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Post by rathskellar on Jan 7, 2011 9:09:31 GMT -5
I don't ever remember us averaging 7,000 to 9,000 per game. Then you must have spent too much time at the rathskellar. I definitely did in the 70's. Anyone else remember drinking beer between classes, Smoking in the Classroom, and watching X rated movies in 109 Oelman? Ah, the good ole days.
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Post by CincyDrummer on Jan 7, 2011 9:11:53 GMT -5
What is rathskellar??
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Post by rathskellar on Jan 7, 2011 9:20:49 GMT -5
It was basically an on-campus pizza and beer eatery located in the basement of whats now called the Student Union.....formerly the University Center. Its still there....just sort of a meeting room these days. Used to have live bands and entertainment back when. I remember the Red's caravan with Marty & Joe use to stop there back in the early 80s.
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Post by wolf41 on Jan 7, 2011 12:44:53 GMT -5
It is odd that you mention that. I was on campus recently and was remembering when there was a soccer field east of the University Center and a baseball field west of the Center. Softball, and I think tennis were up there as well. And basketball was played where the Bookstore is today. So sports have lost their "place", so to speak, in the daily lives of the student body. Today you wouldn't know there is a sports program, except for swimming, unless you seek it.
I was thinking that it would help if some student housing could be situated down around the sports complex. Putting the student recreational facility down in that area would help as well. I don't recall where the Master Plan puts the recreational facility. I suspect it might be near where it is today, but I just don't remember.
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Post by rathskellar on Jan 7, 2011 12:54:36 GMT -5
That's not the only problem I might add....the biggest issue is a cultural one.....athletics isn't a focus of the university itself. There are 5 cardboard signs around campus that announce game day. They are no taller than 4ft with plain words. You can't find an athletics symbol banner school colors for that matter even if you tried. The casual fan has no exposure. The NC and all of athletics might as well be different campus down the road to both students....and staff. I have a hard time believing that the students aren't informed about games. They come out in force for the Butler or ESPN games. I see a staffer installing the sandwich boards at 7am on game days.....all 3 main entrances and main walkways from student housing. This has to cover 90 percent of the people coming to campus. There is the intensely bright LED marquee at the entrance to the Nutter with flashing game day info. There are two 4'x8' billboards at the Kauffman Rd. entrance with the home schedule. There are several campus shuttle buses with the schedule plastered on the exterior. C'mon you have to be a blind befuddled fool to not when the games are.
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Post by rathskellar on Jan 7, 2011 13:02:36 GMT -5
It is odd that you mention that. I was on campus recently and was remembering when there was a soccer field east of the University Center and a baseball field west of the Center. Softball, and I think tennis were up there as well. And basketball was played where the Bookstore is today. So sports have lost their "place", so to speak, in the daily lives of the student body. Today you wouldn't know there is a sports program, except for swimming, unless you seek it. I was thinking that it would help if some student housing could be situated down around the sports complex. Putting the student recreational facility down in that area would help as well. I don't recall where the Master Plan puts the recreational facility. I suspect it might be near where it is today, but I just don't remember. /quote] It doesn't seem to hurt Univ. of Dayton students...... and they have to cross a river.
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Post by rathskellar on Jan 7, 2011 14:02:29 GMT -5
In order for us to turn the corner as a big league program..... we have to Win a NCAA tournament game....not just get there, we've been there and done that.....we have to advance. This will get us attention and put fans in the seats.
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Post by wolf41 on Jan 7, 2011 14:43:15 GMT -5
As a native of Dayton I grew up with the initial success which UD enjoyed, so I'm well aware of that rich history. That history contributes a great deal to their attendance today. There are kids and grandkids attending games because their parents/grandparents bought tickets in the late 40s and early 50s and those tickets are still in their hands today, or even more tickets depending upon the number of offspring.
Today their is much more available to grab people's attention. That's one problem WSU has today. WSU also has the problem of being the second D-1 program in town and not the first.
Yes, I know UD students have to cross a river to get to the games, a crossing in which a new, expanded, lighted bridge was made available by the citizens of Dayton and probably state and/or federal monies. I think they are also bussed from UD over to the arena, or so I've been told.
But I agree that we won't have the "gate" we want until we have some post-season successes, have an improved home schedule, and possibly lower ticket prices, at least for a while. I am a long time fan of WSU, but if I had not gone to school there, worked there, and have kids that went there, I might easily be a UD fan today, as I was once upon a time.
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Post by rathskellar on Jan 7, 2011 15:54:15 GMT -5
As a native of Dayton I grew up with the initial success which UD enjoyed, so I'm well aware of that rich history. That history contributes a great deal to their attendance today. There are kids and grandkids attending games because their parents/grandparents bought tickets in the late 40s and early 50s and those tickets are still in their hands today, or even more tickets depending upon the number of offspring. Today their is much more available to grab people's attention. That's one problem WSU has today. WSU also has the problem of being the second D-1 program in town and not the first. Yes, I know UD students have to cross a river to get to the games, a crossing in which a new, expanded, lighted bridge was made available by the citizens of Dayton and probably state and/or federal monies. I think they are also bussed from UD over to the arena, or so I've been told. But I agree that we won't have the "gate" we want until we have some post-season successes, have an improved home schedule, and possibly lower ticket prices, at least for a while. I am a long time fan of WSU, but if I had not gone to school there, worked there, and have kids that went there, I might easily be a UD fan today, as I was once upon a time. Ditto.....you and I have the same history with UD/WSU.
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WSUMM
Analyst
Wright State
Posts: 95
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Post by WSUMM on Jan 18, 2011 9:56:00 GMT -5
Any comments from this guy after the crowds this weekend? I don't know when he's on...
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Post by raidergrad98 on Jan 18, 2011 11:14:38 GMT -5
I don't believe he had his show yesterday (normally 3 to 7p I believe, weekdays), so I would imagine it'll be a topic of discussion this afternoon. They're now streaming everything live: www.wone.com/mediaplayer/
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Post by ohiopirate on Jan 18, 2011 12:51:49 GMT -5
For the record, I actually consider Schlemer a pretty good supporter of Wright State athletics. I don’t want anyone to think he makes a habit of bashing the WSU program or something based on the title of this thread. Coach Donlon calls in frequently and the two of them have a pretty good rapport. He’s said repeatedly that Wright State has the right man leading the program right now – he think Donlon is a superstar in the making. (I concur) . His show is local sports talk but whenever I listen I usually hear much more about Wright State than I do UD. I’m guessing our crowds will come up as a point of conversation sometime this week.
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WSUMM
Analyst
Wright State
Posts: 95
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Post by WSUMM on Jan 18, 2011 18:23:40 GMT -5
This is from his website today "Will The WSU Train Keep Rolling? The big question now is will Wright States momentum keep rolling and will the students and fans return when the team returns home? No free shirts and no Butler next time will put the momentum to a real test. I will say listening to The Billy Donlon Show last night, they got more calls than ever before so maybe just maybe the train keeps rolling...Of course a couple of wins on the road will help."
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Post by BasketBallJones on Feb 9, 2011 14:11:01 GMT -5
I was listening to Mark's show last night and he was ripping our fan base, or lack thereof, because of our poor attendance against YSU on Monday. Unfortunately, he was justified in his comments. He was lauding the job Billy has done with this team, the fact that we are tied for 2nd place in the HL, the fact that we have won over 100 games over the last 4+ years, and yet we draw a pitiful 3k fans against YSU.
The context of the show, with Norm Grevey as a guest, was reviving the Gem City Jam. While both Mark and Norm are in favor of the series resuming, Mark made the comment that maybe we (WSU) don't deserve to have the series resumed because of our fans lack of support, ie butts in the seats.
I have listened to his show on several occasions, and he does a good job giving credit to our program for our on court performance. He was just making a point that based on our record over the last 4-5 seasons, we should be getting more fans to come out and see the team play. I concur.
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Post by raiderryan on Feb 9, 2011 16:00:06 GMT -5
Look folks, while I understand that our arena seats 10,000 and that across town they get around 10 to 12 for every game, this isnt consistant with the normal realm of college basketball.
Our attendance is right on par with the average for D1 basketball, and the average for Ohio Schools as well. If they want to keep comparing our crowds to those across town, thats fine, but try comparing them to the rest of the HL, the A10 or even the country.
I'm not saying that this team doesnt deserve more butts in the seats, I'm just asking that we dont diminish the fact that we arent exactly small time!
NCAA DIVISION 1 AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE 2010 (from NCAA): 5,038 WSU is above!
WSU 2010 Average Home Attendance: 5,277
Atlantic 10 Average Attendance: 5,599 (10th nationally) Horizon Average Attendance: 3,416 (13th nationally)
A10 Leader: Dayton (28th Nationally), 12,259 (Xavier, second) Hor. Leader: Butler ,6852 (78th Nationally) (WSU, 2nd)
Wright State would be ranked 6 in the 14 team A10. (Behind Dayton, Xavier, Temple, St. Louis and Charlotte) Yet Ahead of Duquesne, Fordham, G.W., LaSalle, UMass, Richmond and Rhode Island)
Ohio D1 Basketball Attendance:
Akron:2824 Bowling Green:1709 Cincinnati:8076 Cleveland State:2278 Dayton: 12,259 Kent St: 3406 Miami U: 1,971 Ohio U: 5289 Ohio St: 14,141 Toledo: 3953 Wright St: 5277 (6th of 13) (OSU, UD, XU, UC, OU, WSU) Xavier: 10,123 Youngstown: 2498
All I'm trying to say here is let's keep some perspective when the UD homers say "Nobody even shows up at WSU games"
The arguement that UD shouldnt play WSU based on attendance figures is absolutely absurd! Especially considering they play the 2nd lowest drawing Ohio School in Miami!
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