How to Improve our Basketball Situation

[spong]

As everyone knows that App State is a football first school with basically no basketball history. Attendance to the Holmes Center has been an issue since it was opened so I with all of the changes taking place in App State Basketball land I figured this would be a good time to present ideas for the new era to help with attendance.

I only want to discuss realistic ideas. Winning is obvious and challenging so please don't say it and the scheduling situation is well documented and difficult to fix so please do say "bring in Duke".

Here are some of my ideas:

=Special promotions that can appeal to students (particularly for weekday games)
Examples:
Specials on food such as "$1 Hot Dog Nights"
"Sing-Off Nite" where campus Acapella groups sing to compete for free t-shirts
(have half-time presentations related to student life like this)
"Annual Throw Back Nite" where a weekday game is played in the Varsity Gym and hopefully in throw back jerseys that can then me auctioned off. This makes it is easier for students to take notice that there is a basketball game going on.

=Bring in some cool half-time entertainment like acrobats and jugglers and trick-shot/slam-dunk guys. Maybe we can partner with other schools or with the Charlotte Bobcats to bring in entertainers to keep cost down.

=Since App State being a "destination school" depending on people to drive from Charlotte and other places to draw crowds have Saturday Double-headers when possible and try to bring in recognizable girl-basketball teams like we are now doing with softball and baseball. That way while you are watching our guys playing some D2 school you've never heard of you can at least feel like the girls game is relevant.

=Add video screens in the Holmes Center. I don't understand why the stadium has such a nice screen while the Holmes Center does not. With the new screens make epic hype-videos like we do for football games

=Have the new basketball coach come out on the field during half-time during a football game and sell/promote the program

It is unlikely we will start to sell-out basketball games anytime soon but we can get to a point where we have a good home crowd the team can be proud of. Also as a side note Bob Hoffman at Mercer has had to build a fan-base(starting a TV show and implementing a new advertising campaign) at a school with no real basketball history in a difficult market like Atlanta which I hope is considered in the selection process.

[TheMoody1]

All your ideas sound good to me. BTW - Mercer is in Macon.

[appgrouch]

Varsity isn't able to host games anymore w/o displacing multiple programs and only pulling out the bleachers half way

[Maddog1956]

If you can't control the "wins" you've got to make it fun (the place to be) to be there regardless of the win situation. I know the traditionalist will say "isn't that just teaching the losing is ok", but to me it more or less means "hey we're college students let's have fun".

So how do we make it more fun? Easy get more kids at the game! The hard part is how.

First I think you get the fraternities, sororities and clubs involved. Go to their councils and get them involved, have the high up's talk to their president's, etc. The board of a frat can get a hundred people to show up just by giving the word. Have contest between frats and clubs, etc at halftime.

Have food and drink places donate "food cards" that are won at the game. Have toga night (or something), gifts and pictures in "the appalachian" of the best group.

Have players show up in class and talk about the team, let people know them. Ask marketing classes to work on promotions.

It's just about getting a "critical mass" to start coming and making the whole game experience fun.

Winning will do it automatically, but with an average game record (or less) you have to be creative.

I've seen new high schools start without a tradition and losing records etc, have a huge following just by making the game experience fun.

[Rekdiver]

Sell Beer

Homer Simpson

[Rekdiver]

Seriously, Getting the Fraternities and Sororities involved could put 1,000 in the stands. The new Coach needs to ask for their help. The Student Body in general could handle the week day games it they woudl come. Winning cures all however no matter how crafty the promotions. Make the tickets cheaper until we start winning.

[Maddog1956]

Sell Beer

Homer Simpson

That was my first choice! Figure out how to tailgate in the winter is another.

[IGgreer]

Charlie Cobb dunking booth.

[asutrnr81]

Here are some of my ideas:

=Special promotions that can appeal to students (particularly for weekday games)
Examples:
Specials on food such as "$1 Hot Dog Nights"
"Sing-Off Nite" where campus Acapella groups sing to compete for free t-shirts
(have half-time presentations related to student life like this)
"Annual Throw Back Nite"

=Bring in some cool half-time entertainment like acrobats and jugglers and trick-shot/slam-dunk guys. Maybe we can partner with other schools or with the Charlotte Bobcats to bring in entertainers to keep cost down.

=Add video screens in the Holmes Center. I don't understand why the stadium has such a nice screen while the Holmes Center does not. With the new screens make epic hype-videos like we do for football games

=Have the new basketball coach come out on the field during half-time during a football game and sell/promote the program

It is unlikely we will start to sell-out basketball games anytime soon but we can get to a point where we have a good home crowd the team can be proud of. Also as a side note Bob Hoffman at Mercer has had to build a fan-base(starting a TV show and implementing a new advertising campaign) at a school with no real basketball history in a difficult market like Atlanta which I hope is considered in the selection process.

I whittled down the ideas for space reasons. The promotion nights are great ideas. A vidoe screen is a must. There was some inertia concerning a basketball video promo....but that needed to be planned out before it was....I think this will happen before next year.

If you can't control the "wins" you've got to make it fun (the place to be) to be there regardless of the win situation. I know the traditionalist will say "isn't that just teaching the losing is ok", but to me it more or less means "hey we're college students let's have fun".

So how do we make it more fun? Easy get more kids at the game! The hard part is how.

First I think you get the fraternities, sororities and clubs involved. Go to their councils and get them involved, have the high up's talk to their president's, etc. The board of a frat can get a hundred people to show up just by giving the word. Have contest between frats and clubs, etc at halftime.

Have food and drink places donate "food cards" that are won at the game. Have toga night (or something), gifts and pictures in "the appalachian" of the best group.

Have players show up in class and talk about the team, let people know them. Ask marketing classes to work on promotions.

It's just about getting a "critical mass" to start coming and making the whole game experience fun.

Winning will do it automatically, but with an average game record (or less) you have to be creative.

The fraternity idea is fantastic. I do not care who but there has to be a lot of interest all the time and reasons to come to the games.

Back in the day, there were poster contests, (Not unlike the Big Head posters now)....and tee shirt giveaways.

I think you give this problem to a senior marketing class with the winner, winners sharing in a monetary give-away and "special" seating.

Shoot I'd even get the high school kids involved someway with a similar marketing programs and group rates. People and atmosphere will make a difference.

Lastly, the next head coach has to promote the games in Central, the Student Union and be affable enough to really engage with the students.

[wataugan03]

A head coach who would just eat lunch in the student cafeteria's; go rock climbing at the rec center; teach a class about coaching or basketball; and generally be seen on campus could make a difference. It seems like most of the students have no relationship with basketball . . . how many do you think could even name our head coach?

It would also help if our head coach would get involved in intramurals. What if the coaches and players formed an intramural baseball team in the spring, or flag football in the fall? Maybe the coaching staff could ref the intramural basketball championship game. Little things like that could go a long way.

[spong]

Seriously, Getting the Fraternities and Sororities involved could put 1,000 in the stands. The new Coach needs to ask for their help. The Student Body in general could handle the week day games it they woudl come. Winning cures all however no matter how crafty the promotions. Make the tickets cheaper until we start winning.

On how many Thursday games are there more students at the bar across the road the the HCC than there in at the the game?

Getting the Greeks involve where they come have a good time at the game and then go do stupid stuff across the road if they want is a great idea.

[asutrnr81]

A head coach who would just eat lunch in the student cafeteria's; go rock climbing at the rec center; teach a class about coaching or basketball; and generally be seen on campus could make a difference. It seems like most of the students have no relationship with basketball . . . how many do you think could even name our head coach?

It would also help if our head coach would get involved in intramurals. What if the coaches and players formed an intramural baseball team in the spring, or flag football in the fall? Maybe the coaching staff could ref the intramural basketball championship game. Little things like that could go a long way.

I like all those because they are different and in the 21st century I think you have to be different to be great! Too many people trying to be cool or popular!

Be yourself and build relationships.

[Gonzo]

I don't know about the fraternity idea. There's already a Greek night and it's the only time I've been regularly asked to sit down and stop cheering for the Apps by our own "fans." It might be good for numbers but it kills what ever atmosphere we might have at the time.

Maybe when the App frat culture shifts.

[Saint3333]

Take all that money for promo ideas and hire a coach that can win and reach out to fans. The rest will take care of itself.

[DoubleA]

Take all that money for promo ideas and hire a coach that can win and reach out to fans. The rest will take care of itself.

A little promotion doesn't hurt, but I agree. We need a coach who A) a man of integrity who is a teacher and leader of young men B) can recruit quality kids who have the ability to compete both on the court and in the classroom C) will be an ambassador for our school and represent ASU in a positive way D) engage students and the campus community. According to John Wooden, winning is a by-product of doing things the right way. Right on!

[Rekdiver]

I don't know about the fraternity idea. There's already a Greek night and it's the only time I've been regularly asked to sit down and stop cheering for the Apps by our own "fans." It might be good for numbers but it kills what ever atmosphere we might have at the time.

Maybe when the App frat culture shifts.

The frat guys told you to sit down in the student section? They stand the entire football game.Dont get this. I'm an old frat guy and you need every game to be Greek night. The Greeks as a group will be more responsive if a coach approaches them.

[scatman77]

Tradition....something to make ASU basketball indentifiable....that will make the students want to be a part of the experience. Wins are the main ingredient to this requirement but things like this will help:

Or this.....

Or even this...

I don't mean copy someone else...but do something to get the campus excited!

[spong]

Tradition....something to make ASU basketball indentifiable....that will make the students want to be a part of the experience. Wins are the main ingredient to this requirement but things like this will help:

Or this.....

Or even this...

I don't mean copy someone else...but do something to get the campus excited!

The new basketball coach at Winthrop sat down the whole freshman class this year during freshman orientation and had them watch these Utah State videos and then promised to "Retire their class year in the rafters in four years" if they brought this kind of energy to the games.

We have the chant traditions because football we just don't bring those to the HCC.

[asutrnr81]

Tradition....something to make ASU basketball indentifiable....that will make the students want to be a part of the experience. Wins are the main ingredient to this requirement but things like this will help:

Or this.....

Or even this...

I don't mean copy someone else...but do something to get the campus excited!

Mike you have toooooo much time on your hands! but I like the idea.....any port in a storm! Make the HCC a party ere night.....

[PhillyApp1]

I think that the new coach has to embrace the school and especially the student body...he must become very visible and not just at advertised football games....he has to show that he is excited " to be a mountaineer" in all he does...if he shows sincerity in his love for Appalachian State students and alumni will want to cheer him on....Love is contagious !! love for APP State is the key...we know it will take time to find wins.