The students have been pissing me off all year long

[Shocker-maniac]

Maybe we are expecting too much from our students? They look like a sedentary group of non-aggressive, non-exuberent, low energy, pacifists?

[im4wsu]

Maybe they could hire a student section cheer coach to help out.

The cheer squad already has a coach. Maybe it is not a paid position, but there is a coach. Perhaps a student leader(s) would be able to cultivate a coooperative relationship there.

[Rosewood]

Maybe we are expecting too much from our students? They look like a sedentary group of non-aggressive, non-exuberent, low energy, pacifists?

I want to say that if they can't fill the section then take tickets away. But I don't want to punish future generations. 10 years from now I hope my daughter can get a ticket.

[im4wsu]

nm

[Jhook89]

I think the problem comes from a combination of many different factors. I think a big factor is WSU not recieving as much buzz as they have recently. These bandwagon fans gather up the tickets, then we lose a few games and they jump off the bandwagon. I also think level of competition plays into the students decision not to show up. It's easier to blow off the game for something else when you know WSU is probably going to win by double figures.

My solution: Charge the students for the tickets. Nothing substantial. $10-$20. That little fee would cut down on the none loyal fans getting tickets. If they have to pay something there would be a better chance they would show up. It would also mean more of the right type of students would be getting the tickets

[ShockerEngineer]

Well, since this thread is already going, I might as well try to give my perspective as someone who's been sitting in the student section all season.

I don't think you can put all the blame on the students. There doesn't seem to be much, if any, communication about what everyone should be doing, and I often find the stuff everyone does do to be embarrassing, either because it's something that we stole from another school (Like the war song.. My friend and I think the "don't start no stuff" part of it just sounds dumb), or just generally seems like bad form, like yelling rude things at the opposing players. Also, there's the whole shocker hand gesture thing. I'm sure it's been discussed to death, and isn't going anywhere, but I'm not the biggest fan of it. I've talked to people who aren't from here about it, and used the "but we extend the thumb" defense, but it's still embarrassing. I just don't think all of those things project a good image of our fanbase, externally.

There seems to usually be a good, reasonably rowdy crowd through the first 15-20 rows, but after that the enthusiasm definitely drops off, significantly. At the last game, my buddy, his fiance, and I were in row 27, and at times we were the only people within several rows even standing up while the game was going on. The kinds of people I generally see around there often are people who obviously don't generally go to basketball games, though. I don't know, maybe not sucking the energy out of the room with the promotions would help get things going.

[shocka khan]

That brochure is really, really old. Saturn of Wichita closed in 2009.

I guess that means I have to cancel the order for that new Trans Am I saw. You know, the one at Dick Schofield Pontiac?

[shock]

I distinctly remember a court rushing that was embraced by HCMT and the players. In fact, I believe he said something to the effect of, "Party with us," or, "cut down the net with us," or something to that effect. He loved it, but it was also appropriate for the situation. It was a culmination of 2 decades of futility, and the championship was a drought ending rain west of the turnpike. WSU had the championship in hand (either a tie with a loss or sole possession with a win) so they knew there would be a court storming when the game was in hand. They lined up, and then stormed the court. The lone "casualty" was the guy in the wheelchair that got knocked over, but PJ(?) picked him up and made sure he was safe. It was as orderly as a court storming could be and the Annoy State players were left alone. It was a deserved celebration, and one I hope is never deserved again.

[bleed yellow]

The student section problem at Wsu is odd.. While attending school there, it seemed like to me that most people on campus wear shocker apparel, but you will NEVER see 99% at a game. I think solving the problem is going to be difficult and it's going to take years to solve the problem.

[_kai_]

Well, since this thread is already going, I might as well try to give my perspective as someone who's been sitting in the student section all season.

I don't think you can put all the blame on the students. There doesn't seem to be much, if any, communication about what everyone should be doing, and I often find the stuff everyone does do to be embarrassing, either because it's something that we stole from another school (Like the war song.. My friend and I think the "don't start no stuff" part of it just sounds dumb), or just generally seems like bad form, like yelling rude things at the opposing players. Also, there's the whole shocker hand gesture thing. I'm sure it's been discussed to death, and isn't going anywhere, but I'm not the biggest fan of it. I've talked to people who aren't from here about it, and used the "but we extend the thumb" defense, but it's still embarrassing. I just don't think all of those things project a good image of our fanbase, externally.

There seems to usually be a good, reasonably rowdy crowd through the first 15-20 rows, but after that the enthusiasm definitely drops off, significantly. At the last game, my buddy, his fiance, and I were in row 27, and at times we were the only people within several rows even standing up while the game was going on. The kinds of people I generally see around there often are people who obviously don't generally go to basketball games, though. I don't know, maybe not sucking the energy out of the room with the promotions would help get things going.

My suggestion a few posts ago was that the Cheerleaders need to take leadership of the student section. This just solidifies my opinion of it. There is no leadership, and I'm not putting blame on the cheerleaders, but I'm saying this is their opportunity to take a big ownership of the fan experience.

The band has a leader, which is obviously a must. The student section needs a leader. Give the leader a ladder they can stand on and direct the students so they can see them. Have signs with signals for chants.

[Cdizzle]

All this crap about promotions and organization is just people being lazy and looking for excuses.

Start by standing, clapping, and yelling. It isn't hard. Don't wait for someone else to appoint themselves a leader and tell you what to do. If you get 1500 students doing that, everything else will fall into place.

[WICK]

Not to take away from the subject at hand here, but what about the non-students who purchase season tickets without using them? I have had season tickets for the past three years next to a man who occupies only one out of the four seats that he has. Every game, three seats go without a butt in them. How do I know that they are his seats? I'll tell you. The very first game during my inaugural season as a season-ticket holder, my leg happened to be on a portion of the bordering seat. He rudely warned me to move because his wife was on the way and would be sitting there. Needless to say, she hasn't been to a game in three years! Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't even have a wife! Not to mention that, early on in the season, he, himself, doesn't even come! So, four perfectly good seats are wasted. I can count on one hand how many times he has actually brought someone with him. He has given his tickets away to other people only once. What's the solution for that? When does the Athletic Department step in and reprimand him? I'm not sure if this would be classified as an issue because the seats and SASO donations are being paid for, but this thread seems appropriate to air my gripe because I don't believe that this is just a student issue, its a fan issue, albeit a rare one. I know plenty of fans that would love to take the tickets off of this guy's hands and raise some hell at The Chuck, regardless of the opponent. I love the Shockers and wouldn't miss a game for the world. It's about time that others adopt the same logic. Attending games has turned into a social event and an opportunity to attain "status". No more! Attending games should be about providing our home team with a significant competitive advantage. It should be about expressing pride in our university and letting the nation know that Charles Koch Arena is one of, if not the best, home court advantages in America.

P.S. Eric Sexton, if you're reading this, get me some legitimate halftime entertainment and eliminate the awful contest promotions during timeouts. At least change them up. I'm sick of seeing free-throw contests, musical chairs, scholarship recipients, national cheer routines that take longer to set up than they are to perform and trying to find Wu. Good grief! I remember when we weren't a Top 25 program and we actually had halftime entertainment to look forward to. Now that we are good, we can't even book Quick Change or some dogs riding around on monkeys and bicycles? C'mon, ADES. That may very well be your problem right there. Rant over.

[WICK]

Then why is there a disclaimer on each ticket stating -- "This ticket is a revocable license where Wichita State University reserves the right, without the refund of any portion of the ticket purchase price, to refuse admission or eject any patron from the event venue at any time for any reason"?

[newshock1234]

It does irritate the hell of me when there are people at my church that go to WSU, and I ask "you been going to any games" and he responds "no I cant get out class before they are all taken". I agree that this system must be fixed by next year. I like the idea of if you dont use your ticket then you are suspended from getting a free one the next game. Let them go but charge them a guest ticket fee.

[Ricardo del Rio]

As I watched the K-State students last night, I was sad for our students. I realize that the game was of Super Bowl status, but still, the K-State students put our students to shame.

I wonder, if the advancement of technology, has caused a decrease in student attendance - smart phones, tablets, etc.