weak a$$ student section

[BenJammin63]

I'm a student who hasn't missed one game this year, and plan on only missing the citadel game because I'll be out of town. I'm one of those guys who shows up 3 hours before tip so I can sit behind the visitors bench and give them hell. We have caused havoc behind the bench for them!! But FGCU and Miami game, we were loud for almost the whole game! It's understandable that we aren't loud for the others due to the fact that it's not big games and over half the section doesn't show up. But if you want to put a blame on anyone, blame the rest of the 100 section. I'm not trying to offend anyone but all they do is sit on their butts and don't make any noise. It is pathetic and frustrates the hell out of me!! They stood up once during our last game that I can think of!! If you want to blame anyone blame them!! Another thing that frustrates me is that towards the end of the game, they walk right in front of us and block our view!! So not only do 100 section not make any noise, they block our view!! And also another complaint is when they announce the out players, the music is just something you can't get psyched about!! I can hear the other team during our entrance and that's unacceptable!! So our problems stand at three spots!! Music in beginning, not many big games, and the 100 section!! Fix those three and this place could be hell to play in!!

[royalfan]

The whole student and sports dynamic has changed a lot since my time there.  Granted there were not cell phones and what not back then to distract us.  But even at football games it is mind boggling how uninvolved and uninterested students are now compared to the days of yesteryear.  Basketball, unfortunately not likely to be different unless we get good. 

[Nighthawk]

For whatever it's worth, for a bunch of reasons, I tend to agree with the OP. Think of that what you will, but I've been less than impressed with the student section, this year and basically for the last decade. I suspect there are a lot of factors, but aside from the FGCU game (and to some extent, Miami, but even then I wasn't exactly blown away), it's been pretty pitiful. I don't expect there to be a solid mass of people every game, and I know there are the crew on here who work hard to change the atmosphere in the student section. But there's quite a bit of work to do still, and I guess I don't think it's all that crazy, on a message board, to say so.

 

I've said this before and I'll say it again...Bring Back the yell Squad! We are the only school in the Big 10 without a yell squad.  I know that has to do with a cheerleader getting injured for those that forgot or those that may be too young to remember here is a little history on the Nebraska Cheerleader/Spirit Squad situation

 

http://cheerleading.about.com/library/weekly/aa040702a.htm

 

http://cheerleading.about.com/library/uc_rayfloriani_stunting.htm

[Norm Peterson]

I agree with Ben about the 100 section.  It's been no more than 85-90% full for any game so far this year, and for the last game, it was no more than 2/3 full or maybe 70% at the most.  Lots and lots of empty seats on a Saturday afternoon after football season is over.  No excuses there, 100 folks.  You bought the tickets, so use them.

 

They should take attendance.  No bullsh!t.  Take attendance.  Every game, they scan my ticket to make sure it's real.  There has to be some sort of computer database that will tell them who's coming and who isn't.  Use it.

 

Reward the people with good to perfect attendance with some extra bennies.  I don't care, vouchers for grub at the game or an extra pair of tickets to a conference game or sit down in the courtside seats at some point for a game.  Whatever, but offer some incentives.

 

And, if you have seats in the 100 level and fail to use more than half or 2/3 of your tickets, you should get a warning from the AD that your seats will be given out to someone in the 200 level if you don't start showing up.  Your renewal should depend not only on paying your donation amount but also being there.  Making sure the tickets get used.  And if you don't use them yourself, then find someone who will.  But don't let those tickets go to waste.  There are starving children in China who would love to have your peas.  And there are starving fans in the 200 and 300 sections who would love to have your seats.

[Chuck Taylor]

Questions: Is there a message board anywhere in the country where the posters don't complain about the fans, students or otherwise? Why are the only good fans who know how to act the ones who post? Does posting generate the enthusiasm that allows you to "act excited"? How is it that the posters learned how to act? Is there someplace, other than a message board, to take lessons in how to act?

[HuskerFever]

This goes FAR beyond the student section. The entire arena should man up. It takes 5 easy steps:

 

1) Show up early. Not arriving 3 minutes into the game.

2) Stand up and cheer. Not just during the last 2 minutes of the game.

3) Stay for the entire game. Not just for three quarters of the game.

4) Support the team. Not just during the game.

5) Be an ambassador. Get other friends, families, and coworkers to go to the game.

[Nebrasketballer]

It could be worse.

This is another Big Ten team with comparable bball success (or lack there of).

Could it be better? Yes.

Could it be worse? Yes

[rwmctrofholz]

I thought the student section in the early to mid '90's did an awesome job.  I don't remember specifically what they did since it was so long ago, but it would be great to maybe adapt some of what they did if anyone on this board can remember some of the things they did.  I recall a group of 4-6 students that wore referee jerseys and basketballs as hats, and had various signs to help lead some of the chants.

 

Agreed.  I was only 11 years old, but there was a definite energy in the building.  Like you, I can't qualify how it was better, beyond the abstract generalization:  it just was.  Something that's been lacking for quite a long time, but just came to a precipice (in my mind at least) that this group is extraordinarily soft.  Maybe I should sponsor a kegger before each home game in the commons area of Oldfather Hall?

[rwmctrofholz]

I agree with Ben about the 100 section.  It's been no more than 85-90% full for any game so far this year, and for the last game, it was no more than 2/3 full or maybe 70% at the most.  Lots and lots of empty seats on a Saturday afternoon after football season is over.  No excuses there, 100 folks.  You bought the tickets, so use them.

 

They should take attendance.  No bullsh!t.  Take attendance.  Every game, they scan my ticket to make sure it's real.  There has to be some sort of computer database that will tell them who's coming and who isn't.  Use it.

 

Reward the people with good to perfect attendance with some extra bennies.  I don't care, vouchers for grub at the game or an extra pair of tickets to a conference game or sit down in the courtside seats at some point for a game.  Whatever, but offer some incentives.

 

And, if you have seats in the 100 level and fail to use more than half or 2/3 of your tickets, you should get a warning from the AD that your seats will be given out to someone in the 200 level if you don't start showing up.  Your renewal should depend not only on paying your donation amount but also being there.  Making sure the tickets get used.  And if you don't use them yourself, then find someone who will.  But don't let those tickets go to waste.  There are starving children in China who would love to have your peas.  And there are starving fans in the 200 and 300 sections who would love to have your seats.

 

 

"You is talkin loco, and I'm liking it!!"    

 

[PAhusker]

the only request i ask of the student section is if you're going to do fatheads, please step your game up. fatheads of people like eichorst aren't exactly making anyone chuckle or anything...as a sidenote, i do like the K-State "Forrrrrrrrrrr 3!!!!!" thing now

[Silverbacked1]

We are getting the 333333333 going some.

I still think that there needs to be a flow with the students, band and mostly the DJ/video board guys.

Like I said earlier there is nothing to tell us that the second half is getting ready to start, thus people tend to sit on their hands.

Gal I sit with thinks we should stand for the first two of the second half as well as the start of the game.

I also heard of an idea to stand after a dunk and not

sit until we score again, something different.

[Nighthawk]

Lol...I still have to say one of my most memorable student section distractions was a one game deal. It was a few years back their guy was at the free throw line. All of a sudden to pretty attractive college girls started kissing. I think it was more of a distraction to the fans but I think the guy did miss both shots.

[ajb5856]

the only request i ask of the student section is if you're going to do fatheads, please step your game up. fatheads of people like eichorst aren't exactly making anyone chuckle or anything...as a sidenote, i do like the K-State "Forrrrrrrrrrr 3!!!!!" thing now

Yes! Someone else who remembers this from going to games at Bramlage. When I first heard our PA guy do this, "Larry Reid............for threeeeeeeeeeee!", popped into my head.

[ajb5856]

the only request i ask of the student section is if you're going to do fatheads, please step your game up. fatheads of people like eichorst aren't exactly making anyone chuckle or anything...as a sidenote, i do like the K-State "Forrrrrrrrrrr 3!!!!!" thing now

Yes! Someone else who remembers this from going to games at Bramlage. When I first heard our PA guy do this, "Larry Reid............for threeeeeeeeeeee!", popped into my head.

One time I went down there with a group and one of Colliers teams played them on their senior night. They were doing the senior introductions prior to the game with the parents and everything. I kid you not, the PA announcer comes on and says, "Quite possibly...the greatest 2-year player in K-S-U Wiiiiiiiiiiiiillldcat basketball history........he plans to graduate this summer with a degree in criminal justice........Larry Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeid!"

We got quite the laugh out of it. Especially the 'quite possibly the greatest' part. Anyway, I'm glad we adopted a KSU tradition. I really like it, seriously. We need more of them.

[Huskerpapa]

I actually think the problem stems from the lack of noise and engagement in the 200 and 300 sections.  I look up to those sections and see rows of empty seats and complete sections that are almost empty.  There is no noise coming from there and it simply appears that they show up just to eat food and convert it to gas.  Have you noticed the smoke coming from those sections, good lord.  Does anyone go up to those sections after the game?  I swear, most of them have to be awakened from their collective slumber.

[Silverbacked1]

The noise goes up like heat so you won't be able to hear us up there.

Plus it takes me till half to catch my breath from having to walk so far to get to my seats.

[ajb5856]

I actually think the problem stems from the lack of noise and engagement in the 200 and 300 sections. I look up to those sections and see rows of empty seats and complete sections that are almost empty. There is no noise coming from there and it simply appears that they show up just to eat food and convert it to gas. Have you noticed the smoke coming from those sections, good lord. Does anyone go up to those sections after the game? I swear, most of them have to be awakened from their collective slumber.

For those that sit up there, do you feel like you're a part of the game? Serious question. I want to know your perspective, your take on how it feels to sit up there. For me, sitting down in the lower bowl, I almost forget about the 2nd and 3rd decks because I can't really see them and there seems to be a separation between lower bowl and the upstairs people. I haven't sat in the 200 (or 300) level yet and maybe if I did I would think differently. I'm in row 22 and with the configuration being straight up i can't turn around and see anybody above and behind me. Everything is blocked by the bottom of the decks. Looking across the arena and up, I can see people up there but they are so high, and with all of the smoke for the lights, it literally looks as if they are sitting in the clouds and appear further away than they really are. I've not experienced a game from up above, but I have walked up to that concourse to look around. I know from the 3rd deck, and this was from row 1, that you can't see the last 10 rows at least of the lower bowl. And that is if you look straight down and not at the court. This all might seem like jibberish and nonsense, but what I'm getting at here is that we've heard all about the arena's ability to be loud. But is the design itself creating a disconnect between fans in the 100, 200, and 300 levels? Is there enough separation that fans in one area can't see/hear/feel energy and react accordingly to what fans are doing in another portion of the arena? Even in Devaney the last few years, with as little excitement that's been produced, there were still moments where the entire mass was enthused to the point of standing and cheering, the kind of moment where you just feel the energy and everyone rises at once. I've been at every game this year and I've yet to experience that at the new arena.

[HuskerCager]

AJB, having tickets in the first row of section 319, I can tell you that I feel like part of the game as long as others are up there.  But you bring up a good point, especially about a disconnect between the levels.  I went up to our section for opening night scrimmage and there were less than 5 others in my section that night.  It was an entirely different feel.  If attendance ever drops below 7-8K, you really don't want to be in the upper deck.

CWG, I don't think that's an accurate assessment.  I feel like the fans around me are pretty vocal and engaged, but that might not be the case as much in other sections around the upper deck.

[Silverbacked1]

I love my 300 sets.

But I like to sit up high at sporting events so that I can see how everything moves.

I've never really liked being up close because I always thought I missed too much.

Love to see how the offense is run and things like that. Really love it in football, Endzone as high as possible and I'm in heaven.

Noise is getting there, just need for better teams to be here to help get more people into it.

[Silverbacked1]

Most of the student section is like most of us on here.

They make as much noise as they can but there are just a few who still "want to just sit and enjoy the game."

[ajb5856]

I love my 300 sets.

But I like to sit up high at sporting events so that I can see how everything moves.

I've never really liked being up close because I always thought I missed too much.

Love to see how the offense is run and things like that. Really love it in football, Endzone as high as possible and I'm in heaven.

Noise is getting there, just need for better teams to be here to help get more people into it.

So the perspective is fabulous. Although I've yet to witness any game action from 300, what I've seen from wandering up there is a good view, a neat perspective. But do you feel a part of the game? Connected with the rest of the crowd?

[Silverbacked1]

I do because I make myself part of it.

I have matured some and we haven't had that game to really get my blood boiling.

Creighton, Kansas, Iowa State some of those would have me almost falling over the edge, but we haven't had one like that yet.

[Nighthawk]

Lol...we need another "Norm Stewert". Granted it wasn't just a Husker thing but I kind of miss the stuff like the old "Sit down Norm!" chants....and the "Three Blind Mice" chants directed at the officials.

[Noah121]

It could be worse.

This is another Big Ten team with comparable bball success (or lack there of).

Could it be better? Yes.

Could it be worse? Yes

The student section was missing its staple at that game, because I had a Hebrew class I had to go to.  But, I'll be in full force and full red on the 21st, in Lincoln!

[CrazyforNUHOOPS]

the only request i ask of the student section is if you're going to do fatheads, please step your game up. fatheads of people like eichorst aren't exactly making anyone chuckle or anything...as a sidenote, i do like the K-State "Forrrrrrrrrrr 3!!!!!" thing now

The marketing department makes most of the fatheads for the student section and passes them out at games.