[ballcoach15]

Maybe it's just a northern thing, but I've never understood the fascination of club sport hockey over varsity basketball at LU.[/quote]

I feel the same way. It must be a northern thing. I went to one LU hockey game about 3 years ago. Stayed for about 10 minutes. I put hockey one point above watching paint dry.

[JK37]

I might like it more if I understood it. I’ve just never taken the time to get into it.

Kind of like softball. Those who like it, took the time and gave it a chance.

[BlueBlood]

yeah it is crazy how many students think that the hockey team is a legit D1 program. Or at least that use to be the case. I am sure it still is.

I'm sure lots of kids have no idea. And really, its a good (and somewhat legitimate) fake.

Not many schools have NCAA D1 hockey (and no schools south of the Mason-Dixon except for Alabama Huntsville). So, a lot of very high profile colleges are playing club hockey. When you beat an "Alabama" or "Syracuse" in club hockey, you legitimately beat that schools only/best team.

[Purple Haize]

Hockey live is great. I can’t think of a sport more different on TV v Live.

[Sly Fox]

Golf & Tennis are close for different reasons.

[Purple Haize]

Golf & Tennis are close for different reasons.

I’ve been to both. Too much lag time with golf. Although you really appreciate how far they hit that ball. But from a spectator experience? Meh. Although I wouldn’t turn down Masters tix
Tennis is close because of the power involved. But until you can heckle serves......I’ll pass

[JK37]

Ever been to Sawgrass for The Players, PH? Spectacular experience!

[Purple Haize]

Ever been to Sawgrass for The Players, PH? Spectacular experience!

That’s sort of the point It’s a handful of places at best for gold. And even then, you can’t heckle

[SumItUp]

Ever been to Sawgrass for The Players, PH? Spectacular experience!

That’s sort of the point It’s a handful of places at best for gold. And even then, you can’t heckle

PH - Phoenix Open, 16th Hole (it's a party) is the golf spectator experience unlike any other. This year's tourney starts in 2 weeks. Watch it on TV. It's not the same as in person, but you'll get the idea.

[Purple Haize]

Ever been to Sawgrass for The Players, PH? Spectacular experience!

That’s sort of the point It’s a handful of places at best for gold. And even then, you can’t heckle

PH - Phoenix Open, 16th Hole (it's a party) is the golf spectator experience unlike any other. This year's tourney starts in 2 weeks. Watch it on TV. It's not the same as in person, but you'll get the idea.

Again. 1 Tournament.

[bigsmooth]

who is leading the group " The Fire Pit" on twitter? they are doing some work to try and get the students out!

[thepostman]

I like what they are doing for sure. I am super critical, so naturally I think they could do some things a bit different but I like what they are attempting to do.

I hope it gains popularity and becomes the "it" thing to do.

[alabama24]

Attendance was much better when I was a student in the mid-late 90's. It can come back. However, there was less competition back then for entertainment.

[gerb]

I don’t get it. Vines was rockin when I arrived in 92 with a fraction of our current enrollment.

[thepostman]

reference the post above...there is much more compition for the students attention these days.

With that said, the thing that bothers me the most is how little the public supports the team. How do we get them to care about Liberty athletics? Obviously there is the crowd in Lynchburg that hates LU, but there are plenty of people who don't..

[cruzan_flame13]

reference the post above...there is much more compition for the students attention these days.

With that said, the thing that bothers me the most is how little the public supports the team. How do we get them to care about Liberty athletics? Obviously there is the crowd in Lynchburg that hates LU, but there are plenty of people who don't..

Big part of that crowd are UVA supporters who’ve moved to the Burg. I hope the school/city grows and alumni decide to move back or near the school.

[thepostman]

The city has grown quite a bit in the last 15 years and there are plenty within the community that support LU's mission. Target them better. I don't claim to be an expert on this kind of thing but to those who are, realistically what can be done to attract the locals?

[Class of 20Something]

The city has grown quite a bit in the last 15 years and there are plenty within the community that support LU's mission. Target them better. I don't claim to be an expert on this kind of thing but to those who are, realistically what can be done to attract the locals?

I think we need some borderline militant marketing for Group Tickets to the churches in the area. Get as many groups of 10+ in as possible.

Students need to get soccer style chants going on. I know we can have a band, but can we have someone with a large drum keeping tempo for some chants? If that becomes normal for the home court, our players can get used to it and it could really rattle lower tier teams.

[LU 57]

reference the post above...there is much more compition for the students attention these days.

With that said, the thing that bothers me the most is how little the public supports the team. How do we get them to care about Liberty athletics? Obviously there is the crowd in Lynchburg that hates LU, but there are plenty of people who don't..

Definitely more distractions these days. I was there in 92 as well. I do not remember the exact year (94 maybe?) but the LU-VT game was a capacity crowd. I believe they were led by Ace Custis and we lost in overtime, but it was an electric atmosphere.

As stated in another thread, I think dialing down the politics will help with local support. That and winning.

Also, the new arena should help. I live in Richmond and can attest that the construction of the intimate Siegel Center is a big reason for VCU’s recent success. The scarcity of tickets has created a more exclusive feel and the environment is crazy.

Funny aside, my wife got me tickets to the LU vs. VCU game a few years ago. We were literally the only LU fans in the building outside a few directly behind the bench. It was hilarious to see everyone in front of us turn around and stare at us when we clapped during the starting lineup announcement. Unfortunately, we got throttled.

Obviously, we are a much different team now. Given what we did to them last year in the scrimmage, I think we would match up pretty well.

[Jonathan Carone]

Basketball has to become an event like football. It’s a different context so what that event looks like is different (and honestly harder to create), but for people who don’t care about Liberty to show up, it has to be about more than a basketball game.

[gerb]

I'll concede there is more to do now, but what is enrollment now vs early 90's? 5 times what it was? What is staff headcount vs? What is alumni population in Lynchburg vs? probably similar multiples. I just don't get it. Especially with the quality of the product.

As an aside, a great memory was when we were crowd surfing in the student section before tip off and Dr Falwell stood up, ripped off his jacket, threw it down, marched across the floor and we hoisted him up.

[Purple Haize]

I'll concede there is more to do now, but what is enrollment now vs early 90's? 5 times what it was? What is staff headcount vs? What is alumni population in Lynchburg vs? probably similar multiples. I just don't get it. Especially with the quality of the product.

As an aside, a great memory was when we were crowd surfing in the student section before tip off and Dr Falwell stood up, ripped off his jacket, threw it down, marched across the floor and we hoisted him up.

You cannot underestimate his presence in increasing attendance. If it’s important to your leaders it’s important to you

[gerb]

I'll concede there is more to do now, but what is enrollment now vs early 90's? 5 times what it was? What is staff headcount vs? What is alumni population in Lynchburg vs? probably similar multiples. I just don't get it. Especially with the quality of the product.

As an aside, a great memory was when we were crowd surfing in the student section before tip off and Dr Falwell stood up, ripped off his jacket, threw it down, marched across the floor and we hoisted him up.

You cannot underestimate his presence in increasing attendance. If it’s important to your leaders it’s important to you

Thats an issue? Yikes.

[Purple Haize]

I'll concede there is more to do now, but what is enrollment now vs early 90's? 5 times what it was? What is staff headcount vs? What is alumni population in Lynchburg vs? probably similar multiples. I just don't get it. Especially with the quality of the product.

As an aside, a great memory was when we were crowd surfing in the student section before tip off and Dr Falwell stood up, ripped off his jacket, threw it down, marched across the floor and we hoisted him up.

You cannot underestimate his presence in increasing attendance. If it’s important to your leaders it’s important to you

Thats an issue? Yikes.

Jerry Sr went to the games. Made it a point. The students responded

[thepostman]

Having Jerry Sr at games was great. He sat right across from the student section, was engaged the whole time, yelled at the refs and came over and said hi and thanked the students almost every game. Him and towns were always so entertaining at basketball games.