This is kind of straying away toward a different topic, but I think it bears discussion here.
When OUCountry and I were walking into the Convo on Saturday, we were talking about how silly it is to only have the one entrance for students. The ushers were kindly telling them that they had to walk all the way around to the other side.
But here's my thing: whyyyyyyyyyy?? Why are they doing this? If you're coming from West Green its not a big deal. But if you're walking in the rain, cold, snow from South or East Green during basketball season only to have to walk to the complete other side is a freaking joke.
The look of dejection on the kids' faces left an impression on me. It was rainy and gross outside and they walked all the way to the Convo to the game only to be told "no, you have to walk back down the ramp, around, then back up." They don't get to use the sidewalk that encircles the Convo doors.
While a small thing, I've seen that look before. The "are you serious with this crap?" look. And that's the kind of stuff that hurts this fan base. Those kids might never come back to a game again. It may not be because of that one thing, but that and other things added together? We're only hurting ourselves.
Then after the game, the ramps are barricaded (at least the one we walked down) so there is only one small opening on the ramp once you get out of the Convo? WHAT IS THAT? I'm pretty sure I learned that in Risk Management 101 taught by Dr. Higgins. You leave as many exits as wide open as possible for egress in case of an emergency.
Maybe they have legitimate reasons for these things and maybe they can explain them to me in a way that makes sense. But I don't see it.
Every time I complain about "Game Day Experience", and it has been often in the last 12-24 months, this is the A-number-1 thing that pisses me off. It's not customer friendly. AT. ALL. Seems to me there are plenty of ways to deploy security without barricading off the whole damn building except for those two doorways.
Perhaps we as fans should make an initiative to email, simultaneously, Schaus, President Nellis, and OUPD Chief Powers - to simply suggest they try alternatives.
For example, why not just deploy those yellow shirts outside the building at the ramps, and to keep people from "sneaking" in doors, including the Convo residence hall entry's? If this is a safety initiative, as I've complained before, why isn't this done for stand alone women's games, volleyball, or wrestling? And for those who often attend, is this nonsense done during high school tournament basketball?