Being a season ticket holder I was able to unfortunately witness the vast number of no-shows from the "country's greatest student section" for nearly every game. The only time the student section was close to being filled was when the rodents made their appearance. Buzz needs to energize this group in 2012 and it is up to them to get off their asses and go to the games. We need them to act like they did in the D Wade years when they all made us proud. They can help the team immensely.
1. Not going to happen.
2. The students that do go to all of the games (the big fans) most likely are the same people that would check/post on this board.
3. The students that buy tickets only to go to the big games and don't really care probably don't care enough to look at Marquette basketball forums.
Quote from: wadesworld on March 27, 2011, 09:32:28 PM
1. Not going to happen.
2. The students that do go to all of the games (the big fans) most likely are the same people that would check/post on this board.
3. The students that buy tickets only to go to the big games and don't really care probably don't care enough to look at Marquette basketball forums.
I think thats why he said "Buzz needs to...."
I agree that something should be done by the university, Buzz , wahtever to mobilize the student base more. But reality is, winning mobilizes the base the best. But the BC had many no shows for most of the games last season. Some effort is in order.
Let me play's devil's advocate here and defend the student section ...
The problem is MU plays in too big a stadium. Undergraduate enrollment is 8100 and the BC capacity is 19000. The capacity of our home arena to student population is the largest of major D1 basketball.
Detailed here http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=22857.msg251664#msg251664
Does anyone know the size of the ticket allotment to the student section? Do they keep attendance records for students only? What I'm getting at is I believe our percentage of students attending the games is very high when compared to other schools. Remember the Kohl center in at UW seats 17,000 but they have an undergraduate population of 29000.
Now if you want to donate $50 million or so the MU, I'm sure they could build a 9,000 seat arena and even less students would go to those games but it would look "packed" and everyone would be happy.
We do play in a large stadium, but the students turned out in better numbers in years past...especially TC's last year and Buzz's first year. So it can be done.
Going to the Sweet 16 and having the core of players back next year should excite those that didn't really get into it this year. Let's hope. MU's home court wasn't that strong this year IMO.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 27, 2011, 09:51:38 PM
We do play in a large stadium, but the students turned out in better numbers in years past...especially TC's last year and Buzz's first year. So it can be done.
Those were the last two years we had a top 10 ranking. So here's Buzz challenge ... get a top 10 ranking again and more people will show up at the games.
Are we breaking new ground here?
That raises a question: have we been ranked at all under Buzz? I can't remember - the 10 ranking was not under Buzz right?
No, Buzz's first year with the three amigos as seniors we were as high as #8. Also ranked intermittently last year.
This was the first year in several (I believe 4 or 5) that we were not ranked.
Quote from: Daniel on March 27, 2011, 09:56:17 PM
That raises a question: have we been ranked at all under Buzz? I can't remember - the 10 ranking was not under Buzz right?
Buzz's first year we were ranked a lot. That team was LOADED. Then DJ got hurt and it killed us. I think we were ranked most of that season. We got up to number 8 when we were 19-2. That was a special group of players and they were mostly seniors and juniors...a ton of experience and quality.
I'm not arguing whether it should have to or shouldn't (that is, I'm not defending or accusing the students), but if Marquette wants a full student section it probably needs to make a more conscious effort. Exactly what that means, I'm not sure.
I think scheduling plays a big role (see 10 am on New Year's Day). I know MU doesn't have control over this entirely, especially with conference games, but maybe also working on better promotions and having Buzz make a real effort to contact students and get them out via phone or email. A top 10 team would help too.
But I remember during my time during the Crean years (05-08), we had packed houses (including some record breaking attendance numbers), and our team wasn't always ranked.
I am far removed, so I am curious.
Arent the student tickets priced reasonably, with all sold as part of a season package?
If they have tickets to each game, why wouldnt they go to each game?
Are the games always on TV, too --giving students the option to stay at home/dorm, and watch it there?
If they're not on TV, what else do they do during games--study?......please say no, as study breaks should be mandatory during games.
I'm personally offended by this thread and other students will be too. As a student that made minimum wage last summer, I spent $100 of my hard earned money on basketball tickets. I sat outside for 5 hours in 15 degree weather before the wisco game. I went to 2/3 ncaa tournament games. I cheered my ass off for this team. That being said, Buzz should feel lucky about how much support he got with the way this year's team underachieved.
Look at the student section in the Syracuse game. major homecourt advantage. Notre Dame game was over break and there was a tremendous turn out. UCONN game was on a tuesday and had a great turnout. the mile walk to the BC isnt made any easier in the dead of wisconsin winter (maybe the alumnus/i that wrote this didnt take that into account on the 5 min walk from their warm mercedes to the arena) Not to mention, our arena is wayyy oversized for our undergrad population.
Quote from: bdee29 on March 28, 2011, 12:46:31 AM
I'm personally offended by this thread and other students will be too. As a student that made minimum wage last summer, I spent $100 of my hard earned money on basketball tickets. I sat outside for 5 hours in 15 degree weather before the wisco game. I went to 2/3 ncaa tournament games. I cheered my ass off for this team. That being said, Buzz should feel lucky about how much support he got with the way this year's team underachieved.
Look at the student section in the Syracuse game. major homecourt advantage. Notre Dame game was over break and there was a tremendous turn out. UCONN game was on a tuesday and had a great turnout. the mile walk to the BC isnt made any easier in the dead of wisconsin winter (maybe the alumnus/i that wrote this didnt take that into account on the 5 min walk from their warm mercedes to the arena) Not to mention, our arena is wayyy oversized for our undergrad population.
I'm offended by how f*cking entitled students think they are.
Unfortunate that a run like this was wasted on this group. As someone who saw two NIT teams, and two first round exits, I would have killed for a Sweet 16 while I was a student.
Bitching about $100 SEASON tickets and a mile walk from campus. And about how this team that made the third Sweet 16 since '77 underachieved.
When I think our students suck the most, they always manage to out-do themselves.
Quote from: bdee29 on March 28, 2011, 12:46:31 AM
I'm personally offended by this thread and other students will be too. As a student that made minimum wage last summer, I spent $100 of my hard earned money on basketball tickets. I sat outside for 5 hours in 15 degree weather before the wisco game. I went to 2/3 ncaa tournament games. I cheered my ass off for this team. That being said, Buzz should feel lucky about how much support he got with the way this year's team underachieved.
Look at the student section in the Syracuse game. major homecourt advantage. Notre Dame game was over break and there was a tremendous turn out. UCONN game was on a tuesday and had a great turnout. the mile walk to the BC isnt made any easier in the dead of wisconsin winter (maybe the alumnus/i that wrote this didnt take that into account on the 5 min walk from their warm mercedes to the arena) Not to mention, our arena is wayyy oversized for our undergrad population.
Wow. $100 for tickets in today's dollars is cheaper than when I was a student(and yes we all bought them with hard earned job pay).
The rest of your experiences sound great-- enjoy. Years from now they will be fond memories to share. Soon the greatest inconvenience in life wont be a "Tuesday" game, a one mile walk or waiting hours in the cold.
Soon enough, You wont see an MU game even on TV because your boss has you out of town travelling, the parent teacher conference is on Tuesday night, and the only five hour block you get is a boring day long work seminar, a once a year christmas shopping trip, or an all day Saturday soccer/ swim tournament, for your child.
Your mind will wander back to good times, simple times, just walking with your friends to a game in the cold, or sitting for hours awaiting one. You'll think back regretting that....wow the only reason I missed seeing UConn(Kemba Walker Jim Calhoun) play MU in person for $10, was I thought it inconvenient to go on a Tuesday night, and now me and my family cant spare the $100s to see Kemba play in the NBA.
This is some of the cheapest best quality sports entertainment, you will have avilable to you for your whole life, with the time available to you now like you can never again expect in life..Carpe diem-- The only regret you'll have in life is not what you did, but what you could have easily done, but didnt--dont miss any games, trust me.
I wasn't a Marquette fan in 2003, but was every single game televised? I think that may have a lot to do with it. A lot of students figure, why walk when you can just watch enjoy the game on the couch with a free beer. Now...I am not in the that group, but a good chunk of students feel that way.
Quote from: bdee29 on March 28, 2011, 12:46:31 AMUCONN game was on a tuesday and had a great turnout.
Depending on your definition of great, considering that it was against the #5 team in the country. http://twitpic.com/3tfjn7 (http://twitpic.com/3tfjn7)
Quotethe mile walk to the BC isnt made any easier in the dead of wisconsin winter
Other than by the free shuttle running from the Sports Annex.
Quote from: AnotherMU84 on March 27, 2011, 09:46:07 PM
Let me play's devil's advocate here and defend the student section ...
The problem is MU plays in too big a stadium. Undergraduate enrollment is 8100 and the BC capacity is 19000. The capacity of our home arena to student population is the largest of major D1 basketball.
Detailed here http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=22857.msg251664#msg251664
Does anyone know the size of the ticket allotment to the student section? Do they keep attendance records for students only? What I'm getting at is I believe our percentage of students attending the games is very high when compared to other schools. Remember the Kohl center in at UW seats 17,000 but they have an undergraduate population of 29000.
Now if you want to donate $50 million or so the MU, I'm sure they could build a 9,000 seat arena and even less students would go to those games but it would look "packed" and everyone would be happy.
This
It drives me nuts when everyone complains about the student section, and how 'wild and crazy' the old Arena used to be when they don't sit back and think about the massive size disparities and seating set ups between the BC and the Arena. I was a student from 02-06, and I've been a season ticket holder since. I was in the student section at pretty much every game, even during the bad NIT years, and there was a large contingent of die hards in that group and there still is.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, all of you pining for the 'good old days' when the stadium only held 10,000 or who complain that our students aren't the great Cameron Crazies or post youtube videos of the Utah St. chants, open up your checkbooks and make a big fat donation to set aside more seating in the lower bowl for the students. You put 2,000 students near the court and you'll see one hell of a home court advantage. Layout matters, and the fact that student section is (for the most part) behind the hoop and the band in the lower bowl contributes in a big way to your perception of their supposed 'lameness'
Quote from: mugrad2006 on March 28, 2011, 02:11:16 AM
This
It drives me nuts when everyone complains about the student section, and how 'wild and crazy' the old Arena used to be when they don't sit back and think about the massive size disparities and seating set ups between the BC and the Arena. I was a student from 02-06, and I've been a season ticket holder since. I was in the student section at pretty much every game, even during the bad NIT years, and there was a large contingent of die hards in that group and there still is.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, all of you pining for the 'good old days' when the stadium only held 10,000 or who complain that our students aren't the great Cameron Crazies or post youtube videos of the Utah St. chants, open up your checkbooks and make a big fat donation to set aside more seating in the lower bowl for the students. You put 2,000 students near the court and you'll see one hell of a home court advantage. Layout matters, and the fact that student section is (for the most part) behind the hoop and the band in the lower bowl contributes in a big way to your perception of their supposed 'lameness'
Being a current student, I appreciate the support but . . . it wouldn't matter how small the arena was or how good the seats got. It's really all about winning. I went to watch the Sweet 16 game late at night here in london with two students who had never bought season tickets, had been to only 1 or 2 games, and couldn't name a player other than Frozena. Yet here they were, walking to a bar late at night decked out in MU gear. Winning fills seats.
Hopefully the Sweet 16 buzz will carry over to next year like the 3 amigos Buzz did their senior season. Now getting butts in seats is one thing, getting people loud and raucous, that's a whole nother challenge.
Quote from: Brewtown Andy on March 28, 2011, 02:03:05 AM
Depending on your definition of great, considering that it was against the #5 team in the country. http://twitpic.com/3tfjn7
(http://twitpic.com/3tfjn7)
Brewtown, thanks for the pic as I see it as showing how GOOD our student section is.
Why? Because you have a pic of a Tuesday night game in Milwaukee and, given that the BC holds 19,000, it looks like about 40% of the undergrad population of MU is at this game.
UW has 29,000 undergrads. Tell me if 15,000 UW undergrads showed up for anything on a Tuesday night in January in Wisconsin that would say support sucked. Same percentage of MU students and it's somehow a disaster.
So, instead of donating $50 million to MU for a smaller arena, maybe you can donate $500 million so MU can expand to 30,000 undergrads and when 60% of the student could care less about the team, you still have 12,000 crazies at the game.
When are you whiners going to get the problem is the huge BC relative to the student population. Further, when are you whiners going to go realize that Georgetown, Seton Hall, Notre Dame**, St. Johns and Villanova support, especially student support, is so much worse than our support that they don't even try to fill the available NBA sized arenas for every game. They only use it for selected games. Go read their message boards.
If MU admitted defeat and played Centenary at the AL, and packed it with crazy students, and played DePaul and Seton Hall at the Arena, and sold it out, would that make things better?
** = (ND's Joyce Center is 9,000 and they did not sell out the MU game on a Saturday night and were annoyed a 1,000 of the fans were MU faithful. And they are the vaunted ND and were a #2 seed this year!)
Ummm, current students aren't going to want Tobias the money argument about getting season tickets. Thus isn't a "today's dollars" issue either. I believe the first years in the Bradley Center (1988ish) we paid more than $100 for tickets and that was to watch Bob Dukiet teams.
Stick with the having to sit outside for five hours in the freezing cold argument. That carries way more weight.
Quote from: AnotherMU84 on March 28, 2011, 06:07:26 AM
Brewtown, thanks for the pic as I see it as showing how GOOD our student section is.
Why? Because you have a pic of a Tuesday night game in Milwaukee and, given that the BC holds 19,000, it looks like about 40% of the undergrad population of MU is at this game.
My understanding is that the total number of student section seats is about 40% of the undergrad population.
The thing is that those tickets are COMPLETELY sold. There were games this year when the student section was completely jammed. So why are there 1000 tickets going unused against the #5 team in the country in a game that's being broadcast on ESPN?
Walking to the arena in my day (1977-1980) was part of the fun. Stopping off at Hegarty's to "load up" the parka; sweating thru the minimal security; clinking & clanking all the way up to your seat; playing "random fan tackle" in the snow all the way back. Houwarrior is correct - great memories!
Here's my proposal:
If the number of student tickets sold is 40% of the student population, lower that to 33%. When those are gone and you still wish to get tickets, you must go to a mandatory MUBBall class one time only for two hours on a weekday night. Topics include not only MU specific history and tradition, but also the members of the current team and a 30 minute overview of basketball rules and trends and the nuts and bolts of recruiting. This makes sure that if you weren't excited enough to get tickets right away, you at least have enough at your disposal to make you excited enough to get to the damn UConn game. Also should serve to weed out a couple of the typical suburban FIB girls that were far and away my pet peeve at the games :P
I think that as much of this is about TC as anything. The guy was a great showman and motivator for the student population. Buzz budgets his time to the minute, but I don't know that he's as dedicated at getting students to the BC as TC was. Winning should help, and my personal hopes are more for program success than student motivation, but it's easy to see the personality differences between the coaches that might also be impacting today's lower attendance.
bdee29, post of the week.
You were joking right?
Really, a lot of this could be prevented by just not referring to the students as "the best student section in the country" when there's 2 rows in the upper deck full.
Quote from: bdee29 on March 28, 2011, 12:46:31 AM
I'm personally offended by this thread and other students will be too. As a student that made minimum wage last summer, I spent $100 of my hard earned money on basketball tickets. I sat outside for 5 hours in 15 degree weather before the wisco game. I went to 2/3 ncaa tournament games. I cheered my ass off for this team. That being said, Buzz should feel lucky about how much support he got with the way this year's team underachieved.
Look at the student section in the Syracuse game. major homecourt advantage. Notre Dame game was over break and there was a tremendous turn out. UCONN game was on a tuesday and had a great turnout. the mile walk to the BC isnt made any easier in the dead of wisconsin winter (maybe the alumnus/i that wrote this didnt take that into account on the 5 min walk from their warm mercedes to the arena) Not to mention, our arena is wayyy oversized for our undergrad population.
You gotta be fracking kidding me with this post. If you are personally offended by what was said prior to you post, you're a bitch.
You're whining about spending $100 on season tickets? Do you realize how much it's going to cost you to go to games after your graduate? You're pathetic if you think that is too much money, I'm sure you spend more than that a weekend on Jaberbombs and chasing chubbies at Murphy's. The students are getting a cake deal for their ticket prices, especially when compared with other schools in the Top 20 in attendance.
5 hours outside for Wisconsin? Good, we're happy for you. We all did it, especially anyone who was enrolled in the Bradley Center era. You're not entitled to anything because you waited outside for a long period of time.
Now you say Buzz should be feeling lucky about his support the team got?
frack you. You're student tickets should be revoked. You're a piece of crap that does not deserve to go to anymore games. This team underachieved? Serious? If you thought this team was competing for the Big East championship that's your problem for setting the bar too high.
The student section crowds in 03-04 & 04-05 were much better than the majority of this season. Those teams were much worse than the team playing on the court right now. Buzz shouldn't feel lucky about crap. You pompous frackface students need to get to the games and support the team. I don't blame Buzz for not reaching out to a student base of crapheads if they all act like you.
1/2 mile walk to the Bradley Center hasn't changed, so that doesn't help your cause. If it's that bad and you get too cold, take the shuttle, take the bus or ride a Limo to Wisconsin and Lovell. Marquette Basketball isn't and won't be tailored so it's the best convenience for you. Suck it up, pansy.
Is the BC bigger than logical for Marquette, yes. Has this mattered in the past, not really. It matters now because we have a crapty class of kids enrolled right now that can't support a Sweet 16 team.
The student sections holds 4,100. That's only 35% of the student population. I've always support contracting the student section to about 3,000 or 25% of the student population.
Quote from: bdee29 on March 28, 2011, 12:46:31 AM
I sat outside for 5 hours in 15 degree weather before the wisco game.
You only waited 5 hours for the Wisconsin game?
Fuckin A right!
Quote from: marqptm on March 28, 2011, 12:15:11 PM
You gotta be fracking kidding me with this post. If you are personally offended by what was said prior to you post, you're a bitch.
You're whining about spending $100 on season tickets? Do you realize how much it's going to cost you to go to games after your graduate? You're pathetic if you think that is too much money, I'm sure you spend more than that a weekend on Jaberbombs and chasing chubbies at Murphy's. The students are getting a cake deal for their ticket prices, especially when compared with other schools in the Top 20 in attendance.
5 hours outside for Wisconsin? Good, we're happy for you. We all did it, especially anyone who was enrolled in the Bradley Center era. You're not entitled to anything because you waited outside for a long period of time.
Now you say Buzz should be feeling lucky about his support the team got? frack you. You're student tickets should be revoked. You're a piece of crap that does not deserve to go to anymore games. This team underachieved? Serious? If you thought this team was competing for the Big East championship that's your problem for setting the bar too high.
The student section crowds in 03-04 & 04-05 were much better than the majority of this season. Those teams were much worse than the team playing on the court right now. Buzz shouldn't feel lucky about crap. You pompous frackface students need to get to the games and support the team. I don't blame Buzz for not reaching out to a student base of crapheads if they all act like you.
1/2 mile walk to the Bradley Center hasn't changed, so that doesn't help your cause. If it's that bad and you get too cold, take the shuttle, take the bus or ride a Limo to Wisconsin and Lovell. Marquette Basketball isn't and won't be tailored so it's the best convenience for you. Suck it up, pansy.
Is the BC bigger than logical for Marquette, yes. Has this mattered in the past, not really. It matters now because we have a crapty class of kids enrolled right now that can't support a Sweet 16 team.
The student sections holds 4,100. That's only 35% of the student population. I've always support contracting the student section to about 3,000 or 25% of the student population.
I stated three weeks ago that our attendance, especially students, was a joke and was bashed for it. We need to get excitement level back and keep it there. To spend big money on a coach with the lethargic overall support is a joke. Hence my argument we have an identity crisis.
If we want to have a small student section Mike Deane would take the gig back for $800K. If we are going to spend prime time money we better find a way to create a buzz on campus. For years I have heard from students that alumni are dud and they are right. The whole crowd needs to be energized.
Quote from: Goose on March 28, 2011, 12:35:50 PM
To spend big money on a coach with the lethargic overall support is a joke. Hence my argument we have an identity crisis.
You hire a coach to win. Not to get students to come to games. That's the job of the marketing department.
Titan---I understand it is marketing department. The whole image needs a revamp. If I were market dept. I would be using Buzz all day and night to create excitement. He is very easy to like...get him out and about.
Quote from: Goose on March 28, 2011, 12:40:18 PM
Titan---I understand it is marketing department. The whole image needs a revamp. If I were market dept. I would be using Buzz all day and night to create excitement. He is very easy to like...get him out and about.
I was not on campus for any of the Buzz year, but I will say Crean did a tremendous amount of work with the students. Crean's best poly was getting the team to do a lot of that marketing themselves.
I wonder if the JUCO population of the team has a harder time connecting and bringing the students in due to their time spent on campus? Just throwing crap on the wall here.
We do go to a UNIVERSITY for a reason. An unfilled student section on a weekend? inexcusable. But some majors more demanding than others, we have no choice but to study or do work and forfeit an occasional 3 hour plus time commitment including the walk.
While we don't walk to the games uphill both ways in a blizzard like the old alumni did, at least give credit to those who attend 90% of the games when clearly the smarter decision is to be studying for their tests the next morning when they can rationalize it. Personal limitations exist.
Quote from: ZaLiN on March 28, 2011, 12:47:55 PM
We do go to a UNIVERSITY for a reason. An unfilled student section on a weekend? inexcusable. But some majors more demanding than others, we have no choice but to study or do work and forfeit an occasional 3 hour plus time commitment including the walk.
While we don't walk to the games uphill both ways in a blizzard like the old alumni did, at least give credit to those who attend 90% of the games when clearly the smarter decision is to be studying for their tests the next morning when they can rationalize it. Personal limitations exist.
Life is about balance. If you cannot figure 3, 6 or 9 hours a week into your schedule from November to March to attend basketball games:
1.) I feel sorry for you.
2.) you probably won't make it in the real world with those planning skills.
3.) don't bother buying season tickets.
4.) you need to find out what you are doing with your time.
Seriously though, you'll never have more free time than you have right now. If you can't fit Marquette Basketball in with the rest of your responsibilities, good luck.
Quote from: bdee29 on March 28, 2011, 12:46:31 AM
I'm personally offended by this thread and other students will be too. As a student that made minimum wage last summer, I spent $100 of my hard earned money on basketball tickets. I sat outside for 5 hours in 15 degree weather before the wisco game. I went to 2/3 ncaa tournament games. I cheered my ass off for this team. That being said, Buzz should feel lucky about how much support he got with the way this year's team underachieved.
If you are going to drop your sports resume, at least make it impressive.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 28, 2011, 12:25:37 PM
You only waited 5 hours for the Wisconsin game?
For a 1pm Saturday tip, like that usually is, that means this fan is there at 8am the same day. If anyone has pictures of games from '05-'09 of our OVERNIGHT waits (i.e. 12+ hours waiting) can we get those up to show these kids how it's done?? And anyone who is complaining about a game taking up study time, budget your time better for only half of the school year. It's not like the bball season is August through May. First semester games take 3 hours away from your day at most if you really are worried about the time issue. If I can make it through Marquette in 4 year while spending as much time as I did in and around the BC, it shouldn't be hard for the majority of this student body to do the same. Hell, bring a fricken' text book/study material with you while you're sitting in line if that's your only reason for not making it to the BC.
Quote from: marqptm on March 28, 2011, 12:53:27 PM
Life is about balance. If you cannot figure 3, 6 or 9 hours a week into your schedule from November to March to attend basketball games:
1.) I feel sorry for you.
2.) you probably won't make it in the real world with those planning skills.
3.) don't bother buying season tickets.
4.) you need to find out what you are doing with your time.
Seriously though, you'll never have more free time than you have right now. If you can't fit Marquette Basketball in with the rest of your responsibilities, good luck.
I hope your criticisms of strangers makes you feel better.
Any student not attending game due to homework, money or being too cold is soft. Come on guys...you are talking 15 nights out of a school year. We have seen students perform well in the past and believe they will again.
ummm, maybe some students are busy getting their degrees or maybe they just don't care about basketball. I love MU basketball, went to tons of games when I went to school there, but I'm not going to rip students who don't go. Didn't know it was a requirement.
Quote from: ZaLiN on March 28, 2011, 01:04:16 PM
I hope your criticisms of strangers makes you feel better.
it's not criticism...it's reality
Quote from: Goose on March 28, 2011, 01:11:42 PM
Any student not attending game due to homework, money or being too cold is soft. Come on guys...you are talking 15 nights out of a school year. We have seen students perform well in the past and believe they will again.
because basketball is important to you? what about women's volleyball, golf, soccer, track & field, you attend all of those games too? Maybe someone doesn't want to go to basketball games.
Groove---Students bash alumni for sitting on their hands and I agree with that. To see the small student section actually is embarrassing to me. Are we DePaul or big time program?
Quote from: groove on March 28, 2011, 01:12:10 PM
ummm, maybe some students are busy getting their degrees or maybe they just don't care about basketball. I love MU basketball, went to tons of games when I went to school there, but I'm not going to rip students who don't go. Didn't know it was a requirement.
It is not a requirement to buy tickets, but if you are going to complain about showing up...buy a 5 game package!
I'm probably going to get some riff for this but it needs to be stated. Marquette didn't do themselves an favors with scheduling and who they brought to the table game in and game out. There wasn't a quality opponent (Wisconsin excluded, although that was a lame game to watch) for a home game that was really accessible for students until we played Notre Dame and that was still during break (WVA on the 1st at 10am is not accessible).
Look its only fun to attend games where we beat the likes of Longwood by 30 for so long before people decide to pass on the cupcakes and watch it at a bar, buddys house or a party. And once routine is set up its a lot easier to just follow through on the routine. I know going to MU vs UConn is a once in a lifetime experience blah blah blah, you know what so is watching it with your college friends who you will never seen again after you graduate. I'd rather have gone in person but there's something to be said about being able to watch the game on a 40 inch Hi-Def with cheap cold beer than paying 8 bucks a beer and being forced to stand the whole time.
Additionally, 100 bucks really isn't that much so I think thats why students are so willing to skip out on certain games. I graduated in 2010 and I can honestly say in January the idea that 100$ was spent three months ago for tickets wasn't even there. Especially considering there are weekends when 100 bucks would have been dropped at the bars/drunk food/ who knows what else. I still went to almost all the games but there was also a lot bigger attraction in that 1) we were ranked and 2) we had the three headed dragon.
James, McNeal, and Matthews were a draw all by themselves, the other players weren't nearly as popular. The following year I still was drawn because Lazar was a bonafide stud on campus and everyone wanted to see how Buzz handled himself without the 3. Also all their close wins insured that every game was going to be a nail biter which encourages fans to attend every game so they don't miss anything.
This year that simply wasn't there. The biggest name on the team was JFB who was seen (at least by a lot of students) as a lesser Lazar. Next would either be DJO or Vander (simply because of his recruitment) and while all exciting to watch they weren't the big names we had grown accustom to. The close games didn't go our way this year and I think that loss to Louisville really demoralized the fan base because it set up a negative expectation of the team. That no matter how late we have a lead we can cough it up because we're susceptible to runs.
I don 't know how relavent this really is but this wasn't exactly the most personable team to the student body. Let's just say JFB isn't known as one of the nicest people to run across at Murphy's. Honestly that rings true for a couple of the guys on the team, a sense entitlement that sets them above the other students at Marquette. That's obviously not true for everyone but working on campus now and having a lot of friends who still go to MU that Vander and JFB have been kinda jackasses to people a couple times. Its kind of hard to quantify and is probably going to be dismissed immediately but the teams interaction with the rest of the student body matters. A team that is arrogant about themselves towards their classmates yet is a bubble team isn't going to draw fans.
There's the whole issue with the stadium but I think that just encourages a higher rated team. Marquette needs to do more to energize a student body that just 3 years ago was packing the house. Like I said I'll probably be cursed for this but its just my two cents.
Groove--Not to argue but...Do you think it is strange that 2300 or students have decided that basketball is no longer interesting over past two years? If students never attended your point is valid, however they have attended in masses in past decade.
I could not care less if kids wanted to attend other sports as well.
Quote from: groove on March 28, 2011, 01:13:47 PM
because basketball is important to you? what about women's volleyball, golf, soccer, track & field, you attend all of those games too? Maybe someone doesn't want to go to basketball games.
I know that when I was attending school, going to the fall sports was a nice way to break away from studying for a few hours. Since I lived in Carpenter, I'd cross Henke courtyard most weekend afternoons the girls had a game (and I did the same if the men weren't playing but women's bball had a game). To me, that was just showing school spirit. Patti Rolf's vball teams were never going to set the world afire and apart from the NIT championship year, the women's bball team didn't do much when I was at school either, but it was always a nice break from studying and a way to show a little school spirit. And the vast majority of students who go to any other school sporting event are going to attend men's basketball games for that same reason.
DR--Your points are very valid, especially because you are a student. Maybe because I am older I do not care if JFB is a jag or not to attend the game. But I Ido understand the need for guys to bond with student body. Every class I ever took at MU had or more ballers in it so I get the connection. However, I am surprised if nothing else just a great excuse to get crazy.
Stop using the studying excuse please. There is a game once or twice a week. I think you can find a way to study and make it to 2 games over the course of a 168 hour week.
If you don't go because you don't feel like it, fine. But please don't make excuses that you are busy studying.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 28, 2011, 01:26:21 PM
Stop using the studying excuse please. There is a game once or twice a week. I think you can find a way to study and make it to 2 games over the course of a 168 hour week.
If you don't go because you don't feel like it, fine. But please don't make excuses that you are busy studying.
When students use this as an excuse, they aren't being honest with themselves about how they manage their time...
I'm an alum, a huge MU basketball fan, and drove in from Chicago this season for (almost) every game.
I attended (almost) every game as a student.
But notwithstanding the kid with an attitude earlier on this thread, the attitude of alumni on this board isn't a whole lot better. Get over yourselves. Some kids don't want to go to the game. For some, its not worth the investment, or time, when they could be studying or doing things they find more enjoyable. That doesn't make them bad people. As has been stated, its NOT a requirement. Yeah, its embarassing when you see empty seats, but that's their personal choice. I am really sick and tired of this "good old days" crap. Marquette has changed. Some ways for better, some for worse. I guarantee you the academics have never been better or more demanding. I know engineering majors who were in the library EVERY NIGHT until 2 am, because they had to be. They were smart, and weren't poor planners. They only went to games on the weekends because that's what they felt they had to do to get into a solid graduate engineering program. I know people who were pre-med or pre-law in the same boat. Our rankings also speak to the changes. Along with that, the typical Marquette student, and that student's priorities, has changed.
The cost of college has skyrocketed in the past 15 years. I know many people who had to work two jobs through college just to survive on ramen. These people didn't have money to piss away or time to spend 20+ days away from work each year.
The bottom line is, neither you nor I know the specifics of these kids' lives. Don't make a judgment on people you don't know.
Quote from: foreverwarriors on March 28, 2011, 01:33:41 PM
When students use this as an excuse, they aren't being honest with themselves about how they manage their time...
i.e. too much time on W.O.W. or Halo...
Maybe that is the solution. Raise the cost of student tickets. If they spend more money on tickets then maybe they will want to use them. Then again I'm guessing the parents of many students buy the tickets.
Quote from: Victor McCormick on March 28, 2011, 01:33:59 PM
But notwithstanding the kid with an attitude earlier on this thread, the attitude of alumni on this board isn't a whole lot better. Get over yourselves. Some kids don't want to go to the game. For some, its not worth the investment, or time, when they could be studying or doing things they find more enjoyable. That doesn't make them bad people. As has been stated, its NOT a requirement. Yeah, its embarassing when you see empty seats, but that's their personal choice. I am really sick and tired of this "good old days" crap. Marquette has changed. Some ways for better, some for worse. I guarantee you the academics have never been better or more demanding. I know engineering majors who were in the library EVERY NIGHT until 2 am, because they had to be. They were smart, and weren't poor planners. They only went to games on the weekends because that's what they felt they had to do to get into a solid graduate engineering program. I know people who were pre-med or pre-law in the same boat. Our rankings also speak to the changes. Along with that, the typical Marquette student, and that student's priorities, has changed.
That's such a load of bull. If they don't want to go, do not buy tickets. That's the whole point. It's the people who show up to 5 or less games a year that are the problem.
And the majority of the alum response here has been from people who have graduated in the last four years. There's no big dramatic academic change from when we were there.
Like I've said all along, cut the student section to 2500 seats and sell the end zone sections for $120/season, just like the other end of the court. Eff these ingrate students and make some money off of people who want to come.
Quote from: Goose on March 28, 2011, 01:17:56 PM
Groove--Not to argue but...Do you think it is strange that 2300 or students have decided that basketball is no longer interesting over past two years? If students never attended your point is valid, however they have attended in masses in past decade.
I could not care less if kids wanted to attend other sports as well.
Yes I do understand your point about declining student attendance. I just think the overall tone of the posts seems to be attacking the students, instead of figuring out what factors are going into the decline. What has changed over the past 2 years.
Quote from: MUfan12 on March 28, 2011, 01:40:53 PM
That's such a load of bull. If they don't want to go, do not buy tickets. That's the whole point. It's the people who show up to 5 or less games a year that are the problem.
And the majority of the alum response here has been from people who have graduated in the last four years. There's no big dramatic academic change from when we were there.
Like I've said all along, cut the student section to 2500 seats and sell the end zone sections for $120/season, just like the other end of the court. Eff these ingrate students and make some money off of people who want to come.
Yup, its a load of bull that my friend wanted to get into an engineering PhD program at MIT and did what he had to do to do it. What a bad representative of Marquette.
Quote from: Victor McCormick on March 28, 2011, 01:33:59 PMBut notwithstanding the kid with an attitude earlier on this thread, the attitude of alumni on this board isn't a whole lot better. Get over yourselves. Some kids don't want to go to the game. For some, its not worth the investment, or time, when they could be studying or doing things they find more enjoyable. That doesn't make them bad people. As has been stated, its NOT a requirement. Yeah, its embarassing when you see empty seats, but that's their personal choice. I am really sick and tired of this "good old days" crap. Marquette has changed. Some ways for better, some for worse. I guarantee you the academics have never been better or more demanding. I know engineering majors who were in the library EVERY NIGHT until 2 am, because they had to be. They were smart, and weren't poor planners. They only went to games on the weekends because that's what they felt they had to do to get into a solid graduate engineering program. I know people who were pre-med or pre-law in the same boat. Our rankings also speak to the changes. Along with that, the typical Marquette student, and that student's priorities, has changed.
The issue is that the tickets are sold. I'm not saying everyone who buys the pack has to go to every game, but there HAS to be ways for the tickets to get used if people can't go for whatever reason.
Quote from: Brewtown Andy on March 28, 2011, 01:45:27 PM
The issue is that the tickets are sold. I'm not saying everyone who buys the pack has to go to every game, but there HAS to be ways for the tickets to get used if people can't go for whatever reason.
Agreed
Quote from: Victor McCormick on March 28, 2011, 01:43:40 PM
Yup, its a load of bull that my friend wanted to get into an engineering PhD program at MIT and did what he had to do to do it. What a bad representative of Marquette.
Vic, I had two classmates that are now going to MIT for graduate school. Both were avid MU fans and rarely missed a game. If he bought season tickets knowing that he'd most likely miss a large number of games, why buy the season tickets in the first place. If he didn't buy tix, it's a moot point.
Quote from: MUfan12 on March 28, 2011, 01:40:53 PM
And the majority of the alum response here has been from people who have graduated in the last four years. There's no big dramatic academic change from when we were there.
+1
Quote from: Victor McCormick on March 28, 2011, 01:43:40 PM
Yup, its a load of bull that my friend wanted to get into an engineering PhD program at MIT and did what he had to do to do it. What a bad representative of Marquette.
Your friend wanted to get into a PhD prgram at MIT yet he couldn't balance his school work and two basketball games a week?
I drive an hour one way to go to games, and i haven't missed a game in my 8 years as a season ticket holder. I think the students can get their butts to games. As a fan who sets next to the student section, it is pathetic that their are not more students there then what there is.
However, that being said... There are a few reasons why I think the student turnout is lower. I don't agree with some of these as excuses, but i really think they are contributing factors.
1. As Brewcity stated earlier, it's about no more TC. TC did a fantastic job of energizing the student base and getting them to games. Buzz doesn't seem to care as much about that, and in a lot of ways I understand that. Why should the Head Coach need to basically beg and plead to get students to games?? They should just go...regardless of the night or opponent or anything else.
2. It helps if you win more games at home. People get discouraged when you lose so many games at home like they did this year. Sorry, but 4 home losses, is NOT acceptable.
3. This is the weakest excuse yet, but unfortunately, I think it plays a big part.....Giveaways. Now frankly, I could care less if I am getting something to go to the games, cuz I go to watch the team play, but many do care, and the last couple of years there has been no free t-shirts or more specifically, bobbleheads. Again, it's sad that it takes things liek that to bring fans in, but sadly enough, it does.
There are reasonable excuses for students not making it to games. Maybe they are working a job every night to pay for college. Maybe they want to get into MIT. Maybe they have a GPA they have to maintain for a scholarship.
The point is if you don't intend on going to the games don't buy the tickets. The school could sell these seats to the public and make money off of them.
Craig Pintens once considered moving the student section into a "bow tie" similar to the attachment below.
I'd also like to point out that Bdee29's post is no way indicative of what the overwhelming student body believes. I don't think even the kids have no interest in bball would agree with him. Please stop interpreting his ill-founded conclusion to be representative of the entire student fan base.
muguru--I like your giveaway idea. Strong should give every fan that attends Longwood game a $1000. I would still same home! We need better home schedule.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 28, 2011, 02:09:17 PM
Craig Pintens once considered moving the student section into a "bow tie" similar to the attachment below.
I like that idea. or just the 2 sections in both lower endzones.
then we could get an "eat sh!t/f*ck you" chant going, cuz that's never been done before.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 28, 2011, 01:56:14 PM
There are reasonable excuses for students not making it to games. Maybe they are working a job every night to pay for college. Maybe they want to get into MIT. Maybe they have a GPA they have to maintain for a scholarship.
The point is if you don't intend on going to the games don't buy the tickets. The school could sell these seats to the public and make money off of them.
Fair enough. Maybe its time to think about shrinking the student section.
Quote from: Victor McCormick on March 28, 2011, 02:37:07 PM
Fair enough. Maybe its time to think about shrinking the student section.
Agreed.
This is very outlandish and I'm simply throwing it out as something that popped into my head, but what if the University increased the price of student tickets (let's say $15-$25 on the year) and for each attendance by a student ticket holder, they get a certain amount of that back. This is a way to create an incentive for those "middle of the road" fans to attend more games.
You're not going to get the population mobilized simply by complaining or trying to plead with them, you do so through creating an incentive for them to act.
Just thought of something, in the 2006-2007 year tickets were 50 bucks, in the 2007-2008 they were 75. It wasn't until Buzz's first year that tickets jumped to 100$. I know my last two years there, there was some sentiment that paying twice as much for tickets as they did just two years prior for a lesser quality team.
It's not a good excuse but its reasonable to expect. I think until the talent is a bit better and the students that remember tickets being cheaper have graduated that the attendance is going to be low.
Prediction: 2012-2013 will be packed to the brim again
Have any of you ever read Freakonomics? This would be an interesting scenario. How do you give incentive to students to go? What is the right balance of price and available seats?
Quote from: DrDestiny911 on March 28, 2011, 02:53:14 PM
Just thought of something, in the 2006-2007 year tickets were 50 bucks, in the 2007-2008 they were 75. It wasn't until Buzz's first year that tickets jumped to 100$. I know my last two years there, there was some sentiment that paying twice as much for tickets as they did just two years prior for a lesser quality team.
It's not a good excuse but its reasonable to expect. I think until the talent is a bit better and the students that remember tickets being cheaper have graduated that the attendance is going to be low.
Prediction: 2012-2013 will be packed to the brim again
06-07: $55
07-08: $70
08-09: $85
09-10: $100
They made it known that they would be increasing the price by $15 each year for 3 years and then leaving it at $100. Not sure how many students actually received that message, though.
Quote from: DrDestiny911 on March 28, 2011, 02:53:14 PM
Just thought of something, in the 2006-2007 year tickets were 50 bucks, in the 2007-2008 they were 75. It wasn't until Buzz's first year that tickets jumped to 100$. I know my last two years there, there was some sentiment that paying twice as much for tickets as they did just two years prior for a lesser quality team.
It's not a good excuse but its reasonable to expect. I think until the talent is a bit better and the students that remember tickets being cheaper have graduated that the attendance is going to be low.
Prediction: 2012-2013 will be packed to the brim again
As a matter of perpective here is the news release from before the 07-08 season. When they raised the tix to $70, it was the first time in 10 years they had done ANYTHING to the ticket prices:
http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/091907aaa.html
Quote from: foreverwarriors on March 28, 2011, 03:19:48 PM
As a matter of perpective here is the news release from before the 07-08 season. When they raised the tix to $70, it was the first time in 10 years they had done ANYTHING to the ticket prices:
http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/091907aaa.html
Right so in a year or two I think 100 bucks won't matter as much to the students
Quote from: Victor McCormick on March 28, 2011, 03:14:36 PM
Have any of you ever read Freakonomics? This would be an interesting scenario. How do you give incentive to students to go? What is the right balance of price and available seats?
This is exactly why my previous post popped into my head. It's not enough to just say people need to show up. If the team's success is average, how do you increase attendance from a student body that frankly isn't full of the die hards. You need to come up with an incentive to bring in those border line fans, who show up to big games, but that's all. hence why I suggested some sort of a pay you back incentive. Increase the ticket prices, but really only increase the price if you don't show up. If you show up for the games your tickets remain the same price as the year before. I think it's an interesting approach to at least attempt to move the population, however I'm not so certain it alone is enough.
DrD and Victor, you both bring up some good points. You should be an example of how to be a students that are constructive, unlike the other poster.
The Bow-Tie is incredible, I fully supported that back in the day. I think lost revenue was a larger opponent of the plan.
Quote from: marqptm on March 28, 2011, 04:59:35 PM
DrD and Victor, you both bring up some good points. You should be an example of how to be a students that are constructive, unlike the other poster.
The Bow-Tie is incredible, I fully supported that back in the day. I think lost revenue was a larger opponent of the plan.
I think season ticket holders actually get better seats with the bow-tie. They would move from behind the hoop to the corners. A much better seat in my opinion.