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Post by Yote 53 on Jan 19, 2012 8:57:48 GMT -6
With regards to the student body, students at USD are apathetic towards athletics and pretty much everything else. Read the Volante, online edition if you can't get the actual paper, and you will see the apathy. They complain about parking, they complain about construction (new buildings), they complain about pretty much everything. If they only knew how nice of a campus and everything the school has done to make their time there better compared to my days there.
I know people who have kids that go to Iowa and ISU. My brothers went to Iowa and ISU, respectively. The only times they came home were for extended holiday breaks, Christmas, Easter, Spring Break, other than that they stayed at school. USD students, too many of them, go home every weekend. Look at the parking lots on Friday night through Sunday night, empty. How can students go to athletic events when they aren't even in town? There is no vested interest in their school. The problem, as I see it, goes beyond athletics.
FWIW, the students that do stick around town and actually live the college experience, that I have spoken with, have a blast. Maybe that is where it starts. Athletics can be the event that keeps the students on campus over the weekend. Start to build on that. Peer pressure works the best. The athletic dept needs to engage those core students who stick around and go to the games. Now, keep in mind, many times these students are not academic giants, but college is so much more than academics, it's about learning about life, experiences, and making lifetime connections. USD administration needs to emphasize the total college experience. Those students can then expand their numbers by getting friends to join them. The Coyote Crazies must be rebuilt. As of late, the student body has not lived up to the name.
I've outlined before how the Coyote Crazies should be built into the student arm, or a sponsored organization of the Howling Pack. Coyote Crazy members could, upon graduation, transition into the Pack.
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Jan 19, 2012 15:34:15 GMT -6
I did think part of that is outside of the bars, the city of Vermillion does a very poor job of making it seem like a college town.
With a school of 10,000 there, Verm acts like it's a city of 3,000. Most of that is because everything is locally owned, which is great, but it allows for very few new businesses because the locally owned businesses get VERY VERY defensive. Just check out the former China Buffet corner which is just absolutely dirty but could be turned into a thriving business.
Sometimes there is a big vibe in Verm that it does not want the students there, but there is also a feeling that USD does not like dealing with Verm either, so there is that problem.
Until that is fixed between the two sides, then Verm will never have the feel of a college town. Look at how SDSU and Brookings embrace each other, that is not the feeling with USD and Vermillion.
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Post by Iceman on Jan 20, 2012 0:29:48 GMT -6
I can't agree with you guys more. For a coyote basketball game, the student crowd was actually descent sized tonight. Keep in mind for a coyote basketball game, not all college basketball games. I don't think I heard one of them say a word all night! Actually, they may have all just been cardboard cutouts because I don't recall any of them moving at all. I just don't understand why no students want to come to football or basketball games. It's ridiculous. I remember back in the day when the Coyote Crazies first started. They were amazing fans. They were like the band times about a thousand.
Also what you are saying about a lot of people in Vermillion not supporting USD is so true. I know a few people that went to Pros on Saturday to watch the basketball game and they didn't have it on even one of their tvs. You are that close to the dome and that is all the more you support coyote athletics? I'm sure they have never gotten any business from Coyote fans before or after any coyote games! It is a shame that they have all that Coyote stuff hanging up all over the bar and don't even have the game on. Next they go to Leos. Go in there and all the tvs they have in there and not one had the game on either. I know its NFL playoffs, but the two main sports bars, if you even want to call them that, in Vermillion can't even put the game on one tv?
Another thing that amazes me is you talk to people all over Vermillion about coyote athletics and they don't have a frickin clue what you're talking about. I ask them if they are going to the next game and almost everyone's response is, "Oh I doubt it. I haven't been to a game in years."
I am not even talking non-sports kind of people. These are always people that are actually in to sports. It just blows my mind that you have now a Division I college right in town and most people don't support them.
These are just some of my observations. Not sure what the answers are. The crowd tonight at the game was horrible and it was an excellent game to watch. It is very sad.
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Post by Yote 53 on Jan 20, 2012 9:37:47 GMT -6
The reason they did not have the game on is because those two bars have Direct TV and no Midcontinent Cable. The game was on Midco so they were not able to show it. I know both of the people that own those bars, they are about as hard core USD athletics fans as you're gonna find, especially Rusty.
Heck, just realized I know every bar owner in town. Is that a bad thing?
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Post by Iceman on Jan 20, 2012 10:25:26 GMT -6
Actually Yote53, I will correct what I said. I checked back with this person and they said they went to Pros earlier in the day to see if they were going to have the game on and they said yes. Then they went to Leos and it wasn't on so they asked a bartender if they could turn it on one of the tvs and they did. So I guess they must have Direct Tv and Midco. I know who the owners are too. So why didn't they have the games on.
The situation was probably that the owners weren't there then and the bartenders don't care about the coyotes games.
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Post by azsod73 on Jan 20, 2012 11:41:21 GMT -6
Regarding the need to build enthusiasm for Coyote athletics with current students, I think the Administration and the Athletic Department have to seriously focus on this issue. It may cost some money now but the students of today will need to be the fans attending athletic events, and providing financial support, in the future.
How to accomplish it.... I am not sure but a good place to start is to study what has worked at similar schools. It will no doubt take a multi faceted approach starting with initial student orientation, gaining support for the effort from all university related clubs, fraternities/sororities, etc. The coaches - especially a guy like Joe Salem, would make a huge difference by addressing student groups about upcoming games and how the team (their fellow students) needs their support. Its the "12th man" on the football team etc.
It will take some creativity to get students to the games to start with but they need to come away with a positive experience and want to come back.
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Post by Iceman on Jan 20, 2012 12:52:35 GMT -6
Joe Glenn not Joe Salem.
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Post by azsod73 on Jan 20, 2012 13:08:25 GMT -6
Iceman You are correct - Joe Salem was the coach when I was in school so that is my excuse!
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Post by Iceman on Jan 21, 2012 1:33:16 GMT -6
Haha. Nice. Good excuse. We will forgive you.
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Post by GoYotes on Jan 21, 2012 11:18:41 GMT -6
Some "All In" thoughts 1) Student Involvment - like others have mentioned, we need to somehow make attending games the thing to do on campus. Todays students become future years donors. Todays students have a lot more entertainment options than in prior years. Crowds tend to attract crowds. We also need to remember that the student body makeup is about 60/40 female/male. We need to establish some game traditions similar to "jump" at Wisconsin Badger football games, "interlude dance" at UNI basketball games. We need to provide some incentive for attending games. Perhaps have students swipe their student ID when entering the game and again when leaving. Students that attend a certain number of games for the full game would then be eligible for a drawing for prizes. The more games attended, the better the chance to win & the larger the prize. The card swiping would also allow the gathering of demographic information regarding the students attending the game and the inverse of kids not attending the game. 2) Some earlier comments have stated football is doing better on attendance than basketball. However, I feel we need substantial improvments in both. The goal for football is to consistently fill a 15,000 seat dome whereas the goal for basketball is to consitently fill a 5,500 seat arena. 3) Next years football season. Need to have promotions for each home game - perhaps have tailgate promotions for different schools for each game. For example for one game have a School of Business promotion, next game School of Arts & Sciences, etc. (The Colgate game should definitely include the Dental Hygienists). D-days is the Western Illinois game, so it should be a sellout. The NDSU game is on the opening weekend of pheasant season & the Bison travel well. Need to maybe schedule a later start and make sure the Bison don't take over the Dome. UNI game is the same weekend as HS football championship games. Great opportunity to promote the Yotes to the high school fans in town for the weekend. 4)Howling Pack - we all need to contribute as much as we can afford to the Howling Pack and encourage others to do the same. We can throw all the ideas on the message board, but the Howling Pack is the best group to carry any suggestions to the administration. I know several active Howling Pack board members frequent this board. Hopefully one of them will summarize suggestions offered here and take them to the next board meeting. 5)Learfield Sports - I get the feeling they are putting together some good things behind the scene. Kind of like the recent huge improvments to the radio broadcasts for next year. Learfield is also the marketing arm for SDSU & UNI. Learfield is also the marketing arm for the Missouri Valley conference. Would love to see a TV broadcast agreement with FSN.
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Post by yoteforever on Jan 25, 2012 11:12:52 GMT -6
I really want to keep this topic on the front burner so I will post this as to have a "current" post and get people to read and continue commenting on. Everyone is going to have different opinions on all the subject matter, but throug the use of this board, we can educate and try and convince each other of our positions so when we put the final plan together, it at minimum represents the highest percentage of us posting. If you read this, please post and get active. We can make a difference.
Ok, here is what we have:
THEME: ALL IN
PROBLEMS: Attendance, apathy, facilities, networks, money
1.). Regarding student attendance, we have tossed around several ideas. I am not sure if they would work or not. Sometimes I feel funny when we have to BRIBE students to go to something they really don't want to. So how about this? Maybe the only way to get them there is by taking it away. Hear me out. When we do Dome renovation, the students are going to assume they will get the premier seats behind the team. Why should they? Open those seats up for those that are donors, have Dome contracts, etc. Student seats are either way or there, or way over here. If you take it away from them, then maybe, just maybe, they would fight to get them back. If they don't, then they don't deserve them anyway.
2.). Apathy I agree with. Now maybe it is entirely feasible to tie in "other events" in conjunction with athletic events that would increase participation and make kids hungry to participate. I realize that not everyone is a football fan, or a basketball fan, but there are tons of other things that turn these kids on. As an example, when we played Wyoming back in the 70's, prior to the game, there was a country rock band playing for them. I would guess that maybe 3000-4000 students were there, partying, and having a great time. They then stayed for the game and they were loud. It maybe takes ideas like a pregame concert or something along those lines.
3.). FACILITIES: This appears to be heading in the right direction. I ask myself constantly what comes first, the chicken or the egg. In other words, do you wait on a facility until attendance warrants it, or do you build it in the hopes that crowds will follow? Tough question really. To much has been said about a new arena to turn back now. Let's get it built and attract the kind of players we need to compete.
The expansion of the Dome would be nice, but it does scare me to spend that amount of money when we rarely if ever have sellouts now. We have to get fans and alumni committed to coming back and buying season tickets. Personally speaking, I can't wait for GAMEDAY Saturday. My wife and I have a total blast. I wished somehow we could get more and more couples back and participating in all the activities. It is so much fun. We even have a blast traveling with the Coyotes as well, but that's another .
I think Coyote Landing has shown administraitors that they need to expand on this. The only problem I see with it is so many people, and such limited space. Also, they shouldn't let kids in there no matter what. It isn't the place for kids (my opinion).
4.). I do think Learfield sports has made an investment in USD sports and will make changes and enhancements as they see fit. We certainly need a better broadcasting outlet than what we currently have. Expanded radio outlets. Make the sponsorship of Coyote sports be worth something as a business investment.
5.). MONEY: this is self explanatory. We need to invest in the Howling Pack, the USD Foundation, season tickets, etc. This is a mindset that really does have to change? In th sold days, the VERMILLIONAIRES literally got front row seats and for nothing. That is a mindset that has to change. PAY TO PLAY SO TO SPEAK.
Ok, off my podium for now. Read this, debate it, make it better, expand on it, butcher it, I really don't care. Let's just keep putting ideas out there that eventually leads to a plan.
GO YOTES
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Post by coyote70 on Jan 25, 2012 21:22:33 GMT -6
I remember the Wyoming game. If memory is correct, QB Tom Engleman got hot and almost beat the Cowboys that day.
I really like the band concert idea! Seriously. This is something that could get implemented if it is presented to the right people. I think it's a great idea to boost attendance and address apathy.
We probably need to first know what others think of your ideas, Yoteforever, but let's not let them slip away. Implementing just one idea emanating from this board would be a big step forward.
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Post by yoteforever on Mar 21, 2012 20:27:07 GMT -6
I think it's time to resurrect this thread and get contributions from several people. C'mon Coyote fan base, let's build this up with YOUR ideas. Some of us have a chance to put a good biz plan or generally speaking good ideas in front of our administration.
PLEASE CONTRIBUTE EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T CONTRIBUTED BEFORE.
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Post by 59coyote on Mar 21, 2012 21:53:22 GMT -6
I think something like this was tried before, how about a Business School project in salesmanship to fill the Dome with students. Challenge them to come up with ideas to get students to attend and then expand to ideas and projects to attract more adults and families to game days. Other departments could also be asked to participate using their fields to create interest in promoting the events. I have often been criticle of both students and fans for their lack of attendance and financial support and am now willing to back off a little to try and get people to realize what they are missing as far as great entertainment is concerned. It is a great idea to keep this subject alive. Hopefully the Volante will push this on a united front and the administration will continue the fine support it has shown.
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Post by Yote 53 on Mar 22, 2012 7:54:35 GMT -6
59, that is an excellent idea. I think the B-School project idea goes along well with the idea of getting students involved in other ways and allowing them to take ownership of their university athletic dept. The AD Marketing Dept and a group like Delta Sigma Pi or another professional organization working together on a project like this is the type of integration between athletics and students we have been talking about. It's a win/win for both organizations, the students get real world experience and the AD gets an obvious benefit.
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