The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Fairfield Stags Hoops Forum

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, [7], 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 10:48:51am 11/29/05 Tue,
Author: Jahidi Hoya
Subject: The Crowd and Atmosphere

I went to the game last night and I thought the student turnout was horrendous. One of the biggest home games the school has had and there were maybe 200 students there.

How can the school expect to fill the seats of the arena when the students will not even go!?!

They should flip the benches so that the visiting team is sitting close to the handful of students that do go to the game. It would also ensure that the visiting team is shooting into a "hostile" environment in the 2nd half. Very poor planning.

Also, the Stag mascot seemed like it was on some heavy medication. No students. More PC fans than FU fans. A stoned mascot. What is going on here!?!

In any event, a strong performance. I was pleased that FU covered the spread and ruined the night for the PC fans behind me that bet on the game. I am looking forward to the December 11th game against the mighty Hoyas and their 7'2" center Roy Hibbert! Not to mention 6'9" Jeff Green!

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Rave, 10:59:11am 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

There were not more PC fans than Fairfield fans. Get your facts straight.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- JoeStag, 11:03:05am 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

From the Radio broadcast I could only hear Fairfield fans in the background..... either cheers or growns on bad calls, nothing from Providence fans. So if there were a lot of Providence fans, they were quiet.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Frank F, 11:13:40am 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

There were a good number of Providence fans but they were unusually quiet.

How can you expect the students to come out after that St. Joe's game? How can you expect anyone to come out after that game?
Maybe the team will now start winning back some of those people if they keep up their hard exciting play.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: Frank F. Comments -- Rave, 03:18:15pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

Frank F., I have a real problem with your statement about expecting students to come back after the ST. Joes game. Well quite frankly, I do expect them to come back. Their tickets are relatively inexpensive and transportation is provided. You either support your school or you don't. You are a fan or you're not. Nobody plays perfect all the time. This team may struggle, but they are exciting and entertaining. Wins will come. It is totally beyond me that if you are a basketball fan and a student or for that matter
a Fairfield Grad., how you are not at most of the games at home. If all you are looking for is entertainment, you are not a true fan and perhaps should go to a puppet show to be entertained. That does not mean that you can't criticize things about the program and express your opinions on how to improve it. But, if you are a true fan, you should be at the games supporting your student athletes and fellow students. I would never consider not going to a stags game when I was a student. And they were not always super powerhouse teams. I went to the games to root for my team. Being at the basketball game was entertainment. To make statements like " I can't blame them if they don't come back " because we got beat by a better team and did not play particularly well, is an example of someone who is looking for a reason not to come back and not a true fan.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Jahid Hoyas, 11:21:00am 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

The student body is the core group. That is the base from which the support of the team and the school should come from. Regardless of wins or losses the students should be there.

Based upon my own observation I felt there were more PC fans in the building than FU fans. I saw more black than red. Particularly when you looked to the areas outside of where the core season tickets are sold. It is not a fact, just an observation.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Tony merola, 03:38:41pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

The "red sea" was only a "puddle" at the providence game. What a shame the first day back from thanksgiving holiday( cannot be any papers or tests due) and the students do not show up. I showed up and have been doing so for 35 years.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Stagman, 04:05:24pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

Fairfield has about 2,500 undergrads. If 250 show up, that's 10% and the student section looks empty.

G'town probably has about 10,000 undergrads. If 10% show up for a game, that's 1,000 and it probably fills up the student section.

Let's say that's the case. Can you conclude that G'town has better support from their student body?

Not saying that the turnout for FU is good, but for a school of this size, playing off campus, what is a reasonable number to expect?

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Frank F, 03:54:11pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

As far as I know, students sign no contract requiring them to come out and support Fairfield basketball.

I think any athletic team has to earn its support. The St. Joes game was the worst home court defeat we have ever suffered.There was lots of students there, but who the hell could cheer for that team? The effort just wasn't there.
In addition, we field a team that concedes rebounding, shot blocking etc right off the bat because we are so small.
There's a lot of reasons NOT to come out to see Fairfield basketball, and thats why we draw poorly.
I hope efforts like FU gave in the Providence game will draw people back, if it continues.
Blame the team, blame the coach, blame the AD. Stop blaming the fans- they'll come out if we produce a winner.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Nashville Stag Fan, 03:50:34pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

I showed up, have been doing so for 40 years, and averaged about 7 or 8 games a year even when I lived in Tennessee! (and I am not even a graduate of the school).

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- JoeStag, 04:24:00pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

I could not make it last night, but a lot of people did, and have been doing it for quite some time, irregardless if the team is winning or losing, or exciting or not.

After winnning 19, 19, and 15 games and finishing in the top 3 in the MAAC the past 3 seasons..... if the reason that people did not show up for Providence was because they gave-up after 2 losses, then that is sad, and shame on them.

Congrats to the fans who came out for the Providence game to support the team.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- SonofDoc, 04:23:41pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

The ball players are students of the school as are the non ball players alike. The non players are roomates, dormmates, classmates, and friends of the players. They are all common members of the Fairfield University community. The desire to support fellow friends, students, etc. should be enough reason for students to regularly support the basketball team.

If non-athletes at Fairfield don't choose to watch basketball because they don't like basketball, then fine. But to have an attitude where the team has to win to "earn their support" is flat out snobbish, elitist, and stuck up. That's not being part of a community that sticks together and supports each other. It would be scary to think Fairfield students have that kind of poor attitude. I hope that is not the case, because I enjoy Fairfield basketball and believe in supporting the team I root for when times are good and times are bad. We know fans can be fickle, but to excuse students just because the team is playing poorly certainly doesn't hold them up to any kind of school community standard.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Jahidi Hoya, 05:00:36pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

One last thing. I was sitting across from the visitor's bench last night. It was very hard to hear the Fairfield student section due to their limited numbers. However, I do I recall hearing a chant at the game last night.

I could be mistaken, but I believe they were chanting "Overrated!" This was late in the second half when FU was actually losing! If I did hear it correctly then I have to criticize the students for that one.

Be proud of playing a solid game. However, by no means does this warrant that kind of chant. Not to mention the fact that nobody anywhere has high expectations for Providence! It is impossible for them to be "overrated".

I also saw one of the students after the game verbally abusing a Providence fan that must have been 14 years old. He was using profanity and insulting the way the kid looked. Not the best image to be before a large visiting crowd. That was only one person, but when they are that obnoxious one person can have an impact.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- QuinnipiacStagFan, 10:38:36pm 11/29/05 Tue, [1]

I was there last night and was very happy with the effort that the Stags had throughout the game. Despite being outsized at the 3, 4 and 5, Fairfield played very aggresive/tough D.

After reading many of the posts, here are my thoughts:

There were alot of Providence fans at the game. Some have posted that it was mostly Stag Fans, I disagree.. I was in section 116 and there were more PC fans than Stag fans around me. I do have to admit that it wasn't as bad as the St. Joes game, when I was completely surrounded by their fans.

The Stags did get screwed on many calls. The guy sitting next to me, a PC fan, even commented that he couldn't believe Fairfield was getting so many bad calls agains them..especially at home.

I do like the new setup at the arena, and I'll admit I didn't at first. It certainly brings the crowd into it a lot more than the old way.

Carter played great..the kid has as much heart and desire as anyone. Danny O hit the open shots and played a great game. Did anyone else notice that the PC coach changed defenses because he was so hot.. he put McGrath on him as a shadow, and it did slow Danny O down....still a great game.

There is never satisfaction in a loss, but the Stags did play inspired basketball last night. Lets hope that it continues into the MAAC and they battle for a title.

I have supported Middleton (I think Frank F and I are the only two on the board doing so), but I am starting to wonder...watched him on both sides of the floor and it was disappointing. The team definately dropped off when he was in for Carter. Need quality minutes from Middleton in the MAAC, at a minimum for much needed rebounding.

Bell has to play better...he should be a leader this year, but his shots don't seem to fall. He does continue to play tough D...but they need his scoring!

QC Brave >>----->

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- STAGAL, 05:10:22am 11/30/05 Wed, [1]

I hate to agree with Jahida Hoya, but where I was sitting in 116, most of the fans in this entire area (115-117) seemed to be from PC. Late in the game when PC went ahead for good, the crowd roared its approval. I was stunned as to the numbers who cheered, turned to my friend and told him that there looks to be more of them than us! I could see across to the other side as to the large numbers cheering as well. It is a shame that our own students don't support the team. Same thing happens every year: after we lose our first home game, they don't come back again.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Rave, 08:32:09am 11/30/05 Wed, [1]

Section 116 is the area where visitors seats are.(behind providence bench) Obviously that is where most of PC fans were seated. With 2 minutes to go, they obviously cheered their approval when their team went ahead. Shame on Fairfield fans for not being louder during most of the game. But I repeat, there were about 1,000 PC fans at the game. Maybe at times they were louder than stag fans, but that is why having students attend is important. They are not bashful in cheering loudly for the stags.I also think that the cheerleaders do a poor job of getting the crowd into the game. Very weak! Anyone can get the crowd into the game if the score is tied with 2 minutes to go.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- QuinnipiacStagFan, 10:33:54pm 11/30/05 Wed, [1]

Rave you are incorrect....Section 116 is behind the Fairfield bench..... Last year it was behind the visitors bench, but they changed ends..

QC Brave >>----->

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Stagophile, 11:17:50pm 11/30/05 Wed, [1]

When I was at Fairfield, we use to have Super Fan dressed up with a cape and mask running up and down the stands, doing the crowd pushups (ten guys holding him above their heads) and egging the Red Sea on. And then we would have always have the unexpected visit from somebody wearing an ape suit. You never knew when he would show, but, when he did the students went crazy. It was wild and probably the most fun I have ever had a sporting event.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Stagophile, 11:31:43pm 11/30/05 Wed, [1]

Oh, I guess my point is that it is what the students make of it. Going to games was more than just be "entertained" by the basketball. It was an opportunity for the entire Fairfield community to get together and have a great time together whether watching the action on the court or participating in the fun in the stands. It's a shame a bad loss kept the student's away because games are the best way to bring everybody together and to be part of something bigger. I hope they discover their Stags spirit again and not get detered by a bad game. After all, look at what they missed out on...a very entertaining basketball game! :-)

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Rave, 08:17:24am 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Q.Stag Fan, I stand corrected on section 116. The reason that I thought it was behind PC bench was because that was the area where the PC cheering could be noticed.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Fairfield Mirror - The news from Apuz: Where was everyone? -- JoeStag, 08:19:40am 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Student newspaper gets into the act of questioning student support.

http://www.fairfieldmirror.com/media/paper148/news/2005/12/01/Sports/The-News.From.Apuz.Where.Was.Everyone-1117792.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.fairfieldmirror.com&mkey=61311

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: Fairfield Mirror - The news from Apuz: Where was everyone? -- Champ, 09:21:07am 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Student apathy was a long time in the making and lifestyle changes driven by technology have changed society forever. I spoke to a student not long ago, and he said free time is spent playing videogames, downloading music, surfing the web, chatting online or other related things. It's amazing but these things are a much bigger draw than live entertainment.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> Re: Fairfield Mirror - The news from Apuz: Where was everyone? -- JoeStag, 10:24:27am 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Champ

I agree about all the other distractions and entertainment these days, and I have resigned myself that we will not get 2,000 students at a game like we used to in my day. But my concern is that if we have had 500-800 students at some games, I assume they are Hoops fans. And if they did not show at Providence because we lost a few games, then that is a sad commentary on school support.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Jahidi Hoya, 10:34:58am 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

If I am not mistaken they have the internet and video games at every single college campus. I simply do not see that as a valid defense of the deplorable turnout on Monday night.

What further stings is the fact that the team sent out an email to the students asking for their support. This issue has more to do with overall support of the unveristy community than it does a game of Madden 2006.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Frank F, 11:26:15am 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Gentlemen you can 'cry' all you want about student support but when you have a good turn out (like St Joes) you cannot play basketball the way we did and blame students (or anyone) for not coming back.
A friend of mine was in a local bar recently and a guy was giving away Fairfield/ Providence tickets for nothing (he had 20 of them, and his friends, etc weren't interested!).
When you play like we did against St. Joes and when you field a team without a player over 6'4" against Big East competition, people are not going to come.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Clam Jammer, 12:26:26pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Winning and the importance of the game is what brings students out. We lost our first 2 games and Providence game was meaningless to a student. The height of the players have nothing to do with it, and if it did, we would have averaged 5000 when Ajou and Gai were here with Robbie.

Students have shown up for Manhattan games, first place games, senior nights, and meaningfull Lacrosse and Soccer games.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Frank F, 12:50:41pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

"The height of the players have nothing to do with it"

I couldn't disagree more. When you field a team that doesn't have sufficient height or bulk to win Div I basketball games, people will not take your program seriously and will not pay or inconvenience themselves to come watch you play.

The reverse, of course, is not true. Just because you field a team with appropriate height does not mean they are necessarily going to win over fans. They may have no athletic skills.

Do you think the Celtics or Pistons would be selling basketball tickets if they fielded a starting lineup that was 6-6, 6-5, 6-4 up front? Its very sad to see us play a game well, as we did against Providence, and watch them get layup after layup and rebound after rebound simply because our players are too small. That is not conducive to producing big crowds.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Running Man, 02:24:09pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Students who come to Fairfield do so not for basketball but for a host of other reasons. It is simply something that does not command student interest. Most of these kids weren't born the last time Fairfield had a very good team. The years of mediocrity have not helped. Had Fairfield acquired the reputation of having a consistently above average squad, there would not be these problems. Many of us who are hoop fans cannot understand this mentality. Under the circumstances, I cannot fault them for not coming.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Clam Jammer, 02:44:09pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Almost everyone that came out of the Providence game was excited about the game and how the team played. Your crazy to think otherwise. The reason that students did not show was that we were 0-2 and played poorly against St Joes. I think you are the only one that has a fascination of watching players taller than 6-4.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Red Rugger, 03:17:58pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Frank "Height Challenged" F - You need to get off this height issue. Everyone of your posts continues to lament this to the point of adnauseam. It is what it is. No one on FFLD is going to grow 4-5 inches this semester. Sure, the situation is not good but FFLD will do fine when the MAAC games start. Who knows maybe they would have lost by 15 to PC if they started 2 6'8 guys. The small line-up moved the ball well, played aggressive defense and didn't commit a lot of turnovers.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Jahidi Hoya, 02:53:42pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

So if I am following this thread correctly... Fairfield students would come out in droves to see a 6'11" man play video games?

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Frank F, 03:25:57pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Doesn't Fairfield still have courses in Logic? Jahidi- you might want to look into that.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Stag57, 03:55:00pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Concerning the crowd ,or lack thereof, at the Providence game, the lack of interest in Fairfield basketball is not the result of the first two games or even a season or two, It is the result of decades of not having a consistently successful program in the University"s showcaes sport. I'm old enough to remember the success and enthusiasm of the 70s and some years in the 80s when it was difficult to get a ticket for the games. I think it's disgraceful to blame the students, the Alumni, the arena or sun spots. The trustees and administration should swallow their pride and take a look at what other successful programs and what they do to maintain an environment of excellence.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- When the Stags Come Marching In..., 04:51:31pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

What is disgraceful is the lack of commitment and resources on the basketball program that has existed through the decades. Fairfield finally had a chance to leap out of its mediocrity with its decision to play games at the Arena. There was no strategy developed and implemented to help the basketball program grow. If there is one other than, lets play our games at AHY and people will pay $15-$20 per ticket to watch us, please let me know. Winning basketball games, and possibly the hiring five years too late of the marketing/PR group, will help. Otherwise, Stag basketball is what it has always been, and seemingly accespted by the Fairfield Administration, a couple of decent years per decade. To blame any group other than the Administration is wrong.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: The Crowd and Atmosphere -- Frank F, 04:57:46pm 12/01/05 Thu, [1]

Couldn't agree more with the last two posts.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]