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wildforthecats
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 18388
Location: Matthews NC
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 Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 10:00 am Post subject: |
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| Most of our games so far at home, we have been in control. The exception was Dartmouth and the crowd was good at the end of the game. FYI...Since 2004, I am usually the only one in my section yelling anyway. |
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ac3983
Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 1153
Location: Cornelius, NC
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:48 am Post subject: |
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| There are admins that have been there for a long time that are hostile towards our own people, with many examples over the years and this year as well. When you have that dynamic it’s not great for business. |
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davcat37
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 877
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:54 am Post subject: |
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| graveline wrote: |
For two years in a row the schedule has been awful for the students. Tons of games during Christmas/spring break. A paucity of Friday/Saterday night games. The rumor I heard was Nichols was outright hostile to his players D block activities. I have no idea where Abel falls on this scale. As mentioned previously, the administration bends over backwards if any opposing team could be offended. |
Back in the SoCon pre-Curry days, not only would we (students) return early from vacation for games, we would travel on vacations (spring break) to the dump in Charleston to go to games. I had family that left Thanksgiving early to return to school to go to games (not Davidson) so I don't buy that students aren't giving up vacation.
No idea what Nichols was like towards D-Block. I know when we started D-Block it was maybe 20% football guys and 80% students. The football takeover was the bandwagon coming on board. No reason students can't start it back up. Of course now it is row F so maybe they come up with something new. Back then we had to secure our tickets weeks in advance so ensure that we could retain those seats. You know what else occurred then? Row D (maybe E) of the section next to DBlock sat the college President - he has a plaque on his seat i think marking it. His presence had a huge effect of student turnout.
I do know that before every game while McKillop was in the tunnel DBlock would chant his name and not let up until it was time for the anthem or starting lineups or something - sometimes 5+ minutes.
As a DBlock alum coming back for the UNCC game either 06 or 07, i can't remember which but it was a DBlock reunion, we were so loud and obnoxious that their fans complained. Captain Walker promptly told the lady she was welcome to leave or be relocated, which ever she preferred, but that we (fans) we able to stay in our seats.
Ultimately my belief is that students will come when they want to - but there has to be leadership from the student side, preferably multiple groups (we as DBlock often sparred with the endzone/band section, but it was all for the Cats). But the point being that it wasn't just DBlock bringing students in to Belk from 02-06, it was multiple groups. We were coming in droves to watch us beat The Citadel or whomever else dumb we were playing. Heck we did all this before cell phones were mainstream. Certainly it is easier to organize and time a gathering now.
If the games are the place to be, then students will come. I'm sure they don't skip frat parties for homework, and most probably don't start homework until 9 anyway - or maybe they are done by 7pm. We had massive "tailgate" parties at F (and the old Hockey Fields) before the games. They were fun. We usually had VIP visitors who had somewhere to be, but they still came by on their way to the "office." One time that included cold ones and pizzas. A little ashamed to say that nearly every time the side of Belk looked like a highway underpass as we finished our cold (or brown) ones before going in.
Someone chimed in why see Davidson when you don't watch your HS game - well generally speaking HS basketball is terrible, you have to drive to the game, they are tiny dirty gyms. Belk is clean, a very short walk, and you go with all your friends.
If anyone will turn it around, I trust Clunie - he was there hearing our non-sense back before Curry. He knows what our students can be.
Long rant - and yes ac, the ESPN+ coverage is terrible. I'd drive an hour or more to watch the Cats before watching it on that awful feed. |
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ac3983
Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 1153
Location: Cornelius, NC
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:59 am Post subject: |
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| davcat37 wrote: | | graveline wrote: |
For two years in a row the schedule has been awful for the students. Tons of games during Christmas/spring break. A paucity of Friday/Saterday night games. The rumor I heard was Nichols was outright hostile to his players D block activities. I have no idea where Abel falls on this scale. As mentioned previously, the administration bends over backwards if any opposing team could be offended. |
Back in the SoCon pre-Curry days, not only would we (students) return early from vacation for games, we would travel on vacations (spring break) to the dump in Charleston to go to games. I had family that left Thanksgiving early to return to school to go to games (not Davidson) so I don't buy that students aren't giving up vacation.
No idea what Nichols was like towards D-Block. I know when we started D-Block it was maybe 20% football guys and 80% students. The football takeover was the bandwagon coming on board. No reason students can't start it back up. Of course now it is row F so maybe they come up with something new. Back then we had to secure our tickets weeks in advance so ensure that we could retain those seats. You know what else occurred then? Row D (maybe E) of the section next to DBlock sat the college President - he has a plaque on his seat i think marking it. His presence had a huge effect of student turnout.
I do know that before every game while McKillop was in the tunnel DBlock would chant his name and not let up until it was time for the anthem or starting lineups or something - sometimes 5+ minutes.
As a DBlock alum coming back for the UNCC game either 06 or 07, i can't remember which but it was a DBlock reunion, we were so loud and obnoxious that their fans complained. Captain Walker promptly told the lady she was welcome to leave or be relocated, which ever she preferred, but that we (fans) we able to stay in our seats.
Ultimately my belief is that students will come when they want to - but there has to be leadership from the student side, preferably multiple groups (we as DBlock often sparred with the endzone/band section, but it was all for the Cats). But the point being that it wasn't just DBlock bringing students in to Belk from 02-06, it was multiple groups. We were coming in droves to watch us beat The Citadel or whomever else dumb we were playing. Heck we did all this before cell phones were mainstream. Certainly it is easier to organize and time a gathering now.
If the games are the place to be, then students will come. I'm sure they don't skip frat parties for homework, and most probably don't start homework until 9 anyway - or maybe they are done by 7pm. We had massive "tailgate" parties at F (and the old Hockey Fields) before the games. They were fun. We usually had VIP visitors who had somewhere to be, but they still came by on their way to the "office." One time that included cold ones and pizzas. A little ashamed to say that nearly every time the side of Belk looked like a highway underpass as we finished our cold (or brown) ones before going in.
Someone chimed in why see Davidson when you don't watch your HS game - well generally speaking HS basketball is terrible, you have to drive to the game, they are tiny dirty gyms. Belk is clean, a very short walk, and you go with all your friends.
If anyone will turn it around, I trust Clunie - he was there hearing our non-sense back before Curry. He knows what our students can be.
Long rant - and yes ac, the ESPN+ coverage is terrible. I'd drive an hour or more to watch the Cats before watching it on that awful feed. |
Bring back Chief Walker at any cost!!!! |
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BDF
Joined: 24 Jan 2012
Posts: 4137
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Nothing says a successful start to the season on the court like a 5 page long thread complaining about attendance.
Glad we are complaining about the customers and not the product.
_________________
This is a post by BDF, not BDL. |
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catborn'bred
Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 745
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I wonder if it would work to create an application process to be a member of D-Block. It might create a perception of demand. Those selected receive a guarantee of prime seats and a special D-Block t-shirt. In return, they are expected to show up for games wearing Davidson gear and to cheer loudly. A D-Block manager would check attendance so that membership could be revoked if the commitment to attending games is not there. If demand builds, then D-block members might be assigned to games that work with their schedules. Just fondly recalling the days of yore when my friends and I roared for the Cats. |
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MLC67
Joined: 14 Sep 2016
Posts: 1183
Location: Camelot
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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While I agree with Stan that the entire DU bb game experience must be fun and exciting to attract large audiences, the central aspect of that fun experience is not the half time show, or time outs, or music played in the Arener.
To build a consistent increase in game attendance, we need to find ways to build fandom - adults who are enamored with the success of the team and by their loyalty to the team want to be a "12th Man", helping to win games by making noise in the stands, e.g. building a home court advantage. That relationship of caring about game outcomes beyond the entertainment value of the experience seems to me to be the key factor here.
The program has given us a product absolutely worth being a fan of, so the challenge for the marketers is to go forth to all the civic organizations Stan referenced to get the word out that DU basketball is great entertainment because of what the lads accomplish on the court every single game.
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All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for men of good will to do nothing. Eddie Burke
Esse Quam Videri |
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davidsoncat_96
Joined: 13 Nov 2018
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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The odds are not stacked in Davidson's favor:
Location
1. Davidson is a tiny bubble in a metropolitan area that is the 22nd largest in the United States and 34th in North America....and growing. Factor in I-77 construction/traffic and your chance of getting someone 20 miles away is slim. I live 28 miles from Davidson and it took me 1 1/2 hours to get to Belk on Tuesday. If I wasn't obsessed, I would watch on ESPN+.
2. We compete against UNC, Duke, State, Wake, etc for fans.
The Team
3. They have not played a good team at home.
4. Have not established itself as a team that can beat a top 25 caliber team
5. All of us on the board know they are a team of this caliber, but historically fans don't fill the seats until we have proven ourselves & play a top team (URI at home last year).
Students
7. The student section is the heartbeat of college basketball. Unfortunately DC doesn't have thousands of rowdy college kids. Hell if 50% of the student population showed up it would be less than 900 fans...that's not even 25% of Belk's capacity.
Our AD deserves massive credit given these extreme limitations! We have all seen Belk rockin' and it will be again.
In Clunie We Trust.
p.s. The new LED lights are very bright when you look straight at them. I found it best to keep my eyes on the court. |
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BDL
Joined: 04 Dec 2016
Posts: 1261
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| davidsoncat_96 wrote: | The odds are not stacked in Davidson's favor
Students
7. The student section is the heartbeat of college basketball. Unfortunately DC doesn't have thousands of rowdy college kids. Hell if 50% of the student population showed up it would be less than 900 fans...that's not even 25% of Belk's capacity. |
This is a great point, most schools dont pull more 15% of their student body for games. Syracuse has one of the best student sections in the game but they dont get that much higher of a % of students to go, they just have a pool of 15,000 instead of 2,000. |
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MLC67
Joined: 14 Sep 2016
Posts: 1183
Location: Camelot
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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Much agonizing and knashing of teeth over the body of this thread, with a number of posters expressing confidence in the AD acting aggressively to build up game attendance. Thus, I wonder how high a priority that goal is for Clunie and the entire School Administration. Do we make time for coaches and others to rove the region's civic group meetings to market the team.
It might be a worthwhile idea to have an ad hoc committee of local Kool-Aid addicts meet with the AD to find out how we might assist him in these efforts.
_________________
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for men of good will to do nothing. Eddie Burke
Esse Quam Videri |
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dorp
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Posts: 9388
Location: Greensboro, NC
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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| catborn'bred wrote: | | I wonder if it would work to create an application process to be a member of D-Block. It might create a perception of demand. Those selected receive a guarantee of prime seats and a special D-Block t-shirt. In return, they are expected to show up for games wearing Davidson gear and to cheer loudly. A D-Block manager would check attendance so that membership could be revoked if the commitment to attending games is not there. If demand builds, then D-block members might be assigned to games that work with their schedules. Just fondly recalling the days of yore when my friends and I roared for the Cats. |
While I can't speak for D-Block, a few observances.
- There was a game a few years ago during spring semester move-in weekend. The normal D-Block seats were sold by the ticket office. A good two dozen D-Blockers were in attendance, but were relegated to the upper tiers of the bleachers. They weren't happy. Sure, those guys are long gone, but this is how traditions live and die.
- At any time during a game, there are at least four sets of eyes from the arena security detail on that section. They are looking (hoping?) for something which someone somewhere might find remotely offensive, in order to give the boot.
- Do other students have the opportunity to sit in those (good) seats, in the interest of fairness or equality or something like that? I don't know how tickets are distributed these days. |
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dorp
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Posts: 9388
Location: Greensboro, NC
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| ac3983 wrote: | | There are admins that have been there for a long time that are hostile towards our own people, with many examples over the years and this year as well. When you have that dynamic it’s not great for business. |
I brought nine Dorps down from Greensboro on Saturday. JAM2 is two years old. We're in the midst of a losing battle to potty train her. We brought a small pink toilet down to Davidson. I brought it into the Brickhouse pregame. We walked across campus with it. We took pictures.
I went down to gets some tickets at will call, and Mrs. Dorp went in the upper entrance, with both JAMs, a stroller, and the pink potty. She was stopped at the door, as there was a concern that the toilet was going to be used as some sort of prop during the basketball game (taunting of some sort??). A supervisor had to come over and give the ok for the toilet to enter the building. It was stored over with the stroller and not brought into the arena.
This is what we've come to. |
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dorp
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Posts: 9388
Location: Greensboro, NC
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stevelee
Joined: 04 Mar 2010
Posts: 10005
Location: Davidson
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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One of my odd D-Block memories:
They were being bused to an away game, but somehow there weren't enough of us and them to warrant separate buses. The players sat up front, and I was a row back. I wasn't listening to them particularly, but a conversation or two of interest caught my ear. I recall a discussion of the difference between "atheist" and "agnostic."
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wildforthecats
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 18388
Location: Matthews NC
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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| stevelee wrote: | One of my odd D-Block memories:
They were being bused to an away game, but somehow there weren't enough of us and them to warrant separate buses. The players sat up front, and I was a row back. I wasn't listening to them particularly, but a conversation or two of interest caught my ear. I recall a discussion of the difference between "atheist" and "agnostic." |
What did you say, the spelling? |
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