The Book: 2007-08 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[derf]

Sorry Chris, but I don't buy into that. I've been to basketball games all over the place and unless you have a die hard crowd, i.e. Duke or N.C., where the crowd knows what to do and when to do it, the P.A. guy plays into the crowd reaction a ton. T.D. leading the "Cajunball" countdown or simply shouting "Let 'em hear ya" adds tons to the atmosphere. No matter if it's a blowout or if our team is in the crapper at the moment.
I think the biggest issue concerning the home court advantage is that our fan base is lacking in the student commitment department. Anyone who knows me knows that I've literally been here through the thick and thin with our athletics. I get frustrated, but I still show up. And I make a little noise from time to time. . But we need more student involvement and it needs to start at the top with SGA and UPC. They have the power to get advertisements on the radio or perhaps student based activities to get them into the games. When we had to play at the Blackham for those few games, a few of us tailgated and it drew others that we knew to come out and go to the game. We also need a mascot that gets the crowd hyped up. And could we get a decibel meter in the dome?
Just a few thoughts

[cjntgr]

_ Sorry Chris, but I don't buy into that. I've been to basketball games all over the place and unless you have a die hard crowd, i.e. Duke or N.C., where the crowd knows what to do and when to do it, the P.A. guy plays into the crowd reaction a ton. T.D. leading the "Cajunball" countdown or simply shouting "Let 'em hear ya" adds tons to the atmosphere. No matter if it's a blowout or if our team is in the crapper at the moment.
I think the biggest issue concerning the home court advantage is that our fan base is lacking in the student commitment department. Anyone who knows me knows that I've literally been here through the thick and thin with our athletics. I get frustrated, but I still show up. And I make a little noise from time to time. . But we need more student involvement and it needs to start at the top with SGA and UPC. They have the power to get advertisements on the radio or perhaps student based activities to get them into the games. When we had to play at the Blackham for those few games, a few of us tailgated and it drew others that we knew to come out and go to the game. We also need a mascot that gets the crowd hyped up. And could we get a decibel meter in the dome?
Just a few thoughts _

You hit the nail right on the head. Everyone was crying about how TD leads "cajun ball" but Sat. the new announcer didnt and guess what there was no cajun ball at all that night.

[rhineaux]

_ You hit the nail right on the head. Everyone was crying about how TD leads "cajun ball" but Sat. the new announcer didnt and guess what there was no cajun ball at all that night. _

yeah, but, that's more or less a band thing, and the regular band wasn't present on saturday...it was the undefeated alumni band.

[cjntgr]

Yea thats true also, I guess we will soon find out though. As Jay said, TD will miss another game.

[RaginFan2]

yeah, but, that's more or less a band thing, and the regular band wasn't present on saturday...it was the undefeated alumni band.

OOH! That's right! Will the "undefeated alumni band" be there for the UNO game on Sat.? I sure hope so!

[zephyr]

Yeah, I agree in regards to the student participation at the games, I have been extremely disappointed. For a while there, it seemed as if they were improving in that dept but lately it has been very disappointing. I would like to see the university do something, if possible, to encourage the students to go to the home games.

[derf]

And I'm sure that someone will try the old "winter break" excuse as to the lack of student presence, but I won't buy that either. Fact is that the majority of the student body lives within a reasonable proximity to the university and the Cajun dome. So they need to get their butts in the seats (until it's time to stand and cheer). I just think that the marketing of the team sucks. There are several local radio stations that the younger crowd listen to. However, I have never heard any advertisements for upcoming games on these stations, not even the one that carries the game. (And yes, I do listen to hip hop stations occasionally) The most you get is a DJ mentioning that they are gonna broadcast the game later that evening. Makes me sad.

PS maybe the pepper could get tutoring sessions from the Fabulous Cajun Chicken.

[Cajun Express]

_ You hit the nail right on the head. Everyone was crying about how TD leads "cajun ball" but Sat. the new announcer didnt and guess what there was no cajun ball at all that night. _

And I never ever missed it.

Don't know about the rest of you basketball junkies, but I am pumped. The next two teams in the Cajun Dome will be a strong test for our boys. Let's be there, be loud, and be proud.

[cjr3888]

_ Sorry Chris, but I don't buy into that. I've been to basketball games all over the place and unless you have a die hard crowd, i.e. Duke or N.C., where the crowd knows what to do and when to do it, the P.A. guy plays into the crowd reaction a ton. T.D. leading the "Cajunball" countdown or simply shouting "Let 'em hear ya" adds tons to the atmosphere. No matter if it's a blowout or if our team is in the crapper at the moment.
I think the biggest issue concerning the home court advantage is that our fan base is lacking in the student commitment department. Anyone who knows me knows that I've literally been here through the thick and thin with our athletics. I get frustrated, but I still show up. And I make a little noise from time to time. . But we need more student involvement and it needs to start at the top with SGA and UPC. They have the power to get advertisements on the radio or perhaps student based activities to get them into the games. When we had to play at the Blackham for those few games, a few of us tailgated and it drew others that we knew to come out and go to the game. We also need a mascot that gets the crowd hyped up. And could we get a decibel meter in the dome?
Just a few thoughts _

I agree with you on the lack of students. I mentioned to a buddy of mine at the game saturday that behind the goal by the visitors bench is completely different than it used to be. We used to be the few drunk guys in the middle of all the sober students. Those were the good ole days. Now kids run around that area. Of course, that isn't a bad thing because parents can let there kids run free (I know mine never sits still at games) but it just isn't the same that it was. Maybe as the guys keep winning, more people will begin to show up.

[rhineaux]

But we need more student involvement and it needs to start at the top with SGA and UPC. They have the power to get advertisements on the radio or perhaps student based activities to get them into the games.

They need to make it more known that its an easy plce to go get hammered. If I couldn't sit at the games with a dome foam, then it would have taken away some of the glimmer. When they had the games at BC in 2005, they didn't sell beer and we had to bring in our own whiskey, and that was a pain in the ass. Promotion: Go to the 'dome...Get there early...Have a few cold ones...Go Downtown.

Now, it will be pretty unlikely that the university would promote heavy drinking, especially since (theoretically) most of their students aren't drinking age...But you are right that something needs to be done by those student organiations to amp up involvement. And, they should make better t-shirts if they're gonna give them away.