It sounds as if the disconnect between the student body and the athletic department that I experienced is still alive at BU. To date the best attempt to coordinate activities with the students that resembled anything that I have seen elsewhere was the Molinarmy. I hope that the athletic department is reviewing this thread.
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news from the hoopla
- Thread starter bigdaddystuck
- Start date
It sounds as if the disconnect between the student body and the athletic department that I experienced is still alive at BU. To date the best attempt to coordinate activities with the students that resembled anything that I have seen elsewhere was the Molinarmy. I hope that the athletic department is reviewing this thread.
Was the Molinarmy the student group when he was still coach like the Red Sea?
If they want to reach out to the students, golf carts and small placards on the tables do not. You're right that they should reach out to the organizations in some way. Greek life dominates the social scene, and during Rush if you show current members at a Bradley athletic event cheering the team on then potential members of that said fraternity/sorority will want to come along too.
They could always sponsor Late Night BU, like raffling a pair of season tickets to basketball games...
Here is a recap from BradleyBraves.com with pictures and video-
http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=205013341
http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=205013341
AZ BU Fan
New member
We are always our own worst critics.
Lets call it a first year success, and, look forward to building it year after year.
Lots of good ideas on this Forum. Perhaps BU Athletic Dept could form a steering committee with fans, students, admin, press, and city to harvest these ideas for next year's Hoopla...
Don't want to keep harping on this, but success breeds success. :!::!:
I would have to believe the 'Hoopla' the year AFTER BU wins the MVC, or the MVC Tournament, and gets to the NCAA/NIT, will be SOLD OUT. :biggrin:
If BU could win the MVC/MVC Tourney TWO years in a row, you could sell out the Civic Center for the 'Hoopla' the following year. :biggrin::biggrin:
No success on the court makes it hard to generate a lot of 'hoop' for a "Hoopla"!
Lets call it a first year success, and, look forward to building it year after year.
Lots of good ideas on this Forum. Perhaps BU Athletic Dept could form a steering committee with fans, students, admin, press, and city to harvest these ideas for next year's Hoopla...
Don't want to keep harping on this, but success breeds success. :!::!:
I would have to believe the 'Hoopla' the year AFTER BU wins the MVC, or the MVC Tournament, and gets to the NCAA/NIT, will be SOLD OUT. :biggrin:
If BU could win the MVC/MVC Tourney TWO years in a row, you could sell out the Civic Center for the 'Hoopla' the following year. :biggrin::biggrin:
No success on the court makes it hard to generate a lot of 'hoop' for a "Hoopla"!
Nail, meet head!
I've lived in Peoria all my life, except for military and snowbird days, and I've always knew when there was an event concerning the Braves. The students that are sports fans know what's happening on campus and it's up to them to support it.
Braves4Life
New member
Well said AZ BU Fan!
BU can build on this and make it an even bigger and better event next year....... and hopefully raise a banner to the roof. 
Agree to disagree. I give credit to the athletics department and the Red Sea for trying to get new students, but something is just not clicking. It's one thing to win, but then it is another when the wins are not highly publicized. Like it or not, you need the casual sports fan as well. The nice thing is that student tix for volleyball are free (along with men's soccer), but they provide $$$ for concessions.
I'll bring up the volleyball team again. They had a very nice start to the season, in fact at the tourney they were at in Maryland beat Georgetown! However, it's a little too late to promote that because of the losing skid the team is facing, unless they can turn it around and make some miracle run.
bigjimmy
Active member
Not sure why everyone was expecting more than what they got. I've watched a lot of different Midnight Madness's over the past few years and what you get is dance and/or comedy routines, hyped up introductions, layup drills, dunk contests, giveaways and chances to win different items. It sounds to me like that was pretty much what happened though it also sounds like the execution could have gone a little better. This is an event that introduces the team to their fans and to have a little fun. Nothing more, nothing less. It was nice to hear the reports on JP, AT and WE adding muscle. Really looking forward to seeing the progress being made leading up to the Red/White scrimmage.
As I said many times before, give each student a schedule. If they are sports fans they have to make up their mind if they want to support their fellow students.
That's all well and fine, but there has to be a reason besides what is on the schedule. Not all students have to go to every game, they're students first. Yet there are factors such as:
1. Time of day and when it starts.
2. The opponent and quality of opponent.
3. The cost (in the case of volleyball and men's soccer, it's free).
4. Transportation
5. Other events that may or may not conflict.
Not that it matters, but Bradley kind of misses out from what bigger schools experience when they pack a large football stadium.
Basketball is kind of our football, but it's not really until late fall/early winter when it really takes shape, and right now the sports scene is in a lull. I imagine that spirit was high when soccer made that run to the Elite 8, but even men's soccer is in a down year as well.
Their team is playing. That's all the incentive they should need. Who cares who the opponent is?
Different time and life my friend. I want to agree with you 100% but this is a different generation and trying to tie a behavior to what was is just spinning your wheels.
RedSeaElite1
New member
Most students do know about the events, or at least can easily find out if they want to know. Its difficult to get students excited unless we are winning or doing well. Bradley doesnt sell its self on the typical college athletics scene so many of the students who come here arent looking for it.
I've visited friends at U of I, and many of the students that go to football games go to drink. Their greek life is involved because the have "block" before the games, which is where fraternities pair up with sororities and go to a bar before the game.
We are working to get greek life involved, as all the board for the current Red Sea is greek. We have a few ideas, but the lasting passion for Bradley Athletics isnt there currently no matter where you look.
Our main goals is to get the freshman and sophomores interested and hopefully to develop them into life long bradley fans. somewhere around 90% of our current members are underclassmen, and i know the majority of the students at hoopla were aswell.
I've asked many students why they dont attend games, and many are just not interested, and others want a winning experience. I think the majority of students who dont go, never got involved with BU athletics as an underclassman and then got busy with classes and other aspects of college life.
I'm open to any ideas people have to reach the "rest" of the student body, but i'm not sure what else we can do besides letting people know when the events are and making the events as much fun for students as possible. I dont think this is something that is gonna spark overnight, even if we start winning every game, but hopefully if we do establish some new winning tradition, and with this organization working to bridge the gap between the students and athletic department.
I've visited friends at U of I, and many of the students that go to football games go to drink. Their greek life is involved because the have "block" before the games, which is where fraternities pair up with sororities and go to a bar before the game.
We are working to get greek life involved, as all the board for the current Red Sea is greek. We have a few ideas, but the lasting passion for Bradley Athletics isnt there currently no matter where you look.
Our main goals is to get the freshman and sophomores interested and hopefully to develop them into life long bradley fans. somewhere around 90% of our current members are underclassmen, and i know the majority of the students at hoopla were aswell.
I've asked many students why they dont attend games, and many are just not interested, and others want a winning experience. I think the majority of students who dont go, never got involved with BU athletics as an underclassman and then got busy with classes and other aspects of college life.
I'm open to any ideas people have to reach the "rest" of the student body, but i'm not sure what else we can do besides letting people know when the events are and making the events as much fun for students as possible. I dont think this is something that is gonna spark overnight, even if we start winning every game, but hopefully if we do establish some new winning tradition, and with this organization working to bridge the gap between the students and athletic department.
tornado
New member
I don't think you are going to interest everyone, but the sports-minded might be more interested if they saw more posters reminding them of times and dates..
I know when I was a BU student, the football (yes we had FB back then) and basketball games were the main thing people looked for ward to but I know it's not that way any more..
If there were some way to get the players more active, a little promotion in and around the dorms....
...or host a bonfire & pep rally like they always do before the team goes off the the NCAA or NIT..
Very valid points and I hope that when you read the posts on here that they are meant to be constructive! I applaud your efforts to get things started and i realize that this will not happen overnight! BTW, were you the guys in the pinstripe overalls at the Hoopla event? If so, I thought that some of the things you did were very nice and will add to the college atmosphere to the games.
Some of the things that I have seen schools do from back in the day. (sans beer and parties:badgrin
* Visible campus activities that encouraged participation. --again this was due to direct coordination between the athletic department and campus organizations-- ie: A few days before games, the Athletic Department would encourage a poster competition among the different organizations. The posters would be displayed at designated places around the campus. The winning organization got a prize, and a point total for different activities was created for first through third place, with a yearly winner getting a nice award.
* Pledges at fraternities and sororities could earn points toward membership for attending athletic events. --again this was a result of participation from a very proactive athletic department. --
* We also had something very similar to "block" which was a lot of fun! Hopefully you can incorporate that in some way here. --always nice to get the ladies involved!;-)
* I like T's suggestion of bon fires and pep rallies, but don't overdo them. I found myself skipping some of those myself back in the day!
Best of luck to you with your continuing efforts.
Braves4Life
New member
BU should use the old phone tree technique with text messages and e-mails. They should also use any other new "social media" technique that the kids use to receive their info today. Isn't the texting system already in place for campus warnings/emergencies/lock-downs?
Buesch N Chips
New member
Um, I don't think you want the emergency system used for what really amounts to spam.
It's not what mode you use for messaging even though social media would probably be best but connecting the students on a more personal level with the team. Once you create a nice core of support then you can work on the next level which viral marketing will work wonderfully.
In other words the team if not winning cannot come across as aloof on campus and probably have to take the next step of participating in non basketball activities on campus. Build on the core and then find other areas which will cause stickiness. If you like someone on a personal level chances are that you will support them.
In other words the team if not winning cannot come across as aloof on campus and probably have to take the next step of participating in non basketball activities on campus. Build on the core and then find other areas which will cause stickiness. If you like someone on a personal level chances are that you will support them.
Keep up the good work RedSea. I know most don't agree with me, what's new?, but if a student is a sports fan he knows about the team and when and where they are playing and should try to attend the games if possible. From what I see from my seat the student body has a good time at the games.