Prior to Bartow's dismissal, we debated the best means to voice your displeasure with the men's program. Some believed withholding financial support best served that purpose, while others offered other means to voice displeasure. Given Dr. Sander's bold move to fire Bartow, how will this affect your financial or otherwise support to the men's program.

For me, I'm going to increase my donation to the next level when I renew my season tickets.

(03-14-2015 08:42 AM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  Prior to Bartow's dismissal, we debated the best means to voice your displeasure with the men's program. Some believed withholding financial support best served that purpose, while others offered other means to voice displeasure. Given Dr. Sander's bold move to fire Bartow, how will this affect your financial or otherwise support to the men's program.

For me, I'm going to increase my donation to the next level when I renew my season tickets.

I will increase if possible or at least stay the same. I always tried to give the most I could and get the best seats I could within my budget so I never lowered anything as a protest. Happy does not describe the feeling now. The future is unlimited now as I trust Dr. Sander to get us a coach that can truly take us to the next level. I wish Coach Bartow and his family the very best. The process of seeking a coach and the actual hiring of a new coach is nothing short of elating. The nucleus we have coming back next year can be coached into a competitive SoCon team and that is something to look forward to!

(03-14-2015 08:42 AM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  Prior to Bartow's dismissal, we debated the best means to voice your displeasure with the men's program. Some believed withholding financial support best served that purpose, while others offered other means to voice displeasure. Given Dr. Sander's bold move to fire Bartow, how will this affect your financial or otherwise support to the men's program.

For me, I'm going to increase my donation to the next level when I renew my season tickets.

I am so proud of Dr. Sander and Dr. Noland for making what must have been a very tough decision. Fan support will now grow exponentially.

(03-14-2015 01:35 PM)BucUp Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 08:42 AM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  Prior to Bartow's dismissal, we debated the best means to voice your displeasure with the men's program. Some believed withholding financial support best served that purpose, while others offered other means to voice displeasure. Given Dr. Sander's bold move to fire Bartow, how will this affect your financial or otherwise support to the men's program.

For me, I'm going to increase my donation to the next level when I renew my season tickets.

I am so proud of Dr. Sander and Dr. Noland for making what must have been a very tough decision. Fan support will now grow exponentially.

Been attending ETSU games since I moved to the area in the mid 1980s. Saw a few games prior to the mid 80s. Had season tickets for at least 25 years. Seen 'em come, seen 'em go. I support the university and its student athletes, not a particular coach.

(03-14-2015 04:04 PM)BucDoctor Wrote:  Been attending ETSU games since I moved to the area in the mid 1980s. Saw a few games prior to the mid 80s. Had season tickets for at least 25 years. Seen 'em come, seen 'em go. I support the university and its student athletes, not a particular coach.

Ditto

Will up my donation next year. Will remain a season ticket holder and will go to a couple away games. PUMPED to see who Sander hires.

E-T-S-U GO BUCS GO!

Every long time season ticket holder I know is PUMPED and ready to support this move in every way! OBVIOUSLY, it was time for Bartow to go! And, OBVIOUSLY we will recruit a energetic, experienced competent coach who likes the social part of energizing a fan base!

(03-15-2015 08:15 AM)BucUp Wrote:  Every long time season ticket holder I know is PUMPED and ready to support this move in every way! OBVIOUSLY, it was time for Bartow to go! And, OBVIOUSLY we will recruit a energetic, experienced competent coach who likes the social part of energizing a fan base!

A Sonny Smith prototype minus the suitcase.

(03-15-2015 01:03 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  

(03-15-2015 08:15 AM)BucUp Wrote:  Every long time season ticket holder I know is PUMPED and ready to support this move in every way! OBVIOUSLY, it was time for Bartow to go! And, OBVIOUSLY we will recruit a energetic, experienced competent coach who likes the social part of energizing a fan base!

A Sonny Smith prototype minus the suitcase.

A Brittany Ezell pro type minus the ..... Heck, why not need me Nate Brittany Ezell!!!!???

(03-15-2015 04:20 PM)BucUp Wrote:  

(03-15-2015 01:03 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  

(03-15-2015 08:15 AM)BucUp Wrote:  Every long time season ticket holder I know is PUMPED and ready to support this move in every way! OBVIOUSLY, it was time for Bartow to go! And, OBVIOUSLY we will recruit a energetic, experienced competent coach who likes the social part of energizing a fan base!

A Sonny Smith prototype minus the suitcase.

A Brittany Ezell pro type minus the ..... Heck, why not need me Nate Brittany Ezell!!!!???

That was ... Why not nomination Nominate Brittany Ezell?

Obviously support of paying fans is important but the biggest key to energizing the program is student support. I suspect Forbes and Co. will make that a priority. Coming to games has to be a "must see" event for them. One that is fun, engaging, exciting. Freedom Hall could make that a bigger challenge than playing on campus but if successful it could also make Freedom Hall feel like a prison sentence for opponents.

(03-29-2015 08:03 AM)Just Buc Wrote:  Obviously support of paying fans is important but the biggest key to energizing the program is student support. I suspect Forbes and Co. will make that a priority. Coming to games has to be a "must see" event for them. One that is fun, engaging, exciting. Freedom Hall could make that a bigger challenge than playing on campus but if successful it could also make Freedom Hall feel like a prison sentence for opponents.

I agree that student support is most important, but i have nobideas other than what they have already done to make that better. Too many of them work full time jobs, commute an hour to attend classes only on 2 days a week, or otherwise just dont care. Maybe trying to bribe greek groups to go more than twice a year.

Promotional efforts can never be abandoned, but the reality is that Bartow's teams regularly lost the hype games that students did attend. The Lipscomb conference tournament win showed that students can be motivated at the dome. Students won't care at FH until the team starts winning big games in dramatic fashion (a la Dunk City), or consistently competes at top of conference yearly (never lower than 3rd, always battling for 1st, barring an odd year). Forbes, simply in virtue of a new face and social media presence, can try to promise it's coming. If promotion is used well, students will attend in more respectable numbers next year, I think.

Long run, when ETSU goes to the tournament, there should be a viable chance of winning, not a diehard fan community vigil and prayer. Bartow was not able to provide this, certainly not in the past 5 years. Incoming students have no reason to expect it, and upperclassmen know not to in recent classes.

Actually, the student attendance increased this past season at FH. Not a lot, but did not decrease as many on this board predicted it would.

Students already pay an activity fee, so their attendance has little affect on the amount of money the basketball program generates. Now I want to see more students at the games because they have a variety of fun things they do to support the team, plus unlike many of the fans, they yell and get on their feet and try to create a hostile environment for the opposing team.

The people that sit around me, don't stand for the team entrance, the team introduction, don't clap with the fight song, don't yell at all. They just sit in their seats like bumps on a log. When my group is yelling and getting on the refs, they actually look at us like we are crazy. I don't know why they come to the games because they act if they could care less if the Bucs win or lose. Actually, I wish they wouldn't come and maybe some real fans would buy their tickets. Fans that want to support the team with enthusiasm from start of the game and throughout the game not just once or twice the whole game. The current fan base needs to learn how to be real fans. They should have been at the women's game in Asheville when the fans yelled and stood most of the game and like the players and coaches, gave it their all. When the Lady Bucs play at Brooks the fans are much more vocal and are into the game. They make a difference in the play of the ladies. Just ask any of the women's coaches and they will tell the what a positive effect the fans have on the team.

'Joe Fan' and the business community have to get on board with their money, their attendance and yell their heads off.

ETSU now has what most people wanted for years, a new head basketball coach. A successful,winning coach that comes to us from big time programs, Texas A&M, UT and WSU. Universities where fans jammed their arenas and created a hostile environment that had a direct impact on recruiting good players and winning. WCU's record with Forbes as the head assistant coach, 36-1 (2013-14), 31-5 (2014-15).

WSU is the same size as ETSU, the Tri-Cities metro area is larger than the city of Wichita. WCU and ETSU are classified as mid-majors, but WCU is a high mid-major and that's where ETSU wants to be. To get to the high mid-major level, the University cannot do it alone, it must have the support of the students, the alumni, business community and ' Joe Fan'. If this support is not forthcoming, the athletic department will not be successful in its quest to be a high mid-major program.

ETSU has changed and is changing due to the great leadership and vision of Dr. Noland and his staff. Now its time for the majority of fans to change. This is the chance for people to show they want ETSU to be a high mid-major athletic program by becoming real supporters.

Where are all the fans that supported Sonny Smith, Les Robinson, Alan Leforce and Ed Dechellis teams, packed the Dome for W. Kentucky, UTC and N.C. State and practically took over the Asheville Civic Center? ETSU needs you, will you answer the call?

GO BUCS

Well said, '73.

I am a bit wary of looking at old numbers for student attendance vs. FH as the staff was using a hand count at the dome in recent years. A modest increase at FH, using a more reliable scanning system again, might be negligible. And, as I pointed out previously, the students are not always sitting together by appearances. Nonetheless, some amount of students attended the games, and they can be brought in greater, sustainable numbers with a coach that actually wants to be involved.

Bottom line is the joint should be full and rocking...ETSU fans are out of excuses as of 5:30 today.

Winning. Winning will take care of fans, students, atmosphere, money, attendance, and everything else you may name. Basketball culture is built on wins.

BRING ON COACH FORBES!