The Official "How To Get Students To Care" Thread

[DunneDeal]

Alright...I get it all the time, well, because I am a student that cares about UWM Athletics. You all ask why students don't come to game, and what is being done to get students to game. Well, as of right now I am at a loss of ideas. We did lots of things and now we need your help. So Post Your Ideas.

[nighthawk]

There is no culture of caring at UWM. Hasn't been one for years, really.

The most motivational thing would be to create a sense of peer pressure (in a good way) where it is expected behavior to follow and care about the sports programs at UWM.

Where it's expected that students care even after they are gone.

Stop letting people treat UWM like the MATC North Campus, and only care about getting out ASAP.

When I was a student, there was no school spirit from the faculty and/or staff or from the students. There was no sense of common experience. no feeling of belonging. No real public traditions around sports, or much else for that matter.

How you do that is a good question. I tried an op-ed in the Post, and was blasted by Letters to the Editor.

Just my 2 cents from when I was there.

[pantherpanther]

Most fans are fickle. Love you when you win, hate you when you lose.

I truly believe that there is a different type of "fan" that sticks around through thick and thin. We have a core group of those fans, and unfortunately like UWM97 said, the other ones won't come around until we start winning again.

I think the enhancements/changes should come for the season ticket holders and friends that they bring. Right now without student support, they are vital.

[PantherU]

There was one good letter to the editor from a student who wasn't a fan of sports yet echoed your sentiments, Hawk. So not every student is apathetic.

We need to get in on them early. I propose that the week after Spring Break lets out, on that Friday, we get a large group of students together -- 10-25 -- and hash out ideas for next year. Not just chants and songs for the pep band, but traditions, the sense of pride, and other ideas that are meant to not just make being a Panther fun, but make Panther students feel that games are THE place to be on those nights.

My biggest proposal, for next year, is organizing a new tradition that exists across the country, yet for some reason we don't do it here -- Homecoming.

I would like it done for soccer, but since Engelmann Field is too small to host such a large event, that is going to have to be done at a basketball game. We wouldn't be the only school that does it for bball -- I believe Saint Mary's and Gonzaga both do it out west -- and it could go a long way to bringing alumni back.

Get the Alumni Association, each of the colleges, the AD, fraternities, and other groups (SBGC would definitely be apart of it), and we can organize such an event.

Have each of the colleges, such as the School of Nursing, contact their alumni and set up parties. Say the game is a 7 p.m. Saturday game. 25 dollars per alum gets their ticket to the game in their school's designated section and a pass to a party. Here's how it could work:

The Union Ballroom is set for the School of Nursing. The Dean (Sally Lundeen) and other faculty in the school of nursing attend, as do previous faculty alumni and Dean Emeriti. Nursing alumni pay their 25 dollars, and they gather in the ballroom. There is a buffet strewn out, and everyone gets to rub elbows with their fellow nurses, tell stories, and make new contacts and friends that are fellow Panthers. This group of people, now closer-knit than they ever have been before, join up with the other schools at the 7 p.m. game down at the Cell. They sit together and get to enjoy the UWM basketball experience. With any luck, they'll start buying tickets to other games. At the very least, they'll enjoy themselves enough to come back for Homecoming next year.

Fraternities (notably the TKE's...this is where you come in, Dunne) host parties. On Friday, the night before the game, TKE throws a big party at their house on Oakland and gets freshmen to go to the game.

On the day of the game, students gather at 1 or 2 p.m. at a big place on campus (Klotsche arena, Flicks in the dorms, the Union's atrium, or even the quad out in front of the dorms if it's nice enough) and throw a pep rally. Jeter is there, as are the players and other coaches, and the pep band. Jeter talks about how great it is to see the students showing up to cheer on the team, and encourages them to keep coming to games even beyond homecoming. Students, who find it hard to listen to guys like me, will not ignore coach Jeter or the other players. The coaches and players leave for the game, and the leaders of the student section run a little "practice" for the night's game, going over chants and what it means to be a Panther. The part after the team leaves is short enough so students don't get restless. We remind everyone that the first bus leaves at 5:30, and be there early if they want to get into the game.

And THAT is just ONE idea. Any others?

[FTA1982]

Do they still do the 2-day freshman orientation? I remember for mine we went to the Klotsche for a big pep rally, learned the school song, and listened to Botham and Pearl both talk. I thought it was a neat idea and it allowed for students to meet the coaches first hand and learn about UWM spirit.

If UWM can get the new students to recognize Rob at an event like this, maybe they will want to go to games or follow the team. Giving face time by many in the athletic department would be the best to get the word out.

[jhart05]

"Fraternities (notably the TKE's...this is where you come in, Dunne) host parties. On Friday, the night before the game, TKE throws a big party at their house on Oakland and gets freshmen to go to the game."


Tip: Just don't hold a "dress to get laid" party.

We got into a lot of trouble for that one when I was in a Fraternity at Carroll College.

Looking back, probably wasn't the best idea we ever had. Sure was a fun one thou. ;D


As far as getting students to come to the games. I don't know. How to you get it to be the "cool" thing to do?

[PantherU]

pantherpanther said:

Most fans are fickle. Love you when you win, hate you when you lose.

I truly believe that there is a different type of "fan" that sticks around through thick and thin. We have a core group of those fans, and unfortunately like UWM97 said, the other ones won't come around until we start winning again.

I think the enhancements/changes should come for the season ticket holders and friends that they bring. Right now without student support, they are vital.

Nobody is saying we should focus only on students. This is for us, the KK's, to work on.

There isn't anything in what anyone has said on this thread that implies we can't work to bring in more season-ticket holders as well as students. This thread is just focused on the students. Maybe there should be a thread that focuses on how to bring in the alums?

[parkerj]

Ok,

When I was in high school, everybody went to the football games, even though we weren't very good 3 out of my 4 years.

Most people who went to the games spent the entire time fraternizing, and nobody really paid attention to the game, but my school with 2,000 people still drew larger crowds of students with a sh!tty product on the field than UWM and its 25,000 students and a product that could at least be called "middle of the road."

Maybe we're selling the wrong thing by telling people to come out and support their team? Maybe we should make the sell more of a "Come out and hang with your friends! Oh, and there's a basketball game going on." Personally, I would rather there be people in the stands than empty seats, even if the people weren't getting into the game as much as the loyal following. Also, once we got them there, having a personality like Jimmy would probably amp up their enthusiasm.

[PantherU]

High school is a whole different world than college.

[parkerj]

blackpantheruwm said:

High school is a whole different world than college.

of course, but people I've talked to have said they'd go if they had friends with them...

EDIT: and to be honest, i don't really think its different in that regard...

[DunneDeal]

Friends to go with...what me and jimmy aren't friendly looking?

But yes, I agree, when I was a freshman (Sweet16) I didnt go to a game until a good friend told me I should come on this bus ride to Valpo. Ever since then I have been hooked.

I met Jimmy, writehooks, gopanthers011, SRT4Driver, dylanrocks, jgpanther, among tons of others.

I guess that is just something we all have to think about...find a friend that hasnt gone to a game and bring them..kinda like Pay it Forward...if you have seen that movie.

[PantherU]

dunnedeal said:

..kinda like Pay it Forward...if you have seen that movie.

This is the funniest thing I have ever read. I literally cried when I read it.

[writehooks]

i second that jimmy.....

i didnt cry but ive always hada fascination with rock stars playing drug users in morality movies

[jegpanthers53]

I know next year when my friends and I have a house we'll be having pre-game parties and then walking as a group to the shuttle. Hopefully the prospect of underage drinking will draw in some kids?

This is one of the differences between us and madison. They get the huuuge student sections merely because the casual fan can get blasted before their sporting events and then hang out with their friends during and after the games. I have never heard of a pregame party here (at least for the underage kids). I know a lot of the older people hit bars first, but I think just by having a few parties we can increase the casual fan's attendance and even make a few fans once they get into the building and see a game.

So i guess in summary I love the frat party idea, that will def increase attendance, and my friends and I will be doing our part next year. Let's just hope we have some wins to build off of.

[writehooks]

the reason people dont get blasted is because the have to go all the way to the cell, at least that was my reason. i know its a bus ride and im not drivin but still...