Things in Mississippi (seen & heard)

[GObravesGO1981]

If you were fortunate enough to attend the game in Mississippi yesterday you would have gotten to see one great half of basketball and you'd have had lots to tell mom after she picked you up from crowd school.

By all rights we have a very good crowd in Peoria. A crowd I'm sure some schools would be very thankful for. A crowd I'm thankful for and proud of. A crowd that is loyal and that is re-teaching itself what it means to be fans.

Some of my observations - please don't take these as a knock to BU or our current situation, just as a benchmark for where I hope we'll be in the next few years.

The student section - Right behind press row on the sideline opposite the team benches. These guys were loud, boisterous, but didn't resort to yelling profanities. There wasn't one of them that started the Bull S*** chant when they felt they got jobbed (trust me they felt jobbed every time that they had the ball). When the cheerleaders called a cheer they reacted to it by yelling louder and stomping their feet on the bleachers to make even more noise.

The crowd as a whole - very polite...I think that everyone who attended the game shook hands with atleast 3-5 Mississippians who were glad to have you come to their home, tell you some great places to eat, and give you directions for the best route back to the highway.

This crowd (don't know how many there actually were) was electric. Their band played the fightsong and the place was on its feet in seconds and chanting along with the "crowd response" part of the fightsong. (BU has words that go in the middle of its fightsong as well, not just the spell out at the end)

When their band played the "Hey Song" they were once again on their feet (without prodding from the PA guy, the cheerleaders, or the students) and shouting the loudest "HEY, GO DAWGS" followed by a "Maroon, White - FIGHT - FIGHT - FIGHT" and an even louder "We're gonna beat the..." you know the rest.

That crowd was a true 6th man yesterday. Louder than I've heard Carver, ever - and in unison. Heck they started their own wave without having cheerleaders pleading with them to stand up for a brief instance, it just happened.

Like I said, not a knock to BU, just an observation and a benchmark for where we could be in just a few short seasons (possibly even next one).

Thankyou to the players for an exciting season. BU basketball is in great hands all the way to the top with JL and KK. Thanks guys!

[Da Coach]

I was there and my observation of the Mississippi State crowd was slightly different. Yes, they had a great crowd, but not any louder or more boisterous than the Bradley crowd last Wednesday was. I think sometimes we take the support Bradley gets for granted.
They had a larger student section. That's understandable since Mississippi State is a school of over 16,000 students and over 5000 faculty. The students were on their break, but the majority live within an hour or 2 of the campus. And that's almost as many faculty as Bradley has students. Their crowd was a little younger than Bradley's, because they have more students and recent graduates, and because they have not had the long tradition of being a successful basketball power that Bradley has.
Mississippi State also plays in the Southeastern Conference- a BCS conference rated #1 in basketball, and with a successful football program as well (which helps tremendously with generating their fan base). On top of that, they are very good and have a young, talent-rich team, and have beaten some very good teams at home this year. MSU has a beautiful, on-campus arena dedicated to basketball, plenty of nearby parking, and a perfect venue to play in.

http://www.humphreycoliseum.msstate.edu/

All that considered, the attendance was listed at 5,733 for a very important 2nd round home NIT game (their first round game drew 5,501). The game was scheduled hours before any NCAA games were to begin, and the weather was perfect. And there isn't a lot else to do in the Starkville area. Also, their ticket prices were much lower than Bradley's. My ticket was $18, compared to $30 for my tickets to the NIT game at Bradley last Wednesday.

I am not trying to diminish their fans, but what you say about their fan support is what most of Bradley's home opponents say about Bradley's fans. Bradley has great fan support; better than MSU and most BCS schools. If that game had been at Bradley there would have been 9,000 people at least, with every bit as much enthusiasm. I am not in favor of copying anyone else's chants or fan activities. I think BU does quite well by itself.

I have been to many road games. And I will say this about the Mississippi State fans-- Many more than the usual number of them approached us (the Bradley fans there) and struck up conversations. Every fan we talked to was extremely cordial, and friendly, and wecoming to their town and campus. Not a single MSU fan made any unfriendly remark or challenged us in any way. Without question, these people were the nicest and most friendly fans I have ever encountered on the road (even moreso than UNI and Drake fans!). Their city and campus are beautiful, and their basketball team is pretty good, too.

[Bulldog Backer]

I was there and my observation of the Mississippi State crowd was slightly different. Yes, they had a great crowd, but not any louder or more boisterous than the Bradley crowd last Wednesday was. I think sometimes we take the support Bradley gets for granted.
They had a larger student section. That's understandable since Mississippi State is a school of over 16,000 students and over 5000 faculty. The students were on their break, but the majority live within an hour or 2 of the campus. And that's almost as many faculty as Bradley has students. Their crowd was a little younger than Bradley's, because they have more students and recent graduates, and because they have not had the long tradition of being a successful basketball power that Bradley has.
Mississippi State also plays in the Southeastern Conference- a BCS conference rated #1 in basketball, and with a successful football program as well (which helps tremendously with generating their fan base). On top of that, they are very good and have a young, talent-rich team, and have beaten some very good teams at home this year. MSU has a beautiful, on-campus arena dedicated to basketball, plenty of nearby parking, and a perfect venue to play in.

http://www.humphreycoliseum.msstate.edu/

All that considered, the attendance was listed at 5,733 for a very important 2nd round home NIT game (their first round game drew 5,501). The game was scheduled hours before any NCAA games were to begin, and the weather was perfect. And there isn't a lot else to do in the Starkville area. Also, their ticket prices were much lower than Bradley's. My ticket was $18, compared to $30 for my tickets to the NIT game at Bradley last Wednesday.

I am not trying to diminish their fans, but what you say about their fan support is what most of Bradley's home opponents say about Bradley's fans. Bradley has great fan support; better than MSU and most BCS schools. If that game had been at Bradley there would have been 9,000 people at least, with every bit as much enthusiasm. I am not in favor of copying anyone else's chants or fan activities. I think BU does quite well by itself.

I have been to many road games. And I will say this about the Mississippi State fans-- Many more than the usual number of them approached us (the Bradley fans there) and struck up conversations. Every fan we talked to was extremely cordial, and friendly, and wecoming to their town and campus. Not a single MSU fan made any unfriendly remark or challenged us in any way. Without question, these people were the nicest and most friendly fans I have ever encountered on the road (even moreso than UNI and Drake fans!). Their city and campus are beautiful, and their basketball team is pretty good, too.

Having never attended a Bradley basketball game, I can't speak to your crowds, nor their enthusiasm. I can speak to ours. Yesterday morning was a "lousy" crowd. The diehards were there, but the students weren't. Usually there are 3 times more students than you saw there. Every SEC game this year had at least 8,000 in attendance. We had almost 11,000 for Florida.

The MSU basketball fans have grown spoiled over the years. In 1996, we went to the Final Four with a young team, and ever since then, that is what they expect. Many look down their noses at the NIT. We had excellent NCAA Tournament teams from 2000 to 2004, but lost 6 seniors in 2005, including Lawrence Roberts, and brought in Jamont Gordon's recruiting class. I don't know what our fans expect with 6 of your regular 8 in rotation being Freshmen and Sophomores. We have been burned in recruiting in recent years with 3 signees (not commitments) going directly to the NBA at the last moment; Jonathan Bender, Travis Outlaw, and Monta Ellis. Had Outlaw and Ellis not gone directly to the NBA, you would have had our team with Monta Ellis (Golden State) at PG and Travis Outlaw (Portland Trailblasers) at SF yesterday. We didn't offer Al Jefferson because Stansbury knew he was going directly to the NBA.

[patrick_o'brian]

I was there and my observation of the Mississippi State crowd was slightly different. Yes, they had a great crowd, but not any louder or more boisterous than the Bradley crowd last Wednesday was. I think sometimes we take the support Bradley gets for granted.
They had a larger student section. That's understandable since Mississippi State is a school of over 16,000 students and over 5000 faculty. The students were on their break, but the majority live within an hour or 2 of the campus. And that's almost as many faculty as Bradley has students. Their crowd was a little younger than Bradley's, because they have more students and recent graduates, and because they have not had the long tradition of being a successful basketball power that Bradley has.
Mississippi State also plays in the Southeastern Conference- a BCS conference rated #1 in basketball, and with a successful football program as well (which helps tremendously with generating their fan base). On top of that, they are very good and have a young, talent-rich team, and have beaten some very good teams at home this year. MSU has a beautiful, on-campus arena dedicated to basketball, plenty of nearby parking, and a perfect venue to play in.

http://www.humphreycoliseum.msstate.edu/

All that considered, the attendance was listed at 5,733 for a very important 2nd round home NIT game (their first round game drew 5,501). The game was scheduled hours before any NCAA games were to begin, and the weather was perfect. And there isn't a lot else to do in the Starkville area. Also, their ticket prices were much lower than Bradley's. My ticket was $18, compared to $30 for my tickets to the NIT game at Bradley last Wednesday.

I am not trying to diminish their fans, but what you say about their fan support is what most of Bradley's home opponents say about Bradley's fans. Bradley has great fan support; better than MSU and most BCS schools. If that game had been at Bradley there would have been 9,000 people at least, with every bit as much enthusiasm. I am not in favor of copying anyone else's chants or fan activities. I think BU does quite well by itself.

I have been to many road games. And I will say this about the Mississippi State fans-- Many more than the usual number of them approached us (the Bradley fans there) and struck up conversations. Every fan we talked to was extremely cordial, and friendly, and wecoming to their town and campus. Not a single MSU fan made any unfriendly remark or challenged us in any way. Without question, these people were the nicest and most friendly fans I have ever encountered on the road (even moreso than UNI and Drake fans!). Their city and campus are beautiful, and their basketball team is pretty good, too.

Having never attended a Bradley basketball game, I can't speak to your crowds, nor their enthusiasm. I can speak to ours. Yesterday morning was a "lousy" crowd. The diehards were there, but the students weren't. Usually there are 3 times more students than you saw there. Every SEC game this year had at least 8,000 in attendance. We had almost 11,000 for Florida.

The MSU basketball fans have grown spoiled over the years. In 1996, we went to the Final Four with a young team, and ever since then, that is what they expect. Many look down their noses at the NIT. We had excellent NCAA Tournament teams from 2000 to 2004, but lost 6 seniors in 2005, including Lawrence Roberts, and brought in Jamont Gordon's recruiting class. I don't know what our fans expect with 6 of your regular 8 in rotation being Freshmen and Sophomores. We have been burned in recruiting in recent years with 3 signees (not commitments) going directly to the NBA at the last moment; Jonathan Bender, Travis Outlaw, and Monta Ellis. Had Outlaw and Ellis not gone directly to the NBA, you would have had our team with Monta Ellis (Golden State) at PG and Travis Outlaw (Portland Trailblasers) at SF yesterday. We didn't offer Al Jefferson because Stansbury knew he was going directly to the NBA.

If they all would have went to school I seriously doubt we would have had to worry about you guys yesterday. That team would be in THE DANCE no question about it. You guys are tough and Jamont Gordon is the real deal. I congratulate you guys on a big win and wish you continued success in the NIT.

[GObravesGO1981]

I was there and my observation of the Mississippi State crowd was slightly different. Yes, they had a great crowd, but not any louder or more boisterous than the Bradley crowd last Wednesday was. I think sometimes we take the support Bradley gets for granted.
They had a larger student section. That's understandable since Mississippi State is a school of over 16,000 students and over 5000 faculty. The students were on their break, but the majority live within an hour or 2 of the campus. And that's almost as many faculty as Bradley has students. Their crowd was a little younger than Bradley's, because they have more students and recent graduates, and because they have not had the long tradition of being a successful basketball power that Bradley has.
Mississippi State also plays in the Southeastern Conference- a BCS conference rated #1 in basketball, and with a successful football program as well (which helps tremendously with generating their fan base). On top of that, they are very good and have a young, talent-rich team, and have beaten some very good teams at home this year. MSU has a beautiful, on-campus arena dedicated to basketball, plenty of nearby parking, and a perfect venue to play in.

http://www.humphreycoliseum.msstate.edu/

All that considered, the attendance was listed at 5,733 for a very important 2nd round home NIT game (their first round game drew 5,501). The game was scheduled hours before any NCAA games were to begin, and the weather was perfect. And there isn't a lot else to do in the Starkville area. Also, their ticket prices were much lower than Bradley's. My ticket was $18, compared to $30 for my tickets to the NIT game at Bradley last Wednesday.

I am not trying to diminish their fans, but what you say about their fan support is what most of Bradley's home opponents say about Bradley's fans. Bradley has great fan support; better than MSU and most BCS schools. If that game had been at Bradley there would have been 9,000 people at least, with every bit as much enthusiasm. I am not in favor of copying anyone else's chants or fan activities. I think BU does quite well by itself.

I have been to many road games. And I will say this about the Mississippi State fans-- Many more than the usual number of them approached us (the Bradley fans there) and struck up conversations. Every fan we talked to was extremely cordial, and friendly, and wecoming to their town and campus. Not a single MSU fan made any unfriendly remark or challenged us in any way. Without question, these people were the nicest and most friendly fans I have ever encountered on the road (even moreso than UNI and Drake fans!). Their city and campus are beautiful, and their basketball team is pretty good, too.

Quite frankly, if you are reading this thread on this board you probably are screaming at the top of your lungs each and every game and know the words to the alma mater. But, perhaps I wasn't clear earlier in my post about my feelings for our crowd and members of this board. I will say we have the best crowd in the Valley and that I'm proud of the way they've reacted this year to a fantastic team and some brilliant coaching by JL and crew.

I do, however, stand by my "observation" of the game yesterday. That crowd needed no prodding or poking to be a part of the game. Sure it helps when your team is winning...but they helped them to win.

Without notice one side yelled "Maroon" - the other answered "White" and they continued back and forth for a decent amount of time. The crowd at Carver has a hard time with B and U - even when the cheerleaders have signs in front of them.

Great fans have nothing to do with what conference they hail from or whether they have football at their school or not. It isn't about having a young team, lots of students, the perfect place to play, or a slightly younger fan base.

We shouldn't make excuses for ourselves.

When the band plays the "Hey Song" we should yell "HEY GO BRAVES". When the cheerleaders come out to try to coerce the crowd into yelling with them - we should respond. When the band plays the fightsong we should stand and yell "LETS GO BRAVES" and spell out B R A D L E Y at the appropriate time.

There are fans that do participate - but what if everyone participated? What could our fans, the best in the Valley, do to make Carver an even more hostile place to play?

I'm not saying we need to steal their traditions - Bradley has some great ones that are all our own. I am saying we could learn a lesson on what to do with those traditions and how to keep them alive.

Looking forward to next year already.