Students (at least the ones that I come into contact with) are regularly and vocally disrespectful to the football team before and after classes, with football players in the same classroom. I've never heard that type of discussion about any other sport. It's just weird to me.

Yea I certainly don't have the answer, but I just know it is sad when we don't have a true "home field advantage" over our opponents. I mean my son has started every game since the rebirth, thusly I have been to every game. Heck, if the truth were known, I guess I'm like most of the team and would rather play away than at home, based on the last 3 years just to see how the other fan bases act. Is there something different we can do with the student body to boost attendance? I know someone on here said they go around and knock on doors etc... but maybe the school has something to go along with the home games to keep the students on campus for the weekend. Maybe a concert or something fun for them to do (in addition) to the game. Stay at school for the concert at 7:00pm on Saturday, and fill your day up by going to the 3:00 game that day. Again, I certainly don't have the answer, but if knocking on doors doesn't fill seats, then lets try something different.
The bottom line is, if the students won't do it, then it's left up to those of us who have already graduated. Trust me, I'm not about to paint up my chest and run around the stadium (like a college kid) anymore. At 53, I'm content to act my age, but I'm still not above "getting a little crazy" to cheer on my team. I just want us all to be on the same page with something that gets the crowd into it. If we start something, maybe the students will "match that and raise us one".
Sure, if we go 11-0 this year, people will come out of the woodworks to come see us, but lets be realistic and know that it's not likely. However, if we are in another close game with Mercer at home like we were last year away, and we are all there sitting on our hands in the 4th qtr. hoping we will win, we will most likely loose to those guys AGAIN, and leave one on the table that we maybe coulda-shoulda won. I mean, I will be at James Madison because my son is playing. Probably not gonna' go into that game a favorite by any means, just like the Montana State, where we were outmanned when we stepped off the plane. However, I truly believe in the power of a true home field advantage, and I just want us to do our part. I'm neither creative, nor the cheerleader type, but I want to do MY part. Again, I'm out of eligibility, so my playing days are over, but if I need to cheer, just tell me which cheer we are doing, and I will stand up on TOP OF MY BRAND NEW SEAT, IN OUR BRAND NEW STADIUM, and scream until I can't talk. I mean if you were at the Samford game last year, you left there excited. The bad part, is that there were only a handful of us there to watch a GREAT football game. A good game day experience is out there for us to grab, but all 7K of us have to do something to help out. The team is doing what they can, so let's do what WE can.

(08-08-2017 08:15 AM)bucdad Wrote:  Yea I certainly don't have the answer, but I just know it is sad when we don't have a true "home field advantage" over our opponents. I mean my son has started every game since the rebirth, thusly I have been to every game. Heck, if the truth were known, I guess I'm like most of the team and would rather play away than at home, based on the last 3 years just to see how the other fan bases act. Is there something different we can do with the student body to boost attendance? I know someone on here said they go around and knock on doors etc... but maybe the school has something to go along with the home games to keep the students on campus for the weekend. Maybe a concert or something fun for them to do (in addition) to the game. Stay at school for the concert at 7:00pm on Saturday, and fill your day up by going to the 3:00 game that day. Again, I certainly don't have the answer, but if knocking on doors doesn't fill seats, then lets try something different.
The bottom line is, if the students won't do it, then it's left up to those of us who have already graduated. Trust me, I'm not about to paint up my chest and run around the stadium (like a college kid) anymore. At 53, I'm content to act my age, but I'm still not above "getting a little crazy" to cheer on my team. I just want us all to be on the same page with something that gets the crowd into it. If we start something, maybe the students will "match that and raise us one".
Sure, if we go 11-0 this year, people will come out of the woodworks to come see us, but lets be realistic and know that it's not likely. However, if we are in another close game with Mercer at home like we were last year away, and we are all there sitting on our hands in the 4th qtr. hoping we will win, we will most likely loose to those guys AGAIN, and leave one on the table that we maybe coulda-shoulda won. I mean, I will be at James Madison because my son is playing. Probably not gonna' go into that game a favorite by any means, just like the Montana State, where we were outmanned when we stepped off the plane. However, I truly believe in the power of a true home field advantage, and I just want us to do our part. I'm neither creative, nor the cheerleader type, but I want to do MY part. Again, I'm out of eligibility, so my playing days are over, but if I need to cheer, just tell me which cheer we are doing, and I will stand up on TOP OF MY BRAND NEW SEAT, IN OUR BRAND NEW STADIUM, and scream until I can't talk. I mean if you were at the Samford game last year, you left there excited. The bad part, is that there were only a handful of us there to watch a GREAT football game. A good game day experience is out there for us to grab, but all 7K of us have to do something to help out. The team is doing what they can, so let's do what WE can.

So does your son play on the team?

(08-08-2017 08:02 AM)etsubuc Wrote:  Students (at least the ones that I come into contact with) are regularly and vocally disrespectful to the football team before and after classes, with football players in the same classroom. I've never heard that type of discussion about any other sport. It's just weird to me.

Some in the community are like that as well. I think we have none other than the previous administration to blame for demonizing football and making a case that it was a big waste of money. That theory certainly resonated.

Winning is the cure all, and more than just one off seasons. Sustained, consistent winning. And with your son on the team he's part of laying that foundation. As a player, he may not get to experience that high level success, but should take pride in knowing he laid the foundation.
Now for what etsubuc said, the Tri-Cities has always had this mindset against ETSU football, and that campus for whatever the reason has a "snowflake U" segment that's just a pain. I don't know, maybe they were bullied by Uncle Rico in high school and their feelings towards football players are based on that, or maybe they think that somehow their lives would be better if they weren't there (they're not). All those guys can do is keep doing things the right way, go to class, make good grades, be good stewards in the community, and win football games. There's always going to be the theater and art majors who hate them, always the Paul Tudico's of the world who will be condescending towards them (only professor I've ever wanted to hit, and to this day I'd be happy if he tried to beat up my hands with his jaw). All they can do is keep doing right, and win. Don't break the law, don't be jerks to people no matter how rude they are to you.

(08-08-2017 08:15 AM)bucdad Wrote:  Yea I certainly don't have the answer, but I just know it is sad when we don't have a true "home field advantage" over our opponents. I mean my son has started every game since the rebirth, thusly I have been to every game. Heck, if the truth were known, I guess I'm like most of the team and would rather play away than at home, based on the last 3 years just to see how the other fan bases act. Is there something different we can do with the student body to boost attendance? I know someone on here said they go around and knock on doors etc... but maybe the school has something to go along with the home games to keep the students on campus for the weekend. Maybe a concert or something fun for them to do (in addition) to the game. Stay at school for the concert at 7:00pm on Saturday, and fill your day up by going to the 3:00 game that day. Again, I certainly don't have the answer, but if knocking on doors doesn't fill seats, then lets try something different.
The bottom line is, if the students won't do it, then it's left up to those of us who have already graduated. Trust me, I'm not about to paint up my chest and run around the stadium (like a college kid) anymore. At 53, I'm content to act my age, but I'm still not above "getting a little crazy" to cheer on my team. I just want us all to be on the same page with something that gets the crowd into it. If we start something, maybe the students will "match that and raise us one".
Sure, if we go 11-0 this year, people will come out of the woodworks to come see us, but lets be realistic and know that it's not likely. However, if we are in another close game with Mercer at home like we were last year away, and we are all there sitting on our hands in the 4th qtr. hoping we will win, we will most likely loose to those guys AGAIN, and leave one on the table that we maybe coulda-shoulda won. I mean, I will be at James Madison because my son is playing. Probably not gonna' go into that game a favorite by any means, just like the Montana State, where we were outmanned when we stepped off the plane. However, I truly believe in the power of a true home field advantage, and I just want us to do our part. I'm neither creative, nor the cheerleader type, but I want to do MY part. Again, I'm out of eligibility, so my playing days are over, but if I need to cheer, just tell me which cheer we are doing, and I will stand up on TOP OF MY BRAND NEW SEAT, IN OUR BRAND NEW STADIUM, and scream until I can't talk. I mean if you were at the Samford game last year, you left there excited. The bad part, is that there were only a handful of us there to watch a GREAT football game. A good game day experience is out there for us to grab, but all 7K of us have to do something to help out. The team is doing what they can, so let's do what WE can.

(08-08-2017 08:42 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  

(08-08-2017 08:02 AM)etsubuc Wrote:  Students (at least the ones that I come into contact with) are regularly and vocally disrespectful to the football team before and after classes, with football players in the same classroom. I've never heard that type of discussion about any other sport. It's just weird to me.

Some in the community are like that as well. I think we have none other than the previous administration to blame for demonizing football and making a case that it was a big waste of money. That theory certainly resonated.

Not disagreeing that some are like that but from my experience is most are indifferent but not resentful. They don't follow the team but if they are doing well they are happy.

You are totally right on the previous administration. They did everything in their power to demonize the program including having the opinion editor of the paper being a mouthpiece for them. Just an embarrassing time. It will take years to overcome that.

(08-08-2017 08:35 AM)brock20 Wrote:  

(08-08-2017 08:15 AM)bucdad Wrote:  Yea I certainly don't have the answer, but I just know it is sad when we don't have a true "home field advantage" over our opponents. I mean my son has started every game since the rebirth, thusly I have been to every game. Heck, if the truth were known, I guess I'm like most of the team and would rather play away than at home, based on the last 3 years just to see how the other fan bases act. Is there something different we can do with the student body to boost attendance? I know someone on here said they go around and knock on doors etc... but maybe the school has something to go along with the home games to keep the students on campus for the weekend. Maybe a concert or something fun for them to do (in addition) to the game. Stay at school for the concert at 7:00pm on Saturday, and fill your day up by going to the 3:00 game that day. Again, I certainly don't have the answer, but if knocking on doors doesn't fill seats, then lets try something different.
The bottom line is, if the students won't do it, then it's left up to those of us who have already graduated. Trust me, I'm not about to paint up my chest and run around the stadium (like a college kid) anymore. At 53, I'm content to act my age, but I'm still not above "getting a little crazy" to cheer on my team. I just want us all to be on the same page with something that gets the crowd into it. If we start something, maybe the students will "match that and raise us one".
Sure, if we go 11-0 this year, people will come out of the woodworks to come see us, but lets be realistic and know that it's not likely. However, if we are in another close game with Mercer at home like we were last year away, and we are all there sitting on our hands in the 4th qtr. hoping we will win, we will most likely loose to those guys AGAIN, and leave one on the table that we maybe coulda-shoulda won. I mean, I will be at James Madison because my son is playing. Probably not gonna' go into that game a favorite by any means, just like the Montana State, where we were outmanned when we stepped off the plane. However, I truly believe in the power of a true home field advantage, and I just want us to do our part. I'm neither creative, nor the cheerleader type, but I want to do MY part. Again, I'm out of eligibility, so my playing days are over, but if I need to cheer, just tell me which cheer we are doing, and I will stand up on TOP OF MY BRAND NEW SEAT, IN OUR BRAND NEW STADIUM, and scream until I can't talk. I mean if you were at the Samford game last year, you left there excited. The bad part, is that there were only a handful of us there to watch a GREAT football game. A good game day experience is out there for us to grab, but all 7K of us have to do something to help out. The team is doing what they can, so let's do what WE can.

So does your son play on the team?

Yes, he has started all 3 years

(08-08-2017 09:58 AM)bucdad Wrote:  

(08-08-2017 08:35 AM)brock20 Wrote:  So does your son play on the team?

Yes, he has started all 3 years

How do the players like the coaching staff? Are the players pleased with and anxious to play in the new stadium?

Does your son anticipate notable improvement in this year's team? Does he think the incoming freshmen will play a significant role?

(08-08-2017 09:58 AM)bucdad Wrote:  

(08-08-2017 08:35 AM)brock20 Wrote:  

(08-08-2017 08:15 AM)bucdad Wrote:  Yea I certainly don't have the answer, but I just know it is sad when we don't have a true "home field advantage" over our opponents. I mean my son has started every game since the rebirth, thusly I have been to every game. Heck, if the truth were known, I guess I'm like most of the team and would rather play away than at home, based on the last 3 years just to see how the other fan bases act. Is there something different we can do with the student body to boost attendance? I know someone on here said they go around and knock on doors etc... but maybe the school has something to go along with the home games to keep the students on campus for the weekend. Maybe a concert or something fun for them to do (in addition) to the game. Stay at school for the concert at 7:00pm on Saturday, and fill your day up by going to the 3:00 game that day. Again, I certainly don't have the answer, but if knocking on doors doesn't fill seats, then lets try something different.
The bottom line is, if the students won't do it, then it's left up to those of us who have already graduated. Trust me, I'm not about to paint up my chest and run around the stadium (like a college kid) anymore. At 53, I'm content to act my age, but I'm still not above "getting a little crazy" to cheer on my team. I just want us all to be on the same page with something that gets the crowd into it. If we start something, maybe the students will "match that and raise us one".
Sure, if we go 11-0 this year, people will come out of the woodworks to come see us, but lets be realistic and know that it's not likely. However, if we are in another close game with Mercer at home like we were last year away, and we are all there sitting on our hands in the 4th qtr. hoping we will win, we will most likely loose to those guys AGAIN, and leave one on the table that we maybe coulda-shoulda won. I mean, I will be at James Madison because my son is playing. Probably not gonna' go into that game a favorite by any means, just like the Montana State, where we were outmanned when we stepped off the plane. However, I truly believe in the power of a true home field advantage, and I just want us to do our part. I'm neither creative, nor the cheerleader type, but I want to do MY part. Again, I'm out of eligibility, so my playing days are over, but if I need to cheer, just tell me which cheer we are doing, and I will stand up on TOP OF MY BRAND NEW SEAT, IN OUR BRAND NEW STADIUM, and scream until I can't talk. I mean if you were at the Samford game last year, you left there excited. The bad part, is that there were only a handful of us there to watch a GREAT football game. A good game day experience is out there for us to grab, but all 7K of us have to do something to help out. The team is doing what they can, so let's do what WE can.

So does your son play on the team?

Yes, he has started all 3 years

I would like to say thank you to your son for playing for us. I cannot wait for the season to begin and get into the new stadium. We will all be there supporting our players!

Winning! What did Lombardi say years ago? Look at App State. They've been on a huge winning streak, brought in by Jerry Moore, and their students are nuts over football -- an established cultural thing now. But look at their failed basketball program, their students mostly boycott that product. That one thing has not changed -- winning is not everything, it's still the only thing.

You want students there? Here's an easy solution: Make these six dates the six times they can drink on campus without risk of being in trouble. Sell beer for cheap prices at the game, and I bet you the student section is full and rowdy.

Problem solved.

(08-08-2017 10:35 PM)prosec34 Wrote:  You want students there? Here's an easy solution: Make these six dates the six times they can drink on campus without risk of being in trouble. Sell beer for cheap prices at the game, and I bet you the student section is full and rowdy.

Problem solved.

I as a student would not like this. Screw the worthless millennials that attend here with me. They all have a combined IQ of 50. All they do is drink.

(08-08-2017 07:06 AM)brock20 Wrote:  Most of the students want the team to do good and are happy when they do well but it will take sustained success for them to get more invested. If this team wins the students and this area will come out in big numbers, they always do. This area loves a winner.

Absolutely.

And student incentives to come out should be big time (since their athletic fees are providing 2.8 mil per year for the football program).

Provide more than enough free student tickets needed to pack the student sections.

Multiple free giveaways to students in attendance (announced during the 4th quarter) such as iphones, laptops and even tuition.

Add vouchers to free student tickets for a free drink and food item.

Provide free after game concert/dances, parties or other social events with door prizes for the students.

And as the program improves to where we're a consistent SoCon contender, they'll pack the place simply because we're winning.

(08-08-2017 03:36 PM)Flippmb Wrote:  

(08-08-2017 09:58 AM)bucdad Wrote:  

(08-08-2017 08:35 AM)brock20 Wrote:  So does your son play on the team?

Yes, he has started all 3 years

How do the players like the coaching staff? Are the players pleased with and anxious to play in the new stadium?

Does your son anticipate notable improvement in this year's team? Does he think the incoming freshmen will play a significant role?

Matt loves his position coach, and Torbush. He had a great relationship with Simms and Losey (who both left for So Miss), and when I talked to him last week about Simms he was sincerely hurt about them leaving, but understands the business.
Matt says he and the team are excited about playing in the new stadium, which is where the thought came from for me to post on this board about getting something going on there. Obviously it is gonna' be better playing at home vs. KT's field. I mean heck, they all just played 4 yrs of high school football only to go back to play ON a high school football field for 3 more yrs, so they can't wait. The atmosphere is what gets them tho. He/they though it would be different in college, but to be honest with you, Matt's high school had 4-5K people there every home game with fireworks during the entrance, and really was 100 times better than anything he has experienced in college. The fans at his high school went crazy during the game. It was fun. He said he felt like (as far as the atmosphere goes), he had taken a step back instead for forward. Certainly not what he expected from a D1 gameday experience. Being on campus, in a new stadium will boost that up a couple of points automatically, but we still have a long way to go, just to get up to the high school level.
If you ask Matt right now, we WILL be 11-0 at the end of the season, and he told me to go ahead a prepare for the 12th game, so that's what I'm doing. So yea, he sees that much improvement. I mean that stupid orange team down the road got all over the news the other night bragging that they had 10 players squatting over 500 pounds. He literally called them a bunch of pu--ies for that. ETSU had more than 10 guys (including Matt), squatting more than that LAST yr as Soph. Loosing the RT tackle just a couple of weeks ago means some of those younger guys will have to step up right away. He did say that some of the freshmen were looking good, and could see some playing time (probably sooner) out of necessity.
I'm still looking for a creative somebody to step up and come up with that fantastic idea on what we can do during the games. I mean we have taken it on the chin in the past, but now it's time to fight back. When we come up with this idea, we need all 7K people to know about it. Lets get the word out and do our part, to help them. Trust me, as a parent (and a fan I'm sure), it hasn't been easy to watch a few of these games, but it's time to stand up and make some noise. let's see if WE do OUR part, and they do the best they can, if TOGETHER, we can make this thing GREAT!!!!!!!!

I love it! Right on!

What if we had a scheme the first game for different sections to wear blue or gold, like UT's done a couple times now? That was entirely driven by fans, if I understand correctly.

It'd at least be a good first step for building up a system to further coordinate gameday efforts.

(08-09-2017 08:57 AM)prosec34 Wrote:  What if we had a scheme the first game for different sections to wear blue or gold, like UT's done a couple times now?

I believe ETSU Athletic Admin is already calling for the first game to be a "gold out".

Mark this down because this is the only time I'll complement Va. Tech on something, even though they're really just following what Penn State and Florida both do. They coordinate their home games and advertise what fans are supposed to wear, they even print it on the ticket. Orange effect, Maroon effect, white out, black out, etc...
Florida makes it known that when they play Tennessee or Auburn, wear blue. Other games they wear all orange. ETSU can do the same.
As for the atmosphere at games, I'm not sure what the guy's kid was expecting with a brand new program that didn't have a stadium. It's not going to be Tennessee. As for calling the guys down the road out for their lifting, etc... It's a good thing we'll get to see how that plays out next season.
Promotions to get students out has to be a thing, and also I mentioned in another post about gamedays and the meter maids staying in their damn lanes. Go write some parking tickets on the other side of campus, and leave the people who are going to the ball game the hell alone. Fans and students alike don't want to be hassled by some overzealous jerk with a fake badge and a police whistle because you've got a Sam Adams Octoberfest in your ETSU koozie (available at fine retailers such as the bookstore, Alumni Hall, etc...). At the same time, people can't be in the parking lot doing keg stands and shot gunning beers, either.

(08-09-2017 11:12 AM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  Mark this down because this is the only time I'll complement Va. Tech on something, even though they're really just following what Penn State and Florida both do. They coordinate their home games and advertise what fans are supposed to wear, they even print it on the ticket. Orange effect, Maroon effect, white out, black out, etc...
Florida makes it known that when they play Tennessee or Auburn, wear blue. Other games they wear all orange. ETSU can do the same.
As for the atmosphere at games, I'm not sure what the guy's kid was expecting with a brand new program that didn't have a stadium. It's not going to be Tennessee. As for calling the guys down the road out for their lifting, etc... It's a good thing we'll get to see how that plays out next season.
Promotions to get students out has to be a thing, and also I mentioned in another post about gamedays and the meter maids staying in their damn lanes. Go write some parking tickets on the other side of campus, and leave the people who are going to the ball game the hell alone. Fans and students alike don't want to be hassled by some overzealous jerk with a fake badge and a police whistle because you've got a Sam Adams Octoberfest in your ETSU koozie (available at fine retailers such as the bookstore, Alumni Hall, etc...). At the same time, people can't be in the parking lot doing keg stands and shot gunning beers, either.

What my son (and his teammates) were expecting was to play at a high school stadium for 3 years just like they did. What they didn't expect was to play in front of 3K people acting like they were at a funeral. That's all I'm saying WE act like we aren't excited to be there because the atmosphere is so bland. We need something to get us involved in the game more. Sure 70 points/game solves a multitude of problems, but until we get to that point, lets at least have something that makes that place rock. Trust me, the players notice........

As far as that orange team down the road, the point I was making is, THEY are putting out information to the public about how strong they are, how much better they are this year, and we struggle to get ANY information about ANYTHING. Sure they will probably put 11 better players on the field at any time, that as a unit will be better than our 11. However, for those players that got jilted by them, there will be some 1 on 1 battles that day that the guys in blue (well I guess we will be wearing what that day), will win. I have tried to make this point before and failed........ ETSU Football, hype up your program, if the team in orange didn't, they wouldn't have 110k at their games every time. You don't have to tell us how good, or bad you think we are, just tell us something..... PLEASE...................

(08-09-2017 12:02 PM)bucdad Wrote:  What my son (and his teammates) were expecting was to play at a high school stadium for 3 years just like they did. What they didn't expect was to play in front of 3K people acting like they were at a funeral. That's all I'm saying WE act like we aren't excited to be there because the atmosphere is so bland. We need something to get us involved in the game more. Sure 70 points/game solves a multitude of problems, but until we get to that point, lets at least have something that makes that place rock. Trust me, the players notice........

The first half of the KSU game, Maryville, E&H and Western Carolina games were a pretty lively crowd. The other home games, outside of Samford, were basically blowouts one way or the other from the start.

A big problem has been the offensive has had trouble moving the ball. Offense is what people generally get excited about. Games like Chatt and Furman last year were tough to sit through. The KSU and WCU games in 2016 were exciting because the offensive was clicking. We havent seen much of that.

There is only so much "hyping up" they can do. The enthusiasm you are wanting can't be faked and there is only 1 way to do it; win or be in close games. If ETSU is playing Citadel or Mercer and its 24-24 in the 4th quarter, you can bet it will be loud.