Captain Kangaroo Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 I'm really beginning to hate football more and more.Is it football's fault? Or is it the perpetually bungled handing of our D1 football program the problem?If InfoCision is the problem, do you just throw your hands up and quit? Or do you figure it out?I could go on and on here, but I'll stop. Not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 have better travel arraignmentsWith the number of legal problems the team has had in the past few years, please be very careful about getting the exact right word. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 With the number of legal problems the team has had in the past few years, please be very careful about getting the exact right word. Lol Autocorrect strikes again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 ... I'll leave it up to DIG to research, but I would bet that most of those programs spend at least twice what we spend on basketball. ...Already posted several different times -- every time this same subject comes up here. Just do an internet search for college basketball budgets for dozens and dozens of hits that show how many more millions of dollars than UA are spent by the oft-cited mid-major programs that have grown into national powers. The common denominator is that basketball is the showcase sport for these schools, not football. Mid-major schools struggling to keep up with the big boys in D-I football don't have enough athletics budget left over to fund a national power basketball team. Alabama football alone generates enough surplus to fund 16 Zips basketball teams:Alabama athletics reports $33 million operating surplus in 2013-14 as football drives huge revenue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 We make excuses for losing games against mediocre majors with things like "travel arrangements", but we have no problem flying our alumni soccer players in from all over the world to promote a game. Not that I think it wasn't a good idea, but its obvious priorities aren't in line if we are going to use excuses as silly as travel arrangements and the budget is as tight as it is.And people want to blame football, but are against cutting programs that do not or will not ever generate any revenue for the program. Football vs basketball on this board is played out and lazy thinking.OU has made tourney runs and they have a nice mid-major football program that they've invested in. Toledo certainly invests in their football program, and their team has been viewed as a serious mid-major the past few seasons (even though they have been a disappointment considering expectations). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 We make excuses for losing games against mediocre majors with things like "travel arrangements", but we have no problem flying our alumni soccer players in from all over the world to promote a game. Not that I think it wasn't a good idea, but its obvious priorities aren't in line if we are going to use excuses as silly as travel arrangements and the budget is as tight as it is.And people want to blame football, but are against cutting programs that do not or will not ever generate any revenue for the program. Football vs basketball on this board is played out and lazy thinking.OU has made tourney runs and they have a nice mid-major football program that they've invested in. Toledo certainly invests in their football program, and their team has been viewed as a serious mid-major the past few seasons (even though they have been a disappointment considering expectations).OU has an alumni base that gives a damn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 new marketing ploy gets mention from RovellDarren Rovell @darrenrovell 10m10 minutes ago Akron giving $20 to students to attend final 3 men's BB games http://www.gozips.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/20150216c3v8hx … (H/T @ddapsis, @STLMetsFan5) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZip0510 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 You seem to have the wrong idea of what the Ak-Rowdies are. They are not the official student section that is supported by athletics. All they are is a registered student organization that has to pay for everything by themselves. The fee allows them to pay for the t-shirts, bus trips, tickets to tournaments, pizza for many games, tailgate food/drinks, and anything else that is needed throughout the year.The Rowdies have also not stopped any students from sitting down low this year. They encourage students to wear their Rowdies shirt, but if a student doesn't have one, they have been giving out old shirts before the game. It is not about wanting everyone down low to be a Rowdy, it is about promoting some uniformity in the looks of our student section.This year. But it happened for several years before that. The damage is done. The issue now is many students think they cannot sit down low unless they are a member. And just last year I heard of folks getting their student IDs scanned and not being given a wristband, despite those same seats being given to people who have long graduated and are no longer students. It is what it is, The Rowdies can continue to be a diminishing presence at games or they can take a tough look in the mirror and figure out how to be more inclusive. Hopefully they choose the latter. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 This year. But it happened for several years before that. The damage is done. The issue now is many students think they cannot sit down low unless they are a member. And just last year I heard of folks getting their student IDs scanned and not being given a wristband, despite those same seats being given to people who have long graduated and are no longer students. It is what it is, The Rowdies can continue to be a diminishing presence at games or they can take a tough look in the mirror and figure out how to be more inclusive. Hopefully they choose the latter. Athletics can also probably do a little more to help with this too. Instead of making new policies about a student section on their own, they should INCLUDE STUDENT GROUPS in the discussion on what to do to make a better student section. I really, really, really want to beat this point home, just in case anyone who is a mover-and-shaker within UA: INCLUDE THE STUDENTS IN DECISION MAKING BEYOND JUST STUDENT GOVERNMENT. The best resource at a university is the student body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hip Zip Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 667 students turn out for the Toledo game. Sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sportsjunkie330 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 667 students turn out for the Toledo game. SadIt's a good thing that those "motionless, emotionless and quiet" fans down low showed up...you know, the ones that don't matter. Otherwise we'd be looking at an Eastern Michigan type crowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 667 students turn out for the Toledo game. SadThat's 20% of the total attendance for the game (3351). That's about where it should be every game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sportsjunkie330 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 That's 20% of the total attendance for the game (3351). That's about where it should be every game.or 2.5% of the students.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 Quick comparison: Over the past four seasons Iowa State has had one of the top Big 12 basketball teams. They typically average about 13,000 fans per game and have about 8,000 more students than UA. Their AD said a couple of years ago that fewer than half the allotment of 2,500 student tickets typically is used, compared with 80% of the non-student tickets sold. So that's less than 1,250 students per game or less than 10% of total attendance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morris buttermaker Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 Quick comparison: Over the past four seasons Iowa State has had one of the top Big 12 basketball teams. They typically average about 13,000 fans per game and have about 8,000 more students than UA. Their AD said a couple of years ago that fewer than half the allotment of 2,500 student tickets typically is used, compared with 80% of the non-student tickets sold. So that's less than 1,250 students per game or less than 10% of total attendance.I believe Iowa State students have to purchase a sports pass... while I know that all UA students technically purchase tickets, it is an opt in for Iowa State students. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 Good catch. Iowa State students do have to purchase a sports pass. To attend men's basketball games a student must purchase a $249 all sports pass, which they have sold out this season. While a student can purchase a football only sports pass for $125 (also sold out), there is no option to purchase a basketball only sports pass.Source 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes102 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 The problem is students are laughing about the problem on twitter. For them, it's not cool for them to go to the game. Some want to socialize, and others want to get into the game. The problem is those type of students despise the other kind.Everyone keeps blaming the Rowdies themselves.People are blaming the athletic department to an extent(as am I).People are blaming the product itself.The biggest problem that no one has mentioned(on this thread at least) with the student attendance/involvement in the sporting events, is the location of students at these sporting events. You have some down low, and majority up high. Now some say the students should all have to sit together. With the way the JAR is constructed, the students that want to be "involved" into the game, feel that they're too far away from the action to have any impact. I don't see the student problem getting any better until there is a new arena or a bleacher renovation of the JAR by taking out that track.As for people saying that it doesn't include the football attendance problem? Those are two entirely different situations. Weather may play a factor in football. That is an outdoor sport. Some people rather watch it online inside than watch it in the rain, cold, wind, etc. Others go home on the weekend when the weather is somewhat decent. Less people go home in this weather because it's harder to get there and back. That's why I feel basketball student attendance is more unacceptable than football student attendance. I went to numerous sporting events. Volleyball, Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer, and even a golf and XC event here or there if I had the time. Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, and the home Indoor Track & Field event. I'll even go to a couple Women's Tennis, Softball, and Baseball games. Even when they had a outdoor track meet when they had a baseball or softball game going on, I checked that out for a bit. When it comes to Football when I was a student, it depended solely on the product. Why should I go to my high school alma mater to watch high school football, and then the next day come back and watch a game that takes twice as long that is twice as worse? Just not worth it for me. Even the past year or so, I have been disappointed with the coaching staff(more of Milwee and Bowden than Amato). It's not worth it for me right now. Especially since I would have to pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZip0510 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 Athletics can also probably do a little more to help with this too. Instead of making new policies about a student section on their own, they should INCLUDE STUDENT GROUPS in the discussion on what to do to make a better student section. I really, really, really want to beat this point home, just in case anyone who is a mover-and-shaker within UA: INCLUDE THE STUDENTS IN DECISION MAKING BEYOND JUST STUDENT GOVERNMENT. The best resource at a university is the student body. If this is a new set of students? Absolutely. If this is the AK-Rowdies leadership group? I just can't support their involvement because I don't know what you'd gain. Their having any sort of power and their way of running things haven't worked.It's time for new ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZippers Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 If this is a new set of students? Absolutely. If this is the AK-Rowdies leadership group? I just can't support their involvement because I don't know what you'd gain. Their having any sort of power and their way of running things haven't worked.It's time for new ideas.What I believe he meant, and I fully support, is more of an open involvement. Any student can pitch ideas, or get involved in helping athletics. I believe that this would not only create new, innovative ways to improve the program, but also would lead to a natural increase in interest among the students. Everyone cares more about something that they are directly involved with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 If this is a new set of students? Absolutely. If this is the AK-Rowdies leadership group? I just can't support their involvement because I don't know what you'd gain. Their having any sort of power and their way of running things haven't worked.It's time for new ideas.That's exactly what I'm saying: not the Ak-Rowdies or student government, ALL students. There's plenty of students on that campus who could give fresh ideas, but have they been given an opportunity or venue to do so. Usually that is met with "well students have their student government" or some other blah blah blah, include everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 667 students turn out for the Toledo game. SadI was a student about 3 decades ago. And I am trying to get into the mind of a student here.........If you are on campus, and were bored, or wanted a place to go and study, etc.....or....knew that simply getting your card scanned was good for $5 in your pocket, even if you didn't want to stay, wouldn't you think that this would have been enough to get at least 1,000 students into the door, even if they had never been to a basketball game before?What if someone was just standing in the lobby of the JAR, handing out $5 bills to any student who walks in the door. I'm thinking that thousands of people would take that person up on that offer. I think it's pretty close to what happened here, and nobody showed up. Unbelievable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staton14 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 I was a student about 3 decades ago. And I am trying to get into the mind of a student here.........If you are on campus, and were bored, or wanted a place to go and study, etc.....or....knew that simply getting your card scanned was good for $5 in your pocket, even if you didn't want to stay, wouldn't you think that this would have been enough to get at least 1,000 students into the door, even if they had never been to a basketball game before?What if someone was just standing in the lobby of the JAR, handing out $5 bills to any student who walks in the door. I'm thinking that thousands of people would take that person up on that offer. I think it's pretty close to what happened here, and nobody showed up. Unbelievable. Now you see the problem at hand. The students simply don't want to come to games. It's amazed me all five years I've been a student here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 To be fair, if I wasn't a basketball fan, you couldn't have paid me enough money to walk across campus last night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staton14 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 To be fair, if I wasn't a basketball fan, you couldn't have paid me enough money to walk across campus last nightAlso a valid point haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 As far as game day experience, do you think they could find 20 people/groups a year to sing the National Anthem? The taped anthem needs to go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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