rabid fan base

[CodyJ.]

Great and all the amateurs will be puking and starting fights by end of first quarter

"Rabid" fan base

 

[JaYnYcE]

So there can be an additional 15k of empty seats? If the Rent regularly had 40k in attendance for UConn games expansion would be in the discussion. In the 10 years it has been open, there have probably been less than 5 games that has happened, and that is probably a high estimation.

Go for broke, waiting for the time that we consistently sell out may be smart financially, but it's small time thinking like that that doesn't help our cause when we're applying to get out of the BE.

Football drives the bus, no matter how many championships we rack up in BBall. If our decisions makers aren't willing to be as big as we can be now, you can't trust that they will have the gumption to make better choices in the future. And this conservative, tight ass, safe mode BS like this that pisses me off royally about the place we're in now. Shake things up for Chrissakes.


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[Nostical]

Rutgers Stadium was NOT sold out last night. They were playing for the first BCS bowl bid in program history and seats were available. So rabid isn't exactly the right word. I could accept enthusiastic.

Don't deceive youself. While we may have had enthusiastic crowds for several of our games, especially at night, none of them--not one-- had as enthusiastic an opening looking TV shot right before kickoff as Rutgers did last night. I don't care that seats in the upper deck were empty. What matters is that when Joe Fan (and ACC/B1G poobahs) tuned in and saw a kickoff with a rabid, towel waving packed house, he and they were impressed. For those of you who aren't usually there at our kickoffs (and who complain about how others have the nerve to percieve us as they do) try Tivo-ing our games and then watch them from the top. It's a joke. A bad joke. And no one should be laughing.

 

[jdb50]

You can add a couple rows of seats between the lower and upper decks. This would stop all the walk around nonsense. It would be more like the portals at the Yale Bowl. These would be good seats for viewing the game and should sell well.

 

[Palatine]

Don't deceive youself. While we may have had enthusiastic crowds for several of our games, especially at night, none of them--not one-- had as enthusiastic an opening looking TV shot right before kickoff as Rutgers did last night. I don't care that seats in the upper deck were empty. What matters is that when Joe Fan (and ACC/B1G poobahs) tuned in and saw a kickoff with a rabid, towel waving packed house, he and they were impressed. For those of you who aren't usually there at our kickoffs (and who complain about how others have the nerve to percieve us as they do) try Tivo-ing our games and then watch them from the top. It's a joke. A bad joke. And no one should be laughing.

You're comparing apples and oranges. You are comparing a winner take all, prime time game for the conference championship and a BCS boewl slot versus the average UConn Saturday crowd. Not the same thing at all.

 

[huskymedic]

You can add a couple rows of seats between the lower and upper decks. This would stop all the walk around nonsense. It would be more like the portals at the Yale Bowl. These would be good seats for viewing the game and should sell well.

Mini Luxury boxes...

 

[Nostical]

You're comparing apples and oranges. You are comparing a winner take all, prime time game for the conference championship and a BCS boewl slot versus the average UConn Saturday crowd. Not the same thing at all.

I'm not comparing apples and oranges. I'm comparing macIntosh and granny smith.

 

[jdb50]

Mini Luxury boxes...

Maybe but would have to emphasize mini. 2or 3 rows of seats would look cleaner to my eye. For years I felt whaler was making sense with the we can't expand yet rants. Now with teams like Michigan and Tenn on schedule we could fill more seats and it makes no sense to stay small because it would not be sold out every game. Watching other games on TV you see plenty of examples of empty seats but they aren't being called out. This could be bonded and be a Conn. worker employment angle. (unlike the busway) Keep the seat prices low and generate new fans. Be proactive which is very un-Connecticut like.

 

[Nostical]

You can add a couple rows of seats between the lower and upper decks. This would stop all the walk around nonsense. It would be more like the portals at the Yale Bowl. These would be good seats for viewing the game and should sell well.

This is the actual fix recommended by the guy who built the stadium. He realizes now his idea of asking the architects if they could design the Rent so fans would be able to view the field "while getting a hot dog" (precipitated by the time he missed a kickoff return by Dave Meggett at Giants Stadium) was a big mistake. The additions of these fill-in seats, which would leave only selected portals, would add lots of additional seats without pouring any concrete. He also wants to fill in the scoreboard area. P.S. He also showed me the new video scoreboard schematic which has an HD video screen as big as our entire present full scoreboard. They are just waiting for money. Aren't we all.

 

[huskymedic]

Maybe but would have to emphasize mini. 2or 3 rows of seats would look cleaner to my eye. For years I felt whaler was making sense with the we can't expand yet rants. Now with teams like Michigan and Tenn on schedule we could fill more seats and it makes no sense to stay small because it would not be sold out every game. Watching other games on TV you see plenty of examples of empty seats but they aren't being called out. This could be bonded and be a Conn. worker employment angle. (unlike the busway) Keep the seat prices low and generate new fans. Be proactive which is very un-Connecticut like.

Thinking something like this... but w/ better seats

 

[tduconn]

I guess I'm over enthusiastic and overly optomistic. But I like to have lofty goals and aim high.......I may not reach them, but am always trying.

Everyone laughed when Schiano went to Rutgers and proclaimed he wanted to bring national championships to the university. A high goal that was never achieved, but the program became something no one in NJ ever imagined was even remotely possible. Look where they are now compared to UConn........it must feel nice to be wanted.......the additional $ 20 mil is even better.

Schiano's illustrious and illusionary goals did not get NC's, but got Rutgers more attention from fans, athletes, press and other conferences.

Some commentary is absolutely on point. Syracuse and Pittsburgh stadiums often look as minor league as UConn during game time. The difference is they offer an historic perspective to a success where they had heisman trophy winners, and some of their players in the NFL became household names and NFL hall of famers. So in the eyes of the more established conferences, they have shown they can be successful, and have potentials that were not realized in the big east. That's why they were/are desirable and perceived as a benefit to other conferences.

Wasn't there a kindergarten story about the "little engine that could".....something about getting to the top of a big mountain? (My AARP mind may escape the details).

UConn does not have a historical perspective, which I'll symbolize as a diesel engine, to pull UConn's locomotive along.

So once again, its up to SH, WM and the fans to get this little FB engine out of the station and started up the big hill. If not, we're stuck in the "roundhouse" at ground level, and no other conference is going to punch UConn's ticket.

 

[RMS25CT]

Go for broke, waiting for the time that we consistently sell out may be smart financially, but it's small time thinking like that that doesn't help our cause when we're applying to get out of the BE.

Football drives the bus, no matter how many championships we rack up in BBall. If our decisions makers aren't willing to be as big as we can be now, you can't trust that they will have the gumption to make better choices in the future. And this conservative, tight ass, safe mode BS like this that pisses me off royally about the place we're in now. Shake things up for Chrissakes.


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My point being, what will 15k empty seats do for you? So you have a 55k seat stadium, but you still only get 35k fans other than a handful of times.

 

[JaYnYcE]

My point being, what will 15k empty seats do for you? So you have a 55k seat stadium, but you still only get 35k fans other than a handful of times.

It shows other league heads that you have made a full investment in your football program and not a wait and see approach.


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[TouchdownHusky]

I've been to Rutgers Stadium twice. I have not seen an appreciable difference in atmosphere between there and Rentschler. In each case, the atmosphere will have everything to do with how the team is doing and thus how important the game is, as opposed to whether it's in Hartford or Piscataway. And is our atmosphere worse than at the Carrier Dome or at BC? Please.

Agreed.

We are not going to be like an SEC school in our livetimes. Please quit trashing the program, and crating the negative perceptions that feeds others, by setting that as the goals. If and when we're not doing what they do in Boston and Syracuse and Piscataway and College Park (did anyone really think their fans and crowd was better than ours when you saw it first hand), then we have something to talk about.

This is the frustrating part here. UConn has the potential to be so much more. We certainly can be Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, NCSate. We just need a stable, quality conference to park our program in.

Most everyone, myself included, seems willing to accept that perception hurt us this week. Guess what folks -- we can't change the perception of us being minor league if half the fans here feel free to tell us how much we are minor league on a daily basis.

No I see that as passion about the program. And I think the powers to be would do well to listen to some of what's said. Everyone here arrogantly bashed Schiano, his helicopter recruiting, the Rutgers stadium expansion,etc. But how's that all worked out? Maybe there's something to this approach that we don't understand and maybe we need to take a less conservative (that PIA Land of Steady Habits crap) and do something different - like be less patient.

 

[buckley503]

Don't deceive youself. While we may have had enthusiastic crowds for several of our games, especially at night, none of them--not one-- had as enthusiastic an opening looking TV shot right before kickoff as Rutgers did last night. I don't care that seats in the upper deck were empty. What matters is that when Joe Fan (and ACC/B1G poobahs) tuned in and saw a kickoff with a rabid, towel waving packed house, he and they were impressed. For those of you who aren't usually there at our kickoffs (and who complain about how others have the nerve to percieve us as they do) try Tivo-ing our games and then watch them from the top. It's a joke. A bad joke. And no one should be laughing.

All the magic of TV. Again, I was there and the student section at the beginning was packed and raucous and a great TV shot. The rest of the stadium was like the Rent at kickoff which even prompted my RU buddy and friends to state how disappointed they were that people were not in their seats for the kickoff even with Senior intros.

 

[jdb50]

Cincy was pretty empty for Senior Day kickoff as well.

 

[Jimdish255]

You're comparing apples and oranges. You are comparing a winner take all, prime time game for the conference championship and a BCS boewl slot versus the average UConn Saturday crowd. Not the same thing at all.

If we had a season like either of these teams and a semi-potent offense we would have sold our place out. Yeah people have competing interests but they want to be entertained yet we keep hammering the ones that actually show up. Product, schedule and marketing need an upgrade and the fans will come. Rutgers is getting close on all 3 but we have the same or better potential imo. And we could add some small touches to the lot to make pre-game even better.

 

[uconnell]

Always thought the TV camera was on the wrong side. If you showed the tower side, it would look a lot better.

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Not true. We sit where we can see the tower side and these people could be dead for all the movement you see out of them. Thats where the corporations have their seats and thats why there are so many empty seats. I worked for a corp. that had multiple seats at the fb and bb games and would give them away to employees. We were told that we embarrassed the company because we cheered and made a lot of noise. We were told this when we went to pick the tickets the next time and told them thanks but no thanks. We would rather sit in the nosebleed seats and be who we are.

 

[huskymedic]

Not true. We sit where we can see the tower side and these people could be dead for all the movement you see out of them. Thats where the corporations have their seats and thats why there are so many empty seats. I worked for a corp. that had multiple seats at the fb and bb games and would give them away to employees. We were told that we embarrassed the company because we cheered and made a lot of noise. We were told this when we went to pick the tickets the next time and told them thanks but no thanks. We would rather sit in the nosebleed seats and be who we are.

I don't believe that to be true... I'm in Section 203 (by choice - 2nd 3 year cycle same seats) and the group around this area is fairly loud and knowledgable with the same faces. I can see the sections on either side. No more or no less attendance or noise than the "UConn Bench" side. Businesses have their seats all around the Rent. The only consistently filled section is the parent's section. We have a lot of room for improvement here.

 

[rich1122]

Stop letting people stand in the end zone and around d 'n stadium. Get to your seats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having vented about that, Rutgers has over 50K seats. If we had 55K seats we would never have sold out many. If ever.

Sorry Bus I know that you do not like that we boast about our weaknesses, but you have to admit that you have a problem - STEP 1 of the 12 Steps.

 

[uconnell]

I don't believe that to be true... I'm in Section 203 (by choice - 2nd 3 year cycle same seats) and the group around this area is fairly loud and knowledgable with the same faces. I can see the sections on either side. No more or no less attendance or noise than the "UConn Bench" side. Businesses have their seats all around the Rent. The only consistently filled section is the parent's section. We have a lot of room for improvement here.

Well let's agree to disagree. I've been watching them for 7 years. I'm talking about the lower bowl.

 

[huskymedic]

Well let's agree to disagree. I've been watching them for 7 years. I'm talking about the lower bowl.

Before i get called out for not knowing where my seats are... Need to fix fat finger typo - in Section 202, but was in 203 for first two three year cycles.

 

[Senore]

Winning cures everything. Louisville has similar tendencies, for what it's worth - a basketball-first clientele but an AD with football fever. When we're winning and lot's at stake, we fill our joint up. Otherwise, we're casual, lol. The secret is winning, I'm afraid. Anyone can get up for teams who impress and inspire. Neither place will have the Big 10-12-SEC type of pageantry which clusters around the sport like Church services. There's simply more to do than what entertains state schools.

 

[upstater]

I remember Robert Griffin saying that the Rent had the loudest most intimidating fanbase he had ever encountered.

So, things have changed in 2-3 years, but that's what happens when enthusiasm is dampened because of coaching.

 

[buggsy]

I was there last night and it was impressive, especially by the student section, coordinated chants, knowing when to be loud, etc.

But, it was about 8K short of a full house and more importantly to the "football school" Louisville, if they had more than 500 fans there for their BCS shot it was a lot. Pathetic showing by the Louisville fanbase.

Otherwise, awesome environment and RU is eager and ready for their entrance in the BIG from a gameday experience. Fun time.

if you were really there last night, you would know that there was NOT 8K empty seats.

The game was sold out in advance, and for those wondering why, then were their empty sets in the upper corners of the stadium....it is because those sections are also for students when the demand for tickets is greater than what the main student section can handle. But the students sitting up there all JAM in to the endzone student section....so it looks like the stadium is not full.

 

[Palatine]

if you were really there last night, you would know that there was NOT 8K empty seats.

The game was sold out in advance, and for those wondering why, then were their empty sets in the upper corners of the stadium....it is because those sections are also for students when the demand for tickets is greater than what the main student section can handle. But the students sitting up there all JAM in to the endzone student section....so it looks like the stadium is not full.

Wrong, it's what happens when some entity buys up the remaining seats, it's a paper sell out, not fannies in the seats, NOT every seat snapped up by rabid fans.

 

[buggsy]

Wrong, it's what happens when some entity buys up the remaining seats, it's a paper sell out, not fannies in the seats, NOT every seat snapped up by rabid fans.

Wrong. If the students sat in their actual seats and not jammed into the student section in the endzone...every seat would have been occupied. I know that goes against your view that we didn't sell out...but the truth is the truth.

 

[scott]

Wrong. If the students sat in their actual seats and not jammed into the student section in the endzone...every seat would have been occupied. I know that goes against your view that we didn't sell out...but the truth is the truth.

Exactly. Not that it prevented Rutgers from choking, but the stadium was at the listed capacity. Maybe they should consider upgrading the number of tickets they sell since the place obviously can hold more.

 

[Kevin Caliendo]

1. the team has sucked to watch. They can barely complete a forward pass, there is no speed or skill on offense
2. the coaching is awful, the team is not fundamentally sound (important when 95% of the fan base roots for Bill belichick and tom coughlin coached teams)
3. the head coach comes across in interviews and sideline shots an old man who saw the game pass him by years ago
4. the conference realignment stuff has sourced most of the fans on team and sport. IF Uconn is not going to compete nationally, no one will care around here becasue all the favorite teams in this regiona compete for titles
5. the schedule at home has been terrible (how many ranked teams have ever played at the Rent?). and just when it jumps up a notch in 2013, Uconn is likely to put out a team that cannot complete
6. BUT, fans are no longer supporting the mens team and even the women are seeing big declines in attendance. Part of that is the economy and Hd TV, part of it a little disgust over the recruiting/APR stuff for the men and some of it is the lack of marketing and promotion of the program by the athletic ddepartment

 

[huskymedic]

1. the team has sucked to watch. They can barely complete a forward pass, there is no speed or skill on offense (BTW - Tell Ryan Griffin or Geremy Davis that)
2. the coaching is awful, the team is not fundamentally sound (important when 95% of the fan base roots for Bill belichick and tom coughlin coached teams)
3. the head coach comes across in interviews and sideline shots an old man who saw the game pass him by years ago
4. the conference realignment stuff has sourced most of the fans on team and sport. IF Uconn is not going to compete nationally, no one will care around here becasue all the favorite teams in this regiona compete for titles
5. the schedule at home has been terrible (how many ranked teams have ever played at the Rent?). and just when it jumps up a notch in 2013, Uconn is likely to put out a team that cannot complete (Get the point but you also can't predict how good teams will be when you schedule them in advance)
6. BUT, fans are no longer supporting the mens team and even the women are seeing big declines in attendance. Part of that is the economy and Hd TV, part of it a little disgust over the recruiting/APR stuff for the men and some of it is the lack of marketing and promotion of the program by the athletic ddepartment

... and some is just a spoiled entitled whiny fanbase (not pointed @ you Kev). Kind of like the ACC mindset when it comes to UConn. "It'll always be there when I want it).