Why would this be a gimmick and not a start of a tradition?  Would you say that Midnight Madness itself is a gimmick?  Because I can tell you it is a tradition at Maryland and a great draw. Getting the community involved should be a central focus of every marketing effort.  And sorry but providing a superior product is only the beginning of the marketing effort.  If you are in sales and rely on your product selling itself then you are crappy salesman. 

There's a lot to do.  Never before in human history have we had as many options for diversion as we now do.  You can never step away from your desk and be entertained the whole time.  You might scoff at this phenomenon or criticize it, but that doesn't change reality.  Even at the biggest basketball schools, it's a minority of the students that go to games on a regular basis.  Furthermore, there has been an explosion of groups and clubs here at the university in recent years.  I perused the student involvement fair last month and I was stunned at the sheer number of them.  They all have meetings and activities.  A number of people are going to choose to prioritize those over sporting events.  I won't tell them they are wrong for doing so.  A lot of people work, and they don't consider it important to schedule around games or their employers aren't willing to do so.  It's a seller's market for jobs here.  Oh, and believe it or not, people actually study and do academic work.  Crazy, I know, but I think that's why they're here.  Heck, some people play club sports and it would be insane to think they would skip their game to go watch other people play.  In short, if you're bored on an Athens night, it's probably your fault.  Also, don't forget: There's a lot of people here that just don't want to go to games.

I've noticed a lot of doublethink the last few years.  The marketing office gets killed for not marketing well enough (usually because they don't adopt the unrealistic or unworkable ideas of people on this board).  At the same time, some people will simultaneously declare it doesn't matter what we do marketing-wise because we don't play a good enough home schedule and we're not winning.  One or the other, guys.  Because if it's the latter, let's cut the marketing department now and send the cheerleaders to more away games.  Even if we're not successful, what do you want them to do?  Not try?  That's stupid, and that is exactly what at least one of you is saying (is it difficult to sit down with that stick up your butt?).  If the product sold itself, we wouldn't need marketing.  However, I keep seeing empty seats in The Convo, so maybe we should let them try and fill those bad boys.

I think the marketing department, for its flaws, has been doing a great job.  It may not be easy to see from the outside, but the culture is changing here in Athens.  Slowly, but surely, we're moving in the right direction.  I have no reason to think that momentum (oh, crap) will reverse any time soon.  It has been a process and it has taken years, and ultimate success will not come in the short term.  In the long term, I like our chances.

Finally, I'll say it again: John Groce would rather hold a closed practice than what people here are calling for.  It's a non-starter.

If that's the case, then why does Coach Groce even go along with Hardwood Hysteria as planned for the Convo?

Let me add a brief thought to the discussion of what'll draw the fans and keep 'em coming.

I say most things are a gimmick.  I don't feel that way about the madness as that's closer to a tradition and/or season kickoff.

But the other stuff--prizes for fans making shots, ticket drawings etc--I fail to believe that'll consistently add much to the crowd.  So, try this.  'Spose we gave, say, $10 to each fan who attended.  We'd probably draw a large crowd.  Would they stay for the whole game and come back again?

Maybe if the game action and OUr team was exciting and winning.  Otherwise you have misdirection, crooked expectations and too much cost.

Far and away best way to draw is winning basketball.

If we are really losing student fans to student organizations, then the marketing dept. should try and find ways to get these organizations involved with the game day experience, right?  I mean what else do these organizations have to do besides meeting in Bentley at 7pm on Wed night to discuss who's going to bring paper plates to next week's picnic?  I've discussed this before, but it seems like Frat and Sorority members are always the least likely to attend games and we still haven't found a way to get them into the Convo.  Greek Night anybody?  

And I'm not saying the Marketing Dept. does a bad job.  They are fighting a very tough battle. Just making suggestions.

If you know your way around colleges and administrations, then you should know right off the bat that our athletic department simply does not have the resources for your dream event. That pretty much stops you from even moving to square one. I actually won't be in the lower bowl, have to miss another homecoming weekend due to other commitments.

PS - You have never offended me in an OSU thread. It's just funny to continuously watch people like yourself complain so much about another school. Classic red headed stepchild syndrome. Hey, OSU have money. Maybe you should pitch promo events to them. It would be the best of both worlds for you.

Oh no, I knew it wouldn't bother you...I am well aware you don't have feelings.  If you did, you wouldn't spend the majority of your posts trying to make other people feel stupid.  The purpose of my post was solely for the entertainment of the hundreds of readers who agree with me.

No, the difference is I am calling out someone who is being a jerk...You just do it while people are having innocent conversation with reasonable points.



Yes, hundreds...I would guess the number of people who will read my post range from 100-999.  In no way was I trying to say I am a big deal, but this is your style...take one thing everyone else in the world understands, and twist it and use it to try to embarass someone.  Well done tough guy...Well done.

Ben has hit the nail on the head - music will get folks to attend.  However . . . and there is no implication here, if the ego of a coaching staff is too big, they might say something along the lines of "are we the warm up for the band or are they the dessert to our main course?"  Personally, getting people into the Convo to enjoy themselves is the ultimate goal.

On a totally unrelated note, I wonder how many people never step inside the Convo between freshman first day and graduation?

I have contributed to this conversation, Andrew. I disagree with the notion of holding it on a stretch of pavement near uptown. So far, you are sitting on the fence. Do you want it in the Convo or do want it on a piece of pavement near uptown?



Aren't those same number of people reading my post(s) as well? Agree or disagree with my posts, I'm creating the same amount of traffic, if not, more. Andrew, in the long run, this all doesn't matter. I'd much prefer to actually see your opinion on the subject at hand as opposed to you looking bad.

Your idea of contributing is ripping people apart and trying your best to make them feel stupid.  You're the type of person that motivates many users to not post, and that bothers me, so I called you out on it.  We could keep on with this back and forth game you've played with so many others before, but I think we've said what we needed to say. 

The first thing I said in this thread was that I dont know if this is a good idea or not...and that still stands true. ...I am indifferent.  it could end up being cool, it could be a flop.  But it was a reasonable idea, and I sure wouldn't say it was written by someone's young child.

Top item on the basketball page now, but it needs to be on the front.  I don't like our layout; it limits our options of what we can do and how many stories we can feature.

Good timing.  I'm coming back to Athens for my first Bobcat football game since the Brian Burke era and the timing couldn't be more perfect.  I'm looking forward to the Hardwood Hysteria.