Attendance Myth?

[BradleyBrave]

This guy says it's the lowest in nearly 20 years. I guess he isn't accounting for the 1,000 people at any given moment in the bathrooms and concourses.

A lack of fannies in the seats could ultimately decide Jim Les??™ fate at Bradley. The Braves??™ average attendance of 8,362 this season is the lowest since Bradley averaged 7,271 during the 1992-93 season. The Braves have not had a sellout this season for the first time in six years.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110222/BLUEJAYS/702229808

[tornado]

did the guy also note that Creighton's attendance was also way down this year from most past years -- the last two being lower than any year since they moved to their current arena...

...is he suggesting McDermott be fired, too?

Of course ISU's attendance was way, way down...fire Jank, too?
Hey -- at least we drew 10K for the ISU game...what's with ISU drawing only 6K for their "Superbowl" (considering they stormed the court to proclaim "We're number 9!")
and even Gregg Marshall's average in his past 3 years is down from the last 3 years preceding under Turgeon!

[Da Coach]

Interesting article, and worth reading.
That writer, Steve Pivovar of the Omaha World-Herald, also said this in that same article that reported how far the MVC has fallen--
Valley's record has some scratches

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110222/BLUEJAYS/702229808

Of course, there are factors no coach can control. Bradley had three of league's top returning scorers due back this season, and the Braves were considered a dark horse in the championship race in the preseason.
They then lost junior forward Taylor Brown to a cardiac problem before the season's first tip. Senior Sam Maniscalco, a three-year starter at the point, sustained a season-ending ankle injury six games into the season. Not surprisingly, Bradley has struggled and is trying to avoid finishing at the bottom of the pile.
“The depth of talent five or six years ago exceeds where we are at today, for a variety of reasons," Bradley coach Jim Les said. “I'm not sure any of these results now has our coaches saying, ‘Oh, geez, we have to step it up now.
“There are a limited number of at-large bids going to non-BCS leagues. Lady Luck has to be on your side."
She hasn't smiled on Les and the Braves this season.

Other teams that were considered contenders at the start of the season have themselves to blame, disappointing with inconsistent play and unable to seize opportunities when they had the chance.


Funny that an out-of-town writer seems to have a lot more insight regarding Bradley than some of our own fans do.

[electricmayhem]

She hasn't smiled on us for most of the last five years.

[tornado]

She hasn't smiled on us for most of the last five years.

I agree but I also agree with Pivovar in saying it really isn't all Jim Les' fault as he lost more talent to injury than anyone else has had to play without...

[BradleyBrave]

She hasn't smiled on us for most of the last five years.

Agreed. It's been a while since we caught a break.

[BradleyBrave]

did the guy also note that Creighton's attendance was also way down this year from most past years -- the last two being lower than any year since they moved to their current arena...

...is he suggesting McDermott be fired, too?

Of course ISU's attendance was way, way down...fire Jank, too?
Hey -- at least we drew 10K for the ISU game...what's with ISU drawing only 6K for their "Superbowl" (considering they stormed the court to proclaim "We're number 9!")
and even Gregg Marshall's average in his past 3 years is down from the last 3 years preceding under Turgeon!

I don't know. Is it their worst attendance in almost 20 years? I don't have the answers. I figured you would.

[Chico]

Good article. Most of us may not like it, but BU is now considered a mid-major. Mid-majors can't afford to lose their top 2 players.

[BradleyJD]

I agree but I also agree with Pivovar in saying it really isn't all Jim Les' fault as he lost more talent to injury than anyone else has had to play without...

I agree with this too. Unfortunately, the coach is the one atop the program, who gets the big paycheck. Therefore, the buck stops there.

[tornado]

... worst attendance in almost 20 years? I don't have the answers. I figured you would.

In case you don't recall...on Feb 1, we had a game that was moved at the last minute to a different time and hardly anyone was able to make it...and add to that we also had stretches of record COLD and record snowfall.....that repeatedly also affected attendance......
We also had a ton of negative press plus even on some of the game days we had media coverage that failed to even mention there was a game that day.
It also didn't help that we got a bunch of no-name opponents in the tourney we were in such as Texas A&M-Kingsville!

I don't deny that Bradley's poor play had a lot to do with it as well........but it is downright unfair to claim that's the whole reason.
If you think we're going to have better attendance next year -- fine -- but if we fire JL, get a new guy in here who has to rebuild with all new players, I happen to believe even tropical weather won't keep us from dropping another 1000 on the attendance average --

Did you know ISU's attendance last year was 54.4% higher than it is this year!
Someone gimme an explanation for such a huge record drop-off???

[canadian]

If you think we're going to have better attendance next year -- fine -- but if we fire JL, get a new guy in here who has to rebuild with all new players, I happen to believe even tropical weather won't keep us from dropping another 1000 on the attendance average --

That's fine tornado. But when schools make coaching changes isn't it usually with the long-term (i.e. 4 or 5 years) in mind and not just one year? Again, its not a one-year thing. That is a short-sighted way to look at things (both if getting rid of a guy and then hiring a guy).

I understand--IF and thats IF Bradley makes a coaching change things might be rough for a year or two during a transition. That's the nature of the beast.

[tornado]

budgetary issues are forcing a whole lot of action right now --

BU has the same budget issues as a lot of schools who cannot simply ask the state for more money or casually hike tuition without losing enrollment...

Hiring a new coach will cut into the budget sufficiently that any new coach will be hampered for years in his recruiting..
as I have done before....I have issued this challenge...

"I might be wrong but I can find NO examples of where any coach in the MVC
was FIRED, then replaced by someone who did well and sustained that same
level of playing well for more than a couple years...
Jank is but one example of how they MIGHT do OK for a couple years with
the predecessor's players -- but it isn't going to happen here since I know
for a fact that next year's roster would be largely depleted if JL is not here.

Maybe it can happen at Kentucky because they can spend millions and land
Calipari and maybe St. John's is a good example but they had to blow $2.5
million to get Lavin...but it won't happen here -- any coach we get is going to
get a long term rebuilding project with budget limits.

Look at the teams in the middle and bottom of the Valley -- ISU, In SU,
Drake, Evansville, they are all the teams that thought they'd be better with a
new coach and yet the only success so far is tied to the predecessor's
players...none have done well with their own recruits.

Even Missouri State & Wichita (Only MSU is a case where the coach was fired)
look good this year but only because the rest of the Valley is so bad...
and their new coaches had a lot of talent (Weems, Murry, etc..) fall right into their lap.

BUT STILL --- neither will get an at large bid, there's a bit of an artificial
appearance of good as the rest of the Valley's bad and they have no key
non-con wins and a soft schedule....and whoever does get the MVC's
automatic bid will likely get a 9-11 seed and be gone in one game.
Then both MSU & Wichita lose key players left over from their predecessor
and they'll be right where ISU is in another year or so...wait & see

TRUST ME -- I do not like where we are, and how badly we have been
playing...but I shudder at the thought of changing coaches now and being
just as bad for the next 5 years..
If we keep JL, then I think we will have a couple good years with Sammy &
TB back and the new guys like Donivine & Remy"

[canadian]

TRUST ME -- I do not like where we are, and how badly we have been
playing...but I shudder at the thought of changing coaches now and being
just as bad for the next 5 years..

I do not see this happening. That seems like an awful pessimistic outlook. Why would Bradley finish last the next five years?

Bradley fired Stowell and Versace had them winning quickly. Bradley fired Albeck and Mo had the team in the top three of the MVC within three seasons. Bradley fired Mo and Jim Les went to a Sweet 16 in four years. Why would you assume a new BU coach wouldn't do the same thing as those guys?

Why the doom and gloom? If Bradley went by your philosophy Joe Stowell would still be the coach.

[BradleyJD]

TRUST ME -- I do not like where we are, and how badly we have been
playing...but I shudder at the thought of changing coaches now and being
just as bad for the next 5 years..
If we keep JL, then I think we will have a couple good years with Sammy &
TB back and the new guys like Donivine & Remy"

I completely respect this opinion. I really do. I can understand you wanting to keep Jim and give it more time.

However, could you also understand the other view. That people would shudder at the thought of Jim continuing as coach and us having 1, 2, or 3 more years of what we have had the past few seasons?

[tornado]

However, could you also understand the other view. ...

I not only understand it -- I hear it or read it about once every 15 seconds every day since 2006