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Post by milwsport on Mar 7, 2008 13:40:40 GMT -6
UIC has drapes that are behind one of the baskets. I don't think that would be possible at the Cell unless you have drapes that block the entire 400 section on both sides.
I do agree with the idea of bringing people closer together. Maybe dividing the 300 section so the cheap $10.00 seats are in the last two rows.
All of this talk about moving back to the Klotsche is pointless. It's been pointed out numerous times that Klotsche no longer has enough seating to meet HL standards. It simply can't be done without major renovations
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Post by milwsport on Mar 6, 2008 15:53:02 GMT -6
One said he never hears anything on the radio or sees anything in the paper about Panther games. Another commented, "Whomever is in charge of marketing these games needs to be fired." Cool commercial.... The problem? Not one mention of an upcoming game and no phone number to call for tickets! What is the point of running this ad?! 3. On Monday morning I found out that the husband of a coworker attended UWM and played hoops for Ray Swetella back in the day. I told her that the game on Saturday recognized the alums who have played for the Panthers and that the alumni game was held earlier in the day. Her reply? "He would have loved to play in the game! We would have gone to the game." I am sure there are a TON more painful examples of where our program is not effectively reaching out to potential fans, alumni, and area sports fans in general. 1. Anyone who says they haven't seen anything about our games in the paper must not read the sports section. We aren't always on the front page but we are covered with at least medium sized articles and more often than not a picture. Not to mention articles on the players. 2. Absolutely correct. Why run a commercial that doesn't tell someone when the games are. 3. That's a shame, however, I think it's a factor of being able to contact people. I suspect those who were invited have regular contacts with the AD and/or the University. The AD probably doesn't have the staff to track people down. I would add the lack of in game announcements about upcoming games. Whether it's the Brewers, Bucks or other HL teams, there are always announcements on the scoreboard and from the announcer mentioning the next few games. It's been a constant complaint from me. I just don't understand why some people don't think that the more you tell folks about an event the more likely they are to attend.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 5, 2008 14:51:58 GMT -6
Milwsport, I agree more has to be done year-round. But I think the Chancellors office must be the first thing to enforce the changes. He could make every incoming student attend a semester long course on the history, tradition and importance of UWM. Have alums come in to guest lecture. Have the coaches come in to give talks. Have student leaders (like Jimmy) describe the traditions. Make it essential that every student at UWM understands that this is not a 4 year pit stop, but a part of your life for the rest of your life. I don't know that a semester long course is practical but I do think a day long orientation is doable and advisable. Either way, the effort has to begin more than just a few weeks before the season starts and it shouldn't end when the last horn goes off either.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 5, 2008 14:26:06 GMT -6
I agree that you can't ignore the alumni and the rest of the community. Perhaps we can organize an alumni group to go after other alumni.
However, the cheapest and easiest way to go in improving attendance is students organizing to interest other students.
Again folks, the problem is that if you aren't promoting constantly throughout the year, you haven't built up the kind of interest and excitement that will break through the current "I don't care" attitude.
The game day flyers, signs etc are very helpful but not as effective as they would be if more people were inclined to attend to begin with.
It's hard work and it takes would take a dedicated, creative crew to take it upon themselves to organize a year long campaign putting Panther's BB in sight just about everywhere on the campus. But the reality is that as is the case in building a great program there aren't any shortcuts to success.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 5, 2008 12:23:04 GMT -6
So if the Klotsche only holds 3500, than the AD was lying when they said we had 5000 for two years in a row against Butler. No, the AD wasn't lying. The Klotsche was remodeled when the Pavillion was built. It doesn't hold as many people now as it did then. I agree with Panthersteve except I think there were more students coming to games when BP was the coach. Even then attendance wasn't what it should have been but there were more in attendance. A strong student section will help build interest among the alumni and casual fans. The question is how do you get more kids interested? I've built a few events that were floundering around and I can tell that in addition to finding out why people aren't coming and addressing those issues, you MUST change the climate. You do that with a constant stream of publicity not just at game time but throughout the year. Hold special events, breakfast/ lunch/ dinner with the coach, a BBQ, dance with the players, maybe even a player auction. I remember one year they set up a hoop in the Union atrium. Students could play 3 on 3 against 3 of the players with a coach reffing. Students who participated got a free T-shirt that said, "I support UWM Basketball." The point is that you can't wait until Midnight Madness is near to start promoting. We need events and publicity constantly. The point is that the more people see and hear about the program, the more likely they are to feel that it's a big deal. The more they think it's a big deal the less likely they are to want to miss out on it.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 5, 2008 8:03:51 GMT -6
This was a VERY disappointing season. The best that can be said of it as after we hit rock bottom, the team rebounded for awhile, only to fall apart again in the last six games. Last nigh they looked lethargic and tired.
I don't know what happened. Maybe the coaches worked them too hard. Maybe they just ran out of gas and the minutes caught up with them. But the team on the floor the last three games didn't resemble the one that came within two clicks of beating Wright State on the road and one FT of beating Butler at home.
I hate to sound gloomy but I think alot of people are going to re-evaluate their committments to the program. VAST improvements are needed next year or support is going to plunge as quickly as the number of players on our roster fell this year.
I do believe that RJ has shown that he can coach. Whether or not he can coach well here on a consistent basis is however an open question.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 4, 2008 7:27:05 GMT -6
Lou is no longer the Admin of this site. That position has been given to Bruce Benedict. There is no error. You must be drunk. LAST CALL!!!! On behalf of Mr. Benedict, I'm calling a technical foul on you due to your post. Rule 1,678,904, section CVLI paragraph 189.780 clearly states, "Posting may only be done during time outs and intermissions."
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Post by milwsport on Mar 4, 2008 9:27:03 GMT -6
Jimmy there's no reason to be nasty when you disagree with someone's post. I don't think the list was "manipulated." It's his opinion you may disagree with it but obviously since he was named co-COY, others felt that Brownell did a great job.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 3, 2008 15:37:40 GMT -6
I think Skinner should have at least been second team, but keep in mind that he wasn't a major factor until after Torre Johnson was dismissed from the team and he missed the last three games. Playing all out for 12 games or so isn't going to get you all league honors.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 3, 2008 13:39:34 GMT -6
Brownell is a fine coach but if we're looking at players missing games is the criterion, then Rob Jeter should be right up there with any of them.
Hell we had two players, Joe Allen and Avo who missed the whole season. Two others, Flowers and Kevin Johnson, who missed around 20 games, Two others, Torre Johnson and Gentry who missed around 15 games, one, Marcus Skinner who missed three games and several like Ricky Franklin and Paige Paulsen who played with hand injuries.
Seriously guy, taking the league doormat to the #2 seed should be enough to win Coach of the Year. Waters deserved it over anybody else.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 3, 2008 7:32:34 GMT -6
Bad refs or not, the fans (mostly the students) need to knock off the Assholes, and bullsh*t, these refs suck, 3 blind mice chants that makes us look really bad. one or two "bull sh*t" chants is fine but.... the ref beats his wife stuff is obnoxious and uncalled for. Ya at SIU the Dawg Pound can be kinda ruthless to the other teams players, and we do have a bullsh*t chant here and there but last night just went over the top. Just my opinion. When even the older grey haired fans are up out of their seats screaming about calls, that says something about the reffing. I can only remember one asshole chant, but then again I was too busy counting the fouls on us and the non calls on them. Keep in mind that the refs were consistent in the first half and the score was tied. But by the time 9 minutes had gone by in the second half, UIC was already in the double bonus. From the 10 minute mark until the 2 minute mark, the refs didn't call 1 foul on the Flames, despite the very physical game they were playing. Add in the fact, that this fan base really loves this team and how it's risen about it all AND the refs going after fans and you have a recipe for discontent from the stands. It should be noted as well, that not every call against us was booed. In fact most weren't. It was just a few blantantly bad ones and the blatant non-calls on UIC that aroused our ire.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 8, 2008 17:03:00 GMT -6
If anyone doesn't think the kids should rush the floor after a win or cheer for RJ after a loss there's a simple answer: Don't rush the floor or don't do the cheer.
But don't get on those who enjoy doing those things and find them to be appropriate.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 5, 2008 7:49:16 GMT -6
ps where was Averkamp tonight javerkamp? Um, he was with Paige Paulsen and Allen Hanson. And Deonte Roberts.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 3, 2008 7:17:00 GMT -6
I actually don't see why you should apologize. He charged into the student section to provoke you.
I got a response to my second email. It reads:
At the risk of going back and forth with a fan on whther the officiating was any good or whether the actions of a few obviously intoxicated fans were "crowd control issues" the band is only allowed to play during time outs and intermissions per basketball rule 10, Section 2, Art. 8 on page 134 of the rule book. I can assure you the officiating, the crowd and the band will all do alot better on Tuesday. Sounds like an admission that this crew didn't do that well.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 2, 2008 17:58:50 GMT -6
Did the band do anything last night that they haven't done all year long?
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