I feel.

I sat behind them Saturday, and they were not nearly as invested into the action as they have been in years past. (No offense to any current band-members who post here - as I said, music wise, things have never been better...I just feel participation is lacking during play).

I thought the guy playing the Saxophone last year with the horses head on was pretty cool. Apparently, we need the band director and the band to be more connected to the student section. I guess that is a band director thing.

Really not looking forward to another season with effing Bobby Hollywood.

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Smartphones are the problem nowadays. Being a student in the early 2000s I had to show up to the games to know what was going on. Pre 2007 ( before the smartphone era) were the best years!!!!

You're right. Can't say I ever had much desire in those days to pull out my MOTO RAZR for any other reason than to answer a call... or return a text message. But that would probably wait until half time as it took at least 5 minutes to "type" a text into that piece of garbage.

I saw two tweets earlier regarding enticing students to the Richmond game.
First 50 students receive a free t-shirt.
First 400 students recieve free pizza.

Again, why not jam the phone signals? That will fix more problems than any initiative

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ODAF took over the Monarch Maniacs 3 years ago. Complain to your rep.

(11-17-2014 05:03 PM)odu83alumni Wrote:  The Head Knocker that is overseeing this department of ODU needs to be identified and if there is not an overseeier then one needs to be appointed and bring the parties involved together.

I do not understand why ODU's Athletic Admin and this NEW "Director of Spirit, Pride, Game Day Atmosphere Enhancer Advisor" has not reached out to the Alumni, Students, Band, Cheerleaders and Monarch Maniacs. If there is a paid person in this so called position "THEY SUCK"

I know for a fact there was a group trying to get a committee to oversee or look into enhancing Game Day proposals for Football, Men's and Women's Basketball. Before it could even get off the ground it was squashed by Debbie.

I am sure there are many here and other places around the University that would and could add a lot to the discussion..........the sad fact is I do not see this as a two way street. That is what really puzzles me?

Just my 2 cent.

Hail ODU * Go Monarchs

So. you're saying the paid director of Game atmosphere is no longer a position??

I've said over and over that now that I'm mostly retired I'd love to work part-time...don't want to mess up my Social Security!!- for ODAF in this particular niche. Heck, I'd do some of it for just some ODAF points! I've mentioned this often to ODAF folks.

Absolutely need contests between Greeks, clubs etc, How about poster completions...tastefully censored of course! I'd get Dustin (the Big Guy) to take his short off revealing a new body paint design every few games....I would guess the TeD Heads could assist with their airgun! Speaking of the TedHeads...why not incorporate them with some giveaways. FREE FOOD for students! Year long sweepstakes for students...entries given for each game attended with a decent prize at the end.

There are so many ideas just sitting there to be taken advantage of with a moderate cost.

(11-17-2014 08:06 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  Again, why not jam the phone signals? That will fix more problems than any initiative

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I think that will cause a massive decrease in attendance. Not only students, who aren't going to spend 2 hours without texting or looking at Facebook, but, also, among those high $$$ donors who are doctors, lawyers, and business people who aren't going to be happy to be separated from their phones for 2 hours. Professionals on call couldn't be. Not to mention parents who have left little ones at home.

(11-17-2014 04:54 PM)MonarchManiac Wrote:  It's funny - this conversation comes up every year about this time for the past 5 years or so....someone at the University is PAID to do this job. How are we still getting such poor results? It has been on the steady decline for 5 years - I know our product on the floor has also been in decline, but the overall state of the athletic program is stronger, donor base should be MUCH stronger, and we have more resources than we ever have.

Is there something we can do?

This conversation has been going on longer than 5 years! Nothing changes.

Why not have a committee or group come up with recommendations and submit them? It would not have to be sanctioned by ODU. Then send it to Broderick, Wood, Debbie, and the person who is supposed to be in charge of game day atmosphere. Guaranteed if either enough people sign on or a few large contributors are part of the process it will get attention.

(11-18-2014 06:21 AM)84Monarch Wrote:  Why not have a committee or group come up with recommendations and submit them? It would not have to be sanctioned by ODU. Then send it to Broderick, Wood, Debbie, and the person who is supposed to be in charge of game day atmosphere. Guaranteed if either enough people sign on or a few large contributors are part of the process it will get attention.

It will not get attention! Been done in the past with little to no results. The above simple don't care what you want. The only thing they really want from you is your $$$$!

I dont think that is true...they fixed many things regarding football because of suggestions on this board. I think they would do the same if there were suggestions regarding how to improve the experience and participation by the student body.

(11-17-2014 08:06 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  Again, why not jam the phone signals? That will fix more problems than any initiative

Because it is against the law?