Who's in

[mtgrizrule]

How about some personalized shirts for each player, for monte to shoot into the crowd instead of the same old generic griz shirt everyone has 15 of already. shouldnt cost any more to make and would be a fun way for fans who arent already to get to know the players and team.

I have a very simple shirt i got in north carolina. it is just blue with black text and says Jackie Manuel(starting SF on 2005 title team) has a posse, lists his height, weight and position and has a picture of his face. very simple and a random enough for everyone to think its cool.i get looks and questions all the time from people who have no idea who or wut it is about, so it grabs attention. a shirt i will wear til it wont let me wear it anymore.

Maybe something like, you just got qvaleed with an action photo of a block or something. more intimate, personal, new and exciting. you could have a quick sitdown with each player see what they might want on it. maybe they got a catch phrase(appropriate of course) or a fresh stylish idea. may help the community to identify with a certain player more, want to watch them and in turn watch the griz. especialy kids they are young and impressionable. im pretty sure when i was 5-10 if i got a shirt at a game he would probably become a favorite pretty quick maybe thats just me. nothing sells stuff like kids. like another poster said we want all the kids in missoula BEGGING their parents to go to the games parents will be forced to give in eventually.

I love this idea. Even make these t-shirts available to the general public. I like the slogan or catch phrase tied to a name. With the right design, these would sell well. I wonder if the basketball program could sell somehow to assure profits go for basketball, mens and womens? :thumb:

Hell, maybe even have an annual project for marketing and art students to get involved in. A lot of win win for many people here.

 

[bigtyme]

So after sitting and watching the Griz/Weebs game last week it was apparent to me that UM needs a spectator that gets the crowd fired up. Helena High had Bengal Bill, the Jets have the fireman, UM needs a guy that can share with the blue hairs that it is time to make some noise. It is really frustrating to see the Griz perform at such a high level and this crowd (from the games that I have traveled from out of town for) has failed to get loud enough to not be able to hear the person I was at the game with. What is with UM BBall being entertainment? It is a sports competition, where the home team should have a sizeable advantage that is intimidating. We have nothing!

 

[Grizzly King]

First idea:

Create an offer in which any fan who brings a friend (one other person) to a game gets one free ticket. In the best case scenario, this creates a full house and exposes hundreds of new people to grizzly basketball. In the worst case, you get 3,000 attendees, which is decent for the griz right now! I think this would help spread the word on the griz in the most effective means there is, direct experience.

Second Idea:

Have the griz wear copper and silver jersies for important games. This doesn't require further explanation.

Third Idea:

Win a few more ncaa tourney games.

 

[Proud Griz Man]

Question-
Do they do anything for Mens BB (or Lady Griz) similar to the Great Griz encounter?

Monday, August 24, 2009
The 14th annual Great Griz Encounter for the 2009 Montana football team will be held Thursday, August 27, at Caras Park in downtown Missoula. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with live music by Shodown. The event is held in conjunction with the Missoula Downtown Association’s weekly Downtown Tonight function. Montana’s 2009 All-America and honors candidates and seventh-year Griz coach Bobby Hauck will be introduced at 6:30 p.m. After that, all of the Griz players will sign posters until approximately 8:30 p m.

Question-
does the Griz Mens BB players sign autographs for the little kids after games ?

Question-
Does the Mens BB team sing the school song after home wins - similar to the football team??

In the late-1970s and early-1980s, the UM students were given the opportunity to sit in the prime court-side seats. We used to arrive early, get in line, and rush down to get the best seats. There was excitement in Missoula when the Grizzlies hosted a pair of weekend Big Sky Conference games.

 

[dub-foncy]

h

 

[diacanthus]

I recall the football "boom crew". I believe they were sponsered by a local radio station. They wore special griz attire plus they had their own designated area in the tail gate area and football stadium. In order to be part off the boom crew you had to be fanatical about the griz. It was a badge of honor to be part of the "boom crew". The basketball team needs its version of a "boom Crew" with a designated courtside area.

 

['68griz]

Give the students their seats back and make our dipshit wannabe "boosters" sit a few rows back. Two games like that and Dahlberg would be sold every game for the rest of the season and season ticket sales would go through the roof for next year.

This quote is from dub-foncy. I'd like to think his comment was of value, but, to be honest, I don't think there are enough people in all of Montana who give one rip as to whether or not the students have "their seats" back to make any difference at all. In fact, it's pretty apparent that there aren't enough students who care to even fill the end section they're given, much less a larger part of the arena. I don't know the solution, but I honestly don't think the current crop of UM students gives one damn about the basketball team. I know a significant number of UM students, and, to my knowledge, not one of them has been to a Griz basketball game in their lives.

 

[ozzie]

I know a great deal of students who do/did, including myself. Im back in australia now so I shouldnt care, but I liked the basketball WAYYY better, mainly because I knew what was going on, but still, you's really need to bring back a proper student section. I went to a washington game and their student get given way better seating..

 

[Silvertip]

I'm still wondering if Learfield brings anything special to the table? They haven't essentially had any influence in upgrading the KPAX coverage and I'm suspecting - that for whatever reason - they have made it very difficult for far flung GrizNation to have online radio coverage they can count on. Plus any real marketing upgrades are not readily apparent. Any Griz bb brand is nebulous at best.

As for crowd building suggestions - the first answer is a winning and entertaining team - which we have.
Griz basketball didn't fall into disfavor overnight. It took decades and resurrecting it will take awhile. O'Day could do his part by trying to bring in some name teams - probably with the lure of a home and home like with Oregon State. The Stanford game a few years back was a blast. Montana fans appreciate a good Griz team, but they're going to increasingly demand strong major and high mid-major opponents in the Adams Center before they'll spend their money.

 

[citygriz]

here's an idea. borrow from football
football entertains. starting with the pregame--tailgates, skydivers, monte.
what does basketball have? duh...
then the uniforms. football uni's are previewed, debated, even glorified (as in the case of the traditional colors.) why, football is damned near a fashion show. basketball? the ugliest hand-me down warmups i've ever seen, followed by drab baggy uniforms, then pre-game drills that are just this side of catatonic. how about some snappy even trotter-like passing drills, followed by your best dunkers putting on a show. remember, your most avid fans are early birds.
then: tradtion. football has them by the boatload--the entrance from the tunnel, the cannon, the players singing to the fans after the game. look at other basketball programs--rock-hawk-jayhaw, the duke crazies, no sitting till you're team scores, the staw hat band.
name one basketball tradition at montana. surely we're smart enough to start one or two. originals.
then there's the internet. how about, at the very least, updating the roster when the season's over, so we don't go well into september before the new roster is released? football does it, so do the lady griz. not the basketball program.
i mean, the template for a successful program is a just a few yards to the east, at wash griz.
oh--did i mention winning?

 

[EverettGriz]

O'Day could do his part by trying to bring in some name teams - probably with the lure of a home and home like with Oregon State.

Philosophically I agree with this. But in practice it's not that easy because so few "big" teams want to come to a mid major to play. I posted on another thread a story that ESPN did which stated that the "power conferences" only play 7% of their games against mid majors at the mid major's home venue. And you know that when you're a Montana and you start beating the big boys on a fairly regular basis (3 out of 4 against the Pac 10 and 7 of 9 in Dahlberg) that it's going to be REALLY tough to schedule quality home games.

 

[GMBand37]

... then pre-game drills that are just this side of catatonic. how about some snappy even trotter-like passing drills, followed by your best dunkers putting on a show. remember, your most avid fans are early birds.

No can do on the dunks. When the refs are out on the courts, its a technical for any dunk during pregame. If you should up 30+ minutes until tip you can check out the dunk contest but then its only part of the pep band and about 10 other people in Dahlberg.

 

[GrizLA]

... then pre-game drills that are just this side of catatonic. how about some snappy even trotter-like passing drills, followed by your best dunkers putting on a show. remember, your most avid fans are early birds.

No can do on the dunks. When the refs are out on the courts, its a technical for any dunk during pregame. If you should up 30+ minutes until tip you can check out the dunk contest but then its only part of the pep band and about 10 other people in Dahlberg.

Didn't the Griz band have a wild tuba player a few years ago? I remember, vaguely, a report on one of the evening news shows showing a crazy kid working out on a tuba, while the students cheered wildly..on the side where they should be seated......works for Stanford....but, overscripting is just as bad, if not worse, than doing nothing at all.....I'd like to see the athletic dept. and the alumni assoc work in tandem. most people really do not follow sports as much as we think...a notice sent our a couple of weeks before an out of town game to promote a "roundup" of fans where ever the Griz play could be fun for everyone...In LA, there were few UM fans (or UCLA, for that matter) at Pauley....they could have been loud And proud...in copper and gold...

 

[jesslohse]

I love this topic! After years of sitting on my hands watching the happenings here, I created an account to chime in. I have a ton of thoughts on this topic but will only share a couple and face the ridicule that is eGriz Nation...

1. Rivalries... Griz Basketball only has one rivalry and that is MSU. The Big Sky doesn't yield itself to rivalries due to the vast geographic distance over 7 states. Back in the hay-day, I understand there were better rivalries with Boise State, Idaho as well as MSU. Great rivalries (real or perceived) will bring fans and create lasting interest. Big home games against Pac 10 or similar teams is not a sustainable nor winnable way to create a stronger fan base.

2. Fan behavior... A majority of the fans at the games sit on their hands and rarely get rowdy. Somehow they figure it is not acceptable to be loud and rowdy like they are at football games. Maybe because basketball is a more intimate setting where they will be singled out for 'crazy' behavior. It's almost as though they need to be taught how to have a good time at a basketball game.

3. Student seats... Their location doesn't matter. Back in the hay-day of the Zoo, was Dahlberg filled with 1000 crazy rabid students and 5000 Missoulians sitting on their hands? I wasn't there, but I doubt it. This effort needs to be a all around effort, not just a "give the students their seats" cop out. However, once the student attendance is back, I believe they should be along the side, but only after they've proven they deserve it after years of strong support.

I could go on, but I will keep my first post brief!

 

[Grizzly King]

There's no need to improve the griz supporters. Dahlberg is, and always has been, the loudest stadium in the Big Sky for "big games" because the fans are bball-smart and very attentive. Even a Missoula crowd of 3,500 can be awesome in a good game. When there's a (rare) sellout, Dahlberg is among the best in the USA, period. At any top program it will always be about 20-80 in the rowdy-to-stoic fan ratio, so don't fret about the fans that sit on their hands. The real problem is getting a consistent fan base. Gimmicks and giveaways won't take us there...I honestly think there needs to be a stretch of great seasons analogous to '93-'96 in football. It has to start with the guys we're all watching.

 

[GrizLA]

I love this topic! After years of sitting on my hands watching the happenings here, I created an account to chime in. I have a ton of thoughts on this topic but will only share a couple and face the ridicule that is eGriz Nation...

1. Rivalries... Griz Basketball only has one rivalry and that is MSU. The Big Sky doesn't yield itself to rivalries due to the vast geographic distance over 7 states. Back in the hay-day, I understand there were better rivalries with Boise State, Idaho as well as MSU. Great rivalries (real or perceived) will bring fans and create lasting interest. Big home games against Pac 10 or similar teams is not a sustainable nor winnable way to create a stronger fan base.

2. Fan behavior... A majority of the fans at the games sit on their hands and rarely get rowdy. Somehow they figure it is not acceptable to be loud and rowdy like they are at football games. Maybe because basketball is a more intimate setting where they will be singled out for 'crazy' behavior. It's almost as though they need to be taught how to have a good time at a basketball game.
In my UM days, it was Gonzaga, Idaho, and MSU.....it should be again.
3. Student seats... Their location doesn't matter. Back in the hay-day of the Zoo, was Dahlberg filled with 1000 crazy rabid students and 5000 Missoulians sitting on their hands? I wasn't there, but I doubt it. This effort needs to be a all around effort, not just a "give the students their seats" cop out. However, once the student attendance is back, I believe they should be along the side, but only after they've proven they deserve it after years of strong support.

I could go on, but I will keep my first post brief!

 

[dub-foncy]

v

 

[SeaGrizluvr]

3. Student seats... Their location doesn't matter. Back in the hay-day of the Zoo, was Dahlberg filled with 1000 crazy rabid students and 5000 Missoulians sitting on their hands? I wasn't there, but I doubt it. This effort needs to be a all around effort, not just a "give the students their seats" cop out. However, once the student attendance is back, I believe they should be along the side, but only after they've proven they deserve it after years of strong support.

I grew up on Griz basketball. Before being a student in the early 80's, we went to most of the games as long as I can remember. The student section was ALWAYS the center of excitement besides the game and it ALWAYS HELPED the whole crowd to get into it(even shaming those "laziest of fans" to get off their butts and cheer). They even had one student for the longest time who would heckle the refs, opposing players and coaches much to the delight of the whole arena. The atmosphere was always electric! I still get goosebumps to this day when we beat #6 Idaho on a last second tip-in by Doug Selvig in front of a sold out 9000+. When I was a student, it was even better. The whole lower east section was for students only with strict ID checks. There were times we waited out in the PACKED lobby waiting to get in. Once they moved the students I had already moved, but was always kept abreast of things by family and friends. They all were100% convinced this was the beginning of killing the attendance. Couple that with deep into the season successful football program, a wildly popular women's team and a few lackluster years for the men, the program was doomed. Here's to hoping the new success of the team can bring other changes to bring the program back. I am coming back for my first game in years for the Griz-Bobcan't game and I can't wait. I feel like a kid again!

 

[bigtyme]

here's an idea. borrow from football
football entertains. starting with the pregame--tailgates, skydivers, monte.
what does basketball have? duh...
then the uniforms. football uni's are previewed, debated, even glorified (as in the case of the traditional colors.) why, football is damned near a fashion show. basketball? the ugliest hand-me down warmups i've ever seen, followed by drab baggy uniforms, then pre-game drills that are just this side of catatonic. how about some snappy even trotter-like passing drills, followed by your best dunkers putting on a show. remember, your most avid fans are early birds.
then: tradtion. football has them by the boatload--the entrance from the tunnel, the cannon, the players singing to the fans after the game. look at other basketball programs--rock-hawk-jayhaw, the duke crazies, no sitting till you're team scores, the staw hat band.
name one basketball tradition at montana. surely we're smart enough to start one or two. originals.
then there's the internet. how about, at the very least, updating the roster when the season's over, so we don't go well into september before the new roster is released? football does it, so do the lady griz. not the basketball program.
i mean, the template for a successful program is a just a few yards to the east, at wash griz.
oh--did i mention winning?

No. They need to market the competitors, not the entertainment. It is one of the reasons the fans don't know what to do. They simply need to create a buzz over the program. We need a guy that can get the crowd fired up like the Jet's Fireman. The problem is the folks that got excited about Griz basketball in the 80s are 20something years older now and they simply don't know how to stand up and get fired up. We have the same problem in the east and west sides of the WAGRIZ stadium. The reason the NEZ is crazy is because they have only had those seats there for around ten years and the demographics of the people in the NEZ is much younger than the rest of the stadium in general.