Bradley MVC Schedule Announced

[Scouter]

Man, that's a downer. It is a coincidence, but that stinks for the students that will be around during break.

[amckillip]

I just e-mailed John Searby and Bobby Parker. I encourage others to do the same in a civil and respectful manner...

[Gwright]

What are those E-mails Andy?

[LG281]

Just as a side note...it sucks that the student section won't be there...but neither will our band. Thats a real big blow IMO. Even when the chips are down Vroman has that band cheering along with the rah rahs.

No students...and a "friends'n'family" band.

Ok - so I just had an epiphany. We should join Vroman's "Friends'n'Family" band over break. You don't have to pay to be there, you're courtside, AND I think they get free food!!! Ofcourse, some musical talent may be required.

[Scouter]

I just e-mailed John Searby and Bobby Parker. I encourage others to do the same in a civil and respectful manner...

Maybe I'm missing something, but ... what are you e-mailing them about?

[Stryker]

Maybe trying something new to promote and make things good for the students for the break period???

[amckillip]

Replys:

Searby:

We are working on just such a solution. We share your concerns and will make every effort to make it as easy as possible for students to get back and have a place to be close to the action and impact these games.

Thanks,

John Searby
Asst. AD
Bradley Athletics


Parker:


Andy,

I am sure you will also receive a reply from John Searby. Believe me, we were not at all happy to receive this schedule and fought hard to have it changed. Unfortunately, the MVC office is faced with many challenges in putting together the league schedule and there are so many factors that affect everyone's schedule that it is often difficult to make changes. We have already discussed some ideas to try and ensure a stong student presence at those games, especially the ISU game. I am sure John will welcome any suggestions you may have and his staff will work diligently to give our students the chance they deserve to experience the I-74 Rivalry, as well as the games against marquee Valley rivals Creighton and Southern Illinois.

Welcome back to campus and good luck this semester, BP


Bobby Parker

Associate AD for Communications

Bradley University

bparker@bradley.edu




I'm very happy with the response time these guys have and the willingness there are showing to work with us. But I want action, so lets think of some ideas to make this happen...

[squirrel]

Maybe trying something new to promote and make things good for the students for the break period???

Stryker as a witness to that whole episode last year at I believe the Evansville game--I was disappointed in the behavior of several of the students.

Yes, I understand the frustrations felt, and I agree that it's not necessarily right that the students get that treatment. But that is the result of years of students simply not going to the games during break.

The benefits to BU selling those tickets financially is almost necessary in order to continue to bring in opponents like UAB, GW, UNLV, Michigan State, etc. as we have over the last 10 years.

And for many people that use those seats during the break, it is likely their first experience at a Bradley game, and usually there are kids present. This is where I was greatly disappointed in what happened at that game. . .

The behavior as far as making no attempt to avoid standing in front of the children (one of whom left crying). After being directed to stand in the corner (which should have been an acceptable compromise), a few decided they didn't like it and deliberately went back to obstructing the view of the kids. The language, despite being angry, is not what Bradley is about. And one of the families in that section that was there was a family with a HS kid who was seriously considering going to BU and after witnessing the behavior of BU students didn't want to associate themselves with the University. And as an alum, I was utterly embarrassed by the behavior of a few.

The enthusiasm is great, but the fact is until there is an organized effort to get the hundreds of kids down to the Civic Center for games during break that the administration gets the message it's not going to happen very likely.

I'm not saying it can't be done, I think we have a President that understands your points and may be willing to make a change. Write her and let her know your feelings. You may be surprised how receptive she is.

But those are families who may not necessarily have a connection to BU. But they obviously were potential fans. Those are now people that will never consider sending their kids to Bradley. Those are community people who will likely never support Bradley in its projects or activities. And those are people who will likely never become Bradley fans if they were at the very least casual.

[thefish7]

I talked on here a bit about creation of a club or students, friends, and alumni to man the student section during breaks last season. To that effect, I sent something off to BU, but received no response. I reforwarded it to them again tonight after reading this thread... It's copied below.

Gentlemen,

I sent this just after the close of last season's CBI tournament. I'm sure it was a busy time, but aside from an out of office from Ken Kavanagh I received no reply. Working under the assumption that it was missed in the post-season shuffle, I wanted to re-raise the inquiry now. With the recently MVC conference schedule putting some of our biggest rivalries during student breaks, I felt like it was a good time to bring it back to your attention.

Regards,
John Dwyer



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: my e-mail
To: kavanagh@bradley.edu; bparker@bradley.edu; jles@bradley.edu; jsearby@bradley.edu
Subject: Students, Friends, and Alumni Section Club Proposal.
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 22:01:02 -0500

Gentlemen,

I'm a Bradley alum and men's basketball season ticket holder. I'd like the university to evaluate the possibility of creating a "Students, Friends, and Alumni Section" club. The purpose of this club would be to maintain the atmosphere and advantage that the regular student section provides when many of the students aren't able to make the game during student holidays.

I recently attended the first round CBI game against Cincinnati and saw that the Red Sea student section was largely empty because the students were on Spring Break. Seeing an opportunity to relive my own "Red Zone" days, a couple of my friends and I headed down there to cheer on the team with those students who had been able to attend the game. I understand that the Cincinnati game was a set of special circumstances (Spring Break and very little time to organize ticket sales to the general public) that resulted in the low attendance which allowed us the opportunity to sit there. We had a great time cheering the team from the student section and interacting with some current Bradley students.

Games when the students are gone always have a sort of surreal atmosphere because instead of the band being flanked by a raucous student section, the band is surrounded by what appear to be very casual and very quiet fans. I'm not sure how those seats are marketed, but I'd imagine they're mostly "walk-up" sales since those seats usually are not normally available to the public. The proposed "Students, Friends, and Alumni Section" club, in its simplest form, is to provide an active "student section" to cheer the team on and keep students who do come to these games close to the court while still being revenue-neutral for Bradley.

Club members and students who can make the games would be in the regular student section areas on either side of the band. Membership dues for each non-student member of the club would cover the cost of the seats for the games as well as subsidizing the seating for the student members. If I understand things correctly, students are allowed to purchase $1 tickets during breaks, but that these $1 tickets are for upper bowl seating. The only reasonable cause for this I can determine is that it's a revenue related concept, with the more expensive lower bowl seating being offered to the general public. The subsidy I refer to would allow for membership dues to cover this revenue gap and provide for student seating in the regular student section during breaks.

Such a club would provide a much better atmosphere for the game than the current sale of traditional student section seating to the general public when the students are on break. I'm interested to see if the Athletic Department has an appetite for exploring this idea. I look forward to hearing back from you. I thought Bradley played the better game both Monday and Friday in Tulsa. Go Braves!

Regards,
John Dwyer

[BuBraves55]

why doesnt evansville or somebody get this kind of schedule?? do they even have a rival?

[Rusty 54]

I talked on here a bit about creation of a club or students, friends, and alumni to man the student section during breaks last season. To that effect, I sent something off to BU, but received no response. I reforwarded it to them again tonight after reading this thread... It's copied below.

thefish7, I think that your idea is great. Thanks for your work there.

Squirrel, while I wasn't there, I would be interested in knowing what college the HS kid decided on attending. I hope that said student is not attending the likes of the University of Illinois, Duke, ISU(imo they are more inappropriate that we are) OR almost any other D1 basketball or football school. Regardless, I wish him or her the best of luck.
As for the standing issue, I would agree that courting kids and families is a good thing, but the students who paid for their tickets and pay substantial amounts of money to attend BU are important to. I imagine that many of the boosters who are vital to the success of our basketball program and many of those who donate to BU in general once stood in student sections. Lets not sweep these kind of people under the rug.

IMHO rabid student sections are one of if not the main thing that makes college basketball so special. I don't know if it is possible to have an intimidating student section that does not at some times cross the line. No that it is ok, just that it is the nature of the beast.

[Da Coach]

Here is Dave Reynolds' article about what the coach and AD think of the schedule--

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x81488169/MVC-releases-mens-basketball-schedule

[TheAsianSensation]

This is a travesty. You don't put all 3 of those games over break. 1 of them over break is fine. Even 2 is a little understandable. But to put all 3 of those in that spot.....that is bush league. I wanna hear some rioting.


On the other hand, we better come out sharp. If we lose 2 of those home games, it'll be devastating. Our season could be make-or-break right around this area.

[Beninator]

This is a travesty. You don't put all 3 of those games over break. 1 of them over break is fine. Even 2 is a little understandable. But to put all 3 of those in that spot.....that is bush league. I wanna hear some rioting.


On the other hand, we better come out sharp. If we lose 2 of those home games, it'll be devastating. Our season could be make-or-break right around this area.

IMO, if the MVC wants to give us a schedule like this, then we should explore changing conferences! TAS, I was going to write this last night, but you are right. This schedule is a travesty! There is no way that a high profile game such as the ISU game should be scheduled during the break period.

[Stryker]

I think the past two years the ISU game was RIGHT after the students got back on campus, and it was great because everyone wanted to go to kick off the semester. heck, two years ago there was two lines with about 500 students to get into the arena an hour before the gates opened for that game. It's huge.

Squirrel- I don't remember that stuff that went on at the Evansville game, but it you speak the truth then that was a bad representation for the University.

I do disagree with you about NEEDING to sell the student tickets over break at a higher price. If they can sell them for over 20 games for $1 a piece they really don't need the extra $11 for a couple of games.

Also, was that HS kid there at the game? It seems unlikely that coaching staff would want any real interpretation of what games are like at a game over break with evansville...