shockwaves (day after perspective)

[melcong4]

Perhaps I missed something......


Was Coach Marshall's reference not 100% correct?

EXACTLY! I am envious of their environment. The coordinated and CLEVER chants. It was very cool. I wish we had even 10% of their creativity.

TOTALLY AGREE :good:

[GoShockers89]

The pissing match was with one, mostly negative sports writer.....one! His comments about the fans.....he said "ours may be AAA compared to theres. Defensive undertones and demeanor comes from people questioning his abilities and his players resolve. I would be worried if he didn't respond.

If the last two games and his reactions are isolated incidents, then there is little cause for concern. If the trend continues, we'll see...

[DUShock]

Doc, you've got a kidney if ever need it but I'm peeved at that AAA comment. I started to type a rather lengthy "justification" but decided I'm entitled to my AAA opinion and I may very well be a triple-A fan come Saturday, I don't need to lose my voice, yet again after another home game.

Mind your tongue Gregg...

[proshox]

One more item - HCGM might not want 3,000 extra students. That would kill the bottom line for men's basketball and cut into all the extra's his team has compared to most college basketball teams.

[shockerfan]

Is there any way that the students could have a "cheer practice?" I'm sure it's been asked before. But what would be needed to get something organized like that? We definately don't need to copy Utah St, however, like Marshall has said "come up with creative ways to say the same things".

Is it possible to put a committee together? I wonder if someone from Utah St can just give us an idea how their stuff is handled and got started.

I don't think we need 4,000 students. It could still be quite good with just 800-1000 students. Who knows, maybe others in the crowd would catch on also.

[ICT Ragman]

Great point pro shox. If KSU, for instance, continues to win do you really think all those prime seats will still be for students in the future ?

I don't think GM was taking any shots - just offering the other guys a compliment the way many, MANY coaches have done in respect to our place.

Opposing coaches often say something to the effect of 'we couldn't even run our stuff in there (CKA) because it was too loud' in their post game comments. They aren't saying that to be nice, they mean it.

Their place was great, and the cheers were fun - but I love our spontaneous 10,500 die hards that get plenty loud without choreography.

[pogo]

[quote="proshox"]One more item - HCGM might not want 3,000 extra students. That would kill the bottom line for men's basketball and cut into all the extra's his team has compared to most college basketball teams.[/quot
More students/student tickets would not cut into his extras since a great many of the extras, if not all, are funded from his golf tournament and auction. Non revenue producing sports would feel the pinch much more acutely. Of course the shortfall would need to be covered by higher ticket costs or higher SASO contribution levels. Pick your poison.

[ShockerFever]

Utah State's atmosphere was impressive. I think outside the 4,000 students cramped on the sidelines, it would've been slightly above average. The students make that place from what I can tell.

As others have mentioned, does Marshall not realize that we are a commuter school with 10,000 less students and we allot 3,000 less than desirable seats for our students? Considering all of those factors against us, we still put on a pretty damn good product. The AAA reference was a slap to the face IMO. He could have complimented on Utah State's atmosphere without backhanding us. Just not necessary.

I know it's incredibly frustrating for our emotional coach. However, a couple of the things he's done within the last week have been borderline ridiculous. He needs to focus more on what this team's been doing the last 3 weeks than what Bob Lutz is writing or how our nearly sold out venue is not stacking up to Utah State's. He is laying out the excuses and barbs and it's not looking good. Our team has been sucked away. Get your team up for games and have them execute and you don't have to worry about the rest.

It helps that Utah State has won 11 in a row, has had 10 straight 23-win seasons, were on national tv in an important game, have 4,000 allotted student spots on the sidelines, and have been playing solid basketball. That'll help an atmosphere.

I've never called a coach's show before, but I'm tempted. I'm curious if some of these questions can make it to Monday.

[BCSCat]

Great point pro shox. If KSU, for instance, continues to win do you really think all those prime seats will still be for students ?

I don't think GM was taking any shots - just offering the other guys a compliment the way many, MANY coaches have done in respect to our place.

Opposing coaches have often said something to the effect in the post game that 'we couldn't even run our stuff because it too loud in there'. (CKA).

Their place was great, and the cheers were fun - but I love our spontaneous 10,500 die hards that get plenty loud without choreography.

The KSU students will always have those seats as long as we play in Bramlage. It was part of the agreement when students voted to finance part for the building through student fees.

[shockerfan]

Utah State's atmosphere was impressive. I think outside the 4,000 students cramped on the sidelines, it would've been slightly above average. The students make that place from what I can tell.

As others have mentioned, does Marshall not realize that we are a commuter school with 10,000 less students and we allot 3,000 less than desirable seats for our students? Considering all of those factors against us, we still put on a pretty damn good product. The AAA reference was a slap to the face IMO. He could have complimented on Utah State's atmosphere without backhanding us. Just not necessary.

I know it's incredibly frustrating for our emotional coach. However, a couple of the things he's done within the last week have been borderline ridiculous. He needs to focus more on what this team's been doing the last 3 weeks than what Bob Lutz is writing or how our nearly sold out venue is not stacking up to Utah State's. He is laying out the excuses and barbs and it's not looking good. Our team has been sucked away. Get your team up for games and have them execute and you don't have to worry about the rest.

It helps that Utah State has won 11 in a row, has had 10 straight 23-win seasons, were on national tv in an important game, have 4,000 allotted student spots on the sidelines, and have been playing solid basketball. That'll help an atmosphere.

I've never called a coach's show before, but I'm tempted. I'm curious if some of these questions can make it to Monday.

I'll be extremely surprised if anyone even brings this up on Monday. I don't think anyone has the cahones to ask these questions to him personally.

I am gonna state the obvious and mention that you will probably get FAR more information from him if you come across respectful rather than confrontational. Ask Matty P.

[shockfan89_]

This comment was out of bounds. This is not a question of accuracy, but a question of intelligence

Now, I might agree with the first part......MIGHT. However, this is our coach, you better get used to it.

This isn't Coach Milktoast for the whining brigade.

And this is WSU so HCGM better get used to booing at a string of poor perfomances and questionable coaching. Especially as expectations grow. It goes both ways...

Maybe HCGM needs to visit with the baseball coaches to get perspective on WSU fan expectations? We have one of the most successful baseball programs over the past 30 years and our coaches still get 2nd guessed all the time and our players hear boos almost every year when their performance is sub-par. You can deal with it and let it motivate you to get better or you can complain and let it eat you up.

[SuperiorBlueDiver]

Utah State's atmosphere was impressive. I think outside the 4,000 students cramped on the sidelines, it would've been slightly above average. The students make that place from what I can tell.

As others have mentioned, does Marshall not realize that we are a commuter school with 10,000 less students and we allot 3,000 less than desirable seats for our students? Considering all of those factors against us, we still put on a pretty damn good product. The AAA reference was a slap to the face IMO. He could have complimented on Utah State's atmosphere without backhanding us. Just not necessary.

I know it's incredibly frustrating for our emotional coach. However, a couple of the things he's done within the last week have been borderline ridiculous. He needs to focus more on what this team's been doing the last 3 weeks than what Bob Lutz is writing or how our nearly sold out venue is not stacking up to Utah State's. He is laying out the excuses and barbs and it's not looking good. Our team has been sucked away. Get your team up for games and have them execute and you don't have to worry about the rest.

It helps that Utah State has won 11 in a row, has had 10 straight 23-win seasons, were on national tv in an important game, have 4,000 allotted student spots on the sidelines, and have been playing solid basketball. That'll help an atmosphere.

I've never called a coach's show before, but I'm tempted. I'm curious if some of these questions can make it to Monday.

Not trying to sound crass here but IF it was a closer game and our lead was really threatened then Wichita State would have been introduced to the rest of our crowd. As it was the students were sufficient and the rest of the crowd just enjoyed the show. When the regular ticket holders are needed they rise to the occasion and it becomes out of this world loud. That's the real reason we are 174-13 at home in the past decade. When we are threatened with a loss the rest of the crowd comes alive and it's almost impossible for another team to function when that happens.

[ShockerFever]

Fair point. Just sayin from start to finish, minus the students, it seemed near the norm. In big games, we usually get rocking no matter what. And you don't have to drop your home record in here every 5 seconds. We all know how glorious it is.

[SuperiorBlueDiver]

Yes. Without the students yesterday the crowd was pretty dead.

[AggieSports]

Hey guys, just wanted to come and say great game! One thing that stood out to me last night was how your teams finished the game. There was no quit in them at all, that I could see. They have heart and played to the buzzer. It showed a few times throughout the game as well, when USU would go on a run and get up big (as much as 17 at one point I think). Trust me, I have seen a lot of teams come into the Spectrum, and just give up at those points. Especialy teams that are unfamiliar with playing in the Spectrum. That really impressed me. I enjoyed watching how your team plays. By that, they play smart. The problem with last night was a lot of their shots weren't falling. I could tell that that is probably not usually the case. They got open looks. Between that and playing hard and with heart tells me you have a very good coach. You are a bit young right now, but I have no doubt your immediate future is very bright!

To answer a couple questions...I think the biggest reason our students are so coordinated and creative is because of a "Gameday" paper that is prepared for each home game by a couple students who lead out student section. It's called the "refraction". It's usualy making stuff up to take jabs at the opposing team, and let the students know who to get on and why. However, often this is also used to introduce new chants, when they will be done, or what chants need to be improved. The students prepare a couple hundred copies and they are passed out before each game and then passed up and all around the student section so everyone is on the same page for that game. That is where I would start. Get someone will to start a "gameday" "scouting report" and get everyone on the same page.

Our student section is special due in no small part of Stew Morrill himself. There has often been talk at USU to cut the student section down and offer some big money making prime times seats. When Stew got here amost 12 years ago he made it very clear to the AD and to all the new AD's that have come and gone during his tenure that as long as Stew was the coach, not one single student seat would be lost. Period.

SBD was on point when talking about our crowd (students vs. the blue hairs) last night. It's fun because in a tight game going down to the wire, you will see Stew stand up and throw his arms in the arm a couple times gesturing "Come on! Get loud! Bring it now!" When ever Stew does this all the blue hairs stand up and get loud too. It's those times that the Spectrum can be defening. The Spectrum is unique compared to most arenas around the country in that is was designed and built 40 years ago for one thing and one thing only....BAKETBALL. From the color of the seats, to that same seating going right down to the court allowing the students to be within arms length of the players, up to the flat metal lid on top that bounces the noise right back down onto the court. We feel really lucky to have such a fun and amazing place to go and watch out Basketball.

Anyway, just some thoughts. It sure has been a pleasure learning about your school and basketball program and fanbase. I am definitely a fan now and will always be paying attention to the Shockers! I am very much looking forward to the return game!