Where are all the fans?

[MT Jack]

3) Improve the quality of home opponents. It is not what it used to be. We now get excited having a team like Long Beach State come to Missoula. We used to get Washington, Washington State, Arizona State, etc.

Washington, Washington State and Arizona State will not play the UM in football in Missoula. Likewise, they won't be playing the Griz in basketball in Missoula. Big school A.D.'s just won't take the chance of losing to a lower tier team on the road. I used to love that small schools could occasionally get big schools to play on the road but college hoops is beginning to take the same attitude as college football in this regard. Not cool.

 

[GrizLA]

3) Improve the quality of home opponents. It is not what it used to be. We now get excited having a team like Long Beach State come to Missoula. We used to get Washington, Washington State, Arizona State, etc.

Washington, Washington State and Arizona State will not play the UM in football in Missoula. Likewise, they won't be playing the Griz in basketball in Missoula. Big school A.D.'s just won't take the chance of losing to a lower tier team on the road. I used to love that small schools could occasionally get big schools to play on the road but college hoops is beginning to take the same attitude as college football in this regard. Not cool.

Long Beach is far more competitive than most teams in the West...Arizona State is a joke..Washington has up and down years....Oregon State played in Missoula last year, and not long ago, Stanford played..but, they don't want to play for 2800 crowds....If you want turnout, turn out a good product..look at the Griz at half time tonight....shooting 24% losing to San Francisco playing without their best player.....would you take time to sit in Dahlberg to watch that? Some do, most don't...

 

[BigSkyBears]

4: Basketball is dead. NASCAR is going to pass it by. The One on one NBA game plus the NBA marketing of the Super Star instead of the team have killed Basketball. I hate to say it since I love basketball. 15 years ago I could go to work and talk to people about basketball. No more, Middle age white guys just don't care anymore. If you're a sport and you don't have the middle age white guy it's over.

I agree. I still like college hoops and go to the UNC games, but I can't stand the NBA. My family had Nuggets season tickets back in the early 1990's when they had Mutumbo, Chris Jackson, etc. They were so much fun to go to. I hadn't been to an NBA game for about 10 years until last season when we went back to a Nuggets game and I swear it was like going to a freaking rap concert. Half the fans there were walking around with 10lb chains around their necks and their pants down half way to the ground. The music was incredibly loud rap and I could hardly hear anyone talk around me. I know I sound like an old fart (I'm only 33), but I really don't like the hip-hop culture, thus I don't like the NBA. College b-ball is starting to look a little like that too.

 

[citygriz]

what is this, a duplicate thread? didn't we just discuss this?
exterior forces..
--many schools having the same problem. even weber. the purple palace is the best sports facility in the big sky conference, but they haven't filled it in years, and wouldn't build it today.
--competition for the sports dollar. late 70's, the lady griz were cubs. now you add their attendance to that of the men, and you have what the men used to have to themselves. title 9 hurt men's sports, and it was the first thing the bush administration went after--until the soccer dads put a stop to it.
--tv. big screen, high def, replay, comfortable couch, close to the fridge, always a "big game" to see.
--internet. we've now become stationary nomads with thousands of on-line options. less incentive to go out.
internal deficiencies..
--no zoo. nuff said. (but no football players. a mob is enough of an idiot without football players. then it's sheer lunacy.)
--lack of montana kids. bb is a city game, montana a rural enviornment. name the last great men's player that montana has produced. mystery to me--lately no estes, mike lewis, krystko, while football has produced five montana kids now playing in n.f.l. a big-time montana kid would help the bb program immensely.
--not updating the roster or the yearbook. the devil is in the details--and the real aficionados notice these details.

still in all, i think tinks is building the program. seems there's more interest here on egriz than i remember. the recruiting is excellent, the future is bright. build it, and the fans will come.

 

[GrizLA]

The future at UM is always bright, but somehow never seems to get here....this year's team should be better than they are with the front court they have. But they seem hesitant to shoot, make one pass to many, never box out, and more often than not, seem lethargic in play. It might be the style Tinks has brought since there is no standout big guy (not supposed to mention names, here, apparently) and it is a lackluster season yet again. This conference race should be dog fight with only Weber..but the Griz need to find someone who can score quickly besides Cherry and Jamar....but, just as important, they need to rebound..it cost an easy win tonight....

 

[mtgrizrule]

The future at UM is always bright, but somehow never seems to get here....this year's team should be better than they are with the front court they have. But they seem hesitant to shoot, make one pass to many, never box out, and more often than not, seem lethargic in play. It might be the style Tinks has brought since there is no standout big guy (not supposed to mention names, here, apparently) and it is a lackluster season yet again. This conference race should be dog fight with only Weber..but the Griz need to find someone who can score quickly besides Cherry and Jamar....but, just as important, they need to rebound..it cost an easy win tonight....

We both noticed the hesitation to shoot. I just posted that too. I will add Reader needs to be on the court as often as possible for paint defense.

 

[bGrizzled]

The future at UM is always bright, but somehow never seems to get here....this year's team should be better than they are with the front court they have. But they seem hesitant to shoot, make one pass to many, never box out, and more often than not, seem lethargic in play. It might be the style Tinks has brought since there is no standout big guy (not supposed to mention names, here, apparently) and it is a lackluster season yet again. This conference race should be dog fight with only Weber..but the Griz need to find someone who can score quickly besides Cherry and Jamar....but, just as important, they need to rebound..it cost an easy win tonight....

We both noticed the hesitation to shoot. I just posted that too. I will add Reader needs to be on the court as often as possible for paint defense.

I have been yelling Go Billy! everytime he gets a go...cause I know he wants the crowd into it and it shows..pumping his arms up after big plays...did you see that assistant coach jump in his shit when he got really excited during the LB game? I thought what a dumb f'n coach! He was trying to get the crowd into it and I was into it until I saw asst. coach peck pound billy in the chest with his middle digit...what a load of crap!

 

[WILDCATFAN]

The future at UM is always bright, but somehow never seems to get here....this year's team should be better than they are with the front court they have. But they seem hesitant to shoot, make one pass to many, never box out, and more often than not, seem lethargic in play. It might be the style Tinks has brought since there is no standout big guy (not supposed to mention names, here, apparently) and it is a lackluster season yet again. This conference race should be dog fight with only Weber..but the Griz need to find someone who can score quickly besides Cherry and Jamar....but, just as important, they need to rebound..it cost an easy win tonight....

I disagree, I think it will be a 3 team race, between Weber, Montana and Eastern Washington.

These 3 teams are looking good.

 

[Growler1]

I truly wonder if the students who would, in theory, make up the Zoo even care in today's world. I have been an adviser to a UM group for more than 20 years. I can say, certainly, that a good many members of that group, who are VERY active in university activities, go through four years (or more) of college and never set foot at a basketball game, and only a very few football games. Sadly, they simply are not interested.

You don't need 4000 of them there, only 2-3 hundred, if they are the right students!

 

[Grizbeer]

3) Improve the quality of home opponents. It is not what it used to be. We now get excited having a team like Long Beach State come to Missoula. We used to get Washington, Washington State, Arizona State, etc.

Washington, Washington State and Arizona State will not play the UM in football in Missoula. Likewise, they won't be playing the Griz in basketball in Missoula. Big school A.D.'s just won't take the chance of losing to a lower tier team on the road. I used to love that small schools could occasionally get big schools to play on the road but college hoops is beginning to take the same attitude as college football in this regard. Not cool.

I know tinkle and O'Day have been saying this, but I hope nobody takes this "they are afraid to play us" thing too seriously. Stanford played at Seattle U last night - yes Seattle U, the former DII team that turned DI a couple years ago, was not good enough to be in the WCC, not good enough to be in the BSC, and finally found a shared life preserver with the WAC. They will also host Virginia later this year. Seriously power teams from power conferences are not afraid, in any way, to play in Missoula, any more than the Griz football team is afraid to play any FCS team at their stadium.

But the dollars have to be there to make it worth it for the teams to play, and UM is not a big enough draw for an equal home and home, so it turns into a multiple for 1 which UM won't do, or UM pays a premium to get the good teams here, which UM won't do. Seattle U on the other hand is making a concentrated effort to become a top level D-I school, and making the investments necessary (the game was telecast on Root Sports) to get where they want to be. UM is not willing to make the same investment, and maybe they shouldn't base don the economics of our market and the return, but you can't tell the fans that the Department won't put money into the program to get a good draw, so it is easier to tell them "they are afraid". I would seriously hope those posting on this forum have a good enough filter to see through this.

 

[Grizbeer]

I truly wonder if the students who would, in theory, make up the Zoo even care in today's world. I have been an adviser to a UM group for more than 20 years. I can say, certainly, that a good many members of that group, who are VERY active in university activities, go through four years (or more) of college and never set foot at a basketball game, and only a very few football games. Sadly, they simply are not interested.

You don't need 4000 of them there, only 2-3 hundred, if they are the right students!

Exactly right - just need enough to turn it into a fun event. Maybe someone should tell the Occupy people on the courthouse lawn that Missoula's 1% is the bankers, lawyers and real estate brokers that are located on the lower east side of Dahlberg and that is where their voices can be heard. Occupy Dahlberg! (at a minimum this should be a marketing phrase UM uses)

 

[Grizmayor]

Star power... We'd load a car with six guys and drive 70 miles to 'Adams Field House' just to watch McKenzie's hook shot, Michael Ray, Zanon, etc.

Now??? it's organized jungle ball. Drive, draw and dish back out to the 3-line.... drive, draw and dish... drive, draw and dish... would SOMEONE just once DUNK the phekkin' ball and launch a steady stream of bombs WITHOUT working the clock down to the final five seconds... BOOOORRRRIIIING!

I watched the SF game last night on Bigskytv... it cured my insomnia.

 

[temp]

I truly wonder if the students who would, in theory, make up the Zoo even care in today's world. I have been an adviser to a UM group for more than 20 years. I can say, certainly, that a good many members of that group, who are VERY active in university activities, go through four years (or more) of college and never set foot at a basketball game, and only a very few football games. Sadly, they simply are not interested.

You don't need 4000 of them there, only 2-3 hundred, if they are the right students!

Exactly right - just need enough to turn it into a fun event. Maybe someone should tell the Occupy people on the courthouse lawn that Missoula's 1% is the bankers, lawyers and real estate brokers that are located on the lower east side of Dahlberg and that is where their voices can be heard. Occupy Dahlberg! (at a minimum this should be a marketing phrase UM uses)

:lol: occupy Dahlberg...I love it! :clap:

 

[AllWeatherFan]

The Griz need to beat teams like San Francisco at home. Look, the Dons are a good team, but they lost by eight at home to North Dakota State. When we can put teams like this away, and get out to a stronger start, the crowds will come. We have a young team, and I think we're headed in the right direction, but we're not there by any stretch.

 

[GrizLA]

Star power... We'd load a car with six guys and drive 70 miles to 'Adams Field House' just to watch McKenzie's hook shot, Michael Ray, Zanon, etc.

Now??? it's organized jungle ball. Drive, draw and dish back out to the 3-line.... drive, draw and dish... drive, draw and dish... would SOMEONE just once DUNK the phekkin' ball and launch a steady stream of bombs WITHOUT working the clock down to the final five seconds... BOOOORRRRIIIING!

I watched the SF game last night on Bigskytv... it cured my insomnia.

What is "jungle ball"? Sounds like UCLA during the Wooden days...or Duke, now...sounds like the way to go, to me....UM has no big guy to dunk..in fact, the Big Sky lacks those type of players, generally. Not sure what your point is..you might drive miles to see a great player, but now that there are 4 or 5 games televised NIGHTLY, why bother...this is not just a Griz problem..it is more common..kids are spending a lot more money to just go to college, they know either you study hard or you are out...things have changed considerably since the 70s and 80s..Bball is secondary. Football is once a week, outside, week end...and yet, some places are losing their students there as well....society might be burning out on live sports events...too expensive, too predictable, too distant for many, and available on the net, the tv, radio....great winning traditions draw everywhere, but the numbers of students at places like UNLV or UCLA are shrinking..

 

[maroonandsilver]

I'll be there no matter what. But when the team doesn't show up and give their best effort, many people get turned off. That said, I think the hardest thing for a college coach to do is get his team up for each and every game.

 

[Evizzerate]

I think Tinkle would love it if the old farts sitting on the floor would be more enthusiastic. It isn't going to happen without some encouragement. Here's what I would do to start:
The team and field house staff know which floor seats aren't sold for the season and they also know which booster/sponsor seats go unused on a regular basis. Start filling these up in a strategic manner.
During the first few minutes of each game the staff and Monte need to look for several small groups of rabid fans amongst the second level seats. Then Monte needs to grab those fans and march their ass down to the empty seats on the floor as close to the action as possible. They need to stack the floor crowd with loud fans that are into the game and either force the old farts to cheer or give up their prime location.
Go Griz

 

[maroonandsilver]

I think Tinkle would love it if the old farts sitting on the floor would be more enthusiastic. It isn't going to happen without some encouragement. Here's what I would do to start:
The team and field house staff know which floor seats aren't sold for the season and they also know which booster/sponsor seats go unused on a regular basis. Start filling these up in a strategic manner.
During the first few minutes of each game the staff and Monte need to look for several small groups of rabid fans amongst the second level seats. Then Monte needs to grab those fans and march their ass down to the empty seats on the floor as close to the action as possible. They need to stack the floor crowd with loud fans that are into the game and either force the old farts to cheer or give up their prime location.
Go Griz

Being one myself, I will come to the defense of the old farts. Our section in East level A is as loud as any, certainly louder than the student section, which is mostly vacant. Students flatly do not come to the games in large numbers, and those that do are largely apathetic. Last year during a BB game, Marc Mariani was introduced to a wild, long, standing O by everyone in attendance, except the students. I looked over there, and not one student stood, or even bothered to clap.

 

[IronMountainGriz&Cat]

This year I've seen the students more excited about volleyball than basketball. Of course most of them were football and basketball players. And it has nothing to do about seating location as they're usually late arriving and so they have to sit wherever there's a seat but find a way to get together.

 

[citygriz]

another factor: tv. television has been a huge force in amplifying the sports market, and the football team has benefitted from that force much more than the basketball team.

every griz football game is on tv, and thousands of fans at sports bars throughout the country are huddled round. montanans may have traditions built around tailgating, skydiving, monte, the noise, the nez, et.al. at wash griz, but for those of us outside montana, our tradtions were built in sports bars, cheering in unison at a tv screen, or singing up with montana to the accompaniment of the two dot band, trumpet and drums.

basketball? not all games are televised. even when we make it to the big dance and we're on national tv, my tendency is to watch the games at home, pretty much alone, with a disintersted wife. tough way to build a tradition, that.