Question on fan noise

[RoyalShock]

HockeyShock's text will serve as our starting point. Stay tuned for the official topic.

[DPruett2333]

We should show up like 5 hours early or whenever the doors open and stick 'em on every seat. I'm game.

Oh, and hey, put a quote or something on there from coach Marshall about the crowd. Maybe that will get their attention.

[RoyalShock]

Ok, there is now a "sticky" topic for discussion of the "fan flyer".

[rjl]

I don't purchase my tickets for the purpose of working at the game. My intent is to be entertained by the basketball game. I am not responsible if the team plays well or if it plays poorly that is the players. While you may feel it is your duty to stand the entire game and yell I do not. That is not to say that I don't stand and yell because of the excitement generated by the team or if trying to encourage them. Personnally I believe there is more of an impact when the crowd erupts spontaneously than manufacured excitement. I also believe that a crowd eruption on an apparent poor call has more of an impact than when you complain and holler at each call against your team.

What about a live game appeals to you? Wouldn'y someone like you rather sit at home, on their comfortable couch, and watch a game on TV in silence?

At any rate, if you don't like standing and cheering, it's your perrogative. But I hope you aren't one of the guys who will tell people to sit down and be quiet so you can enjoy the game in your own unorthodox way.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Even better than flyers is just standing up at appropriate times and motioning those around you to stand up by raising your arms. People are sheep and most want to see others around them stand before they do. If you could get just a couple rows around you to stand in unison many others will also follow. I start cheers with this philosophy and it works wonders. You could pass out leather bound books on standing and most will not have the balls to execute. It takes leadership, so Shockernet leaders... lead!


T


...8)

[C0|dB|00ded]

Okay, here's a first cut. I couldn't find the actual quotations, so I went with my memory, so if any of these need tweaking, please do so.


“It was louder here tonight than Cameron Indoor Arena.” – Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton, following the Seminoles double-OT win over WSU in the 2004 NIT.

“…Shocker fans would take that improvement and raise their usual level of bonkers a notch.” – USAToday, 2007-2008 season preview.

Reputations aren’t built in a day, but they can be lost almost as fast. The Roundhouse has earned a reputation for being the loudest place to play in the Missouri Valley, and one of the loudest places in the country. Part of what sold Wichita State to Head Coach Gregg Marshall were the stories of how incredibly loud the home crowd is.

Meeting those expectations is OUR responsibility as fans and season ticket holders.

While we all agree that there’s no place for rude or vulgar behavior at any sporting event, there is a responsibility to be loud, and not just at the beginning of each half. At the very least, respect those that are trying to uphold the hard-earned reputation of Charles Koch Arena. Better yet, if you can, please stand and cheer too! All we want is for the Shockers to win; and believe it or not, being a noisy crowd helps!

“The guys keep telling me, ‘Coach, you haven’t seen anything yet…” Coach Marshall, 12/4 Coach’s show.

GO SHOX!!

Courtesy, your fellow Shocker maniacs at Shockernet.
www.shockernet.net


:clap: :wsu_posters: :yahoo: :clap:

Let me add to this:

"It's the hardest arena I've ever played in," said BU center Patrick O'Bryant. "Even when it's quiet, it's loud."

"Even before we came here, we had heard an awful lot about the tremendous enthusiasm that Wichita State University has for its men's basketball program," Larranaga said. "I think it's kind of legendary around the country."

Jai Lewis said the sellout crowd was "so loud it was like [the Shockers] had an extra man on the floor."

"I'll be honest with you: This might be as good (of a road atmosphere) as I've ever been in, I've never seen a crowd so energetic and with so much enthusiasm and passion in support of their team." -Florida State University coach Leonard Hamilton, who has also had tenures at Oklahoma State and Miami.

"It (WSU) was louder than Duke tonight" -Chuck Walsh (Florida State sports information director)

"This building is tough to play in because it's so loud," Altman said. "It challenges you. If guys are weak-minded, you're going to give into it here. I told the guys to try to embrace it and thrive on it. It's just a great college venue." -Dana Altman

"We've played in unbelievable environments and by far this was the loudest. To start the game, it was defeaning in there."... -SIU-C Coach Chris Lowery

"After last year's WSU-UNI game, there were 3 of us still sitting in the front row of the student section when Ben Jacobsen (the player that looked like an All-American every time we played UNI) walked by after doing a post game radio interview.

He was very friendly and talked to us awhile. (he was very upbeat of course). He said that he loved our fans, he loved playing in our place because of the energy (even though it was negative towards him) and was especially complimentary of our student section.

But the thing that stuck out is that he said that we had the best atmosphere that he had ever played in and he said he had played at LSU and IOWA ST.

Ben Jacobsen said KOCH was louder and a better atmosphere than Hilton.

Now it is just one man's opinion. But he did play in both places and he certainly was unbiased (hated both of us). --Shocker3"

Coach Spinelli's comments on the radio after the game:

This is the first time I've heard it this loud. Coming from the Big 12, this is very similar to Phog Allen and Gallagher Iba. --Dashox

It's a great day to be a legend in the world of college basketball!


T


...8)

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

Guys I wont be able to attend this Friday's game due to other stuff that I have to take care of.

BUT

I will most definently help with posting around the web such as Myspace and so forth.

And the next game I get to I will help with passing them out but just let me know PLEASE

[1972Shocker]

I am not quite as loud, nor nearly obnoxious as I used to be.

My wife will never forget the time I stood up during a lull in the action, no band playing and the crowd generally sitting on their hands and yelled:

"Pull your head out of your xxx, Overby!"

As someone else said, you start taking your kids or as is my current situation, the grandkids, to the game and you all of a sudden are generally a little more positive, although I still lose control on occassion.
An Ed Kriwiel I am not.

Nevertheless their is nothing wrong with being loud. There are no doubt many older folks and perhaps some not so old who are quite reserved at the games. Unfortunately, many of these folks also write the biggest checks in support of the program. So we have a little bit of a catch 22 there.

Actually, I have found myself a little more sympathetic to the elderly as my parents are now in their mid-80's. If I take them to a game, I really don't expect them to stand and cheer much. Should they be denied the right to attend a game just because they are not capable of standing and yelling at the top of their lungs? I suppose some will think so.

I like to stand and cheer whenever I feel like it. But if the person behind me asks me to sit, I will unless the people in front of me are standing. I can be pretty loud whether I am stitting or standing, and I generally am.
I would say I stand significantly more than the most of the folks in my section. I have not had too much problem with it this year.

Jim Schaus is very passive at the games. I guess he is in business mode. Even his wife is pretty laid back.

Dave the Rave is also relatively passive as is Charles Koch. I'm not asking either of them to give up their seats.

Probably the ones that bug me the most are those tthat leave every game with 2:30 minutes to go. You can just about set your clock by it. When getting out of the parking lot is more important than supporting your team, your fanhood is definitely in the shallow end of the pool.

We are always going to have a mixed crowd. You can't expect the 65-85 year olds to act like the student section. It is just not going to happen.

I would like to see the AD do something about the corporate seats that go unused. Perhaps, in lieu of season tickets these Companies can receive some type of promotional services. Maybe we could block off 100-200 prime seats for Corporate donors who could request so many seats for each X dollars contributed on a game by game basis. Requests have to be made by 5:00 p.m. two days before game day and will be filled on a first come basis. Any unclaimed tickets at that point go on sale to the public at reasonable prices.

I don't expect a Florida State crowd every game. I was at that game, and I for one could not sustain that kind of effort for a full season. I think the crowd reacts pretty well when needed this year. However, we have not done a good job of sustaining our noise level whenever the Shocks start to gain some momentum. We will let one basket by the opponent or one turnover by the Shocks shut us down.

Also, I would like to see us follow the lead of the students better. (I.E., the Go Shocks cheer, with Go on one side of the arena - Shocks on the other)

Finally, one of my big pet peeves is that some of the best crowd reactions (and this is not limited to Men's Basketball games) are when the cheerleaders are throwing T-Shirts and Mini-Balls to the crowd. I guess it doesn't hurt by why not put the same energy behind the team when they are on the floor. At these times, I am usually sitting and everyone around me is standing. Ironic, I guess.

As far as a flyer from one group of fans to another. I think it is probably a waste of time and might do more harm than good. On the other hand, a direct plea for more sustained support from HCGM might be the most effective approach. Why, not get Lynn involved. Perhaps Mike Kennedy could have Lynn Marshall on his pre-game show a few times to discuss the crowd support. We all know Lynn is not afraid to stand and encourage others to do so. I think this would be a great project for the First Lady of Shocker Basketball.

It will be interesting to see if the crowd intensity picks up when we take on LSU, Creighton, Bradley and SIU at home.

I think the Koch Arena magic is still their. We just need the right catalyst to get it burning brightly again.

:posterwu: :goshocks: :posterwsu:

[1972Shocker]

I will say this. Thank God for the fans and students in the upper bowl and end zones. The financial power may lie in the lower bowl, mid-court seats, but the spiritual power is definitely located in the upper half of the arena and in the end zones.

:posterwu: :goshocks: :posterwsu:

[shockmonster]

I thought that it was interesting that during the standing/clapping after the second half started that the cheerleaders weren't leading the cheering and doing what I saw as very little.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

1972 -

While some may say that all fans should stand and cheer the entire game, no one expects your parents or others that cannot do it to give up thier seats. It won't happen, and when I am 80 and cannot stand the entire game anymore, I still won't give up mine (which by then hopefully penetrate row 20.

But the issue I think, is what happens when the people in front of your parents stand the entire game, making it almost impossible for them too see? Should they have to sit down to allow your parents to see, or should they be allowed to stand and be as loud as they like(as long as it's not vulgar)?

[1972Shocker]

1972 -

While some may say that all fans should stand and cheer the entire game, no one expects your parents or others that cannot do it to give up thier seats. It won't happen, and when I am 80 and cannot stand the entire game anymore, I still won't give up mine (which by then hopefully penetrate row 20.

But the issue I think, is what happens when the people in front of your parents stand the entire game, making it almost impossible for them too see? Should they have to sit down to allow your parents to see, or should they be allowed to stand and be as loud as they like(as long as it's not vulgar)?

That's the dilemma isn't it. What would you do if you were in front of your elderly parents. Stand where they could not see, or defer to there needs? Of simply tell them it is not worth the trouble for them to attend (which might be the best alternative for them). I don't take my parents to men's games very often anymore. They enjoy the Volleyball matches more at this point.

Question for you. Are you only loud when you are standing? My guess is you are also pretty loud when sitting.

I don't think it is such a simple issue as saying everyone should stand the entire game, and not sure I want to totally ignore the needs or desires of my fellow fans, although I am certainly in favor of the crowd being as loud and crazy as possible. So I simply try to adjust to my surroundings and I am enthusiastic as I can be whehter I am standing or sitting.

On the other hand, it is amazing how many fans can stand and go crazy for a T-Shirt or Mini-Ball during a timeout.

Not sure we can come up with a one-size fits all approach, especially with the mix of our fan base.

[Harold_Shox]

Not trying to slam here, because they do a great job, but I don't get why vs. Baltimore MC entering a timeout forced by our momentum the band chose to play '25 or 6 to 4' the other night instead of the fight song. That really surprised me and put some tails right back in their seats that had been up making noise.

I think our band is great and is a huge part of what makes the roundhouse special.

[C0|dB|00ded]

I thought that it was interesting that during the standing/clapping after the second half started that the cheerleaders weren't leading the cheering and doing what I saw as very little.

I have been getting quite frustrated with the cheerleaders. Many times they just stand there and do nothing. Are they instructed to not start a cheer every time down?


T


...8)

[The Mad Hatter]

Not trying to slam here, because they do a great job, but I don't get why vs. Baltimore MC entering a timeout forced by our momentum the band chose to play '25 or 6 to 4' the other night instead of the fight song. That really surprised me and put some tails right back in their seats that had been up making noise.

I think our band is great and is a huge part of what makes the roundhouse special.

The band last game was a high school band (I forget which one). Does anyone know why the regular band couldn't be there? Was there a competition or was it just for finals?