coverage

[Lou]

I know it's a down year so far, but Zombie Nation has always served us well.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtxrK9kE3FU&feature=related[/youtube]

 

[Maynardsgametrail]

Hey, we're trying. For video highlight packages, with our current setup we need the game to be locally televised (bigskytv.org doesn't count). The only basketball TV game so far has been UCLA, and that was tape-delay on a station we don't get, so we had to wait until we could get a copy.

We are working to improve our basketball coverage. In fact, I'll make you a deal: We'll keep working on our basketball coverage, and you work on filling Dahlberg every game like you fill Washington-Grizzly Stadium. I was at last night's UM-UGF game, and I'm pretty sure I didn't see you there.

I dont really understand where you (Montanagrizzies.com) are trying.......sure maybe a little, but I dont buy that Montanagrizzlies.com really gives a crap about the mens program. Of course, now the mens team is beginning to roll with winning and recruiting, Montanagrizzlies.com, and new fans are beginning to turn thier heads. Hence the Montanagrizzlies.com representitive.

My point regarding the mens program, and this is taking nothing away from Robin Selvig and the Lady Griz, but well before the season started, you (Montanagrizzlies.com) actually had the Womens profile's/pics/team photo/ and a damn countdown to the beginning of the Womens season with respecting players #'s. Montanagrizzlies.com, regarding the men, had Zero Profiles, Pics, team Photo and there was no countdown like the ladies had. The only info was regarding the new recruits and last years players. The players pics and Bio's were posted after the exibition games were played. Yes, the Lady griz have had a ton of success, but the mens team should have an equal amount of Hype and respect. The whole situation is a little wierd. Montanagrizzlies.com and the University of Montana have not helped the Mens team in anyway. Like Dub said, advertise the hell out of both teams.....help em out. Montanagrizzlies.com, and the Missoulian get a D- for their efforts to help the montana grizzlies mens basketball program. And yes, My wife, son (who is 2, and loves the games) and I go to just about every griz bball game....Get the ball rollin Mtg.com.

 

[keena52]

This is going to sound bad, but beer sales would do wonders. Denver U. and UNC do it, they dont draw, but they are not Montanans. They have pro sports teams and are not the main draw in the area, but beer at football games is a tradition at tailgates. Basketball on any given week night or weekend doesnt set up for a great tailgate experiance in the winter! You put beer sales in the arena and they will come and they will be fired up for Griz Bball. Its no different than any pro sports event or concert, and it would bring in an atmosphere and money!

 

[CDAGRIZ]

This is going to sound bad, but beer sales would do wonders.

I'm sorry, but I can't understand why this sounds bad.

 

[keena52]

Cause it shouldnt take alcohol to make people realize we have something good going on here!!! But your right, I drinking and typing at the same time.

 

[dub-foncy]

Let me add that Barry Anderson AKA Benny da Bull, is one of our alumni, is probably the best mascot in professional sports, and is a DIE HARD UM FAN. He designs almost the entire in-game program for the Chicago Bulls which is the certainly the best and most fan-friendly I've ever seen. He might be the best living resource on the planet for our situation and yet representatives from our university have the audacity to come on to EGRIZ(?!?!?) and ask for ideas on how to get fans excited to show up for games?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkM0BE-Iu6M&feature=fvw[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf4Rtp9gUTQ&feature=related[/youtube]

Reading a U representative's post like the one in this thread, and then have to read a quote like this is flat-out painful: http://www.grizbasketball.com/?p=48

“It was disappointing, to be honest with you,” Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said. “I know our marketing crew has done a nice job with different things to give people a reason to come. I know it was a non-Division I game, but after what we did on the road last Sunday I was expecting a little better showing, but we can’t control that.”

No isht our players and coaches should be frustrated that D-berg isn't even half filled when they're this good.

Imagine how good this team would be if they knew they were appreciated?

Add in the fact that the internet and social media has drastically reduced the cost to promote events.

Effort, people.

*edited to remove some rough "titty twister" talk

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Cause it shouldnt take alcohol to make people realize we have something good going on here!!! But your right, I drinking and typing at the same time.

Ha! Me too. But I see your point.

 

[Baller1]

first of all GREAT post Dub...you made a ton of excellent points....

secondly...to the montanagrizzlies.com editor...your initial response to this thread came off as a bit smug and it seems as though your making excuses.doesn't seem like the way to go about promoting an athletic program to that programs fans..... read Dub's post and run with it.....

thirdly...
look at what even a weak(comparative to many other programs) promo can do to help generate interest in an a great program who went to the tourney last year and gerneated a ton of national buzz in the BSC tourney.....lets run with that momentum and promote Montana Basketball

check out this link that evergriz posted in another thread - http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/19668/montana-avoids-ucla-like-letdown

 

[dancingbear]

Note to Montanagrizzlies.com. Since we do not know each other you have no way of knowing if I was in attendance for the CGF game. For your information I sit in row three, second tier behind the Griz Bench. I attend every game including scrimmages.

The fact that there have been 27 hits already on this subject is a good indication that there is genuine interest in improving the promotion of Griz BB. There have been some excellent ideas expressed and I hope someone from the Athletic dept. is paying attention. If it takes a grass roots effort by members of this board to get behind this movement then lets get it done. We have a great product to promote and our community is missing out on some incredibly talented athletes if we cannot get butts in the seats.

I would propose that we assemble a small committee of dedicated, interested, fervent fans to sit down with the SID and brain storm as to what we can do to improve attendance at the games. We're not talking rocket science here. Many current Griz fans come from outside venues where they have seen positive results from a dedicated group of fans interested in promoting an exciting product. And quite frankly coach Tinkle can express his disappoint at attendance but his group, including staff, need to also be part of the solution.

If any fans out there are truly interested in getting behind our program then stand up and be counted. I eagerly await your input.

 

[dancingbear]

Anyone remember the days of "Fat Dad" the PA announcer? He alone could rile the crowd into a fervent pitch.

 

[argrizfan]

I would propose that we assemble a small committee of dedicated, interested, fervent fans to sit down with the SID and brain storm as to what we can do to improve attendance at the games.

I like where your head is at. If I weren't in Arkansas I would get the ball rolling on putting together a focus group myself. It would only take a small group of people. They could do a survey around missoula to find out what would make people want to come. Even send one out to all egrizzers and football season ticket holders. It wouldn't be that hard to generate interest just need some effort put forth by all parties involved. Needs to be a group of people passionate about Griz B-ball, and the U has to be involved or it won't work.

 

[Baller1]

Anyone remember the days of "Fat Dad" the PA announcer? He alone could rile the crowd into a fervent pitch.

those are my first girz bball memories...sat first row directly behind him!! .....great teams, great atmosphere, great crowds! The Ol' Fat Dad was amazing!

 

[Mavman]

Just watched a very simple but good commercial for the nevada wolf pack. Nothing fancy, no highlights just the coach standing in front of the players on the court. Coach talks about how he can prepare the players, the players can execute and how there is one thing only the fans can do cheer the team on.
Pretty effective.
Someone should talk to pflu and get him to ask football players to go to games and be loud. One more thing please give the students their seats back.

 

[Mavman]

hell you might have to do an on- line focus group, seems most people commenting on this thread are from out of town.

 

[BelierPeaux]

Considering a few have posted that money is a problem, is there a ticket donation for basketball games? I am sure I could pony up money for a couple gen. admin tickets each home game so long as they were actually going to be used. I am sure there are people who would jump at the chance to go to a game if it didn't cost them a dime. It's just like drugs, give them a taste to get them hooked and they will show up the next time with money in hand, right?

Also, I mentioned it in another thread, why can't the team get out in the community more, and if they already do, why is it not publicized more? They could go around shoveling walks for the university snobs or some other community service type deal. Just get the Kaiman or Missoulian tipped off on it. I know these kids want to play for as big and rowdy of a crowd they can get, they could certainly stand to do a little off-court work as well to help build that up.

 

[dancingbear]

If we can assemble a small focus group as you suggest then we have turned the corner. Just because you live out of state doesn't mean your ideas won't go unheard. In fact those of you who do live out of state could be an important part of the process.

As a donor to the program I do have access to the power structure. Not that anyone cannot have there voices heard by the AD but this issue has been a heartburn of mine and I have expressed my views to the AD.

Let me be perfectly clear, this is not going to be a bitch session. Concrete, constructive, positive feedback to the AD will get the best results. Regardless of where we may find fault in the present system negative input will only serve to distance and distract from our goals.

I have been an infrequent poster on this board but I have been a long time observer. Not until now have I felt the need to be a part of the solution rather than a contributor to the negativity on this board. I understand the need on the part of some people to raise the hackles of others but in the long run if we are all in agreement as to the promotion and success of Griz athletics than we must be willing to be counted.

Long Live the Griz!!!!

 

[GrizDDS]

The biggest weakness and opportunity for improvement is the team intro, I think. Pretty dull, but at least it looks like they quit the t-shirt throwing thing. Why can't they do what they do at numerous NBA, NCAA, junior-league hockey, etc, games and turn down the lights, get some spotlight action going, and some "let's get ready to ruuuuummbllllllle!" right before tipoff?

Something simple like that would really set the tone and improve the atmosphere, I think. They don't have to break the bank.

As recently as 1992 UM averaged 7,034 per game.

If someone really wants to start small, they could create a nice wiki page which is what most likely is the first thing that greets a recruit when he googles Montana Grizzlies Basketball.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_Grizzlies_men's_basketball

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Golden_Gophers_men's_basketball

 

[GrizDDS]

This is going to sound bad, but beer sales would do wonders. Denver U. and UNC do it, they dont draw, but they are not Montanans. They have pro sports teams and are not the main draw in the area, but beer at football games is a tradition at tailgates. Basketball on any given week night or weekend doesnt set up for a great tailgate experiance in the winter! You put beer sales in the arena and they will come and they will be fired up for Griz Bball. Its no different than any pro sports event or concert, and it would bring in an atmosphere and money!

This is the biggest and most obvious obstacle. Beer and sports go hand in hand. Watching sports, not playing them. Can't tailgate by yourself in the snow. Trying to promote an evening sporting/social event in Montana without the option of sharing a few rounds of beers with friends is a losing battle.

 

[GrizLA]

This is going to sound bad, but beer sales would do wonders. Denver U. and UNC do it, they dont draw, but they are not Montanans. They have pro sports teams and are not the main draw in the area, but beer at football games is a tradition at tailgates. Basketball on any given week night or weekend doesnt set up for a great tailgate experiance in the winter! You put beer sales in the arena and they will come and they will be fired up for Griz Bball. Its no different than any pro sports event or concert, and it would bring in an atmosphere and money!

This is the biggest and most obvious obstacle. Beer and sports go hand in hand. Watching sports, not playing them. Can't tailgate by yourself in the snow. Trying to promote an evening sporting/social event in Montana without the option of sharing a few rounds of beers with friends is a losing battle.

I hear what you are saying, but not everyone wants to drink. In fact, in most places drinking is beginning to slow down for lots of reasons. I know it is a cultural thing in Montana, and I certainly did my share, but I think, in some areas, booze just needs to handled differently. It is fine for the responsible to drink and go to a game, but there could be an alternative as well....the best suggestions on this site are moving the students back to where they belong. After all, it is their university....I have always thought the shooting of tee shirts is an embarrassment for a program and a sign of trouble...I first saw it at Northridge...where a good crowd would be 600...As I see UM athletics, they seem to be caught in holding pattern..nothing new...rather stale...cheerleaders too "in sync", band dead, mascot predictable..but the team itself on the court is getting better and that invites better attendance but if it isn't fun or exciting, why bother going a second time? There could be alumni roundups out of town...networking in an age of job shortages certainly cannot hurt and a good supporting crowd of Griz fans at away games is a great recruiting tool, as well....

 

[GrizLA]

This is going to sound bad, but beer sales would do wonders. Denver U. and UNC do it, they dont draw, but they are not Montanans. They have pro sports teams and are not the main draw in the area, but beer at football games is a tradition at tailgates. Basketball on any given week night or weekend doesnt set up for a great tailgate experiance in the winter! You put beer sales in the arena and they will come and they will be fired up for Griz Bball. Its no different than any pro sports event or concert, and it would bring in an atmosphere and money!

This is the biggest and most obvious obstacle. Beer and sports go hand in hand. Watching sports, not playing them. Can't tailgate by yourself in the snow. Trying to promote an evening sporting/social event in Montana without the option of sharing a few rounds of beers with friends is a losing battle.

I hear what you are saying, but not everyone wants to drink. In fact, in most places drinking is beginning to slow down for lots of reasons. I know it is a cultural thing in Montana, and I certainly did my share, but I think, in some areas, booze just needs to handled differently. It is fine for the responsible to drink and go to a game, but there could be an alternative as well....the best suggestions on this site are moving the students back to where they belong. After all, it is their university....I have always thought the shooting of tee shirts is an embarrassment for a program and a sign of trouble...I first saw it at Northridge...where a good crowd would be 600...As I see UM athletics, they seem to be caught in holding pattern..nothing new...rather stale...cheerleaders too "in sync", band dead, mascot predictable..but the team itself on the court is getting better and that invites better attendance but if it isn't fun or exciting, why bother going a second time? There could be alumni roundups out of town...networking in an age of job shortages certainly cannot hurt and a good supporting crowd of Griz fans at away games is a great recruiting tool, as well....