Western Illinois

[notkiotees]

C'mon Yotes, time to break some 'Necks.

Everybody get to the Dome and thank our Seniors for all
their hard work. These gals logged some serious travel time
through multiple Conference affliations. Go Yotes!

[canislatrans]

Listening to RJ on the call, gotta say, I really enjoy his enthusiasm and his call. Both are very good. This is my first season FB and WBB that I've heard his work. I like it.
I really enjoy him giving it to the refs, during his call, that takes some juggling but he gets it done. The refs sure need to hear it, with 7 mostly ticky-tack Coyote fouls to 1 WIU foul, that's horrible officiating.

[#1CoyoteFan (Admin)]

After hearing the Northern Iowa play-by-play guy, I can no longer listen to RJ. It isn't even close. Sorry.

[coyote61]

Feb 23, 2013 15:35:31 GMT -6 #1CoyoteFan (Admin) said:

After hearing the Northern Iowa play-by-play guy, I can no longer listen to RJ. It isn't even close. Sorry.

I know RJ will read this and try to defend himself, but I can't stand it anymore. He maybe the worst Div. 1 play by play person I have ever heard. Quit giving the players nicknames, that is so Div. 3 junior college. I used to think that Culhane was an obnoxious homer, but RJ takes the cake. And RJ, please shut up about the officials. Its very bush league to call out the officials on the radio when your audience can't see whats happening. Call WNAX and see if they will lend you some tapes of Norm Hilson and Steve Emming so you can learn how to be a professional. And no I am not a Jacks fan, but truly appreciated how professional they were.

[notkiotees]

Yotes win! Wasn't always pretty but they got er done!
Omaha on Thursday, then SL tourney time.

[GoYotes]

I enjoy listening to RJ's broadcasts. (However, thank God he is only on radio as the pink tux he wore today would have been hard on the eyes) Yes, maybe a bit of a homer, but at least he is a Yote homer. Kind of seems logical since he is broadcasting on the Coyote Sports Network.

[coyote61]

Feb 23, 2013 17:26:50 GMT -6 GoYotes said:

I enjoy listening to RJ's broadcasts. (However, thank God he is only on radio as the pink tux he wore today would have been hard on the eyes) Yes, maybe a bit of a homer, but at least he is a Yote homer. Kind of seems logical since he is broadcasting on the Coyote Sports Network.

There is a big difference between rooting for the team you call the games for and being annoying.

[redwhiteandyote]

Agreed. Shut up about the officials, knock off the nicknames, eliminate the Kaboom crap, and just call the game. I listen to almost every SDSU game with Tyler Merriam, most of the time on-line, and he is great. I cant stand listening to USD games, so when i can i pull up the live stats, if i'm not at the game. End of rant.

[yoteforever]

First of all, congrats to the ladies on a good win. Should they be fortunate enough to win at UNO, I think 10-6 with all the adversity we've had would be a hell of a year. Congratulations Coach Williams and members of the team.

Regarding the debate on our radio announcer, there were 4 people that have stated their opinion. It was divided. I rarely listen to a broadcast, as I am either at the game or not tune in at all. It's probably a good thing we all have nicknames on here to hide our identity because I doubt we would say some of the things we do, myself included if people knew who we were. If RJ's style rubs you wrong, I think you have every right to say so and petition for change. If his style is suited for you, you have every right to say so and and petition he stays. However, I have a real problem beating the hell out of him and publically ridiculing him.

RJ is 100% Coyote. RJ as a person is top drawer person. I don't think RJ is beyond criticism and having someone objectively critique him, and giving him the opportunity to get better and meet the standards we as fans have and expect. But at the end of the day, RJ is a Coyote. As faithful they get.

[#1CoyoteFan (Admin)]

R.J. is a very faithful Coyote, there is absolutely no doubt about that. But as a journalist, you are suppose to be unbiased. I have never heard a Division I basketball broadcast that is just absolutely so one-sided and makes the refs seem like the enemies every game. They are officiating a Division I ball game, so I don't think they are always wrong on their calls, which is what R.J. will want you to believe.

I am able to listen to the UNI women's broadcasts here, and have really enjoyed the broadcasts. He is able to give an objective call and I rarely EVER hear any bashing of the officials whatsoever. Actually, I don't know if I ever have. He is able to be enthusiastic on the calls without having to shout Kaboom after every 3 just with the enthusiasm in his voice.

As for the women's team. This has turned out to be a great year for the ladies with everything that went against them before the year started. There was no buzz with this team except for negative and coach Williams has found a way to make this such a positive season. Well done Lady Yotes and coach Williams.

[obc]

Excited to see what the WBB team does in the conference tournament.


Also- everyone is entitled to their opinion on radio coverage - mine is that I enjoy RJ and his coverage. Thanks RJ!

[Coyote Fan]

I didn't want to be the first to comment on this because if I did bring it up first everyone would pile on like they usually do. Here is the deal. Anytime someone voluntarily takes a job where they know they are in the public eye they have to believe there is going to be some critisism.

I really believe that Joe and RJ got the jobs because they were the convinient choices. If anyone remembers Tom Fredrickson he did a good job on Coyote broadcasts for the most part and I was very upset that he was let go as voice of the Coyotes when Culhaine took over. I didn't like Culhaine for awhile but learned to tolerate him and kind of liked him in the end. I definately think he had some very interesting play by play ability except for missing a few things that happened on the court.

Sorry RJ as I know you read this board but the play by play is not of what the standard of a D1 broadcast should be. Just when I didn't think things could ever get worse I actually heard the word "foooey" Really, "foooey". "Kaboom, put the mustard on the dome dog". This is very amatuerish. I can hardly bare to get through a whole game anymore. It's not kind of annoying, it's extremely annoying.

I am a fan of the Stampede hockey club. They have an announcer that actually makes me tune into games just the way he calls them. He brings out the right emotion in a listener.

When is USD going to get this media and marketing thing right. I would like to know just what Leerfield is going good for this University. We can't seem to get anything with the radio right. I do believe going back to 106.3 FM was a good choice but much more should have gone into making better choices for the play by play guys. RJ should not be announcing period. Just what exactly are his credential to be handed this job. Joe is a bit better but I still don't think he should have been handed over the voice of the Coyotes. Is that a USD decision or a Learfield decision. There are still multiple problems with the internet and/or radio feed going out for long periods of time during games.

Than there is Coyote vision that is difficult to watch as well. I know there has been a caller or two that called in on the complain about it on the football post game caller show but I have not seen any positive changes with it. I have to have the 106.3 radio feed always ready to go because of the long period without sound and/or video. The video quality is also very poor. That is not a free service to watch Coyote Vision so the buyers should have a say.

It seems like there is an accountibility issue all around USD sports. I feel there are alot of people in positions that they shouldn't be in. To me that goes straight up to the AD desk.

Than there is the marketability factor. No one goes to anything but football games anymore. Whatever happened to basketball attendance. I am definately part of the problem but there is a major disconnect right now with the fans to the program. I have been saying for quite awhile now that USD caters too much to the select few and too little to the casual fan. I am not going to open that can of worms again, but it is true. It's great to cater to the select few, but more needs to be done to cater to the larger scope of getting fans to the dome. I know you hate it when I bring this up Coyote-Forever but I hope you can at least see where I am coming from. Where is Learfield in all of this. What exactly is the pupose of them. They don't seem to be doing much good. Maybe USD should give them the boot. I would think game presentation and marketing would be one of their major reasons for hooking up with USD. I don't think Coyote Athletics seem to be getting their money's worth with them. I am probably clueless on them but they sure don't seem to make it very apparent what they are doing.

David Herbster has a big challenge on his hands right now. Does he have the resume and experience to be the top dog in these ever so changing times.

[Coyote Fan]

As far as the Women, great job in winning vs Western Illinois. According to Amy Williams it was a bit of an ugly win but we will take it. I believe the Yotes are now very likely to get the #3 seed because IPFW would have to win twice to take it away and they have Western Illinois and IUPUI left to play yet. USD just has one game down in Omaha. USD has a half game lead with the same number of losses as IPFW.

[#1CoyoteFan (Admin)]

Feb 24, 2013 1:31:12 GMT -6 Coyote Fan said:

I am a fan of the Stampede hockey club. They have an announcer that actually makes me tune into games just the way he calls them. He brings out the right emotion in a listener.

yeah Jim something, I can't remember his name, or maybe it's changed, but he is a really good example. He is great.

[yoteforever]

Feb 24, 2013 1:31:12 GMT -6 Coyote Fan said:

I didn't want to be the first to comment on this because if I did bring it up first everyone would pile on like they usually do. Here is the deal. Anytime someone voluntarily takes a job where they know they are in the public eye they have to believe there is going to be some critisism.

I really believe that Joe and RJ got the jobs because they were the convinient choices. If anyone remembers Tom Fredrickson he did a good job on Coyote broadcasts for the most part and I was very upset that he was let go as voice of the Coyotes when Culhaine took over. I didn't like Culhaine for awhile but learned to tolerate him and kind of liked him in the end. I definately think he had some very interesting play by play ability except for missing a few things that happened on the court.

Sorry RJ as I know you read this board but the play by play is not of what the standard of a D1 broadcast should be. Just when I didn't think things could ever get worse I actually heard the word "foooey" Really, "foooey". "Kaboom, put the mustard on the dome dog". This is very amatuerish. I can hardly bare to get through a whole game anymore. It's not kind of annoying, it's extremely annoying.

I am a fan of the Stampede hockey club. They have an announcer that actually makes me tune into games just the way he calls them. He brings out the right emotion in a listener.

When is USD going to get this media and marketing thing right. I would like to know just what Leerfield is going good for this University. We can't seem to get anything with the radio right. I do believe going back to 106.3 FM was a good choice but much more should have gone into making better choices for the play by play guys. RJ should not be announcing period. Just what exactly are his credential to be handed this job. Joe is a bit better but I still don't think he should have been handed over the voice of the Coyotes. Is that a USD decision or a Learfield decision. There are still multiple problems with the internet and/or radio feed going out for long periods of time during games.

Than there is Coyote vision that is difficult to watch as well. I know there has been a caller or two that called in on the complain about it on the football post game caller show but I have not seen any positive changes with it. I have to have the 106.3 radio feed always ready to go because of the long period without sound and/or video. The video quality is also very poor. That is not a free service to watch Coyote Vision so the buyers should have a say.

It seems like there is an accountibility issue all around USD sports. I feel there are alot of people in positions that they shouldn't be in. To me that goes straight up to the AD desk.

Than there is the marketability factor. No one goes to anything but football games anymore. Whatever happened to basketball attendance. I am definately part of the problem but there is a major disconnect right now with the fans to the program. I have been saying for quite awhile now that USD caters too much to the select few and too little to the casual fan. I am not going to open that can of worms again, but it is true. It's great to cater to the select few, but more needs to be done to cater to the larger scope of getting fans to the dome. I know you hate it when I bring this up Coyote-Forever but I hope you can at least see where I am coming from. Where is Learfield in all of this. What exactly is the pupose of them. They don't seem to be doing much good. Maybe USD should give them the boot. I would think game presentation and marketing would be one of their major reasons for hooking up with USD. I don't think Coyote Athletics seem to be getting their money's worth with them. I am probably clueless on them but they sure don't seem to make it very apparent what they are doing.

David Herbster has a big challenge on his hands right now. Does he have the resume and experience to be the top dog in these ever so changing times.

I'm not going to address the entire post, but I want to have some frank discussion about your comments about the "select few". And believe this or not, I do think you are trying here, so I will answer/debate with you if you want. And I won't take it personally if we dont make it personal.

To start with , we are in the wrong thread, and I started one a week or so ago titled WHAT'S IT GONNA TAKE. So we have some thread drift here, but since its 4:30 in the morning, and I want to try and go back to bed, someone else can figure out how to move the thread.

I agree with you that there is disconnect with Coyote athletics. You use the word disconnect, I use the word apathy, but whichever word is more correct, the point is the same. And that's where I have tried to initiate conversation about getting attendance figures up, Howling Pack membership up, and donations, regardless of size up.

Now to the select few. I would assume you put me in that category, and that's fine. What I want to hear from you in earnest, is what you think the athletic department is doing for me in all candor that is different from how they treat the non select few? That's what I want to debate. If you are correct, or hit some issues that are correct, I will say so. If however you are wrong, I will point it out factually. Fair?

Secondly, in your opinion, or anyone else's for that matter because this is hugely important for USD to move forward, what needs to be done to get the interest level of the fan base peaked so they make the investment to come to games? I have laid out some things, and others have chimed in as well. I believe it was AZSOD73 that said winning will play a role in that. And I agree. But it's gonna take fans believing we are on the right track so they become interested so we get ticket revenue, and donations, so the program can grow and gain interest. CF, I believe what you are saying (and if I am wrong say so) is that the department spends way more time with people like myself and not with fans such as yourself. That being said, what would you like from the department officials to make you feel like you want to invest in Coyote sports. I will tell you right now, if I were the AD, on of the first things I would do is put together a round table panel with USO called average fans and lock the door until we had some ideas on the table and a potential plan to enact those ideas. I would start with the younger grads in the area, and see if I couldn't pull them together and get hem excited about attending USD events, and making the commitment to do so down the line. Then I would round table guys and gals like you, fans that don't have the capacity to make the larger donations, and find out what you want, and why you feel so disconnected. I would form a strategy to build ticket sales and fan participation based on a lot of the information you had given me.

All of this has to start somewhere. And as the old saying goes, it only takes a spark to start a forest fire. I will say this, for years and years, students at USD have gone home during game weekends and basically not participated much. So I think that has carried into their adult life, and that's where maybe some of the apathy is. I wold do my best to get students involved today, so that they are fans of tomorrow.

Lastly, Learfield Sports. They pay the university a sum of money each year and in return get broadcast rights, and revenues from their efforts. I believe Travis Lee has an office in the Dome, and he is the Learfield rep. To me, that's where you start. Although the AD may have some influence as to announcers, stations, and programs, Learfield remains independent to the university in the sense of who calls the shots. As I have stated earlier, you can vote with your pocketbook, or your communication to any and all departments at USD.

Lets have a civiil debate on the ideas brought forward. I would like to ask even the most casual person logging in to this website to contribute and participate. This is important stuff as we move forward.

I tell my staff in my business this one simple thing. Don't find fault, find remedy.