Raider Mania

[gerb]

The Raider Rowdies, with help from the WSU Athletic promotions office, Resident Services, and several other contributing organizations, would like to announce Raider Mania 2007.
From Thursday, December 6 to Saturday, December 8, on-campus residents will be allowed back into their rooms to safely enjoy Wright State’s big home games vs. Valparaiso and Butler, without having to worry about setting up lodging, or a long nighttime commute home. Because the games happen over winter break, many students would have otherwise missed these big games, but with the cooperation of several organizing bodies, they can come back and spend the weekend with their friends for FREE!
That isn’t all, though! Friday and Saturday will be filled with fun activities for students. On Friday morning/afternoon, campus residents will get a chance to get their holiday shopping done at the Mall at Fairfield Commons. On Friday evening, the Raider Rowdies will be hosting a game night in the student union open to ALL WSU students with tons of chances to win great prizes. Saturday morning will see a volunteer service opportunity for students, as Project Linus will be making blankets to give to area homeless shelters.
McLin Gym will be hosting pep rallies for students before each game and The Guardian will be printing a special edition with loads of information just for the weekend.

Much more is currently in the works and just awaiting final confirmation. Things will be added as the weekend gets closer. Watch for a flood of updates after finals week. Updates will be posted at www.theguardianonline.com

The Raider Rowdies are looking for prize donations for raffle and game winners throughout the weekend. If you can help, or just have a question, please email us at [e-mail]

[Willie]

I love all of the ways WSU (and it's student organizations) are promoting the basketball porgram this year. Raider Mania is a great idea. The season ticket open house was a great idea. The new 5 game ticket packages is a great idea. Great job WSU!

[Bomber]

Miami fans are even promoting WSU basketball. I saw this over on their message board.


WHAT: PREGAME EVENT
WHERE: EJ NUTTER CENTER, MOUNTAIN DEW DECK
WHEN: DECEMBER 15TH AT 5 PM

This is a joint event hosted by Sixth Man Club / MU Black Alumni Advisory Committee / Dayton Chapter of MUAA. Bring your friends and family and join fellow Miami alumni to see a great game between two NCAA Tourney Teams.

Pre-Game Reception on the concourse with food (hamburgers, hot dogs, etc) and drinks (alcoholic beverages sold separately). and a pre-game speech from a Miami basketball coach.

Tickets will go fast and space is limited for this highly anticipated event!!! There are 3 options:

Option One: Reception and Game Ticket: Per person ($5 discount for MUAA dues paying members!) $25.00
Option Two: Game Ticket Only: Per person $10.00
Option Three: Pre-Game Reception Only: Per person (if you already have a game ticket) $15.00

Register online Here

or mail your check made payable to MUAA, to:

Miami University Alumni Association
Murstein Alumni Center
725 East Chestnut Street
Oxford, OH 45056

Contacts for more information Tim Baker [e-mail] Dayton Alumni Chapter President; or Kim Bugg [e-mail] BAAC Liason

www.miamihawktalk.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=38416&sid=aeabf0e1ca70ae025cd354d057169910

[Sixth Man]

Housing open for Butler game during break
David Montei
Issue date: 11/7/07

For the first time in its history, Wright State will open each of its residence halls over the winter break to student residents that live on campus in an effort to raise support for the men's basketball team as it begins its Horizon League schedule.

"We had four sellouts last year and anyone who went to those games knows how these games are some of the most fun you can have at Wright State and we want to preserve that.

"We had a major hurdle when we found out that these games were scheduled over break and we didn't want students to miss out on them so we've taken what was initially an obstacle and turned into an opportunity," said Jeff Baltes, president of the Raider Rowdies and current student promotions manager for WSU's athletic department.

Student residents who wish to return to campus for the Dec. 6 game against league newcomer Valparaiso and the Dec. 8 game against rival Butler will be allowed to do so at no additional cost, said Dan Bertsos, director of Residence Services,.

"Students want more activities on campus and this is a great opportunity for them to come back over the break to see two great basketball games with their friends," said Bertsos.

Raider Rowdies organized the event, and have collaborated with Residence Services, the Athletics Department, Student Government, RCA and the Recreation Activity Board to plan a range of activities on Friday and Saturday between the two games for students who choose to return to campus, said Bertsos.

Additionally, The Guardian plans to print a special issue for the weekend, including the schedule of events, season previews and interviews with coaches and players from WSU's men's basketball team.

"There are things that are just waiting final confirmation before we can announce them, but there will be definitely be more activities and details added in," said Baltes.

Among the many events that have been discussed for the weekend are a possible community service project, a movie viewing, music and several billiards or ping pong tournaments as students will be allowed access to recreational facilities in the Student Union.

Also, participating students will be given a holiday gift bag that will include a discount card to the mall at Fairfield Commons, small gifts and incentives and tickets to both of the basketball games.

"We want to do whatever we can to get a good crowd for these games not only because they are the first two league games of the season, but also because it is important for students to be involved in activities of this nature to enhance their college experience," said Bertsos.

The two games that open Horizon League play are typically a bad time for student attendance due to the fact that many have returned home for the winter break, said Michael Cusack, director of Athletics.

"Valparaiso and Butler represent two of the nine conference games that WSU will host at the Nutter Center and will be very important to the team's early and overall success," said Cusack.

"This is a great idea to get students back on campus and support the team as they begin the season. Last year was great for the team and everyone else at Wright State and it would be great to build on that level of excitement for this year," said Bryan Hill, a junior communication major.

If there is a high level of participation in this event, more of its type may happen as early as WSU's Dec. 15 game at home against the Miami Redhawks, said Bertsos.

The 2006-07 team began its season 5-6 before winning 18 of its next 21 games on the way to a Horizon League championship and a bid to the NCAA Tournament where it lost to the University of Pittsburgh in the first round of play. They finished 23-10.

Wright State's men's basketball team opens its season against Coastal Carolina, a team the Raiders lost to in double overtime last season, on Nov. 19 at the Nutter Center.

media.www.theguardianonline.com/media/storage/paper373/news/2007/11/07/News/Housing.Open.For.Butler.Game.During.Break-3082299.shtml

[rock70]

You can not fault the administrators for not trying to get more students to the games. I don't know if this will result in getting more students back on campus during break or not but I give them and +A for effort and creativity.

Butler and Valpo represent two of our biggest conference home games this year so a large crowd is needed.

I am expecting big things from our students this year. It appears to me that the many student groups are finally working together in and attempt to get the students more involved.

[Raider Country]

Attendance up; WSU aims to keep it that way
By Marc Katz
Wednesday, November 28, 2007

In an attempt to keep men's basketball attendance moving in the right direction, Wright State will open its dorms next week (Wednesday-Sunday) while the school is on winter break. Those students who live in the dorms will be able to stay in their own rooms for the first two Horizon League games of the season, against Valparaiso and Butler on Dec. 6 and 8.

It's not an exact science keeping track of basketball ticket sales at WSU, but if you attended either of the first two games this season — the exhibition against Indianapolis on Nov. 5 or the regular-season opener against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 18 — you know attendance is up.

Associate athletics director Matt Liddy says season-ticket sales are up about 20 percent after the school overhauled its database.

"We started from scratch," Liddy said. "We weren't sure exactly how many bought tickets in the past, and we gave away a lot. We're trying not to do that. We sold just under 1,100 season tickets last year and just over 1,300 this year."

With the improvement of the team comes better attendance. But fans have been accustomed to having plenty of seat options on game day and ordinarily don't buy in advance. With more games like last year's Horizon tournament final, which filled the Nutter Center, more season tickets will be sold.

At the moment, WSU tickets are a bargain. Most tickets are $15 or less per game. Don't look for that always to be the case.

Over at Butler, nights of inexpensive entertainment are over. The Bulldogs used to offer $8 seats for adults and $4 for children. This year, ticket prices have soared, and games have been marked as value, regular or premium.

Upper-level tickets at Butler's legendary Hinkle Fieldhouse are now $15 to $25, depending on the game. Lower-level tickets are $25 to $35 and courtside seats are $50 to $100. Wright State's game at Butler on Feb. 28 has been designated a regular game, with tickets going for $20, $30 and $75.

Raiders notes

• The men's basketball team plays at Marist on Saturday, and the women's team hosts Canisius at 1 p.m. at the Nutter Center. Also, the swimming and diving teams are at the Miami Invitational Thursday through Saturday.

• Save Jan. 30 for the baseball team's annual First Pitch banquet. Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman will be the guest speaker as the banquet moves from the Nutter Center's Berry Room to the main floor. Tickets are $60. Call [phone] for details.

www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/11/27/ddn112807inside.html