Scrimmage to Replace Exhibition Game

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

you can have one or the other

I like the idea. Im not for it. But Im not against it either it is what it is.

Marshall talked all last year about how he was going to do this. So it shouldnt be a surprise

[wxkid23]

Put me down as being against it.

It will cost WSU revenue from the exhibition game. The players would have a chance to play and gain some confidence. There would be another chance to get used to the refs before the real season starts. One less game could lead to a drop in fan support. You have to pay the same amount of money for one less game.

For these reasons I'm not supportive of this change. If you added this without eliminating an exhibition game, I would be more in favor of it.

Drop in fan support? How?

[RoyalShock]

Put me down as being against it.

It will cost WSU revenue from the exhibition game. The players would have a chance to play and gain some confidence. There would be another chance to get used to the refs before the real season starts. One less game could lead to a drop in fan support. You have to pay the same amount of money for one less game.

For these reasons I'm not supportive of this change. If you added this without eliminating an exhibition game, I would be more in favor of it.

The only real loss in revenue is concessions/souvenirs. If the arena staff (ticket-takers, ushers, statisticians, etc.) is paid by the game or the hour, it might actually save them money.

One exhibition game that a number of students and fans will skip anyway isn't going to result in a loss of fan support.

[wxkid23]

Put me down as being against it.

It will cost WSU revenue from the exhibition game. The players would have a chance to play and gain some confidence. There would be another chance to get used to the refs before the real season starts. One less game could lead to a drop in fan support. You have to pay the same amount of money for one less game.

For these reasons I'm not supportive of this change. If you added this without eliminating an exhibition game, I would be more in favor of it.

The only real loss in revenue is concessions/souvenirs. If the arena staff (ticket-takers, ushers, statisticians, etc.) is paid by the game or the hour, it might actually save them money.

One exhibition game that a number of students and fans will skip anyway isn't going to result in a loss of fan support.

Exactly

[pinstripers]

Personally, I don't like paying for a game we won't be allowed to attend. I've never missed an exhibition since I've had tix, and I'm from outa town.

[1972Shocker]

If HCGM thinks this is the best way to prepare his team for success in the regular season then I'm behind him all the way.

This should be no surprise to Shocker fans as HCGM pretty much said (at the time of last year's exhibitions) that he much preferred one closed scrimmage and one exhibition game over two exhibitions.

He is just following through on what he told us would most likely happen.

:goshocks:

[WSUwatcher]

Scrimmage

I'll trust Marshall and his staff to judge what's best for the program. They have more D-1 experience than I do, and Marshall certainly has had more success.

Having said that, from my amateur perspective, it looks like a good move. I've gone to exhibitions that have been included in my season ticket packages over the years, but I've seldom cared much about them. The one exception that stands out in my mind was the game against the Soviets back in the early 80s when X burst onto the scene after Levingston turned pro early. That was a great, thrilling, confidence building game against high quality competition, none of which is true of the games we've had in recent seasons where the highest priority from a W-L standpoint was simply to avoid an embarrassing loss. And certainly getting one less game against the Panhandle State JV, or whatever touring team happens to be coming through town, wouldn't affect my decision to buy a season ticket in the slightest.

Meanwhile, the new guys still have an exhibition to get accustomed to playing before a crowd in CKA, even if not a full-out regular season crowd, so there's no real loss there. And the competition in a quality scrimmage -- which I assume is also officiated, isn't it? -- is far better preparation for the teams WSU will see in the Valley or potentially in tournament play than is provided by recent exhibitions.

[SFL]

Re: Scrimmage

I'll trust Marshall and his staff to judge what's best for the program. They have more D-1 experience than I do, and Marshall certainly has had more success.

Having said that, from my amateur perspective, it looks like a good move. I've gone to exhibitions that have been included in my season ticket packages over the years, but I've seldom cared much about them. The one exception that stands out in my mind was the game against the Soviets back in the early 80s when X burst onto the scene after Levingston turned pro early. That was a great, thrilling, confidence building game against high quality competition, none of which is true of the games we've had in recent seasons where the highest priority from a W-L standpoint was simply to avoid an embarrassing loss. And certainly getting one less game against the Panhandle State JV, or whatever touring team happens to be coming through town, wouldn't affect my decision to buy a season ticket in the slightest.

Meanwhile, the new guys still have an exhibition to get accustomed to playing before a crowd in CKA, even if not a full-out regular season crowd, so there's no real loss there. And the competition in a quality scrimmage -- which I assume is also officiated, isn't it? -- is far better preparation for the teams WSU will see in the Valley or potentially in tournament play than is provided by recent exhibitions.

Well said... "I'll trust Marshall and his staff to judge what's best for the program."

:good: :good:

[vbird53]

This should be no surprise to Shocker fans as HCGM pretty much said (at the time of last year's exhibitions) that he much preferred one closed scrimmage and one exhibition game over two exhibitions.

I'm not sure anyone is surprised that he's doing this. He said he wanted to, and he did it.

I just disagree with the whole thing.

Even if we're the ones traveling to another school's site. I think we ought to be able to watch our team vs. another D1 program.

The fans are the ones missing out on this. I don't care if it's an exhibition or not, if the Shox are playing K St., KU, Okie State, or even some small time D1 or D2 program from the area, I'd like to see it.

Here's an idea: don't sell tickets, but put it on pay-per-view (or shockervision). That way, there's no crowd distractions, and the coaches can rule it however they see fit, but on the other hand, the die-hard fans get to watch "from the comfort of their own homes".

[wu_shizzle]

I think a few of you are looking at this like a game, and I see it more as a practice.

I think the ability to stop the action to "coach" will be more beneficial than an exhibition game against a DII team.

I know we're fans, but what is best for the team?

[SpanglerFan316]

I know we're fans, but what is best for the team?

This is the bottom line. If we win the Valley tourney, nobody will care about this issue.

[WuDrWu]

I know we're fans, but what is best for the team?

This is the bottom line. If we win the Valley tourney, nobody will care about this issue.

WHEN we win the Valley (that doesn't mean this year, other fans) I doubt it will be simply because of the closed scrimmage and yes, I will still care.

[shockall]

This should be no surprise to Shocker fans as HCGM pretty much said (at the time of last year's exhibitions) that he much preferred one closed scrimmage and one exhibition game over two exhibitions.

I'm not sure anyone is surprised that he's doing this. He said he wanted to, and he did it.

I just disagree with the whole thing.

Even if we're the ones traveling to another school's site. I think we ought to be able to watch our team vs. another D1 program.

The fans are the ones missing out on this. I don't care if it's an exhibition or not, if the Shox are playing K St., KU, Okie State, or even some small time D1 or D2 program from the area, I'd like to see it.

Here's an idea: don't sell tickets, but put it on pay-per-view (or shockervision). That way, there's no crowd distractions, and the coaches can rule it however they see fit, but on the other hand, the die-hard fans get to watch "from the comfort of their own homes".

Perhaps a bad idea to broadcast it on Shockervision. I believe the whole idea of a closed scrimmage is to keep the future competition from being able to see their weakness. If it is put on Shockervision, all the teams on the schedule would be able to see and tape it.....if they could do that, then they could just let everyone see the game.....

[proshox]

I think this actually allows them to play multiple games as well. GM was 100% sure that this practice game was far superior than an exhibition game. In fact, I bet he would have traded both exhibition games for one closed practice against another school.

They are officiated by real officials so the only difference is the playing in front of a "Home Crowd." This is not a big loss when you look at the type of games we play early on (Bad teams at home or Good teams in small gyms). Most of these kids spent time playing in front of crowds before..

[Aargh]

Look at it from a coaching perspective:

You're against a decent D1 team and working on sets, plays, defensive structures, etc. The other team probably knows what you're trying to do. That works both ways. Marshall gets to work on stopping what a D1 team is trying to do against him.

If something isn't working the way it's planned or the execution isn't what was designed, he can stop the scrimmage, do some coaching, and try again. The other team can do the same.

New players can get a feel for how games are called without worrying about fouling out.

An exhibition against Kansas Newman would let us see the return of Ryan Bradley to CKA. An exhibition against Southwestern College would bring David King back to CKA.

So, if you're the coach, what is better? Working on execution against a team that is typical of what you're going to face in the season or playing an exhibition against an inferior team where anything you try works and the players can resort to show-boating and street ball and get a convincing win?