Stuff our AD should at least try to do for the 21st, but won't...

[NYUConn]

I wonder if fans grab the pitchforks like this at other schools when scheduling conflicts occur?

Duke's opener at Cameron is this Saturday a few hours after the football team is home against Miami.

This happens at big universities more than you think.

 

[Husky25]

Sure these are all great ideas without acknowledging the biggest problems and concerns. Budgets, approvals, and most of all, staffing.

• The athletic department was millions of dollars in the hole last year. These ideas will cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars without moving the needle immediately. Without the immediate payback, there is no way these things get approved.
• Making anything happen in the UConn Athletic department is like trying to run through a brick wall. With the talking heads that remain under the AD, things take forever to get approved because nothing gets run up the latter unless it is straight from a coach. Unless Bob Diaco is the one asking for it, it will never happen.
• Staffing issues - The Marketing department is made up of 3-4 full time staff. That's it. One to oversee everything, one in charge of Football, MBB, and oversight of all other sports, and one in charge of group sales / fan development. The other staff are a couple GA's who run the other revenue and olympic sports.

These ideas sound like great options on paper, but when you actually try to execute any of them, it is impossible. Even attempting to get extra T-Shirts would likely be impossible because of the process it takes to get extra line items approved into the budget.

SUBOG? USG? Dorm Area Councils? West Campus had two full buses going to Yale Bowl when I was Treasurer. The Athletic Department had nothing to do with our arrangements.

 

[Dooley]

YES! Someone is reading the Boneyard...

 

[SubbaBub]

Not on 11/21. The product? A 5-win team trying to gain bowl eligibility for the first time since the Fiesta Bowl. The opponent? Top 25 ranked and undefeated Houston (highest ranked opponent to come to the Rent in years).

I'm only talking about what we need to do to get more fans to the Rent on Saturday, November 21 versus the Houston Cougars. We can discuss increasing season ticket base in the offseason. The more people in the stands = the louder the stadium = better for our players if we are going to entertain the thought of pulling off the upset.

It means there is little to be done at this stage other than try to squeeze a few more people into busses.

You can do a media blitz asking for people to come, but that may not come off well.

I would at least have the coach do a few TV hits and maybe a few ads.

On the student side, you could open the dorms Saturday if they are closed and provide more busses from campus. Other than that, the old T-shirt day is a standby that the U has never warmed to. You telling me Bob's or one of the banks wouldn't sponsor 5000 the shirts for the student section?

 

[Husky25]

On the student side, you could open the dorms Saturday if they are closed and provide more busses from campus. Other than that, the old T-shirt day is a standby that the U has never warmed to. You telling me Bob's or one of the banks wouldn't sponsor 5000 the shirts for the student section?

What happened to the T-shirt giveaways? I recall getting about 8 T-shirts my senior year, 5 just for being a basketball season ticket holder.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Pricing tickets at $15 is not going to move the needle. The only thing that will accomplish is pi$$ing off people who paid full price.

I like the parking at the Rent early and getting a shuttle to and from Gampel, but I worry about the LAZ cartel not being kind to that.

Realistically that only thing I think they can do that makes any sense? Let students who have tix to the hoops game board the bus and get into the Rent at no charge. Your hoops ticket is a 2-for-1 deal. One time only.

Laz Cartel?

 

[Husky25]

Um, how about move the game to Friday or Sunday or even Thursday. I know Furman would protest and might never agree to play us again!

Yeah, I'm with you. I think we should complain about something the Athletic Department had virtually no control instead of suggesting viable options for those who have to opportunity to attend both events.

 

[pepband99]

Laz Cartel?

The parking people, though it's likely a combination of LAZ, P&W, East Hartford, and UConn.

 

[Marty Jackson]

The parking people, though it's likely a combination of LAZ, P&W, East Hartford, and UConn.

I know who LAZ is... Just never heard of him referred to as a cartel. Alan is a Uconn grad and I believe a 'friend' of the athletic dept.

 

[BNich]

5 minutes before kickoff, all seats become first come first serve. Fill the lower bowl at a minimum. Arrive late? Enjoy the second row of the upper deck on the shady side.

I actually like that. But watch out for season ticket holders.

 

[freescooter]

Yeah, I'm with you. I think we should complain about something the Athletic Department had virtually no control instead of suggesting viable options for those who have to opportunity to attend both events.

Yeah because no other football school in this faux tournament has this conflict of both teams at home. Only UConn. Guess we were the only one with "virtually no control". How come Michigan Syracuse, even Frigen Charlotte don't have a conflict? As Jacobs would say that's so much bull spit. We continue to have this Yankee Conferene attitude about these things. Oh my if we don't screw ourselves, we might not get invited to a crappy tournament where we get to play in a hotel ballroom. And Furman might not schedule us ever again. We have more national titles than half the so-called blue bloods. We really need to start acting like it.

You want to do something? Move the basketball game to Hartford at noon. Though no doubt it would be impossible to have the ice ready for 7 for the Wolfpack.

 

[BNich]

I've never understood why UConn didn't offer student prices to students at all Connecticut universities. There are plenty of kids who go to Central & Eastern or community colleges in the area who would like to go, and why not promote UConn sports to them as well?

How can you be so sure? Just curious where you came up with this assumption from.

 

[CTMike]

I actually like that. But watch out for season ticket holders.

Restrict it to the corners, I think it would still work.

 

[BNich]

Restrict it to the corners, I think it would still work.

Even better idea.

 

[UChusky916]

Do we know what time the game is yet? If not, when do we find out? All I see is TBA everywhere

 

[Doggie Style]

Yeah because no other football school in this faux tournament has this conflict of both teams at home. Only UConn. Guess we were the only one with "virtually no control". How come Michigan Syracuse, even Frigen Charlotte don't have a conflict? As Jacobs would say that's so much bull spit. We continue to have this Yankee Conferene attitude about these things. Oh my if we don't screw ourselves, we might not get invited to a crappy tournament where we get to play in a hotel ballroom. And Furman might not schedule us ever again. We have more national titles than half the so-called blue bloods. We really need to start acting like it.

You want to do something? Move the basketball game to Hartford at noon. Though no doubt it would be impossible to have the ice ready for 7 for the Wolfpack.

Who gives a about the Wolfpack! If they left town tomorrow, 10 people would care.....

 

[uconnric]

Due to a 6 day hold the game time won't be announced until late Saturday or Sunday. This may end up as a night game.

 

[BoatShow]

Could have sworn I saw it was definitely 3:30 somewhere?

 

[Husky25]

Yeah because no other football school in this faux tournament has this conflict of both teams at home. Only UConn. Guess we were the only one with "virtually no control". How come Michigan Syracuse, even Frigen Charlotte don't have a conflict? As Jacobs would say that's so much bull spit. We continue to have this Yankee Conferene attitude about these things. Oh my if we don't screw ourselves, we might not get invited to a crappy tournament where we get to play in a hotel ballroom. And Furman might not schedule us ever again. We have more national titles than half the so-called blue bloods. We really need to start acting like it.

You want to do something? Move the basketball game to Hartford at noon. Though no doubt it would be impossible to have the ice ready for 7 for the Wolfpack.

Which game are you going to? Furman plays on Thursday, they travel on Friday. If they played basketball on Sunday, you'd b1tch about UConn basketball going up against NFL football, and blame Warde for lack of foresight.

 

[J187Money]

Um, how about move the game to Friday or Sunday or even Thursday. I know Furman would protest and might never agree to play us again!

The only chance I would go to the Furman game is if it is the same day. I would drive to Storrs on Friday night and then back to EH on Saturday? Not when the opponent is Furman.

I know I've said that I wouldn't watch Furman if it was played in my street, but I'm actually entertaining the double header.

 

[Woof 101]

5 minutes before kickoff, all seats become first come first serve. Fill the lower bowl at a minimum. Arrive late? Enjoy the second row of the upper deck on the shady side.

You have several good ideas here on this topic Chin but this in not one of them. First displacing late arriving season ticket holders would only further the amount of time for them to realize the game is going on, which usually takes the entire first quarter. Second, to use the upper deck on the shady side as retribution could get you in hot water with attorneys that sit there. Just kidding Biz...

 

[Chin Diesel]

Another thought. As a few have mentioned this opportunity is a cost on the Athletic Dept.

So,,,,,,,,,,,how about strong arming some Ct businesses in to sponsoring it???

Lockheed Martin just completed its acquisition of Sikorsky. Have them pony up some cash to pay for buses, security and T-shirts. UTC was more than happy to offload Sikorsky so I don't think they'd object.

 

[Dooley]

I would love it if UConn gave away a bunch of unsold tickets to Pratt employees again. The sections that they filled up for the Nova game are still a very dark blue (high number of seats available) on the ticket site. Whatever boosts attendance for this game is for the greater good of the team and the university.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Another thought. As a few have mentioned this opportunity is a cost on the Athletic Dept.

So,,,,,,,,,,,how about strong arming some Ct businesses in to sponsoring it???

Lockheed Martin just completed its acquisition of Sikorsky. Have them pony up some cash to pay for buses, security and T-shirts. UTC was more than happy to offload Sikorsky so I don't think they'd object.

will never happen... besides, is that really how you want CT perceived by businesses? Start pulling that crap and that sucking sound will be the jobs the people of CT rely on moving to some other state.
Giving businesses reason to support the university is a different matter, and one that doesn't have to be exclusive to CT based companies.

 

[freescooter]

I just find it frustrating that over and over again or athletic department continues to behave like we are still in the Yankee Conference. This is yet another manifestation. As I said if we told Furman to play a doubleheader on Saturday they would do it. And if we told the Atlantid folks we don't want to play Saturday I have no doubt they would have accommodated us. Because if they don't we'll play in some other event. In the past Calhoun refused to play certain teams in the early rounds of these things and it didn't matter. This " we have no control" hogwash is just that. It is an excuse to cover up the lazy Yankee Conference attitude that is present in abundance in our Athletic Department.

 

[SubbaBub]

will never happen... besides, is that really how you want CT perceived by businesses? Start pulling that crap and that sucking sound will be the jobs the people of CT rely on moving to some other state.
Giving businesses reason to support the university is a different matter, and one that doesn't have to be exclusive to CT based companies.

You only need to ask and handle the logistics of production and distribution. Corporations have marketing budgets just for this kind of thing. Association with the State U is good for business.

I don't think the AD is equipped to ask for or distribute 10k t-shirts. You are talking less than 100k.

 

[Chin Diesel]

will never happen... besides, is that really how you want CT perceived by businesses? Start pulling that crap and that sucking sound will be the jobs the people of CT rely on moving to some other state.
Giving businesses reason to support the university is a different matter, and one that doesn't have to be exclusive to CT based companies.

You only need to ask and handle the logistics of production and distribution. Corporations have marketing budgets just for this kind of thing. Association with the State U is good for business.

I don't think the AD is equipped to ask for or distribute 10k t-shirts. You are talking less than 100k.

Yeah, I don't think Fortune 500 companies base their employment locations on whether or not state universities ask for money for promotional events.

 

[gioff23]

Here's what Herbst should offer

Dear Student,

As part of our BIG efforts to upgrade the university, if you attend football game on 11/21. you will be eligible to receive 2 extra credit points on a final exam of your choice if you attend and stay until the end of the game. So, get an 88 on your Chemistry exam, bring your ticket stub and proof of your purchase, and you got yourself an A! So, go BIG and don't go home Sat.

SH

 

[1999.2004.2011]

If you want to draw the casual fan - do something crazy like 50 cent beers in the stadium. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Bezzz]

If you want to draw the casual fan - do something crazy like 50 cent beers in the stadium. What could possibly go wrong?

That made me LOL. Along the same vein, I was on the Grand Rapids Drive web page today (Ryan Boatright's new NBA D-League team). Their season opener is Saturday night, and Wednesday's are $1.00 beer nights. Tix are only $5.00!