Where is the real WU

[boltforge]

I'm thankful for those who suit up as WuShock.

[ShockerFever]

Personally I'm thankful I couldn't hear anything Dancing Don Hall said. Honestly, I was too wrapped up in watching the game then conversing during timeouts that I didn't notice anything. I hope they get it fixed for those of you who were bothered by it!

I'm just curious. Can the athletic department do no wrong in your eyes? Are they infallible?

I don't think any PAYING attendee is that out of line to ask for the volume switch to be turned on for the PA and scoreboard for a high major basketball game. Quite honestly, Don Hall is not as sharp as he used to be. He gets players wrong, doesn't announce substitutions, and occasionally doesn't even announce scoring baskets. He does an excellent job at getting the advertisements read during timeouts though.

Regardless, the intro videos and starting lineups as well as the music all made to pump up the crowd and give the players a great atmosphere was void Saturday. If that's acceptable to you, then maybe you're a bit out of your league over here. Perhaps a Butler County JUCO game would be more your speed.

[ShockBand]

Good point, although I have never experienced that latter. The issues I most commonly have with the PA system is clarity with the spoken word. Not so much with the music and video. For example, the "Bring 'Em Out, Bring 'Em Out" chant was loud and clear at least where I was sitting on Saturday. However, I can understand how that may not be uniform throughout the arena.

I wonder if what works well for those kind of things maybe isn't the optimal settings for the PA announcer?

The input channels for each item are separate and can be handled as such. One thing I'm not sure of since I can't see him - does Don use a handheld mic on a stand (like he did in the 80s when I was doing sound), or is on a headset style mic? A headset mic would be preferred in a situation like this for clarity.

[shocktown]

I am sorry but a 5' Wu does bother me. This is all about branding. Besides basketball games, Wu goes to a lot of events, some of which are attended by other mascots, what message does it send when Big Jay or even the Sonic styrofoam cup towers over Wu. For years we demanded a large Wu be painted on the court, now we have it an we run a prancing smurf out there.

I saw a potential safety and lawsuit issue with the weak and diminutive Wu. Was I the only one paying attention during the 'fan of the game' presentation? Wu approached the elderly woman to give her an overly excited hug and nearly toppled the lady over on her back! Fortunately the lady's escort was paying attention and moved behind and gave additional support and prevented the accident. I can only imagine the pall that would have been cast over the arena if that elderly fan would have toppled hitting her head with weak Wu prone on top of her. This needs to be reviewed and assessed, it would have been bad.
As I watched the lady being escorted back to her wheelchair at the corner of the court I paused and thought what nearly happened and watched the feminine Wu prance on oblivious to what might have occurred.

End rant.

[ShockMe300]

I'm pretty sure Don is using a headset mic.

As someone who was in the audio/live performance industry for nearly 15 years, I see major issues in the sound reinforcement/sound quality and have for years. I was excited when they upgraded the sound system, but they clearly don't know how to use it. For example, the same sound system was used for Shocker Madness, you know what wasn't used? The WSU audio department, it was a professional DJ. He knew what he was doing and there weren't sound issues. In fact, it was very clear (to me anyway) and very loud. I realize it wasn't a game situation, but if there were professionals running the board, it wouldn't be a problem. This is a professionally (I assume) installed sound system, the only thing that changes is the operator, therefore, barring any equipment failures, there aren't HUGE changes from game to game or sport to sport. If it works in one instance, it should work in the other. That being said, this is a public university and they aren't going to pay someone to operate their board so we have to deal with the mistakes that happen.

[pie n eye]

I'm just curious. Can the athletic department do no wrong in your eyes? Are they infallible?

I don't think any PAYING attendee is that out of line to ask for the volume switch to be turned on for the PA and scoreboard for a high major basketball game. Quite honestly, Don Hall is not as sharp as he used to be. He gets players wrong, doesn't announce substitutions, and occasionally doesn't even announce scoring baskets. He does an excellent job at getting the advertisements read during timeouts though.

Regardless, the intro videos and starting lineups as well as the music all made to pump up the crowd and give the players a great atmosphere was void Saturday. If that's acceptable to you, then maybe you're a bit out of your league over here. Perhaps a Butler County JUCO game would be more your speed.

Like I said, I personally didn't notice any problems with the sound but hope they fix any issues for those who experienced them.

I am also a PAYING customer but I PAY to watch the basketball games not listen to Dancing Donald Hall, music, videos or whatever else is going on. I understand that everyone is different and that kind of stuff is important some (most?). Just not to me. If that makes me JUCO or some other lower form of humanity, well, that's like your opinion man.

The one thing I did notice was the use of 7 Nation Army for the pre intro song. Hallelujah! I've been saying that for years. It easy to clap to, it says Wichita right there in the song, and it's just a cool song in general (IMO).

[1972Shocker]

The one thing I did notice was the use of 7 Nation Army for the pre intro song. Hallelujah! I've been saying that for years. It easy to clap to, it says Wichita right there in the song, and it's just a cool song in general (IMO).

The fact that you could identify the song puts you a rung (or two) above me in the various rankings of humanity. I could not even tell you if 7 Nation Army is the name of a song or the name of a group. I like the Volleyball's pre-intro video this year. I will have to pay a bit more attention to that for the Men's BB team at the next game. Overall, I love the experience of a basketball game and Koch Arena warts and all. Hopefully, they get any issues that is detracting from the fan experience resolved to the greatest extent possible.

[boyshocker]

Do you have something against short people?

[Cdizzle]

Do you have something against short people?

Meh. I'm not sure that plays well here. Sometimes certain physical attributes are needed to fulfill the needs of a job well. For instance, having 13 5'8" basketball players on a D1 team probably wouldn't end that well. I don't really care, but I do think it looks a little funny having a 5'1" Wu running around.

[DwShock]

I would assume WUs friend is probably a student. Who knows that that student had going on during the game. He or she could have had a class/test they couldn't miss, was sick or had a family emergency. So the backup isn't quite as tall or maybe the person was an emergency backup. We shouldn't discriminate on someone size. As long as they represented WU and WSU what does it matter?

[Steeleshocker]

The fact that you could identify the song puts you a rung (or two) above me in the various rankings of humanity. I could not even tell you if 7 Nation Army is the name of a song or the name of a group. I like the Volleyball's pre-intro video this year. I will have to pay a bit more attention to that for the Men's BB team at the next game. Overall, I love the experience of a basketball game and Koch Arena warts and all. Hopefully, they get any issues that is detracting from the fan experience resolved to the greatest extent possible.

It's the same song that was used in the hype video for the UNI game at the end of the year that was on YouTube. Lyrics are perfect.

"I'm going to Wichita / far from this opera forevermore. / I'm gonna work the straw / make the sweat drip out of every pore"

[1972Shocker]

It's the same song that was used in the hype video for the UNI game at the end of the year that was on YouTube. Lyrics are perfect.

"I'm going to Wichita / far from this opera forevermore. / I'm gonna work the straw / make the sweat drip out of every pore"

I will take your word for it and yes those lyrics fits very well.

[shockmonster]

The short WU came back after Hamilton took off the Big WU's head in the dunking contest at Shocker Madness.

[DUShock]

It appears @B1ShockFan: 's grandma may be trying to throw WU in the fire. Perhaps WU was too short?

[ShockerFever]

Like I said, I personally didn't notice any problems with the sound but hope they fix any issues for those who experienced them.

I am also a PAYING customer but I PAY to watch the basketball games not listen to Dancing Donald Hall, music, videos or whatever else is going on. I understand that everyone is different and that kind of stuff is important some (most?). Just not to me. If that makes me JUCO or some other lower form of humanity, well, that's like your opinion man.

The one thing I did notice was the use of 7 Nation Army for the pre intro song. Hallelujah! I've been saying that for years. It easy to clap to, it says Wichita right there in the song, and it's just a cool song in general (IMO).

And like I said, you were probably sitting on the east side of the arena, where speakers may have actually been outputting sound.

Are you serious? I come to watch basketball. But I expect a product to be delivered in the highest way possible. It may not be important to you to listen to player introductions, foul calls, scoring calls, general music, etc. but most people believe that is APART of the game. It also looks good to the coaches, players, possible recruits, outside fans, etc. I mean I guess we can just go there in total silence like you would want and watch two teams go at it. Ultimately, it's about basketball, but the total product surrounding it should be just as important. And we're talking BASIC stuff, nothing earth-shadowing or next-level.

one thing I did notice was the use of 7 Nation Army for the pre intro song. Hallelujah! I've been saying that for years. It easy to clap to, it says Wichita right there in the song, and it's just a cool song in general (IMO).

I will agree with you here. It's a song that should've been used long ago for obvious reasons. It makes total sense.

I really wish I could've heard it though. Lucky you.