Fed up

[afan]

I think I speak for a lot of average Bradley fans. I have not been a season ticket holder, but I follow games on radio and TV (though they have almost disappeared from TV), I go to several games a year, and I buy Bradley merchandise. I read this board all the time, though I haven't posted much.
I noticed an obvious change in the basketball program some time early in the 2010-2011 season (Jim Les' last season). Bradley was picked to be a top contender, but faltered after all the injuries. It was clear to me the Bradley administration, and the new AD made a calculated decision to change everything they could about Bradley basketball and create their own new brand.
they changed assistant coaches
they then fired the coach and made their own hire
they changed the logo
they changed the mascot
they tried to change the nickname from Braves to Brave but backed off only when fans said they would stop donating
they cancelled he Itoo Hall event
they cancelled the preseason gala banquet for fans
they cancelled the postseason banquet
they cancelled the postseason player awards
they cancelled the red-white scrimmage after a failed attempt to hold it after a volleyball game
they cancelled the spaghetti supper, chili supper, and virtually every other preseason, in-season, and postseason event for fans
they did away with the Braves Club room and, most Braves Club events
they don't even try to arrange road trips for fans which many of us used to love (we miss Ken Goldin)
they moved games to the Ren Col, and now want to move all the games there despite promises they wouldn't
they raised ticket prices almost beyond the average man's reach
they downgraded the schedule big time
they dumped Nike (which the kids prefer) and committed to Adidas
they stopped putting games on TV
they even changed just about every other sport by running off coaches and hiring new ones who haven't had as much success as the ones they ran off
and there are other changes, but you get my point- they have tried to completely re-brand everything in their own image, and it has been a complete and total failure.
And now they seem to have developed an elitist and condescending attitude in the athletic department and ticket office toward us lowly fans, as any fan can attest to if they have ever had personal dealings with them.
And all that in addition to giving fans an embarrassing poor excuse for a basketball team that is a "light year or two" away from being competitive or ever returning to the NCAA tournament..

I have been very patient as a fan until now, but I'm ready to move on. Like thousands of others, I can't take it any more.
To paraphrase some politician, we fans haven't abandoned Bradley basketball, Bradley basketball has abandoned us fans.

This is an excellent post. It should be submitted to the PJStar opinion/editorial page. How about it?

[tornado]

wow - some of you guys are getting pretty negative -
let's hope our guys can pour their talents & efforts into making something out of this season..

[Vent]

Let's hope they can turn it around. Nothing would make BU fans happier. I initially thought Geno could do a good job when he came here. He is personable, talked basketball as if he knew what he was doing. He may know basketball, but I believe his ability to teach basketball as a coach, is lacking badly. I have not seen individual improvement of players and that is a true barometer of a coach. How can a guy that was a guard his entire life, not be able to teach players how to break a press? Furthermore, why would you recruit people at this level that struggle against a press? Kansas State will be applying a full court press and trapping in the corners of the hotel BU is staying at.

[lefty]

if you have a head coach YOU MUST let him choose his staff or you have a disaster - it happened here, and also at DePaul, SIU, and a few other places..

if someone else mandates changes in Geno's staff against his wishes, then the problem will immediately go from bad to worse..

Recall - that the only losing season Jim Les had in the last SIX SEASONS he was here was the season that the admin forced two of his assistants out and forced him to bring in two new ones - one of whom was NOT of his choosing. If people wanna claim Les didn't recruit well then check the list of players he landed when he had his own assistants - most of whom are still playing professionally - vs. the ones he landed after that last season when the admin chose part of his staff for him.

Also - over the first 3 seasons JL was here he also was forced to operate with a staff that was partly chosen by the admin. but...

Simple facts are...
In the seasons Jim Les had a coaching staff that was fully of his own choosing he was - 102-71 with four post-season appearances, one Sweet Sixteen
In the seasons Jim Les had a coaching staff that was not fully of his choosing he was - 52-69 with no post-season appearances - night and day difference as would be expected

I Don't know T??¦.I'm guessing if CB would have stayed on those numbers would have been better

[wily coyote]

I Don't know T??¦.I'm guessing if CB would have stayed on those numbers would have been better

If CB had stayed on ,there is no question in my mind those numbers would have been better. 2006 didn't just happen it happened for a reason and that reason retired b4 JL was let go.

[tornado]

Accountability update

"..we're going to do it the right way. At some point in the near future, we're going to have a team out there competing for championships.
..we've got to make sure we're laying the foundation right so when we get to the top of the Missouri Valley, and hopefully beyond, we're able to sustain it. We have a chance to get something special going here."

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20111110/News/311109807

[tornado]

I ran across this old thread....and I know people don't want to bring up the past - so if you don't want to then skip this...

But I think this post by a guy who was a regular poster for years - a guy who called himself "JC" - although it isn't the real JC..

is representative of a lot of fans I bump into -
JC mostly "left" as a fan in about 2012 (presumably for all the reasons he listed) and obviously he's never posted here since........but he was once a season ticket holder and he still does follow Bradley marginally.
I believe he's even been to a few games over the past four years.

Anyway - here's my suggestion...

Someone at Bradley can sure dig out the list of season ticket holders from 2010 thru 2012 or 2013....
then cross reference to the current list - and formulate a list of all the people who have dropped their season tickets over the past 4-5 years since we were drawing 10K.

THEN - aggressively aim marketing at those people....I am sure MANY would come back and re-up as season ticket holders if they felt the personal appeal and felt wanted.

Just a nice mailing with a return envelop, an e mail, or even a phone call asking if they'd be interested in some complimentary tickets and a chance at a reduced price for re-upping their season tickets...
Can't hurt - and could possibly pay off... Many, like the poster "JC" are fans who felt alienated, unappreciated, and even offended by the former regime.

Thanks - Dr. Reynolds....hope you give it a go.....

I think I speak for a lot of average Bradley fans.....

...I noticed an obvious change in the basketball program some time early in the 2010-2011 season (Jim Les' last season). Bradley was picked to be a top contender, but faltered after all the injuries. It was clear to me the Bradley administration, and the new AD made a calculated decision to change everything they could about Bradley basketball and create their own new brand.
they changed assistant coaches
they then fired the coach and made their own hire
they changed the logo
they changed the mascot
they tried to change the nickname from Braves to Brave but backed off only when fans said they would stop donating
they cancelled he Itoo Hall event
they cancelled the preseason gala banquet for fans
they cancelled the postseason banquet
they cancelled the postseason player awards
they cancelled the red-white scrimmage after a failed attempt to hold it after a volleyball game
they cancelled the spaghetti supper, chili supper, and virtually every other preseason, in-season, and postseason event for fans
they did away with the Braves Club room and, most Braves Club events
they don't even try to arrange road trips for fans which many of us used to love (we miss Ken Goldin)
they moved games to the Ren Col, and now want to move all the games there despite promises they wouldn't
they raised ticket prices almost beyond the average man's reach
they downgraded the schedule big time
they dumped Nike (which the kids prefer) and committed to Adidas
they stopped putting games on TV
they even changed just about every other sport by running off coaches and hiring new ones who haven't had as much success as the ones they ran off
and there are other changes, but you get my point- they have tried to completely re-brand everything in their own image, and it has been a complete and total failure.
And now they seem to have developed an elitist and condescending attitude in the athletic department and ticket office toward us lowly fans, as any fan can attest to if they have ever had personal dealings with them.
And all that in addition to giving fans an embarrassing poor excuse for a basketball team that is a "light year or two" away from being competitive or ever returning to the NCAA tournament..

I have been very patient as a fan until now, but I'm ready to move on. Like thousands of others, I can't take it any more.
To paraphrase some politician, we fans haven't abandoned Bradley basketball, Bradley basketball has abandoned us fans.

[Da Coach]

They tried that . Remember the milk carton?

[Vent]

They tried that . Remember the milk carton?

You are right. I don't care how much marketing you do, the only way to get home attendance consistently between 8,000 to 10,000 is by winning. The new administration and coaching staff have done a tremendous job in mending fences with some disgruntled fans and creating positive public relations. That was the easy part. Now comes the hard part and that is winning 17-20 + games on a consistent basis. And those numbers don't include wins from the CIT and/or CBI pay as you go tournaments. That is the bottom line.