Home attendance / atmosphere

[pinstripers]

I LOVE THAT.

[SubGod22]

You're not in the minority.

[RoyalShock]

The Cobras were here for Shocker Madness one year, I know. I love what they do, but it grated on me after a few minutes due to how much louder the acoustics are in Koch.

But I totally agree with the college vs. NBA atmosphere. I would bet that is part of the reason for dwindling fan participation. Sorry, but I just can't get into canned music. It doesn't excite me. I want the pep band every time, all the time. We're going on the 3rd straight season of decline in game management and it's unacceptable. Unfortunately, I don't think the trend of having a sponsor for everything, which drives halftime and timeouts now, is going to change any time soon.

Here's an idea that probably isn't unique and maybe has been mentioned here before by someone else. Why not have some form of indoor marching band that could perform at half? Or maybe a drumline that can be utilized during some timeouts? The money probably isn't there, but I think it would be interesting.

[ripemupshocks]

Please take the money they are currently wasting on idiotic halftime acts, and use to do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sHx2NAXTrE

Even if you have to do it on a smaller scale.

[TheYeti]

I have a novel idea. I'll trade anyone who is that disgruntled over the pre-game video/timeout/halftime entertainment two Warren Theater tickets for two WSU seats to any game! You won't have to watch a crappy video, you can pick the movie you want to see, parking is better, concessions are similarly priced. It's a win-win. You won't get your delicate sensitivities offended by the WSU stuff, and I can see some basketball!

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

Serious question.....

Why continuously bash the NBA and their use of "canned" music? I mean its no different than going to an NFL or MLB game. Pro-sports (outside of the 60's) have never used pep bands. A few kept them for awhile but for the most part they were non-existent.

[ShockBand]

The Cobras were here for Shocker Madness one year, I know. I love what they do, but it grated on me after a few minutes due to how much louder the acoustics are in Koch.

But I totally agree with the college vs. NBA atmosphere. I would bet that is part of the reason for dwindling fan participation. Sorry, but I just can't get into canned music. It doesn't excite me. I want the pep band every time, all the time. We're going on the 3rd straight season of decline in game management and it's unacceptable. Unfortunately, I don't think the trend of having a sponsor for everything, which drives halftime and timeouts now, is going to change any time soon.

Here's an idea that probably isn't unique and maybe has been mentioned here before by someone else. Why not have some form of indoor marching band that could perform at half? Or maybe a drumline that can be utilized during some timeouts? The money probably isn't there, but I think it would be interesting.

A "Winter Corps" that was essentially a marching band on a basketball floor has been done in other places and is very cool. It would also be a way for the music education department to re-insert at least SOME marching arts back into the curriculum. Just think, about 20 horn players and 10 percussion with some whaling tunes? Would be awesome.

[BOBB]

Serious question.....

Why continuously bash the NBA and their use of "canned" music? I mean its no different than going to an NFL or MLB game. Pro-sports (outside of the 60's) have never used pep bands. A few kept them for awhile but for the most part they were non-existent.

For me the pep band and cheerleaders that are not glorified strippers and not having some jackwagon hype-man go off after every shot is a big part of the appeal of college basketball. Same goes for football.

[WSUwatcher]

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.

+1 for your post, 1989; and +1 for kai's post you quoted. I also went games in the 80's, and there was no scripted silliness, nor was any of it thought to be necessary. The band was also much more of a leader, as at the Iowa game that made possible the glorious Battle at New Orleans. I've never heard better use of the Low Brass cheer or a more powerful and enthusistic response from the crowd.

[WSUwatcher]

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.

Right on, right on, right on, ShockBand. I wish the game management people would just go away and let you take charge.

[shox1989]

A "Winter Corps" that was essentially a marching band on a basketball floor has been done in other places and is very cool. It would also be a way for the music education department to re-insert at least SOME marching arts back into the curriculum. Just think, about 20 horn players and 10 percussion with some whaling tunes? Would be awesome.

I love the idea of an inside marching band performing at half time. It would be great. Marching bands perform at half time of football games, why not a smaller version for basketball games?

[proshox]

I can't beleive recent history has not made its way into the thread. The home games in the NIT and previous tournaments have generally been more exciting. What do the have in common?

1) Tournaments are always fun
2) No scripts
3) Corporate seats go to the fans

Some of these games were way short on attendance, but still had the "buzz factor."

[Anthroshock]

I go (or went) to games in different capacities. Sitting in the only 3 rows of students in the mid-1990s, with the basketball band, on press row for KMUW, and now as a returning alumni.

I go and support WSU because it is made up of the community in which I live. I will always prefer something local over something national. I don't mind a well-timed canned song, but Young Jeezy did not attend Wichita State. I don't see Rhianna on the street in my home town. If you want my respect, do something on 21st and Hillside.

My thoughts on advertising and marketing are similar to those of Bill Hicks. These young marketing students and workers think that you have to leave your community to do something or that your town is backward. I take another approach. Make your community what you want it to be. I'm not seeing that in the in-game production at Koch.

[ripemupshocks]

I have a novel idea. I'll trade anyone who is that disgruntled over the pre-game video/timeout/halftime entertainment two Warren Theater tickets for two WSU seats to any game! You won't have to watch a crappy video, you can pick the movie you want to see, parking is better, concessions are similarly priced. It's a win-win. You won't get your delicate sensitivities offended by the WSU stuff, and I can see some basketball!

Oh come on Yeti! We complain because we care. And also there is that little message board thing, you know where people discuss issues and get their sensitivities offended and such. But mostly we just care.

[ripemupshocks]

Serious question.....

Why continuously bash the NBA and their use of "canned" music? I mean its no different than going to an NFL or MLB game. Pro-sports (outside of the 60's) have never used pep bands. A few kept them for awhile but for the most part they were non-existent.

ASM, I think you're being sarcastic. But I'm not sure. So just in case; The day Wichita State University Mens Basketball becomes an NBA franchise is the day they stop getting my money.