[ToTheLeft]

if no one else will pay,you know I will.

[El Scorcho]

I'm wondering if it's just December basketball that will be this way, and if we won't see a change after the break. I really hope so.

[phoenix]

I'm having trouble relating to this -- back when I was at LU, basketball games were THE social event in season. I can't imagine a game that wasn't packed -- of course, we were playing in the old gym, so maybe attendance is just still the same in a bigger house.

There was a buzz all over campus about the game. I can remember my roommates giving me a hard time when I didn't go to a game -- and the team wasn't that good. I can remember showing up five minutes late and having to stand up throughout the game.

I really think that if there's enough buzz generated, the atmosphere will improve. The problem is getting students fired up enough to turn out. When we can do that, the locals will show up, too.

[Cider Jim]

Do we have Hanky and RD to blame for our current poor MBB attendance (i.e., "sins of the fathers")?

[El Scorcho]

Do we have Hanky and RD to blame for our current poor MBB attendance (i.e., "sins of the fathers")?

I don't think so. I think our prior AD (make that plural if you want) may hold much more responsibility for that than the coaches themselves.

[SuperJon]

The games are a social event. They're a place for students to come, sit down, relax, and talk to their friends with a basketball game in front of them.

That's what has to change.

[BJWilliams]

the last thing I do before I go to a game is to watch DC on WSET to see if he mentions our game.

By 11:00 I'm in bed, Knuckle. I want DC to also show some love BEFORE the game so it will encourage the townspeople to come out for some DI basketball after dinner.

I got at that with my earlier post. We have plenty of media outlets we can use to get word out to the townsfolk and to the students. Getting them excited once they get TO the game is the issue that I think SJ is most trying to address. I was sitting in the section by the spirit band and really the onyl times i heard any significant cheers that weren't for getting T-shirts were when Alex had those two dunks and then Russel's one hand jam at the end of the game.

[Cider Jim]

Get a better BAND (just kidding, BJ).

[Knucklehead]

OK against my better judgement I decided to say it:
If you don't like how DC does it; go out get a sports anchor job, and do it the Perfect way yourself.

I am so done with this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone tell me of a treatment center where I can get counceling on how to stop responding to these threads!

[Cider Jim]

If you don't like how DC does it; go out get a sports anchor job, and do it the Perfect way yourself.

Great idea, Knuckle. How long is it until BJ graduates? Or, would GMTM like the job? (I don't think it requires any spelling).

[BJWilliams]

Get a better BAND (just kidding, BJ).

Honestly that was the first time those kids had played at a game together (that and a number of people are in the orchestra for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers which opens Friday night and others still are in the Virginia CHristmas Spectacular which opens to the public this weekend although there is a show for the LU folks tonight at 7). I did not think they sounded good last night at all. I think if Dr Kerr was there at the game he would have agreed with me on that one.

[BJWilliams]

If you don't like how DC does it; go out get a sports anchor job, and do it the Perfect way yourself.

Great idea, Knuckle. How long is it until BJ graduates? Or, would GMTM like the job? (I don't think it requires any spelling).

Im planning to graduate in May CJ, thing is Im looking to focus on radio not TV

[Cider Jim]

BJ, I thought all radio guys were fat & ugly. You've definitely got a face for TV.

[BJWilliams]

BJ, I thought all radio guys were fat & ugly. You've definitely got a face for TV.

WHy thank you CJ. My mother thinks I am too fidgety for TV. I tend to use a lot of facial expressions when I think of what Im about to say or what not and she thinks that doesn't translate well to TV

[ALAFlamesFan]

I tried to post this earlier but I see it didn't take...

You really need to approach RM about working with you on a good student section.

At Alabama they are called Mark's Madness after the coach "Mark Gottfried". I know the 3 students who are officers in that group this year. The officers meet several times a year with the coach. They go over the ground rules and I think coach even swung for the T-shirts. I can get you in touch with these guys if you want the specifics but my suggestion is:

Talk to RM, set up a table in Demoss and start collecting email addresses and giving out shirts. With the email addresses you have a database of folks at least willing to come out and support the team and you can communicate any new cheers or pranks you might want to pull while the other team is shooting free throws, clever things to shout when introductions are made, etc...

I think RM has a vested interest in creating a better atmosphere in the Vines and his clout could help you out with the whole pep club/SFC thing.

Just my 2 cents. In my day basketball games were the place to be...of course we had a good coach back then too that put a good product on the floor much like we hope RM will do...

[ToTheLeft]

We have a group or two on Facebook, reaching probably a thousand or more students.

But I am all for talking to RMK, perhaps I should shoot him an email?

[Schfourteenteen]

I would think itd be better to see him first in person then talk about the idea the second time, my guess.

Id definitely like to help you with this

[SuperJon]

ALA, I love what you're saying, and I've offered to do something to Coach McKay but he never said anything. I know he loves what we're doing, and wants to pack out the Vines, but he never responded to my offer to do anything. Granted, he's probably busy coaching the team, recruiting, etc so I don't mind, but I at least mentioned it to him.

[Schfourteenteen]

What if we talk to him in person, and either try to schedule time during his day or take him out to applebees one night?

[Stevev]

Haven't had the time to read all of the posts on this but how much do the low expectations of the team affect the early season game attendence. I mean being picked sixth in the Big South is not exactly where we expect to be when the season ends at least based on what I have determined by following the games broadcasts that we should do much better than that. Someone mentioned the Hanky and RD effect being the reason. I don't know about that. I would have thought that at least we would had doubled the attendence figures that I have been seeing on these boxscores.

[SuperJon]

You give Liberty kids too much credit. They don't know we were picked 6th.

[jcmanson]

You give Liberty kids too much credit. They don't know we were picked 6th.

They do know that noone has been hyping this team, but only the football team. I know that will be changing, but still.

[ToTheLeft]

You give Liberty kids too much credit. They don't know we were picked 6th.

But they do know we "suck"

Me- You guys goin to the game tonight?
Them- No, our team sucks, who are we playing? Doesn't matter, we will lose anyways...

[SuperJon]

Was that said to an upperclassman or lowerclassman? The uppers think we suck in everything because their freshman/sophomore years, we did. The lowers don't know any better so they believe anything they hear from the uppers.

[Schfourteenteen]

I know who hes talking about and theyre frosh

Most people know we have no expectations