What was with the crowd last night?

[HuskyNan]

I know the team was flat and gave off no energy and that the Civic Center did everything in its power to kill cheers by holding numerous [sponsored] "watch the cute kid" contests, but, geez, the crowd was absolutely no help to the team at all last night. The students tried to fire people up, Teddy was there trying to get cheers started but about 75% of the crowd sat like corpses in their seats. I don't know if UConn would have won in front of a more lively crowd but there's a chance an active audience might have given the Huskies a bit more energy.

And, I've got to say it once more, when The Suits buy season's tickets and don't show up for big games, UConn should put them on the last row of seats in the Civic Center. Entire rows in the lower bowl were empty last night; it looked bad.

 

[Mattydog]

Don't let the suits in at all.

 

[Icebear]

I hate the games for just that reason, Nan, too often they kill the energy. Plus it is hard to cheer for Ohio State.

 

[Kait14]

I know the team was flat and gave off no energy and that the Civic Center did everything in its power to kill cheers by holding numerous [sponsored] "watch the cute kid" contests, but, geez, the crowd was absolutely no help to the team at all last night. The students tried to fire people up, Teddy was there trying to get cheers started but about 75% of the crowd sat like corpses in their seats. I don't know if UConn would have won in front of a more lively crowd but there's a chance an active audience might have given the Huskies a bit more energy.

And, I've got to say it once more, when The Suits buy season's tickets and don't show up for big games, UConn should put them on the last row of seats in the Civic Center. Entire rows in the lower bowl were empty last night; it looked bad.

It's so disappointing to see how fans have just basically "died" over the years.. 2001 Big east championship, 03/04 Taurasi half court bomb Tennessee game.. EVERY game against a top opponent the place used to be crazy.. now, it's just sad. Also, I wish UConn would put more effort into the student section for the women's games.. Saturday the men's student section was crazy.. and for goodness sake, why can't we just play in Storrs? I can't stand the XL center.. Granted, Gampel needs a renovation, but the XL center is just meh.. nothing better than the Gampel against a top opponent. Ya, I know it's because of the money, but it's not even selling out

 

[Henry]

The fans were into it for a while but with the missed shots, turnovers and ND making shots, it took the crowd out of the game. You have to give ND credit for some of that.

 

[Kait14]

The fans were into it for a while but with the missed shots, turnovers and ND making shots, it took the crowd out of the game. You have to give ND credit for some of that.

Sure I do.. but why couldn't the crowd be like the one at Gampel on Saturday night? Syracuse was up by 14, and the crowd never died down

 

[ChicagoGG]

Kait - nice walk down memory lane , but when was the last time you were able to to a game? IIRC, you are on the West Coast.

XL Center is not optimal, but for many of us season ticket holders, it is the only way we can go to a weeknite game. Yes, Gampel is better, but sellouts are rare these days in either venue. The economy has a lot to do with that. And the women always get second pick on scheduling to the men, which affects where the team plays, as does the TV schedule. (Not to mention the UConn genius who decideded to bump parking rates up if you wanted to park in the Coop garage.) And say what you will, 15,000 folks may not be 16,649, but still a good size attendance. Many schools can only dream of that.

I agree with Nan about the no-show suits, and the continuous promos which suck the life out of the stadium. The fans come to see the game.

I think the crowd started out pretty fired up last night, but when the team couldn't sustain, the air seemed to leave that balloon....it was great to have Ted back - he sure tried his darndest to keep up the cheers!

And yes, I do remember the old days against the Evil Empire. And even some pretty good ones against VaTech where the crowd would stamp their feet and the building would sound like a freight train coming.

Geno has been very complimentary to the student section. It has been very vocal and many more attendees than last year. Band great, too.

Please, this is not meant personally. It's just that when everyone in my section (upper rows of 108) has no voice left from screaming their lungs out, only to be disappointed in the outcome, it seems a little harsh to read crowd criticism from people who only see what the TV shows. The old days WERE awesome. Let us hope this team can rally for a good finish this year. And next year, who knows, maybe we can get some of the old mojo back!

 

[Kait14]

Kait - nice walk down memory lane , but when was the last time you were able to to a game? IIRC, you are on the West Coast.

XL Center is not optimal, but for many of us season ticket holders, it is the only way we can go to a weeknite game. Yes, Gampel is better, but sellouts are rare these days in either venue. The economy has a lot to do with that. And the women always get second pick on scheduling to the men, which affects where the team plays, as does the TV schedule. (Not to mention the UConn genius who decideded to bump parking rates up if you wanted to park in the Coop garage.) And say what you will, 15,000 folks may not be 16,649, but still a good size attendance. Many schools can only dream of that.

I agree with Nan about the no-show suits, and the continuous promos which suck the life out of the stadium. The fans come to see the game.

I think the crowd started out pretty fired up last night, but when the team couldn't sustain, the air seemed to leave that balloon....it was great to have Ted back - he sure tried his darndest to keep up the cheers!

And yes, I do remember the old days against the Evil Empire. And even some pretty good ones against VaTech where the crowd would stamp their feet and the building would sound like a freight train coming.

Geno has been very complimentary to the student section. It has been very vocal and many more attendees than last year. Band great, too.

Please, this is not meant personally. It's just that when everyone in my section (upper rows of 108) has no voice left from screaming their lungs out, only to be disappointed in the outcome, it seems a little harsh to read crowd criticism from people who only see what the TV shows. The old days WERE awesome. Let us hope this team can rally for a good finish this year. And next year, who knows, maybe we can get some of the old mojo back!

Last game I attended was the 89th win in a row last year.. it was a blowout, so of course it wasn't that raucous of a crowd.. Not saying that there weren't people rowdy, but it didn't sound loud at all on TV.. just because there are 15,000 people there doesn't mean it's going to get loud.. And no doubt, the student section is great this year.. I just wish they would be as rowdy as they are for the men.. Believe me, I appreciate that you and your section mates were loud as hell and lost your voices.. I wish the entire place could be like you

 

[UCinsider]

I know the team was flat and gave off no energy and that the Civic Center did everything in its power to kill cheers by holding numerous [sponsored] "watch the cute kid" contests, but, geez, the crowd was absolutely no help to the team at all last night. The students tried to fire people up, Teddy was there trying to get cheers started but about 75% of the crowd sat like corpses in their seats. I don't know if UConn would have won in front of a more lively crowd but there's a chance an active audience might have given the Huskies a bit more energy.

And, I've got to say it once more, when The Suits buy season's tickets and don't show up for big games, UConn should put them on the last row of seats in the Civic Center. Entire rows in the lower bowl were empty last night; it looked bad.

My 2 cents:

1. The women's crowd has a large percentage of older people. With the late start to the game, by the second half most of us were fighting our body clocks.

2. As you mentioned, distractions, along with the ESPN longer time-outs. You can't sustain the cheers through all that and still have enough left for the game action.

3. The sound system, at least where I was sitting, was cranked up to the "threshold of pain," especially in the higher frequencies. My head was bursting by the middle of the first half and I had to cover my ears.

I guess the good old days are gone for good.

 

[Kevin G]

I know the team was flat and gave off no energy and that the Civic Center did everything in its power to kill cheers by holding numerous [sponsored] "watch the cute kid" contests, but, geez, the crowd was absolutely no help to the team at all last night. The students tried to fire people up, Teddy was there trying to get cheers started but about 75% of the crowd sat like corpses in their seats. I don't know if UConn would have won in front of a more lively crowd but there's a chance an active audience might have given the Huskies a bit more energy.

And, I've got to say it once more, when The Suits buy season's tickets and don't show up for big games, UConn should put them on the last row of seats in the Civic Center. Entire rows in the lower bowl were empty last night; it looked bad.

Absolutely agree Nan !!

 

[DishNSwish]

The XL Center is not a home court advantage, IMO

 

[UConn990411]

Sure I do.. but why couldn't the crowd be like the one at Gampel on Saturday night? Syracuse was up by 14, and the crowd never died down

In fairness, that was probably only the second time this year the crowd gave the men's team a real advantage (WV game at the XL Center being the other).

UConn fans for both teams seem to have become very complacent.

 

[ChicagoGG]

Kait raises an interesting point - "it didn't sound loud at all on TV." Sometimes when we replay the game at home, that's true. It doesn't sound loud. Even at some points that I know from being there, it was loud.

I was talking to a camera man one night and asked how the stand up reporter could be heard over the crowd noise (it was intro time, everyone clapping, music playing, etc.). He said they have filters so they can mute the background noise and the heads can be heard.

 

[UConnChapette]

I think the lateness of the game may have had an impact. I, personally, was already tired by the time I got there. I gave it my all until late in the second half. After getting up at 5:00 AM, working a full day, going home and cooking dinner, then heading into Hartford for a 9:00 PM game, there is only so much energy I can muster, no matter how hard I try. There were a lot of "newbies" around us in a section of season ticket holders, so it was obvious a lot of the "regulars" gave up their seats to people who don't know how to act when at a game in person. When they are at home they simply sit passively and watch. Standing up and cheering the team on is a foreign concept to them.

 

[Icebear]

I hate the late start and it truly made no sense to have the Baylor - A&M game first. When played in the Central TZ it would have been a reasonable 8:00 start for them.

 

[Kait14]

Kait raises an interesting point - "it didn't sound loud at all on TV." Sometimes when we replay the game at home, that's true. It doesn't sound loud. Even at some points that I know from being there, it was loud.

I was talking to a camera man one night and asked how the stand up reporter could be heard over the crowd noise (it was intro time, everyone clapping, music playing, etc.). He said they have filters so they can mute the background noise and the heads can be heard.

Interesting.. I didn't know that.. I guess I'm just caught up in comparing last night to Saturday night, when even with those filters, it was hard to hear the announcers because it was so loud at Gampel

 

[huskybill]

I've benn to most men and women's games this year and there are always more students for the men than for the women. Such was the case again yesterday. At some games this year, there were no more than 20-30 students at some of the women's games.

There was a decent crowd yesterday but nowhere near the sellout some were expecting. And the crowd is getting older. The women sitting next to me is 87. Last year she was only 86. She does all the clapping and cheering at the beginning of the half, but during the game it doesn't appear she hears the disjointed cheers.

The economy is one reason but not the only reason the crowds have diminished
There really isn't as much interest in the Husky women as there used to be. The tipoff is the BigEast tourney which draws, at best, mediocre crowds even on the days UConn plays.

 

[UConnCat]

The economy is one reason but not the only reason the crowds have diminished
There really isn't as much interest in the Husky women as there used to be. The tipoff is the BigEast tourney which draws, at best, mediocre crowds even on the days UConn plays.

The BET crowd will likely be very disappointing this year given that Geno said his team isn't good enough to win it and he doesn't care who does win it. Hopefully the team and fans will say a collective "screw you" to Geno and go out and win the thing with great fan support.

 

[Kait14]

I've benn to most men and women's games this year and there are always more students for the men than for the women. Such was the case again yesterday. At some games this year, there were no more than 20-30 students at some of the women's games.

There was a decent crowd yesterday but nowhere near the sellout some were expecting. And the crowd is getting older. The women sitting next to me is 87. Last year she was only 86. She does all the clapping and cheering at the beginning of the half, but during the game it doesn't appear she hears the disjointed cheers.

The economy is one reason but not the only reason the crowds have diminished
There really isn't as much interest in the Husky women as there used to be. The tipoff is the BigEast tourney which draws, at best, mediocre crowds even on the days UConn plays.

That's so disheartening to hear.. When I get back to CT, and (hopefully) get accepted to UConn for grad school, I'm going to single-handedly turn the student section around for the women.. Mark my words!!

 

[Icebear]

The BET crowd will likely be very disappointing this year given that Geno said his team isn't good enough to win it and he doesn't care who does win it. Hopefully the team and fans will say a collective "screw you" to Geno and go out and win the thing with great fan support.

There is more truth to that than you may realize. Geno wants the team to fight back against him. He wants their passion and resolute will.

 

[Sonny44]

Here's another thing that I don't think has been discussed. There were so many interruptions in the game; side shows, contests, circus acts, recognitions, introductions, yada yada yada. For a ten dollar prize (odds of winning somewhere in the 1/100 range) a comapny could get 30 seconds or so of exposure. They completely disrupted the flow of the game. Some of these nonsense momentum killers went on for what seemed to be five minutes or more. The game isn't for the players anymore to say nothing about the fans. Many fans around me were more upset than I was about it. It really took a lot of the enjoyment out of the game. Game - get it it supposed be fun to play and to watch.
No wonder the fans seemed subdued.
Why can't they just do all this c%&p during the halftime. It would be better just to increase the duration of halftime IMHO.

 

[Rondogg]

The last game I attended in Hartford was against Duke. I booed their star player Alana Beard when she was announced. I was shushed by several blue hairs sipping on their coffees. "We don't boo the players, we boo the play". Turns out they didn't boo or cheer anything. UConn ended up losing. Never again.

 

[Kait14]

The last game I attended in Hartford was against Duke. I booed their star player Alana Beard when she was announced. I was shushed by several blue hairs sipping on their coffees. "We don't boo the players, we boo the play". Turns out they didn't boo or cheer anything. UConn ended up losing. Never again.

I was at that game cheering my butt off, and getting dirty looks as I did so.. Can't stand that aspect of the atmosphere.. The worst has to be the people who bring a newspaper or book to read WHILE the game is going on.. Like, why are you wasting your money?

 

[Husky7882]

Here's another thing that I don't think has been discussed. There were so many interruptions in the game; side shows, contests, circus acts, recognitions, introductions, yada yada yada. For a ten dollar prize (odds of winning somewhere in the 1/100 range) a comapny could get 30 seconds or so of exposure. They completely disrupted the flow of the game. Some of these nonsense momentum killers went on for what seemed to be five minutes or more. The game isn't for the players anymore to say nothing about the fans. Many fans around me were more upset than I was about it. It really took a lot of the enjoyment out of the game. Game - get it it supposed be fun to play and to watch.
No wonder the fans seemed subdued.
Why can't they just do all this c%&p during the halftime. It would be better just to increase the duration of halftime IMHO.

I understand and agree with what you're saying, but maybe they don't do it at halftime (as you suggest) because they want a "captive audience". At half time people meet with other people, go to the bathroom, get something to eat...leave their seats and are no longer "captive." At least that's how I see it.

 

[HuskyNan]

The BET crowd will likely be very disappointing this year given that Geno said his team isn't good enough to win it and he doesn't care who does win it. Hopefully the team and fans will say a collective "screw you" to Geno and go out and win the thing with great fan support.

After thinking about it for a while, this is one of Geno's classic (as in old) tactics. If yelling, rewards, cajoling or whatever else don't work, he makes himself the bad guy. If the team is disjointed, not all on the same page, they might want to come together as one to stick it in Geno's face. And no one would love that more than Geno himself.