shockwaves (day after perspective)

[shockerfan]

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!

Thank you for giving us an idea of how your students organize before a game. Sounds very structured. Would love to see a little more organization out of our students. Don't get me wrong, the ones that show up are loud, they stand the whole game and cheer. As fans though it can ALWAYS be a little better. Perhaps someday...

With that said, our arena gets plenty loud and I AM overall proud with the support the Shockers get.

[BCSCat]

Just a thought - isn't a University all about the students? They should always have plenty of good seats - it's THEIR team, after all. Makes no sense to me at all that WSU only has 1000 students at their games and they have such lousy seats. I know money drives athletics but a lot of KU fans will tell you that Allen is not as loud since they moved the students to behind the baskets.

Loved the "winning team-losing" team cheer.

[shockerfan]

Just a thought - isn't a University all about the students? They should always have plenty of good seats - it's THEIR team, after all. Makes no sense to me at all that WSU only has 1000 students at their games and they have such lousy seats. I know money drives athletics but a lot of KU fans will tell you that Allen is not as loud since they moved the students to behind the baskets.

Loved the "winning team-losing" team cheer.

You already hit the nail on the head. It is a greedy...greedy world we live in.

[MTXE]

I'm very unhappy with Coach Marshall's choice of words. It's always nice to pay a compliment but not at the expense of honesty. HCGM is still obviously mad about the booing and continues to not let it die. This was definitely a passive-aggressive stab. To think anything else would just be silly. Koch Arena is one of the loudest arenas in the nation -period.


On another point: Does anybody else think that Utah's head coach looks like an older version of the ultra-popular "Cheese Fart"?

[BostonWu]

Perhaps I missed something......


Was Coach Marshall's reference not 100% correct?

Won't disagree with you. Then again I thought Lutz' article was 100% correct too.

[t7017s]

Marshall needs to stop worrying about the fans, sports writers and any thing but figuring out what its going to take to get this team playing better again. I'm sure he was just trying to complement USU's great fans but after what happened last week it won't come off that way and he should know better. Coach the team and the rest will work itself out.

:good: