Tell everyone on campus

[PantherU]

Just got up in front of 300 students in my classical mythology lecture and told them to come to the game on Thursday. My lecturer was actually laughing, but he promptly stopped when I got a round of applause from the students.

It's a freshmen class that I'm retaking, so it's full of freshmen. Maybe they'll be showing up this year, fingers crossed.

If you're a student, do the same in all your lectures. I really think I got a few students to commit.

If you're not comfortable talking in front of huge crowds, just bring it up in conversation with everyone you talk to this week. I would say to tell them about the soccer game tomorrow night as well, but if you have to pick one or the other to tell them about, make sure it's the b-ball game.

Talked to a professor I don't know yesterday on the bus ride up, and he didn't know that the season was starting Thursday. Gave him a schedule, and he said that he would tell his classes about upcoming games. I believe him because I saw him at several games last season. Who knows, he might be a member of the d-board.

[famouspnthrfan]

I wish professors were a little more involved as far as spreading the word to students. I know there are a lot of UWM alums who are professors here. It's a shame that more of them don't inform students and make a bigger deal about it.

[jhart05]

Are you serious? That f-ing professor was laughing?!?!?!

Unbelievable.

Yes, tell everyone on campus. It's back to business as usual for this program!!

[Deleted]

I know we have buses going from the Sandburg dorms to the Cell for some home games (should be all), and that is a big step in getting students out (I utilized my UPASS to the max, but we have to be realistic and admit that not every student is going to want to take (or take the time to figure out, or "stand on the corner waiting for the.." (sorry, Violent Femmes references)) MCTS to the games.

Something I thought of the other day is- with the (likely) overwhelming amount students living on or near campus who don't have cars, is there some other way things could be made easier for them to get to and back from downtown? My friend works for BOSS and he thought it was a great idea that he would suggest- to promote and offer rides to/from the Cell for Panther home games to all interested UWM students. Obviously, even that wouldn't be to accomodate more than a few dozen (maybe 50-75/game) students max, it is an alternative, and a start.

I also think that UPASS and the MCTS Route(s) (I haven't taken the bus in so long now that I live downtown, is it Route #30 or #62?) should be advertised more as a means of transportation to the games for students with no ride. I know that every student *should* know about UPASS (it can save a TON of cash- I would have paid over $500 in bus rides over time without it when I was an undergrad), but talk to most UWM students and you'll find, they DON'T even know that UWM Students get into home games absolutely FREE!!!

I'm no marketing whiz, but I do think some things (potential BOSS rides to games, the MCTS routes, the Buses from the dorms, and foremost the fact that games are free(!) to students, should be made just a bit more visible. Just my two cents. (Congratulations if you took the time to read another one of victorpanthers rambling posts. lol).

I can't wait to see the Parkside game. The Panthers will be ready. After UWM Black Panther's stand-up announcement, and (hopefully) subsequent hype brewed up by all of us (I have many friends who are still at UWM undergrad and postgraduate)......the students just may be as well. If or if not, it shouldn't take very long for many casual fans 'on the fence' about coming to the Cell, to catch on, and flock to see this team do what they hope to do best: WIN Basketball Games.

[jhart05]

I thought there was a bus outside the dorms for all the games.

That's not the case?

[Deleted]

I could be wrong- I just assumed that was the reason the student section was not well filled out for nearly all games but Butler and UWGB. If there are buses for every game- this thread is right, "Tell Everyone On Campus!!!!!!!". After seeing the talent Jeter and staff have developed and assembled, they won't be disappointed.

[PantherU]

Yes. Coach buses shuttle students to and from the games, not crappy MCTS buses.

And Butler had no one there. I was one of 10 students standing in the KK section.

I mean, COACH BUSES. It's not like we're making them drive hand carts to the games.

Like Dutch said, we're going to have to hold their hands to get them on the bus.

BTW, anyone on the board who wants to help out on Thursday by talking to students can show up here, at the Post office, tomorrow at 3 p.m. We'll be talking about a few student section ideas, but mostly it will be ideas for how to get students going to basketball games starting with Parkside.

Post office: Room EG80 of the Union
Time: 3 p.m. Wednesday til about 4.

Some of us will go to the men's soccer game against Marquette after the meeting. If you want to dress up in a halloween costume and come to the game, we'll have a couple cars to give you a ride down there.

Any questions, send me an e-mail at [e-mail]

[milwsport]

Good Job, Jimmy.

The only way student attendance is going to increase is if the students view attending as "the thing to do." Yes winning will help but even that will only go so far if the attitude doesn't change.

How do you change the attitude? Blanketing the campus with signs, posters etc. is one way but even more important is personal contact.

1) Yes by all means get up in your classes and talk about Thursday
2) If you live in the dorms go around in the cafeteria with schedules and talk to people.
3) Do the same thing in the Union meal areas.
4) If you are riding the U Bus from the Humboldt parking lots talk to people on the bus too.

I've built up events that had little interest when I started running them, so believe me when I say that the bottom line is that the more people hear about an event, the more likely they are to think that it's a big deal and they should be there or they'll be missing out.

[ArtVandelay]

victorpanther said:

My friend works for BOSS and he thought it was a great idea that he would suggest- to promote and offer rides to/from the Cell for Panther home games to all interested UWM students. Obviously, even that wouldn't be to accomodate more than a few dozen (maybe 50-75/game) students max, it is an alternative, and a start.

BOSS would be a good idea, but for insurance reasons they are not allowed drive south of Brady Street or south of Pleasant on MLK. It is possible to have a special transport, but the BOSS fleet only consists of 10 vans. Anyone that has ever taken BOSS realizes how taxed the system already is, so taking vans away to shuttle students to and from the game would likely cause even longer wait times for students trying to return home from class. Next thing you know someone gets mugged walking home after BOSS took to long, and its a black eye for the University.

Shuttle Buses from campus and both the 30 and 15 bus routes are plenty to transport students. Its a matter of promoting the transport options, and having a winning product on the court to draw their attention.

[bball30]

I say ditch the coach busses, use that money to get some big yellow school busses, and double the number of trips going down. In December - February, nobody wants to wait FOREVER for the busses. Who cares if it's a cloth seat or or a bench, pack em in and get em downtown!

[Deleted]

uwmrotty said:

victorpanther said:

My friend works for BOSS and he thought it was a great idea that he would suggest- to promote and offer rides to/from the Cell for Panther home games to all interested UWM students. Obviously, even that wouldn't be to accomodate more than a few dozen (maybe 50-75/game) students max, it is an alternative, and a start.

BOSS would be a good idea, but for insurance reasons they are not allowed drive south of Brady Street or south of Pleasant on MLK. It is possible to have a special transport, but the BOSS fleet only consists of 10 vans. Anyone that has ever taken BOSS realizes how taxed the system already is, so taking vans away to shuttle students to and from the game would likely cause even longer wait times for students trying to return home from class. Next thing you know someone gets mugged walking home after BOSS took to long, and its a black eye for the University.

Shuttle Buses from campus and both the 30 and 15 bus routes are plenty to transport students. Its a matter of promoting the transport options, and having a winning product on the court to draw their attention.

I totally understand and see your good point. I just hope that somehow, students living on the more southern (heck even the 2800-2900 blocks) of near campus, can find the city bus route to the game- I am willing to bet there are a ton of kids who would go if it were easier for them (or more advertised, as you also suggested).

Maybe I can ask the Athletic Dept. to consider promoting using UPASS for off-campus/near-campus students to get to games at the Cell (in the little UPASS kiosk thing in the Union). Who knows? I just can't wait until more students start coming out- they are the backbone of any great basketball program (just ask Coach K). It's just not the same in professional sports. The students have tremendous power as a unit (to change momentum, etc., blah, blah, etc.). Let's all get out the the games, students, faculty, UWM employees, alum, new fans and everyone in between.

[dutchpthr]

<<<<<THERE ARE BUSES FOR EVERY HOME GAME EVEN THE ONES DURING BREAK>>>>

I urge all of the students who are on here to help do what you can to get the word out, go chalk the sidewalks in front of the dorms, ask a large group of students if they are going, tell anyone you see. To be honest this is the best tool that can help us out.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
If you want to even try and go around to hang up schedule posters come talk to me i would love to start up a "Street Team" of sorts again...There are going to be games that we will need all of the help that we can get from the students and i am willing to listen to any ideas as well, come talk to me, shoot me a message on here or hell find another way to get a hold of me, it's not that hard, and i will take you seriously and will listen.

come out and yell your lungs out but also make sure to bring all o your friends......i mean for god sakes you all get in FOR FREE!!!

again any students on here get back to me and let me know what you would like to do....

[uwmfutbol]

My largest class has 20 students, and I guarantee they couldn't give two s**ts about UWM athletics.

[jhart05]

Great dutch.

Please students, take him up on his offer.

We need you.

[uwmfutbol]

It's definitely a good call to talk to the kids in the freshman classes. A lot of them probably don't even know UWM has a basketball team.