Home attendance / atmosphere

[_kai_]

When the downtime entertainment begins to take away the enthusiasm of the fans, it's time to try something new.

I've seen the entertainment at timeouts just completely drain the entire fanbase's enthusiasm. They'll call a timeout after a big 3 or an alley oop, and then drive cars around the floor, and the crowd goes from crazy loud, to hearing a pin drop. That should never happen.

Surprising as it sounds, the crowd doesn't need to be lead in when to cheer. Shocker fans are intelligent basketball fans and understand when to clap, and when to be quiet. The electric play that happens will get the crowd going, and the cheer leaders job is to facilitate that, by adding to the cheering. Possibly get the crowd to do a cheer together. The University should do nothing to "try" and get the crowd pumped up. I guarantee you if they stopped doing all the things they try to do to provide entertainment, the crowd would be back into it.

During the game, there should be zero entertainment. And when I say that, I mean little dumb games or dancing contests. It should just be the band playing something, and the cheer leaders out on the court leading some type of cheer. Be it "Go - Shox" or "W-S-U" or "M-T-X-E" they need to do that. When it's half-time, they should do the free throw, 3-point, half court contest, then have a half time act. They need to stop doing the advertisements for 3 points.

Stop sucking the life out of the crowd with the dumb gimmicks.

[owenc]

Yeah I wish we brought the Cobras down here! I saw them up in KC several times.

The best part about the Cobras is that they never bother to even announce them. They just sort of happen. Next thing you know all these kids are just going at it. First time I ever saw them everyone was just WTF?

[shox1989]

When the downtime entertainment begins to take away the enthusiasm of the fans, it's time to try something new.

I've seen the entertainment at timeouts just completely drain the entire fanbase's enthusiasm. They'll call a timeout after a big 3 or an alley oop, and then drive cars around the floor, and the crowd goes from crazy loud, to hearing a pin drop. That should never happen.

Surprising as it sounds, the crowd doesn't need to be lead in when to cheer. Shocker fans are intelligent basketball fans and understand when to clap, and when to be quiet. The electric play that happens will get the crowd going, and the cheer leaders job is to facilitate that, by adding to the cheering. Possibly get the crowd to do a cheer together. The University should do nothing to "try" and get the crowd pumped up. I guarantee you if they stopped doing all the things they try to do to provide entertainment, the crowd would be back into it.

During the game, there should be zero entertainment. And when I say that, I mean little dumb games or dancing contests. It should just be the band playing something, and the cheer leaders out on the court leading some type of cheer. Be it "Go - Shox" or "W-S-U" or "M-T-X-E" they need to do that. When it's half-time, they should do the free throw, 3-point, half court contest, then have a half time act. They need to stop doing the advertisements for 3 points.

Stop sucking the life out of the crowd with the dumb gimmicks.

You described the way it basically was in the 1980s and the crowd's were great. There were no scripts. The band played during time outs and some times the cheer leaders and WU-shocke got out in the middle of the floor and lead cheers or made pyramids or did flips.

It really started going downhill once they started trying to script everything. The band back then seem to know the right music for the right time in the game.

[Kung Wu]

The best part about the Cobras is that they never bother to even announce them. They just sort of happen. Next thing you know all these kids are just going at it. First time I ever saw them everyone was just WTF?

Right, they are amazing!

[WSU757]

Remember back in the day when we had the Bud Light Dare Devils.

On another note WU doesn't seem to be as much of a focus anymore, except for the silly promo with the blind fold. Get rid of bat-wu and insert something like what KC does at the beginning of Chiefs game. The opponents mascot gets ran over and obliterated on the field.

[_kai_]

You described the way it basically was in the 1980s and the crowd's were great. There were no scripts. The band played during time outs and some times the cheer leaders and WU-shocke got out in the middle of the floor and lead cheers or made pyramids or did flips.

It really started going downhill once they started trying to script everything. The band back then seem to know the right music for the right time in the game.

I think the band would be better too. If they're the main source of the music, they're forced to know when to play what songs, and not be at the mercy of their script. I think they get a lot of hate on here, and its wrongfully put off on them as their problem. I think it's the fact that it's so scripted, with all the music they play over the speakers, and the games at time outs. If they'd just let the band play, I think everyone would enjoy it more, as well as feel more like an old school college atmosphere.

[owenc]

I think it's the fact that it's so scripted, with all the music they play over the speakers, and the games at time outs. If they'd just let the band play, I think everyone would enjoy it more, as well as feel more like an old school college atmosphere.

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that music at WSU games either. KU tried it one time about 2 years ago and the outpouring of hate was long and strong. They never repeated it.

At least it isn't the NBA where they play the music during the actual game.

[SubGod22]

It's been a few years since we've had the Cobras or Red Panda.

Too bad.

[Shock-Til-U-Drop]

you remember a number of years ago when the University President put an end to the "Hell" cheer. Most folks were up-in-arms, demanding it's return, even humming/voicing the cheer at games anyway? Then several years ago, Don Beggs allowed its return.......................I wish he would outlaw it again. It's embarrassing by the amount and timing it gets played anymore.

[martymoose]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but part of the deal in comparing WSU to CU right now is also the fact CU is ranked in the top 20. If we were in the top 20 right now, sellout every game, no question. We're good enough however; that this shouldn't even be getting discussed....it should be packed every game. I do remember seeing KU on TV several years ago when they dropped out of the top 25 and were barely half full for a Baylor game. So it happens everywhere.

As for the production value....it's much worse than I remember as a student in the late 90's. The acts and the basketball were awesome Turgeon's last 3 or 4 years. We saw good basketball, good timeout promos and awesome halftime shows. I have 4 seats, my wife and I and our 3 kids (ages 1, 3, 7). They don't give a rat's a$$ about any of the crappy promos and are disappointed by the fact the cheerleaders have weak arms and can't get a ball or t-shirt past row 10 (softball team included). Not to mention they are sooo bored they want to wander the concourse at half time instead of watching the half time shows. My daughter remembers the good ones from a few years ago and keeps asking when they'll have something good. The production value of the game is very much important.

[tw805]

I would recommend a no bitching policy. As in, you aren't allowed to ***** about people standing up or screaming. That happens almost every game I have been to in recent years. Those people should just be ignored.

And a punch anyone wearing shirts from other schools policy. During the Creighton game, one of their fans was sitting in the "general population" about one section over and three rows down from me, and was somehow allowed to scream continuously while we shot free throws. That should have been hazardous to his health, as inflicted by those sitting right next to him. This kind of **** being allowed suggests to me that people just aren't as passionate about the team anymore. And that's pathetic. This is a great squad.

[ShockBand]

I think the band would be better too. If they're the main source of the music, they're forced to know when to play what songs, and not be at the mercy of their script. I think they get a lot of hate on here, and its wrongfully put off on them as their problem. I think it's the fact that it's so scripted, with all the music they play over the speakers, and the games at time outs. If they'd just let the band play, I think everyone would enjoy it more, as well as feel more like an old school college atmosphere.

Spot on. From what I've gleaned, even with some of the shortcomings we perceive, the band and pep band director do want to try and get it right. The game has just been so structured and scripted for the past 10+ years that there is hardly any organic flow to what the band plays. Back in the 80s when I played we had a handful of items (fight songs, cheers, and short rah-rah type music) that were called by hand signal and we had pretty much memorized, so they could be brought to life quickly. We played through most if not all of any timeouts. The selection of music was driven by what was happening in the game. A boost needed? Hail Wichita, Shocker Fight, or Lets Go Shocks. Keep the energy? The little "shorties" that were easy to clap to. Visiting team calls a TO and we're rolling? Low Brass (We're Gonna Beat The Hell Outa You) Cheer.

It isn't rocket science, but you do have to have a director who is a good "play caller" and that isn't always a natural skill. I would help mentor and guide any pep band director GTA, for free, for the first few games if it were so desired. But I want to be asked, it is not my position to demand that. But there would also have to be a huge change of mentality on the part of the game management staff and what they desire. Right now it seems they think NBA style is preferred, and it seems that they are either too naive or too arrogant to admit they might be wrong. College basketball should have a college atmosphere, not an NBA atmosphere.

Just my humble two cents.

[Kung Wu]

It's been a few years since we've had the Cobras or Red Panda.

Too bad.

We had the Cobras here in Wichita? Maybe that's where I saw them recently. I was thinking I saw them up in KC at the Sprint Center or something.

[SubGod22]

We had the Cobras here in Wichita? Maybe that's where I saw them recently. I was thinking I saw them up in KC at the Sprint Center or something.

They were here a couple of times. 6-8 years ago probably. Maybe 5. It's been a while but I'm pretty sure I've seen them twice. And The Roundhouse is the only place I would have seen them. Huge ovations when they're done. Those kids are fantastic!!!

Red Panda has been 3 or 4 years I think.

[WstateU]

They were here a couple of times. 6-8 years ago probably. Maybe 5. It's been a while but I'm pretty sure I've seen them twice. And The Roundhouse is the only place I would have seen them. Huge ovations when they're done. Those kids are fantastic!!!

Red Panda has been 3 or 4 years I think.

I might be in the minority, but I've always enjoyed the 'Quick Change' folks...