4 home games left, how about this?

[Grizbacker1]

I agree that it would be great to get the attendance up, and the crowd more into it, for these remaining game. There ought to be 5,000 or more rockin fans at these games, and more for at least the Cat game.

The crowds haven't been noisy or into the games either, at least much of the time. Even in the recent ISU game, the crowd had trouble getting loud on a consistent basis.

The Lady Griz crowd, while only just over 3,000, was terrific yesterday afternoon--pretty much for the whole game.

The Lady Griz crowd is so damn old they are cheering cause they are happy to be alive. :thumb:

 

[AZDoc]

Look we have this reminiscent thread at least three or four times a year. We can blame a lot of people, but the fact is that so few are willing to go the extra mile to change the culture of UofM basketball games.

Would I go to Griz games if I were in Missoula? Hell yes I would, but you are going to have a hard time creating the same type of environment that was there even in my youth (1991-1993). You might get four or five game runs, which this week is entirely capable of creating, but something is going to have to change within the community in regards to the basketball program to see any long term gains.

There should be 6 to 7 grand there a night, as sucessful as they have been over the past five years and yet, students won't show up and a lot of season ticket holders pick and choose what games to attend. Its not advertising, it is word of mouth. People being truly excited about the product that our mens program has produced. Grab people by their short and curly's and get their asses to games.

I think the student section at the UofM is a lost cause, and it was taht way even before they made the switch to the endzone. Utah State is about pride, but that took years of cultivation to create. There is no connection between this era of students and that of the 'zoo' years. You just hope they fill their 300 seats and are occasionally rowdy. There is an expectation the team or the admin gets the crowd going, but as early as the early 1990's those crowds grabbed our players and pulled them up and willed them to win.

Our guys are on a run that is unparalelled in conference play, get your buts in seats and make it loud for those who can't be there.

It doesn't take that many people to get it going. The Griz need to go 4-0 to end the season and host. I would love to be there but obviously too far away...otherwise I'd help start it. I know it's now a "football school" but come on fans! They are all Griz...and they need us!

 

[Proud Griz Man]

Look we have this reminiscent thread at least three or four times a year.

I think the student section at the UofM is a lost cause, and it was taht way even before they made the switch to the endzone.

Some in UM Adminstration were open-minded. It is too late for this Saturday against Hawaii, but things could get tweeked for next year. Athletic Director O'Day wrote this in 2008:

... In our most recent games, we had 225 students for Sacramento State and 357 for Northern Arizona.

For the 13 home games thus far, we are averaging 432 students per game – or about 25 more per game than last year. For the 10 games outside of the Intersession period, the average is still only 517. That being said, it will take an impressive showing this week for Thursday’s game against Northern Colorado, and again Saturday night for league champion Portland State, for UM Athletics to take a serious look at moving our dedicated boosters away from the east side.

Let me be clear: I’d like nothing more than to re-visit the return of the students to those seats next year, but if they don’t show up now, it doesn’t make much financial sense. It wouldn’t be a battle I’m willing to wage – nor a very smart one. Remember, I’m also being tugged in another direction by loyal boosters who pay significant dollars to sit in those seats, who like the east side and its proximately to the playing floor. It isn’t an easy decision, unless, of course, the students chose not to attend the games.

 

[TrueGriz]

Look we have this reminiscent thread at least three or four times a year. We can blame a lot of people, but the fact is that so few are willing to go the extra mile to change the culture of UofM basketball games.

Would I go to Griz games if I were in Missoula? Hell yes I would, but you are going to have a hard time creating the same type of environment that was there even in my youth (1991-1993). You might get four or five game runs, which this week is entirely capable of creating, but something is going to have to change within the community in regards to the basketball program to see any long term gains.

There should be 6 to 7 grand there a night, as sucessful as they have been over the past five years and yet, students won't show up and a lot of season ticket holders pick and choose what games to attend. Its not advertising, it is word of mouth. People being truly excited about the product that our mens program has produced. Grab people by their short and curly's and get their asses to games.

I think the student section at the UofM is a lost cause, and it was taht way even before they made the switch to the endzone. Utah State is about pride, but that took years of cultivation to create. There is no connection between this era of students and that of the 'zoo' years. You just hope they fill their 300 seats and are occasionally rowdy. There is an expectation the team or the admin gets the crowd going, but as early as the early 1990's those crowds grabbed our players and pulled them up and willed them to win.

Our guys are on a run that is unparalelled in conference play, get your buts in seats and make it loud for those who can't be there.

Why not, a lot of people like to reminisce about the good old days.

Heck, I sat in the student section from 1977 to 1982. Such exciting times. Before the 1981-82 season, the students would scream as loud as they could while the griz starting 5 were introduced and continue screaming as loud as they could until tipoff. Such intimidation to the opposing team. Of course, the PA announcer Fat Dad helped in getting the crowd going while announcing the starters. I mean what student would not want to enjoy that environment. Even before 1977, there was mega mouth to entertain the crowd who would choose an opposing's teams player and just pester the crap out of him.
That kind of environment helped attract the students in.

But, the opposing teams hated the UM student section so much that they all voted to have the starting 5 of each team announced in alternating fashion starting in the 1981 - 82 season. That decision had an effect on the student section. Attendance peaked during the 1981 - 82 season and started to decline every year until the end of the 1990-92 seasons which had a bump in attendance because of the 2 big sky championships. but, 1981-82, the students got creative and brought a whole bunch of papers to hold up while they introduce the opposing starters. Kind of fun then, but eventually got old. In my opinion, the loss of Fat Dad doing the PA announcements and the way they announced the starting 5 kind of caused the environment to change and not for the better.

As for bringing it all back, I doubt it will ever happen.
Once it is gone, it is so hard to bring it back.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Fans, or not, This GRIZ team has earned great crowds. It is frustrating as fan seen the attendance, and atmosphere stink. I cannot even imagine how it feels as a coach, or player. They have done their part!

 

[EverettGriz]

Exactly. This might be the best GRIZ team in 25 years, and Dahlberg should be PACKED.

Now, I will say that the BSC's screwy-ass schedule and the fact that the GRIZ haven't yet played their two biggest draws have attendance a little lower than what it should be. That said, get your asses to Dahlberg. And be loud.

 

[BelierPeaux]

Well, if the students wanted something to get behind, during the weber game they could all bring wigs and wear them in honor of "The Great Dame." WTF kind of nickname is that, anyway? I think it would be pretty funny.

And, yeah, as I said before, it might help if our PA guy would show some sort of excitement throughout the game.

 

[EverettGriz]

Well, if the students wanted something to get behind, during the weber game they could all bring wigs and wear them in honor of "The Great Dame." WTF kind of nickname is that, anyway? I think it would be pretty funny.

And, yeah, as I said before, it might help if our PA guy would show some sort of excitement throughout the game.

That whole "great dame" name is about the lamest damn thing around.

And yes, bring back Fat Dad (or at least his energy).

 

[1976griz]

A lot has changed in sports from high school on up as far as fans realizing they can influence a game's outcome. High school games I attend now have no semblance of how it was when I was high school in the late 60"s. Cheer leaders are actually dance teams and have no idea what they can do to get things going.
I guess my point is....students don't really know how to cheer anymore. They have no background.

By the way, anybody see the big action figure cutouts the UNLV students were using to distract the free throw shooters last Saturday at the San Diego State game...hilarious! Wayne Newton...Mike Moser, and a couple others. I have seen skinny balloons, yellow cardboards with huge black dots moving in different directions simultaneously...

 

[GrizLA]

Exactly. This might be the best GRIZ team in 25 years, and Dahlberg should be PACKED.

Now, I will say that the BSC's screwy-ass schedule and the fact that the GRIZ haven't yet played their two biggest draws have attendance a little lower than what it should be. That said, get your asses to Dahlberg. And be loud.

I am not sure they are the BEST team in 25 years, but, they do have a great record that is going to be added to by end of season. They have some very bad losses. But, I agree that they should be getting a lot more support at home AND road games...Frankly, I think they would if students were given seats where they belong and not the older folks like me sitting in them...my screaming days are over, now I just watch and i can do that from the under the basket seats as well...alas.

 

[Grizbeer]

There was an article in the WSJ yesterday about how ACC attendance is down, I think 13%. Even the Cameron Crazies are not using their full allotment of tickets. The article listed several reasons - conference expansion, more TV, weak teams, even the need for 4g connectivity so students can constantly post to their facebook and twitter.

I think the reality is times have changed, and kids want to be their own person, they don't want to be clones of the generation before them.

It seems like the harder we older fans and the University push for students to go to the games the fewer will go. Bottom line, the good old times and fond memories of our youth are ours, not our kids, and they want their own, not a remake of our experiences.

 

[Gallatin Griz]

Perhaps we should forbid students from attending games and start a rumor that a black market GrizTix supplier can sell students tickets (only 5000 available) if they promise not to disclose their source of tickets.
Also we could declare that only the top 1% of income earners in MT are allowed to attend Griz games, then the flea party (occupy types) will beat down the doors to camp out and enjoy cheering the poor Griz on to victory over the wealthy Big Sky opponents.

Just a thought.

Go Griz!

Maul'em!

 

[GrizPony]

Proud Griz:

I was at that game with Reno and Curtis High had beat his girlfriend earlier in the season and charges were pending. I was there two hours early and he came out for shoot around. I sat under the hoop to taunt during free throws and be close to the action in those days. A UM Professor had his little girl there (maybe 3 yrs old) and he and her had a butterfly bandages on the bridges of their noses and their eyes blackened with eye shadow. After Curtis made his first shot and got the ball under the basket, he stood up with his daughter in his arms and asked Curtis if he wanted to hit his daughter since he was so good at beating women. Their whole team stopped and was shocked into silence. He tried to ignore it but clanged his next two shots and ran into the locker room. He was so ruined that whole game.

 

[Geddes]

Proud Griz:

I was at that game with Reno and Curtis High had beat his girlfriend earlier in the season and charges were pending. I was there two hours early and he came out for shoot around. I sat under the hoop to taunt during free throws and be close to the action in those days. A UM Professor had his little girl there (maybe 3 yrs old) and he and her had a butterfly bandages on the bridges of their noses and their eyes blackened with eye shadow. After Curtis made his first shot and got the ball under the basket, he stood up with his daughter in his arms and asked Curtis if he wanted to hit his daughter since he was so good at beating women. Their whole team stopped and was shocked into silence. He tried to ignore it but clanged his next two shots and ran into the locker room. He was so ruined that whole game.

Oh the days of truly legitimate heckling..

 

[GrizLA]

There was an article in the WSJ yesterday about how ACC attendance is down, I think 13%. Even the Cameron Crazies are not using their full allotment of tickets. The article listed several reasons - conference expansion, more TV, weak teams, even the need for 4g connectivity so students can constantly post to their facebook and twitter.

I think the reality is times have changed, and kids want to be their own person, they don't want to be clones of the generation before them.

It seems like the harder we older fans and the University push for students to go to the games the fewer will go. Bottom line, the good old times and fond memories of our youth are ours, not our kids, and they want their own, not a remake of our experiences.

I think you are right on...the goose laying the golden eggs is now relying more on tv revenue.Attendance is down across the country for Basketball with just a few exceptions. the old ways are gone. Kids need to identify with their players as students but the students seem detached from the athletic dept..it has always been that way, but there have never been as many alternatives as there are now. Frankly, I doubt I would go to many games like I did. There is simply too much exposure and way too many games in a season..conferences are about money and tv exposure to get more money...it is a business, and that is not necessarily a positive thing for students at this time....money and the need for more to just stand still..is killing a lot of things, collegiate competition included.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

Yep, you're both right. Basketball is a long season and it's hard to sustain fans' interest. I don't know how baseball even survives.

But having said that, I do think the Weber game will be packed. I suggest lots of Mitt Romney fatheads in the student section.

 

[Proud Griz Man]

Yep, you're both right. Basketball is a long season and it's hard to sustain fans' interest. I don't know how baseball even survives.

But having said that, I do think the Weber game will be packed. I suggest lots of Mitt Romney fatheads in the student section.

:? :? :? :lol:

Hopefully, something better than these dudes.

 

[SWeberCat02]

I suggest lots of Mitt Romney fatheads in the student section.

Why? Because he's a Mormon? Mitt Romney has little connection to Utah, other than running the Winter Olympics here, and no connection at all to Weber St. And Weber is a public institution and there is only one Mormon on the team. Don't really get the point of that one. Anyway, it would be nice to see a large crowd on hand at this one.

 

[weberwildcat]

Yep, you're both right. Basketball is a long season and it's hard to sustain fans' interest. I don't know how baseball even survives.

But having said that, I do think the Weber game will be packed. I suggest lots of Mitt Romney fatheads in the student section.

:? :? :? :lol:

Hopefully, something better than these dudes.

Proud,

why the player hatin', lol

i took that pic and made that head sign. it was the 2007 big sky championship game. the mitt romney head sign is actually david patten, the 2007 big sky mvp and conference dunk record holder and 2007 espn college dunk contest participant. :mrgreen:

most of those guys in the pic are forum members on our board except tim toone on the left.


also i made that sign that says "bring on the bruins". guess who we went on to play in the ncaa tourney? ucla. i always pic em correctly. and i am now predicting weber to host.

 

[Proud Griz Man]

Yep, you're both right. Basketball is a long season and it's hard to sustain fans' interest. I don't know how baseball even survives.

But having said that, I do think the Weber game will be packed. I suggest lots of Mitt Romney fatheads in the student section.

:? :? :? :lol:

Hopefully, something better than these dudes.

Proud,

why the player hatin', lol

i took that pic and made that head sign. it was the 2007 big sky championship game. the mitt romney head sign is actually david patten, the 2007 big sky mvp and conference dunk record holder and 2007 espn college dunk contest participant. :mrgreen:

most of those guys in the pic are forum members on our board except tim toone on the left.

Nothing personal WWC. I just like razzin purple cats in grass skirts :lol: :shock: :shock: :shock: