Shocker Madness

[another shocker]

You''ll also notice, DSB, I said WHEN, not IF. That was by design. Heh heh

:wsu_posters: :posterwu: :posterwsu: :yahoo:

[1972Shocker]

I lot of it is driven by what 3G wants. I'm sure 3G has a relatively fixed recruiting budget he is working with. If he thought it was best to put a good chunk of that budget into SM he could do that. But 3G is working with a budget just like most Shocker fans and he has to allocate his funds to where he thinks he can get the most benefit. I don't think he is short-changing SM because he wants to lose (games or recruits).

Perhaps there is an entreprenuerial opportunity just waiting for some bright marketing go-getter out there. You could probably purchase the rights to promote Shocker Madness at a fairly reasonable amount. Perhaps $10,000/year would buy the rights. Put together a show (no doubt subject to approval by 3G and ADES), arrange for concessions, promote the hell out of it, sell tickets and make a bundle.

[temerson]

I wish this event was more heavily attended.

I grew up in Wichita. I graduated from Wichita State. I never even HEARD of this before. I grew up knowing the words "Late Night in the Phog." But I've NEVER heard of Shocker Madness until now. Two thoughts:

1. Change the name. *Insert mascot name here* Madness is a little cliche.
2. More advertising.

Is it free for students? Free for the community? What goes on? What happens?

I was vaguely aware that KU at one time did a "Late Night" theme for their event, but only because I remember them having Larry "Bud" Melman from Letterman appear. I had no clue that they were still calling it that. Maybe you've never heard of Shocker Madness because you're not a Shocker fan, just like I'm not a KU fan?

While I grew up a KU fan, I graduated from WSU. I served as a student senator in SGA (even attaining emeritus status!), and I lived next door to Marty Gross while he was one of the assistants. And I still never heard of "Shocker Madness" until this year.

[Kung Wu]

Too many lights, not enough effects, and DEFINITELY not enough interaction from the players.

Get them involved. I know MANY Shocker fans that would show up to get to know the players better, get a better feeling about who they are, enjoy their humor, etc.

Do a skit with Garrett Stutz trying to put on the glass slipper from Cinderella.

Give the Seniors an opportunity to Razz the coaching staff a little (imagine how fun Ramon's would have been)

Have the Freshman do a little bo peep skit... earn their way type of thing...

There are lots of things that will get people involved.

Make the freshman sing the alma mater for the crowd! :whistle:

[Shox21]

I wish this event was more heavily attended.

I grew up in Wichita. I graduated from Wichita State. I never even HEARD of this before. I grew up knowing the words "Late Night in the Phog." But I've NEVER heard of Shocker Madness until now. Two thoughts:

1. Change the name. *Insert mascot name here* Madness is a little cliche.
2. More advertising.

Is it free for students? Free for the community? What goes on? What happens?

I was vaguely aware that KU at one time did a "Late Night" theme for their event, but only because I remember them having Larry "Bud" Melman from Letterman appear. I had no clue that they were still calling it that. Maybe you've never heard of Shocker Madness because you're not a Shocker fan, just like I'm not a KU fan?

While I grew up a KU fan, I graduated from WSU. I served as a student senator in SGA (even attaining emeritus status!), and I lived next door to Marty Gross while he was one of the assistants. And I still never heard of "Shocker Madness" until this year.

You just joined SN in April of this year. I don't care what your "credentials" are or who you lived next door to, you either didn't follow the Shockers much or you just found out about SN. As has been said by a number of posters, Shocker Madness is NOT promoted to the general public like it should be. It is discussed here on SN; however, since you are very, VERY new (at least to posting) on SN, I'm not surprised you have not heard of it.

[Shox21]

Too many lights, not enough effects, and DEFINITELY not enough interaction from the players.

Get them involved. I know MANY Shocker fans that would show up to get to know the players better, get a better feeling about who they are, enjoy their humor, etc.

Do a skit with Garrett Stutz trying to put on the glass slipper from Cinderella.

Give the Seniors an opportunity to Razz the coaching staff a little (imagine how fun Ramon's would have been)

Have the Freshman do a little bo peep skit... earn their way type of thing...

There are lots of things that will get people involved.

Make the freshman sing the alma mater for the crowd! :whistle:

Well, that's one way to make sure a freshman doesn't commit. A lot of BB players (and particularly freshmen) are not of the "Ramon" type (very outgoing); many are quiet and don't want the spotlight on them (at least not yet).

I would love to see some funny skits by the guys -- but they have to WANT to do it, not be forced to do it. KU makes such a production out of their night and they always have a full crowd. We just aren't there yet. If I had any talent for putting something like this together I would make some suggestions and volunteer to help. Unfortunately, I am of the "no talent" variety and don't even have any good ideas to contribute.

[ShockerFever]

I think we do decently well for Shocker Madness attendance, considering how underpromoted it is and overall how flat the event is.

Creighton didn't even fill their rinky dinky on-campus gym of 2,000 up last year. Most programs at our level would kill for half of what we get at Shocker Madness.

It makes you wonder if the event was top-notch and promoted well enough, what we could pull in.

We aren't gonna pile in 15,000 (mostly students) for Shocker Madness like about 3 schools around the country do. Just not possible.

But we do have potential if this Athletic Department ever dug its head out of its ass.

[Aargh]

Too many lights, not enough effects, and DEFINITELY not enough interaction from the players.

Get them involved. I know MANY Shocker fans that would show up to get to know the players better, get a better feeling about who they are, enjoy their humor, etc.

Do a skit with Garrett Stutz trying to put on the glass slipper from Cinderella.

Give the Seniors an opportunity to Razz the coaching staff a little (imagine how fun Ramon's would have been)

Have the Freshman do a little bo peep skit... earn their way type of thing...

There are lots of things that will get people involved.

Hmmm, the Seniors get to roast the coaching staff at the start of practices. While I think it's a real clever idea and would be loads of fun, that strikes me as a "What could possibly go wrong" item.

It could produce some seniors in really great condition after running the steps for 2 hours a day for 2 months.

[Snapshot9]

Anybody know what the NIT Championship rings look like?

[WuDrWu]

Yes.

[WuDrWu]

This is an interesting thread that I've been watching for several days.


I want to ask a question, without sounding like I am taking one side or the other on this debate because I honestly am not sure where I stand. I see both sides.

It seems to me that in recent history (Schaus-Sexton era) the athletic department has done an excellent job of keeping their books in the black while maintaining a top tier appearance. It's not easy to stay in the black in college sports, especially at a school like WSU without doing it "on the cheap" and I rarely feel like that is the case. Occasionally, maybe, but not often.

Are we expecting them to spend time, money and effort on something that creates no revenue?

Are we asking them to put out a better product that we are anxious and willing to pay for?

Just kind of curious.


I'll be there, like I've been to every single one I can remember as far back as I can remember (If they ever did this and I didn't attend, I'd be stunned) whether they charge me or not.

[Shox21]

This is an interesting thread that I've been watching for several days.


I want to ask a question, without sounding like I am taking one side or the other on this debate because I honestly am not sure where I stand. I see both sides.

It seems to me that in recent history (Schaus-Sexton era) the athletic department has done an excellent job of keeping their books in the black while maintaining a top tier appearance. It's not easy to stay in the black in college sports, especially at a school like WSU without doing it "on the cheap" and I rarely feel like that is the case. Occasionally, maybe, but not often.

Are we expecting them to spend time, money and effort on something that creates no revenue?

Are we asking them to put out a better product that we are anxious and willing to pay for?

Just kind of curious.


I'll be there, like I've been to every single one I can remember as far back as I can remember (If they ever did this and I didn't attend, I'd be stunned) whether they charge me or not.

I would pay regardless Doc. This is the only thing I have ever criticized the athletic department for. I'm sure they feel they do the best they can within the budget.

All I'm saying is that Shocker Madness is not usually very impressive and I would not want a potential recruit to base his decision on what we do for Shocker Madness rather than on what we can put on the floor. Unfortunately, recruits are for the most part high school kids and can be easily impressed by the glitz and glamour of larger programs.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

This is an interesting thread that I've been watching for several days.


I want to ask a question, without sounding like I am taking one side or the other on this debate because I honestly am not sure where I stand. I see both sides.

It seems to me that in recent history (Schaus-Sexton era) the athletic department has done an excellent job of keeping their books in the black while maintaining a top tier appearance. It's not easy to stay in the black in college sports, especially at a school like WSU without doing it "on the cheap" and I rarely feel like that is the case. Occasionally, maybe, but not often.

Are we expecting them to spend time, money and effort on something that creates no revenue?

Are we asking them to put out a better product that we are anxious and willing to pay for?

Just kind of curious.


I'll be there, like I've been to every single one I can remember as far back as I can remember (If they ever did this and I didn't attend, I'd be stunned) whether they charge me or not.

It doesn't have to be a large outside production. There are over 10,000 students of all majors that could gain experience putting this together. That cost nothing and helps everyone.

They have a theater and stage production team that could also gain some experience rigging and setting up some lighting in Koch. Again, doesn't hardly cost us a thing.

You have some Marketing teams that could put together the package to promote it. Cost minimal.

The players put a little effort into working with drama students to put together some skits to entertain and let people see them in a non-basketball setting. Cost nothing.

It doesn't have to be a huge expensive thing to draw and entertain people. Find the medium to benefit those at the University and the fans.

[ShockTalk]

Like Doc, I'm not taking sides here.

While I see a lot of critizism of the promotion and production of Shocker Maddness and DSB's interesting suggestions, what is it that other schools that have successful kickoffs do? Keep in mind, one should compare schools of similar size and type. Not ones with 25,000+ students, not ones whose student base is almost all full time students and ages 18-23, or ones who are located in or close to larger metro areas.

That's not to say that some things being done from unlike schools would not be transferable to here.

Does anyone know of similar schools to WSU that have more successful kickoffs and what they do?

[WstateU]

Anybody know what the NIT Championship rings look like?

Yes! :D



P.S. On a more serious note, I'm very proud of the accomplishment... maybe even more so as time goes on.