Last Night's Student Section = Weak Sauce

[Ahoya06]

You're only here for a few years, unless you're Ahoya 

Zing!

I think I'm gonna keep the old man seats in 428 during grad school, though...

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Two things to munch over. The first thing to remember is the MU Student Section is what? 3k seats? When you consider that culturally, on a whole, undergrads tend to have more of a connection to the college's sports teams than the grad students, that equates to almost one out of every two undergrads.

If you want to cut the size of the student section 1.) You're not going to have the demand to fill those empty seats except for really big games (as evident by the half-empty upper deck during buy game season). You'll be trading fair-weather/big game students for fair-weather/big game alums and then you're right back where you started and 2.) that will only drive up demand for the remaining student seats, furthering the price increases in place the past few season. Student season tickets were as low as $55 only a few seasons ago.

Second, you think half the undergrads at Marquette are going to drop whatever they're doing because 5-7 in conference Seton Hall is coming to the BC? Please. While I got my MU studies and my MU education by (and Ahoya06, The General, and MUfan12 will certainly verify) blowing off more than enough classes, drinking more than enough dollar pitchers, and spending way more time freezing my stones off in line at the BC (even for like....Coppin State) than most, the thing to realize is exactly that...."than most."

MU Scoop and these message boards represents a tiny tiny tiny tiny slice of the Marquette community/fanbase. While there's certainly a difference of opinion across a lot of issues here, MUScoop and similar message boards are in a sense a bubbleworld. While it's nice to be able to communicate with MU fans across the country who have similar interests, it has a tendency to create a bit of unanimity of thought. The end result is that there is usually a twice-yearly thread about how "the student section sucks" or "man, back in my day we rode harder and drank longer and were way crazier than these kids." I'm guilty of it myself sometimes.

So while you'd have no problem getting half the Scoop board out to the BC for a Conference game midweek (especially those of us who remember the cringe-worthy C-USA years....East Carolina, Tulane, UAB, etc.), getting Joe Sophomore from Manitowoc who for whatever reason, never got into college basketball or Jane Casualfan from Downers Grove who bought her season tickets because she wanted to make the big games, or could maybe make 10 out of 18 home games requires a little more than a middle-of-the-pack* Big East team.




* While Hall was on a bit of a run, do you think someone who doesn't follow the conference as closely as we do would have known that?

[MarquetteFan94]

Heh - you know, I think a lot of the angst from alums comes from the fact that nearly everybody attending MU could take 6 hours out of their week too go to a Big East basketball game (assuming 2 home games per week, 3 hours per game including travel time).

Seriously, skipping a max of 6 hours of sleep in a week for an 18-21 year old college kid?  I spent more time than that playing video games when I was in college.  Did I go to every home game? No.  Do I wish I would have now?  Yes.

The students are great, but we're like pushy parents, we always know you could be better. 

Agreed.  The students are great....the ones that are there always bring it.  I don't buy the "we Marquette students have other things to do argument."  Really...like what?  Please don't tell me studying...it's a Tuesday night in February...it's 3 hours out of your day.  I understand not wanting to miss a class, but indifference or hanging out on your couch is not a good excuse.  This school hangs its hat on basketball, this team is top 10 and there's 3 frickin home games left for this group...get to the Bradley Center!  Ugh.

[Hards Alumni]

I went to every game I could have.

INCLUDING games against these prestigous highly touted basketball programs

East Carolina University
St. Louis University
University of Alabama-Birmingham
UNC-Charlotte
Tulane
Houston
TCU
Southern Miss

Lets not forget the marquee matchups against
Coppin St.
Texas San Antonio

but my favorite home game of all time:

Nike All Stars.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD GIVE TO SEE MY TEAM PLAY IN THE BEAST WHILE I WAS A STUDENT?  DO YOU?

[MU B2002]

Lets not forget the marquee matchups against
Coppin St.

Was that at the Mecca? 

[LON]

Agreed.  The students are great....the ones that are there always bring it.  I don't buy the "we Marquette students have other things to do argument."  Really...like what?  Please don't tell me studying...it's a Tuesday night in February...it's 3 hours out of your day.  I understand not wanting to miss a class, but indifference or hanging out on your couch is not a good excuse.  This school hangs its hat on basketball, this team is top 10 and there's 3 frickin home games left for this group...get to the Bradley Center!  Ugh.

Couldn't agree more.

[mucrew08]

I was happy with the turnout for a Tuesday night, I thought it would be worse. This thread comes up all the time and its annoying, and its not just with our fans either. I was on the Georgetown board and their alumni complain to. When you think about how big the student section is and compare that with the undergrad population, we do just fine. While we are all huge basketball fans, there are quite a few students who don't care one bit about it. Be happy with the group that comes.

Just for the record I was the only one standing when the camera guy came...I had to yell

[foreverwarriors]

Completely agree with notkirkcameron.

There is a reason everyone that reads or posts on muscoop does so...it is because they feel invested and care deeply about the program and want to know in real time what is happening...I hate to break it to what seems to be a lot of you - outside of the outcome of the games and the ability to brag to others about a successful basketball team (or complain when a coach ditches his team), most people that "follow" Marquette basketball don't place much extra attention on it.

That's why unless the team is on a local station, out of town alums don't go out of their way to find a bar where it is playing - they only complain to those who did watch it about what they think happened in a loss.

That's why most fans probably don't know anything about incoming recruiting classes until after the season is over (and in most cases when the school year starts and the basketball season gets near) - how many times do any of you here need to explain to people that just because the three amigos are done after this year, next year will not be awful...that we have a spectacular class coming in.

For the majority of us on this board, Marquette basketball can be considered our top (or one of our top) passions in life. For the majority of Marquette students and alumni, there are many, MANY other things in life that come before Marquette basketball - clubs, student goverment, church, academics etc. Sure they are passionate about Marquette basketball when it falls in line with their priorities, but that passion will definitely then be saved for the games they attend.

It is not like this isn't commonplace nationwide. With the exception of very few schools, the vast majority of student bases are simply game-passionate fans...which is exactly why when I tell people that graduated from other schools (and even those that wen tto MU) that I am going to 4 of the final 5 games of the season - here in DC for Georgetown, traveling twice to Milwaukee and once to Pitt, they think I am crazy and throwing money out the window.

It's fine if you look at me wierd for saying I'm doing this - I'm probably going to look at you wierd if you were a student (or local alum) and said you weren't going to a game...but I'm not crazy...I just know where my passion lies.

[🏀]

Nike All Stars.

Excellent Matchup. The Wisconsin All-Stars were also stacked that year.

[dsfire]

Was that at the Mecca? 

Ark-Pine Bluff was the game at the Cell back in December '01, if that's what you're thinking of.  APB had a surprisingly large traveling crowd, which my roommate and I somehow ended up smack in the middle of with tickets we bought from a scalper.  They were pretty vocal for a team that got doubled up!

[Brewtown Andy]

Could we please stop this stupid thread from being started every year? Boo-hoo, the student section isn't the best in the nation (as if that is actually a serious claim or something we all believe). Do we not have better things to talk about?

The reason why it's worth starting is because invariably either the Tribune staff or a random student will write an opinion piece for the Tribune about how the student section needs to either be expanded or moved to along the sidelines.  None of these will happen when the athletic department keeps seeing showings like against Seton Hall.

[dsfire]

Excellent Matchup. The Wisconsin All-Stars were also stacked that year.

I miss those exhibition teams.  I think one of the other Nike All-Stars teams took out a team in the ACC the same night that we played.  I also remember Marathon Oil making the college circuit back in the 90s... always fun seeing some of the street ballers that end up on some of those teams.

[MU B2002]

Ark-Pine Bluff was the game at the Cell back in December '01, if that's what you're thinking of.  APB had a surprisingly large traveling crowd, which my roommate and I somehow ended up smack in the middle of with tickets we bought from a scalper.  They were pretty vocal for a team that got doubled up!

In an effort to not be lazy, I looked it up.  We played Coppin State at the Mecca in 1999.  I think I also remember the Ark Pine Bluff game.

[Badgerhater]

Expecting a G-Town or UW size student crowd for Seton Hall is not realistic, but Tuesday night was pathetic.  The student upper deck being a third full for a BE game should be the minimum for a university with hoops as its prime sport.

This whole "I have to study" excuse is simply BS.   A college student who does not have a PT job is the least busy person alive.    18 credits (more like 15) with two hours of studying (like who does that?) per credit is 54 hours over SEVEN days!   Leaving plenty of time to Wii, Facebook, text, hang in the coffee shop, get drunk, have sex (some things can be multi-tasked!), eat, sleep and GO TO THE MARQUETTE GAME!

If college students think they are busy now...just wait until they enter the adult world with a real job and a family!......and one where they have to pay big bucks to get a lower bowl seat in the BC for a Marquette game.

[MarquetteFan94]

Expecting a G-Town or UW size student crowd for Seton Hall is not realistic, but Tuesday night was pathetic.  The student upper deck being a third full for a BE game should be the minimum for a university with hoops as its prime sport.

This whole "I have to study" excuse is simply BS.   A college student who does not have a PT job is the least busy person alive.    18 credits (more like 15) with two hours of studying (like who does that?) per credit is 54 hours over SEVEN days!   Leaving plenty of time to Wii, Facebook, text, hang in the coffee shop, get drunk, have sex (some things can be multi-tasked!), eat, sleep and GO TO THE MARQUETTE GAME!

If college students think they are busy now...just wait until they enter the adult world with a real job and a family!......and one where they have to pay big bucks to get a lower bowl seat in the BC for a Marquette game.

Well played sir.

[Tribby]

For the majority of us on this board, Marquette basketball can be considered our top (or one of our top) passions in life. For the majority of Marquette students and alumni, there are many, MANY other things in life that come before Marquette basketball - clubs, student goverment, church, academics etc. Sure they are passionate about Marquette basketball when it falls in line with their priorities, but that passion will definitely then be saved for the games they attend.

+1

[LON]

+1

So it's ok to demonstrate school spirit, only when it falls in line with your priorities?

Sorry, poor poor showing for a BE game.  If I were still a student I'd be ashamed.

[MarquetteFan94]

For the majority of us on this board, Marquette basketball can be considered our top (or one of our top) passions in life. For the majority of Marquette students and alumni, there are many, MANY other things in life that come before Marquette basketball - clubs, student goverment, church, academics etc. Sure they are passionate about Marquette basketball when it falls in line with their priorities, but that passion will definitely then be saved for the games they attend.

Clearly you're a passionate fan so this is not directed to you and I understand the angle you're taking with your post.  I still don't buy the "priorities" debate.

Men's basketball games represent the one time the student body can come together in large numbers to show their spirit and represent the school....not to mention have a great time.   I wouldn't expect all the students to be lined up for 6 hours with their faces painted before every game...but, honestly, students now don't know how good they have it with this team. 

If we can't get students into the upper level for a conference game when we're ranked 10th in the country after 3 consecutive NCAA appearances how are things going be next year when we'll be forturnate to be in the bubble or NIT conversations?

Again, the studying argument doesn't work, it's 3 hours out of a day.  If kids can't move their club meeting to accomodate a game then so be it and I'm pretty sure there's not a 7pm mass on Tuesday nights.  To me it's indifference....which is hard to understand given the success of the team, the fun had while attending games, etc.

[Ari Gold]

notkirkcameron is right. Obviously a lot of you folk are just old and have that "back in my day we were better..." philosophy even though lets be honest, you weren't and you had some bad showings back in your day too. Right some of you spent 16 hours waiting outside for UAB or whatever, but most of your classmates didn't.  Hell I didnt even wait outside for more than 3 hours for Georgetown. Why not? Because I am smart enough to realize that if I get in line at 10am I'll still have lower bowl seats and therefore don't need to need to camp out.  As for the Seton Hall game let me offer a few insights into why the student section was "weak sauce"

A) it's Seton Hall... they suck. No way around that and they aren't a rival.  Since we're playing them on a Tuesday, is it really worth it to venture out to watch a 15 point win? MU tickets are really only worth 5-6 games. UW, Gtown, ND, Lville DePaul and whichever Big East team is ranked and unnamed in the prior. Outside of that, most games are watchable from the dorm room.
b) unlike some of you who probably skated by on a 2.5 and say studying doesnt matter... things have changed a bit here since the mid 90s, studying is important and along those lines it's actually close to mid-terms. If you have a 3 paper/test class before finals those are either happening this week or next, so I don't fault students for taking some time out to study
c) there has been a virus going around campus. There is, on average, there are about 5-8 students missing class. Now unlike some of you that'll claim that as long as you're in remission or can bring an IV into a game, most (all) students will skip a game or two if they are sick. -For the record I consider myself an above well above average  MU fan but even I missed UWM because I was too sick.-


Clearly you old guys just need to quit crying that the students don't meet your expectations. they don't care.

[MarquetteFan94]

notkirkcameron is right. Obviously a lot of you folk are just old and have that "back in my day we were better..." philosophy even though lets be honest, you weren't and you had some bad showings back in your day too. Right some of you spent 16 hours waiting outside for UAB or whatever, but most of your classmates didn't.  Hell I didnt even wait outside for more than 3 hours for Georgetown. Why not? Because I am smart enough to realize that if I get in line at 10am I'll still have lower bowl seats and therefore don't need to need to camp out.  As for the Seton Hall game let me offer a few insights into why the student section was "weak sauce"

A) it's Seton Hall... they suck. No way around that and they aren't a rival.  Since we're playing them on a Tuesday, is it really worth it to venture out to watch a 15 point win? MU tickets are really only worth 5-6 games. UW, Gtown, ND, Lville DePaul and whichever Big East team is ranked and unnamed in the prior. Outside of that, most games are watchable from the dorm room.
b) unlike some of you who probably skated by on a 2.5 and say studying doesnt matter... things have changed a bit here since the mid 90s, studying is important and along those lines it's actually close to mid-terms. If you have a 3 paper/test class before finals those are either happening this week or next, so I don't fault students for taking some time out to study
c) there has been a virus going around campus. There is, on average, there are about 5-8 students missing class. Now unlike some of you that'll claim that as long as you're in remission or can bring an IV into a game, most (all) students will skip a game or two if they are sick. -For the record I consider myself an above well above average  MU fan but even I missed UWM because I was too sick.-


Clearly you old guys just need to quit crying that the students don't meet your expectations. they don't care.

Interesting introduction to the board.  Very respectful.  My point exactly....indifference.

[tower912]

I was there straddling the Majerus and Dukiet eras and I never missed a home game.   I sat through Canisius and Fordham and Niagara and Western Michigan and Chicago St and Loyola (Chi) when we were actually nervous about beating them.    There were lots of fair-weather fans back then, too, but I wasn't one of them.    We weren't in a conference then and we were never ranked  and we never once beat ND in my 4 years.    Miss a conference game because it is on a Tuesday against  a non-ranked team?    Weak

[LON]

notkirkcameron is right. Obviously a lot of you folk are just old and have that "back in my day we were better..." philosophy even though lets be honest, you weren't and you had some bad showings back in your day too. Right some of you spent 16 hours waiting outside for UAB or whatever, but most of your classmates didn't.  Hell I didnt even wait outside for more than 3 hours for Georgetown. Why not? Because I am smart enough to realize that if I get in line at 10am I'll still have lower bowl seats and therefore don't need to need to camp out.  As for the Seton Hall game let me offer a few insights into why the student section was "weak sauce"

A) it's Seton Hall... they suck. No way around that and they aren't a rival.  Since we're playing them on a Tuesday, is it really worth it to venture out to watch a 15 point win? MU tickets are really only worth 5-6 games. UW, Gtown, ND, Lville DePaul and whichever Big East team is ranked and unnamed in the prior. Outside of that, most games are watchable from the dorm room.
b) unlike some of you who probably skated by on a 2.5 and say studying doesnt matter... things have changed a bit here since the mid 90s, studying is important and along those lines it's actually close to mid-terms. If you have a 3 paper/test class before finals those are either happening this week or next, so I don't fault students for taking some time out to study
c) there has been a virus going around campus. There is, on average, there are about 5-8 students missing class. Now unlike some of you that'll claim that as long as you're in remission or can bring an IV into a game, most (all) students will skip a game or two if they are sick. -For the record I consider myself an above well above average  MU fan but even I missed UWM because I was too sick.-


Clearly you old guys just need to quit crying that the students don't meet your expectations. they don't care.

Undergrad '06
Graduate degree '07

Not an old guy, and yes, we did do it better.

[Brewtown Andy]

Expecting a G-Town or UW size student crowd for Seton Hall is not realistic, but Tuesday night was pathetic.  The student upper deck being a third full for a BE game should be the minimum for a university with hoops as its prime sport.

This whole "I have to study" excuse is simply BS.   A college student who does not have a PT job is the least busy person alive.    18 credits (more like 15) with two hours of studying (like who does that?) per credit is 54 hours over SEVEN days!   Leaving plenty of time to Wii, Facebook, text, hang in the coffee shop, get drunk, have sex (some things can be multi-tasked!), eat, sleep and GO TO THE MARQUETTE GAME!

I admit it, I laughed at the placing of the parenthetical comment.

[Badgerhater]

Just don't multi-task the wrong things!

[MUsoxfan]

I was there straddling the Majerus and Dukiet eras and I never missed a home game.   I sat through Canisius and Fordham and Niagara and Western Michigan and Chicago St and Loyola (Chi) when we were actually nervous about beating them.    There were lots of fair-weather fans back then, too, but I wasn't one of them.    We weren't in a conference then and we were never ranked  and we never once beat ND in my 4 years.    Miss a conference game because it is on a Tuesday against  a non-ranked team?    Weak