How to improve the student section
by terps015 on Jan 18, 2012 2:31 AM EST
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PrintAlright terpfam, l wanted to make a post to show you all what my friend that goes to arizona posted on their board about improving their student section. Apparently the U of A is having a similar problem with getting students to the game and cheering. in this article below, he outlines a bunch of ways to fix the problem and i think we could learn a lot from his ideas.
http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/1/11/2698936/a-call-to-students-make-the-zona-zoo-feared-once-again
In the article he posts a link from when Sean Miller invited the students to practice to teach them a few new cheers/chants. My favorite is the boink/boink/pass/brick one but more so i LOVE the idea of the coach getting involved with the students to help create a better atmosphere at the games. Somebody should definitely get in contact with someone in the basketball program and suggest a special open practice in which turge teaches students new cheers while having a little fun with the team and fans. I mean, hey he is a new coach and wouldn't this be an awesome way to meet the students who care a lot about the team and show the student body its their team too!
Hear is the link for the open practice with students:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l4MzYeOyLA
P.S. Another great video he has in there is the one about the "Izzone" at Michigan State which is a must see
alright thats about it, so check out the article, watch the videos and tell me what you think
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Start the semester earlier
so students are on campus for games?
(runs and hides from angry mob of students)
I like Turtles!
Follow @HarryHareBear
Unfortunately winter classes end right before spring class begin
I’m in my winter class right now actually. We get like 2 days of break before class starts up again :(
Or...
how about scheduling ALL of our road games during times when there are no classes….just a though
Wow
Could you imagine the drunkenness on the campus if the entire student body was moved in with no classes to go to?
I hear you on student attendance
and it sickens me that we don’t get the kind of attendance that we should, but you can’t judge now until the students are back for the spring semester….I keep saying the same thing about there attendance as you are but I have to be reminded (or remind myself) that they are still on break. Lets wait and see how it is when they are back before we start complaining aobut it
My prediction as a student:
Comcast will be rocking on the first day back for the Duke game. After that, I expect a lackluster showing for the next home game vs. VTech. There are way too many students who get up only for the Duke game.
unless they beat duke
then every1 will be excited again and definitely show up for VT.
but that’s how it goes…win and they will come
by lovethemterps on Jan 18, 2012 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
totally agree
im not complaining at all about the student section over winter break. the schools in state population is only about 50% now or maybe a lithe more.
Uhh..
The in state population is required to be at 70% or higher to be funded by the state.
that may be true
but if you were a student today it definitely doesn’t feel that way. I’m not aware of the actual stats or requirements but almost everyone i know is from PA, NJ, NY (damn long island). i guess i was exaggerating a little lol
It feels that way
because those students have to live on campus or right around college park. A lot of students that live in MD only live on the campus for a year or two before they start commuting to school. There are a ton of transfer students for there junior and senior years that never live on the campus and just commute.
Prob around 70%
However, that 70% factors in commuters, as well as older folks that returned to school. The population of MD students which actually live on/nearby campus and participate strongly in campus life is much lower- I’d estimate about 40-50%.
There’s also a much lower proportion of upper classmen who attend games- honestly, when you’re a freshman and your dorm is a 3 minute walk to Comcast, you’re much more eager to make it over.
Haha, I don't wanna go back to school.
It’s up to the new kids to do us proud.
by 1 proud terp on Jan 18, 2012 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
See, you 1997-2001 students were no better
but you had a top program to go cheer for. The actual basketball fans are there every game, but the teams from a decade ago drew in a lot of casual fans (like the 2009-2010 team did with GV). I’m tired of hearing from all you old people pining for the varsity years. When the team becomes relevant in the basketball world again, they’ll start coming back, but until then, theres NOTHING that can be done to make people come see MD struggle against teams like Miami and NC State
by kryptonianjorel on Jan 18, 2012 9:58 AM EST up reply actions
ehhh.. maybe but not so sure.
Ive always said… as the incoming students GPAs and SAT scores went UP.. the school spirit went DOWN. Or so it seemed. Hopefully that doesnt offend anyone. I cant say whether I would have gone to the games with this team or not. Sitting home now, I say I would if I was a student today. I never missed a home game from 97-01 when school was in session. That being said, I never went to a game during break. So HOPEFULLY, after break the students will support the team to the fullest.
thank you
im a sophomore right now and found this site back in november. the one thing i hear here that pisses me off is this holier than thou attitude coming from some alumni who go on and on about how THEY were such amazing fans and the students nowadays are a disgrace blah blah blah. Guess what? Fans dont show up or make as much noise when the team isn’t winning. Thats true everywhere, like it or not.
Thats when I was rockin it!
Those were the days! When I thought Cole was actually going to shake to the ground! It was SOOOO loud.
Win games and they will come
/thread
(and yes, I know this is admitting that we have a lot of fair weather fans)
every team does
if duke missed both the NCAA and NIT tourny last year, and then started the year 12-5 the way we have, they wouldn’t fill a 18,000 seat arena.
by lovethemterps on Jan 18, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions
That's not true
But Duke is an exception, I agree that most other schools have/would have the same problem. And while winning is the best (and preferred) way to get students to the games, there are things like free shirts or special events that can draw the more casual fans in. It wouldn’t be easy but it’s better than an empty Comcast
it would be great
to have more fun student traditions at bball games
gotta have somebody take the lead and organize or start it though
by bloodwatermission on Jan 18, 2012 10:27 AM EST reply actions
Rock and Roll part 2
is one of the best traditions in the country. Again, if we had cameras on the oppo side of the court everyone watching on tv would notice the students participating.
Move the cameras to the other side of the court like at Cameron Indoor
No one on TV can see the greatness of the student section on the opposite side of the benches because the cameras are on the wrong side. Everyone always praises the fans at cameron but that’s because they are always on camera. The other half of the court does not have students (behind the Duke bench). If you could see our student section the entire game the atmosphere for TV viewers would be much better. It is frustrating that you cannot see our sideline student section because it is one of the best in the country. The “wall” fans suck.
The wall fans do suck
because not enough students show up to fill it
Zona - boing, boing, boing, breath, brick
UMD students – boink, boink, boink (her), suck it up, you suck…. that’s the problem that will crop up over and over I’m afraid – lol
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
sometimes...
its not about the number of fans but if you read the post its about making the students more unified and therefore louder and more feared. if we could fill the lower bowl with students who want to act together to make comcast a tougher atmosphere to play in then i think we will be fine
COMPLETELY AGREE
been saying this awhile. If the die hard fans that are coming to the games were unified.. they would still be pretty formidable. I still like the idea of a website (like this one) that is advertised to all the fans. That way ideas could be talked about and then voted on.
by rquidas on Jan 18, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
every time i see one of these posts i get so angry
im so sick of the “old time” terps saying they were better fans than those of us that go now. guess what, it was was easier to make cole field house louder than comcast and guess what there was a LOT LESS to do in 1996 and 1985 and 1973 at Maryland than their is now and guess what, the school is a lot better academically than it every has been. I dont even think i could get in anymore and im a junior. i hate the dook style of student section with cheer sheets, we dont need them. When the team is doing well and the game is a good one, there is a place louder than comcast. we dont have an attendance problem and we dont have bad fans
MD is about the same as it was
in those other eras – Route 1 only recently started getting its facelift! lmao
Human vanity/hubris is to think one is different. Everyone wants to stand out. The truth will come out when the Terps are again top 20 consistently. I predict those students will hold up the mantle proudly and act as rabidly as in the past.
Until then, the die hards will take up the charge, one day leading the Terp fair weather student fans over the hill as we battle ACC foes other than Duke and Carolina.
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
by bball purist on Jan 18, 2012 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
I'm starting to come around to your POV on this, 3030.
I guess I’m one of those “old time terps”(mid-late 90’s), and I’m getting tired of rehashing the same subject. Fact is, as soon as we start winning again, the place will be filled to the brim, and will stay that way as long as we continue to win.
People talk about how “great” dook students are, but if they weren’t constantly winning and highly ranked every season, I bet they’d have trouble filling up that shithole too. I will try not to bash current students on this anymore, unless you all fail to show up for obvious big games this year after classes begin…then all bets are off.
Lastly, bring back Rock n Roll Part II and 90% of the crowd apathy issue is solved.
by 1 proud terp on Jan 18, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
I think terps015 hit the nail on the head
This post was less about “current students suck” and more about “is there anything in our control to improve the atmosphere at Comcast?”
The ultimate answer is: Win, and they will come.
But in the meantime, it isn’t a waste of time to figure out how to maximize attendance and atmosphere. Maybe we don’t have 18k in attendance—and maybe we won’t until we become a sweet 16 team again. But how do we turn that 12k into 14k? How do we make that 12-14k louder and more imposing?
As an aside: what is it you all do now at Maryland that we didn’t do years ago? I’m a relatively recent grad (2007) and all I did was drink. Pretty sure that is what they did in 1996 and 1985 and 1973. Is there some new-fangled thing going on that I’m not aware of?
by bshock on Jan 18, 2012 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Thank You
That was basically what i was saying…there must be a way to make whatever number of students show up to the game seem like its a full house.
But yes of course win games and they will come. And i also say that the current students definitely don’t suck, we just need to be more unified. NO cheer sheets though. We some type of “Izzone” where the lower bowl is only for the most dedicated students. watch that video if you haven’t it is awesome
But like you said i’m pretty sure all i do i drink. I mean sure if i have an exam the next day i won’t but other than that it ‘s just part of my lifestyle there. I don’t know about anyone else but I’m having the time of my life already and its only gonna get better.
I just want the student leaders in the Comcast crowd
to figure out a way to stop other students from being on, or using, their cell phones half the game. That will help attention spans a bit. But again, win more and that washes away “some” too.
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
by bball purist on Jan 19, 2012 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
I can't help but tweet occasionally during games.
Strictly about the game though…
I wasn't talking about those
it’s the other “stuff” – you’ve seen it -
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
by bball purist on Jan 19, 2012 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
I will flip a sh*t
If we ever use cheer sheets.
the students who are ballers
Take a Sh*t every day… A mean Sh**t… just ask Dino Gallinari – lmao
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
by bball purist on Jan 19, 2012 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
sorry - for those that didn't see it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EquEeR9f6Qc
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
by bball purist on Jan 19, 2012 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
or schedule real teams out of conference. Playing UK(although not at home)
Start a series with G’town and WVU and have a real non-conference schedule
I've been saying this a long time
There’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to have a home and home type series with Georgetown. That could set up a GREAT rivalry. Two normally good programs with some history that play within a few miles of each other. It’s a no brainer if you think about it. WVU would be nice too. We’d match up better most years in basketball than in football.
Georgetown won't do a home and home
Because Maryland fans would flood the Verizon Center, and make it (at best) a 50/50 game, causing Georgetown to lose their homecourt advantage. Then they’d have to play at Comcast, which would be overwhelmingly Maryland. In other words, they’d have what amounts to a neutral court game and an away game (at least, that is their argument).
They want to just play at Verizon. Maryland has refused to do this, because it amounts to an away game (even if we might “travel” well to it as the away team).
Someone has to budge.
UK might as well be a home game
… I just have to decide if I’m staying with Jersey or Long Island friends when I go to that game.
Attracting More Fans
While I agree with what terps015 is saying, and am glad that this issue is being brought to the light, I want to point out that the non diehard bball fans don’t visit this website and therefore never see this. Someone needs to write an article in the Diamondback about this issue so it’s viewed by more students. Additionally, in another previous post someone brought up the idea of the athletic department putting new cheers in the Diamondback on game day so that students can use those. I admit that as a current Maryland student, I participate in the “Fuck Duke” chants just as much as anyone else. But its not creative and gives us a bad name. We need to be more creative and clever and get into the heads of opposing players without using profanity. We may never develop as many clever cheers as Utah St. has but we should at least try. Finally, the open practice for students is a great idea that should be explored.
STOGS 4 PREZ!!!
Maryland is a large commuter school
Don’t use the winter break as a lame excuse. Loved my four years as a student in the mid-late 90’s. Cole Field House might have been old, but it sure was fun. I don’t live in the DC area anymore, but I can tell you as a television spectator, not too many arenas are as loud as Comcast when the place is rocking. Let’s hope the students support the team for more than just the Duke and UNC games.
The Maryland student body is very fortunate to have great seats in that arena when many schools stick there students in the worst sections of the building.
Another point
Comcast is one of the biggest arenas in the nation at about 18,000. That’s about 4-5 times what Cameron Indoor holds. Of course I would love to see the entire arena full, but there are so many more seats to fill than other places. The students alone get 4,000 tickets, which is more than 99% of the country. If we gave out 1,000 student tickets, it would be full but we would complain about not getting a chance to see the game.
by RGoldberg on Jan 18, 2012 11:17 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Tried to jack your Sig...
but I’m clearly doing something wrong. Pretty sure it has something to do with the class follow button and the mouse over. Arg.
Great point..
Cole was always full because it seats less people, and has the sick angles on the elevation. I went to one game at Cole as a kid and it was amazing. Comcast just isn’t the same because it is so much bigger
Many games in the 70's and early 80's
iF all the student tickets were not taken, first choice was to give them to the faculty. It was great to sit in the student section at Cole and yell all those profanities! I remember when Billy Packer challenged Lefty one day. I think Packer beat the left hander that day, challenging Lefty to a pre-game 1 on 1 This is one way Lefty related to the kids and made them want to come and see his teams play. Turge could do the same thing.
Get better non conference schedule at comcast
and more students will come
True
Generally the only noteworthy home non-conference opponent has been the biannual B1G opponent. It’s not like we’ve made up for that with tough non-conference games on the road either. Better non-conference home games would help attendance a lot, IMO, and boosting your SOS never hurts come March.
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