Cards wrote:Just listened to the latest coaches report. Hard to have to listen to the head coach have to "hope" that they can get fans out to the game. JM did mention that he thought there was some type of tail gate party before the game - so at least it sounds like something is in the works to try and get some students to turn out (maybe this is the promotion that Coach K referred to in her tweet). Hope this is sponsored by the HU and not something the students had to put together! That being said, at this point I really don't care how people get there, as long as they are there!
And you're right stu, the marketing should be starting for next year. Hopefully its done early enough to capitalize on this seasons success and maybe generate some excitement for the next 4 weeks and beyond.
Finally, I know its usually the rabid students who bring signs and posters to college games, but why cant HU spend a few bucks and have some signs made up and then hand them out to students or everyone who shows up. Or get a few of those big "head shots" of JG and RG made up and give to the students. They should be doing everything they can to made it feel like a fun and exciting event for the students. Give them some props to make it easy to cheer and have a good time! I cant imagine that Staples or some other sign company couldn't fill such an order in a few days. At least try to make it feel like it resembles big time college basketball. And, a loud and raucous student section make it fun and memorable for everyone in the building.....it keeps non students coming back. (if I had some spare cash around, heck, i'd pay for having the signs made up and hand them out myself!)
I love your spirit, but I think this is something that unfortunately can't be forced. Like you said, it's the rabid students who do this. HU can make up the head shots, signs, etc., to try to artificially create an exciting environment, but you still have to get someone in the building first, to hold those head shots, signs, etc. up. These things were all done many times by students on their own for Charles Jenkins and his teams, and that was for teams that didn't have half the chance of winning a CAA title that this year's team does (except for one season, when Jenkins & Co. finished tied for second place). I don't know who the students are who replaced those students since then, but they certainly aren't big college basketball fans, except for just a handful of them today. It's a shame, but that's just the way it is now. Maybe we'll see something different on Thursday, and the same types of fans back then show up now, but I wouldn't count on it.