The Student Section is Too Limited

[RootforRoo44]

The wristband nazi's are at it again. Just got a facebook message that I have to wear THIS YEAR's rowdie shirt (blue) to sit down low, for the white-out. Little things like this is what make us second class.

Do you not have one?Also did you not read the entire message? It states that you have to just show that you have one so you can get on the floor. Then you put on a white shirt when you get down there.

[zippy5]

I have one. you don't get it, do you really think anyone wants to bring an extra shirt to sit down there. It'll work for this game, but this is why 30 people sit there every game. One game, they gave me a hard time sitting down there because I had the shirt from two years ago on. I almost couldn't sit down there until I convinced them that there would be 12 people down there anyway. Why make more "barriers to entry" when our support sucks as it is. Make it easy for students to get in and get excited, not a hassle. Honestly, there are at least 400 students at every game, scattered about, but only about 65 students sit down low, draw your own conclusions from that.

[RootforRoo44]

I have one. you don't get it, do you really think anyone wants to bring an extra shirt to sit down there. It'll work for this game, but this is why 30 people sit there every game. One game, they gave me a hard time sitting down there because I had the shirt from two years ago on. I almost couldn't sit down there until I convinced them that there would be 12 people down there anyway. Why make more "barriers to entry" when our support sucks as it is. Make it easy for students to get in and get excited, not a hassle. Honestly, there are at least 400 students at every game, scattered about, but only about 65 students sit down low, draw your own conclusions from that.

Yeah right, 400 students. The ones that sit down low aren't just going to the game to sit on their hands. They actually are being loud and a real student section. The rules are the rules, if you dont want to bring a blue shirt then sit up top.

[jem101]

I'm a freshman at UA, and I must have missed all the rowdy recruiters when I was going though orientation. My question is how do I contact someone in order to join the Rowdies?

[zippy5]

I have one. you don't get it, do you really think anyone wants to bring an extra shirt to sit down there. It'll work for this game, but this is why 30 people sit there every game. One game, they gave me a hard time sitting down there because I had the shirt from two years ago on. I almost couldn't sit down there until I convinced them that there would be 12 people down there anyway. Why make more "barriers to entry" when our support sucks as it is. Make it easy for students to get in and get excited, not a hassle. Honestly, there are at least 400 students at every game, scattered about, but only about 65 students sit down low, draw your own conclusions from that.

Yeah right, 400 students. The ones that sit down low aren't just going to the game to sit on their hands. They actually are being loud and a real student section. The rules are the rules, if you dont want to bring a blue shirt then sit up top.

You're not getting what I'm saying. I'm sitting down low, but unfortunately there aren't enough people willing to put up with those "rules" to ever fill the bottom sections.P.s. that attitude is a pretty big reason no one wants to sit with you guys. I'm just giving some suggestions.Go zips!

[tbozeglav]

I'm a freshman at UA, and I must have missed all the rowdy recruiters when I was going though orientation. My question is how do I contact someone in order to join the Rowdies?

Its a little late at this point to get involved since after basketball season the rowdies schedule slows down. They will do some events for softball and baseball, but generally nothing as big as basketball.Next fall, keep an eye out for them in the Student Union. The first 2-3 weeks they are usually at a table on the 2nd floor by the market. Can't miss them, especially of Ian is there (he's the big guy). Sign up early because they usually run out of tshirts and you have to wait for the next order to come in.What Zippy5 is saying is true. There are far too many discouraging points about getting to the student sections. If there's too much of a hassle for the casual student to cheer their team on, they won't want to sit down there because its easier to sit up top. I agree, the University needs to market to students and make it easier for them to sit where they need to be - IN THE STUDENT SECTIONS. For the larger-draw games, I do agree about the wristbands because it makes sure those who actually are active and got their butts to the ticket office get the spots they earned.

[bandzip]

I have one. you don't get it, do you really think anyone wants to bring an extra shirt to sit down there. It'll work for this game, but this is why 30 people sit there every game. One game, they gave me a hard time sitting down there because I had the shirt from two years ago on. I almost couldn't sit down there until I convinced them that there would be 12 people down there anyway. Why make more "barriers to entry" when our support sucks as it is. Make it easy for students to get in and get excited, not a hassle. Honestly, there are at least 400 students at every game, scattered about, but only about 65 students sit down low, draw your own conclusions from that.

Didn't someone else say they let anyone sit down there when it's not full? I had the same problem when I came back for a game over break and there were maybe twenty Rowdies on one side and 6 on the other. The signal is getting crossed somewhere between the people in charge and the people handing out the wristbands...

[plowerman78]

ha ha im not that big of a guy lol ha ha 400 students ha yeah right i get the numbers from games and i think we've hit 400 maybe twice miami and bg, both games in which the bottom was full... we mayyybee hit 200 per game....the 2 shirts thing as lil dude said its to prevent Can't student and non ROWDIES (random students that show up for the Can't game bc its a social event to them) to get down there for this game. Heck if you just want to wear this years shirt and not white, be my guest lol. I'll say this all student sections have rules about wearing the shirt to get in the student section... from the ozone in ohio to the red scare in dayton, they all have rules about it we are no different....btw if your want to join the ROWDIES we have an office inside the hub... zipsband sorry about the game during break, the games befroe the valpo game it was shirts only but we changed it before the valpo game......finally i feel like we have had the conversation before.

[RootforRoo44]

I have one. you don't get it, do you really think anyone wants to bring an extra shirt to sit down there. It'll work for this game, but this is why 30 people sit there every game. One game, they gave me a hard time sitting down there because I had the shirt from two years ago on. I almost couldn't sit down there until I convinced them that there would be 12 people down there anyway. Why make more "barriers to entry" when our support sucks as it is. Make it easy for students to get in and get excited, not a hassle. Honestly, there are at least 400 students at every game, scattered about, but only about 65 students sit down low, draw your own conclusions from that.

Yeah right, 400 students. The ones that sit down low aren't just going to the game to sit on their hands. They actually are being loud and a real student section. The rules are the rules, if you dont want to bring a blue shirt then sit up top.

You're not getting what I'm saying. I'm sitting down low, but unfortunately there aren't enough people willing to put up with those "rules" to ever fill the bottom sections.P.s. that attitude is a pretty big reason no one wants to sit with you guys. I'm just giving some suggestions.Go zips!

well id rather have less people down there then more people that just stand/sit there and dont act like student fans. I agree with you about the ushers no doubt but if you go ask for a wrist band you WILL get it if there is room down there. I take friends every game and get wristbands for down there. Eventually people will get on board, it just takes more winning. NEOhio sports fans are the worst in the country, they front run for anything they can but most of them dont actually care about the loyalty to the team.

[zippy5]

I disagree, most schools don't mandate the same shirt. Ohio does, and guess what? People are complaining about its attendance being down. Check out the zoo in pitt. They all wear the same shirt because its the cool thing to do, they don't have to wear it. Penn state doesn't mandate the fans wear white to every football game. Do the cameron crazies have to wear the same shirt? Why is our student section more exclusive than theirs? When we fill it up every game then make everyone wear pink shirts with bow ties for all I care.

[zippy5]

I'm just giving some suggestions since some powers that be post here, don't take it the wrong way. We can all agree the student section isn't what we want it to be.

[Zip Watcher]

well id rather have less people down there then more people that just stand/sit there and dont act like student fans. I agree with you about the ushers no doubt but if you go ask for a wrist band you WILL get it if there is room down there. I take friends every game and get wristbands for down there. Eventually people will get on board, it just takes more winning. NEOhio sports fans are the worst in the country, they front run for anything they can but most of them dont actually care about the loyalty to the team.

It appears to me you get your wish generally .. there are less people down there.I know I was at a hoops crazed school for undergrad, and there was a LOTTERY for student season tickets, and a single game lottery also .. but there were NEVER any of these goofy rules about shirts, joining, being a member .. etc. to get the prime location. You got in line before the games .. sometimes way early .. and it was first come first serve. I was on national TV a few times just because I didn't have any afternoon classes that day and was able to line squat early. Big Monday's ruled when Donyell was around.UConn was a pretty cliqueless place generally .. not many greeks to speak of at all (seen PCU? that's pretty much about UConn). I know it's the Big East .. whatever .. it was the thing to do, the place to be, and demand far outstripped supply for seats .. including the crappy games all the way in downtown Hartford.It's apparent from the outside that this attitude that you need to be a certain way to deserve to sit in certain seats is hurting the Rowdies. Seems like the momentum of the Rowdies at hoops games is suffering a bit these days. There's a need to freshen it up I guess.Go Zips!

[ZachTheZip]

I usually tend to get to the games when the doors open, one hour before game time. There's always a group of Rowdies waiting for the doors to unlock. They get down to their seats right away. It's usually 30 minutes or more before a single non-Rowdie student walks through the door. The fact is, almost 100% the dedicated students are Rowdies. There is no other amount of students that show up early or for every game. There is no other group of students that starts their own cheers or makes noise to attempt to affect the outcome of the game. People worry about the Rowdies being too exclusive, but I don't see other students beating down the doors to support their athletic teams. I don't see dozens of students asking the Rowdies how to get the wrist bands to sit down low.Are the Rowdies being exclusive, or are there just not that many students who care enough to inquire about getting better seats or going on road trips. Any student can join the Rowdies. There are no mandatory attendance requirements, no restrictions on non-traditional students, grad students, commuters, or anything. You walk up to the table, pay your $10 to get a shirt, and you're suddenly eligible for seats behind the baskets in the JAR and you get contacted about road trips for every sport and discounted tickets to the MAC tournament. It's not complicated, it's cheap, and all we ask is that you wear a cool t-shirt.There are well over one thousand AK-Rowdies, and hardly any of them wear the shirt. Then they complain that they can't sit down low or that the group is excluding them when they can't fulfill the one and only requirement.

[OZoner]

Just some suggestions, but we have one of the worst setups for student seating in the country.

You've never been to Millett Hall.

[RootforRoo44]

I disagree, most schools don't mandate the same shirt. Ohio does, and guess what? People are complaining about its attendance being down. Check out the zoo in pitt. They all wear the same shirt because its the cool thing to do, they don't have to wear it. Penn state doesn't mandate the fans wear white to every football game. Do the cameron crazies have to wear the same shirt? Why is our student section more exclusive than theirs? When we fill it up every game then make everyone wear pink shirts with bow ties for all I care.

I honestly dont think you read entire posts by people. He said they wear the shirt to get in those seats and YES the Oakland Zoo at Pitt does require you to have the shirt. I have been there myself multiple times. Down at Florida State they required students to wear the shirt to stand in the courtside bleachers that run 3-4 deep along the length of the floor, i have family that live there and family that go there and have been to multiple games and stood in that spot (my cousin lent me a shirt).Many if not most schools that have a special seating area for student groups require the shirt to be worn...that is a fact.

[RootforRoo44]

well id rather have less people down there then more people that just stand/sit there and dont act like student fans. I agree with you about the ushers no doubt but if you go ask for a wrist band you WILL get it if there is room down there. I take friends every game and get wristbands for down there. Eventually people will get on board, it just takes more winning. NEOhio sports fans are the worst in the country, they front run for anything they can but most of them dont actually care about the loyalty to the team.

It appears to me you get your wish generally .. there are less people down there.I know I was at a hoops crazed school for undergrad, and there was a LOTTERY for student season tickets, and a single game lottery also .. but there were NEVER any of these goofy rules about shirts, joining, being a member .. etc. to get the prime location. You got in line before the games .. sometimes way early .. and it was first come first serve. I was on national TV a few times just because I didn't have any afternoon classes that day and was able to line squat early. Big Monday's ruled when Donyell was around.UConn was a pretty cliqueless place generally .. not many greeks to speak of at all (seen PCU? that's pretty much about UConn). I know it's the Big East .. whatever .. it was the thing to do, the place to be, and demand far outstripped supply for seats .. including the crappy games all the way in downtown Hartford.It's apparent from the outside that this attitude that you need to be a certain way to deserve to sit in certain seats is hurting the Rowdies. Seems like the momentum of the Rowdies at hoops games is suffering a bit these days. There's a need to freshen it up I guess.Go Zips!

That would be fine to do because there would only be the Rowdies there anyways. In all my years i have seen (5th year senior here ) maybe 5 students that are not rowdies sit down on the floor and even pretend to care about the game. Usually you get the same type down there that just sits half the game or stands and doesnt join in on anything, let alone even clap. I say do the first come first serve and it wont be any different.

[RootforRoo44]

I usually tend to get to the games when the doors open, one hour before game time. There's always a group of Rowdies waiting for the doors to unlock. They get down to their seats right away. It's usually 30 minutes or more before a single non-Rowdie student walks through the door. The fact is, almost 100% the dedicated students are Rowdies. There is no other amount of students that show up early or for every game. There is no other group of students that starts their own cheers or makes noise to attempt to affect the outcome of the game. People worry about the Rowdies being too exclusive, but I don't see other students beating down the doors to support their athletic teams. I don't see dozens of students asking the Rowdies how to get the wrist bands to sit down low.Are the Rowdies being exclusive, or are there just not that many students who care enough to inquire about getting better seats or going on road trips. Any student can join the Rowdies. There are no mandatory attendance requirements, no restrictions on non-traditional students, grad students, commuters, or anything. You walk up to the table, pay your $10 to get a shirt, and you're suddenly eligible for seats behind the baskets in the JAR and you get contacted about road trips for every sport and discounted tickets to the MAC tournament. It's not complicated, it's cheap, and all we ask is that you wear a cool t-shirt.There are well over one thousand AK-Rowdies, and hardly any of them wear the shirt. Then they complain that they can't sit down low or that the group is excluding them when they can't fulfill the one and only requirement.

+10000000000000000000000

[plowerman78]

heres something else i want to point out, some schools may not do the shirt thing because they dont change their shirt every year. We do that, it keeps us unique, and people look forward to what the shirt says. You bring up Penn State the reason why they dont wear the same shirt is bc they dont have an established name for their basketball student section. I am taking your suggestions dont get me wrong, im just letting you know why somethings are the way they are. We all have a common goal, to be the best Zip Fans we can be, and tonight is the night we all need to do that. Get pumped, get excited and BEAT Can't STATE!!!

[Captain Kangaroo]

The Zips need the lower seats filled Period. If there are students that want to sit down below, and those seats are filled with Rowdies, then "tough luck" to those students.If those seats are empty, because only a small group of "Official Rowdies" attend a game, then "Unofficial Rowdies/Students" should be welcomed in those seats.Our home court advantage suffers because those seats are 30+% empty for most games. Because of stupid T-shirts.

[zippy5]

I disagree, most schools don't mandate the same shirt. Ohio does, and guess what? People are complaining about its attendance being down. Check out the zoo in pitt. They all wear the same shirt because its the cool thing to do, they don't have to wear it. Penn state doesn't mandate the fans wear white to every football game. Do the cameron crazies have to wear the same shirt? Why is our student section more exclusive than theirs? When we fill it up every game then make everyone wear pink shirts with bow ties for all I care.

I honestly dont think you read entire posts by people. He said they wear the shirt to get in those seats and YES the Oakland Zoo at Pitt does require you to have the shirt. I have been there myself multiple times. Down at Florida State they required students to wear the shirt to stand in the courtside bleachers that run 3-4 deep along the length of the floor, i have family that live there and family that go there and have been to multiple games and stood in that spot (my cousin lent me a shirt).Many if not most schools that have a special seating area for student groups require the shirt to be worn...that is a fact.

haha okay man, I guess the semester I spent at pitt I was imagining not wearing my zoo shirt every game.And yes, florida state is most definitely known for their wild and packed student section. Silly me. If you're happy with our half full student section, and half full is terrible for only 176 seats, then more power to you.

[Dr Z]

I see a few not wearing the official Oakland Zoo shirts.

[Zip Watcher]

Is there a need for GDI w/ respect to the Rowdies?Fill the lower seats first!

[zippy5]

That's because you don't have to wear them. You'll also notice how some of them are wearing previous year's zoo shirts too.

[RootforRoo44]

That's because you don't have to wear them. You'll also notice how some of them are wearing previous year's zoo shirts too.

There are plenty more without Rowdies shirts each game at our games, that doesn't prove anything.Fact is, who knows if you're really telling the truth but im guessing if you are you probably complained at Pitt as well. Just stop being such a negative nancy, wear your shirt, and have fun. Being a big downer like your being only causes more problems, so if you dont want to be in the Rowdies and dont want to sit down low than fine, it's your choice.

[zippy5]

That's because you don't have to wear them. You'll also notice how some of them are wearing previous year's zoo shirts too.

There are plenty more without Rowdies shirts each game at our games, that doesn't prove anything.Fact is, who knows if you're really telling the truth but im guessing if you are you probably complained at Pitt as well. Just stop being such a negative nancy, wear your shirt, and have fun. Being a big downer like your being only causes more problems, so if you dont want to be in the Rowdies and dont want to sit down low than fine, it's your choice.

Fact is, I'm not complaining. Fact is, I sit down there every game when my friends don't go with me (none of them want to sit there anymore). Fact is, I'll be sitting down there tonight. I'm not being a downer, I just want to see more students at the games, and I want to see the bottom sections full. I'm trying to give some suggestions. You're pretty much saying it's my way or the highway, and fact is, apparently more students want to take the highway.also, if you would read my posts, I'm cool with the way it is now, it isn't stopping me from ever attending games. It's stopping the other, not so "rowdie" students. hopefully something can be done to get them into the Zips! Go Zips!