Back to the Glory Days

[DenverSooner]

From 1983 to 1990 OU averaged 28.25 wins per season. The year before that great run, OU won 22 games and in 83 won 24 games.

Could Kruger put together a similar run? in 2013 Kruger won 20 games. Last season he won 23. This year has the potential to be better. Could this be the start of a return to the glory days?

If you want that and live in the OKC metro, you have to attend games. Crowd support is everything. It helps recruiting, it influences officiating and it gives the team energy at home.

Sampson also had a great four year period where OU averaged 27.75 wins per season. This has happened twice in the past and it can happen again. I sure hope it does.

 

[BoulderSooner]

98-05 was very much the glory days as well from 98-05 OU averaged 25 wins a year

 

[AdaSooner]

Watch the OU-Iowa State Sights and Sounds video OUHoops posted. If the "Glory Days" aren't already back in the support the crowd is giving this team, one has to believe it won't be long until we're there again. The students in particular are doing a great job!

 

[SoonerTraveler]

If the Glory Days are to really return, the recent STUDENT SUPPORT is a huge step in the right direction. The OU Students are doing a Fantastic job.

 

[BigTime]

If the Glory Days are to really return, the recent STUDENT SUPPORT is a huge step in the right direction. The OU Students are doing a Fantastic job.

You are absolutely correct, Trav.

I wonder if they can increase their section at some point if the support continues to show? I'd like to see it at around 1/4 which would be right at 3k.

 

[Big Old Booger]

You are absolutely correct, Trav.

I wonder if they can increase their section at some point if the support continues to show? I'd like to see it at around 1/4 which would be right at 3k.

It's not already 1/4? When Tubbs was there and even when Sampson was there it was 1/4, I think. I know for sure when Tubbs was there. The student section started at midcourt on the West side and extended to the North end behind the goal from floor to top.

 

[BigTime]

It's not already 1/4? When Tubbs was there and even when Sampson was there it was 1/4, I think. I know for sure when Tubbs was there. The student section started at midcourt on the West side and extended to the North end behind the goal from floor to top.

No it has shrunk over the years. I THINK iT is just over 2k now or at least that is what it was when I was there.

I think they could do some sort of base package as is now and then do overflow conference student tickets (let them fill in the empty holes near the student section). Or something of the like.

 

[SoonerSpock]

Student support has always been the key to fan support. The first require, of course, is wins which attracts fans to the game. As wins grow fan support grows, especially student fan support for conference games.

As students become more involved with the game and the harassment of the opponent the game migrates from being a game and becoming and event which also attract more fan support, both student and non-student.

I think once you are winning 20-25 games annually many of the corporate tickets that set idle for most games become in demand from corporate customers and employees as they want to be part of the event moreso than becoming real basketball fans.

Once you reach this threshold for three to five years you will have instilled attendance to the points that many of the event attendees start to become true basketball fans. Unfortunately it might take a decade to develop the 15,000 basketball fans it takes to get 10,000+ butts in LNC for every game. Official attendance (tickets sold in 2013-14 was 10,968 up about 15,000 over 2013. Actual attendance was more than likely less than 7,000.

For certain ISU and KSU have accomplished this without developing the winning tradition experienced by OU. This can be explained in part because they are more basketball schools than football schools. Weather probably has some impact as 2/3 of the schools with an average better attendance than OU are what I would classify as northern schools where basketball is generally a bigger sport than football.

I would classify 6 of the schools with better attendance than OU as football schools (Tennessee, Ohio State, BYU, Nebraska, Michigan and Florida. Twenty-three would be what I would call basketball schools.


http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2014.pdf

 

[BoulderSooner]

It's not already 1/4? When Tubbs was there and even when Sampson was there it was 1/4, I think. I know for sure when Tubbs was there. The student section started at midcourt on the West side and extended to the North end behind the goal from floor to top.

even when sampson was there it was not midcourt from floor to ceiling ..

it was about the FF line across from the visitor bench .. LW5 and over in the lower level an W7 and over in the upper level

 

[Big Old Booger]

Student support has always been the key to fan support. The first require, of course, is wins which attracts fans to the game. As wins grow fan support grows, especially student fan support for conference games.

As students become more involved with the game and the harassment of the opponent the game migrates from being a game and becoming and event which also attract more fan support, both student and non-student.

I think once you are winning 20-25 games annually many of the corporate tickets that set idle for most games become in demand from corporate customers and employees as they want to be part of the event moreso than becoming real basketball fans.

Once you reach this threshold for three to five years you will have instilled attendance to the points that many of the event attendees start to become true basketball fans. Unfortunately it might take a decade to develop the 15,000 basketball fans it takes to get 10,000+ butts in LNC for every game. Official attendance (tickets sold in 2013-14 was 10,968 up about 15,000 over 2013. Actual attendance was more than likely less than 7,000.

For certain ISU and KSU have accomplished this without developing the winning tradition experienced by OU. This can be explained in part because they are more basketball schools than football schools. Weather probably has some impact as 2/3 of the schools with an average better attendance than OU are what I would classify as northern schools where basketball is generally a bigger sport than football.

I would classify 6 of the schools with better attendance than OU as football schools (Tennessee, Ohio State, BYU, Nebraska, Michigan and Florida. Twenty-three would be what I would call basketball schools.


http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2014.pdf

I can't really speak to KSU but Iowa State has probably the most loyal fans in the conference. They fill Hilton for almost every basketball game even when they have bad teams and they fill the football stadium every home game. They also travel pretty well to most venues for both sports and for womens basketball too. I've been to all the big 12 north venues and by far the best most loyal fans are in Ames, no doubt in my mind. And, good people too, very good people. Very nice and hospitable.

 

[IndySooner]

I can't really speak to KSU but Iowa State has probably the most loyal fans in the conference. They fill Hilton for almost every basketball game even when they have bad teams and they fill the football stadium every home game. They also travel pretty well to most venues for both sports and for womens basketball too. I've been to all the big 12 north venues and by far the best most loyal fans are in Ames, no doubt in my mind. And, good people too, very good people. Very nice and hospitable.

I agree with you about the basketball fan base. I disagree about the football.

Your point is valid, though. ISU has a very strong base that supports basketball like almost none other.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I agree with you about the basketball fan base. I disagree about the football.

Your point is valid, though. ISU has a very strong base that supports basketball like almost none other.

The last 5-10 years they have filled the football stadium for most games. I went to Ames in 2007 and it was full that day and I've watched their games on TV and it seems full every Saturday. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Regardless, the football stadium gets really loud for a small stadium and their tailgating is solid too.

 

[CobraKai]

From 1983 to 1990 OU averaged 28.25 wins per season. The year before that great run, OU won 22 games and in 83 won 24 games.

Could Kruger put together a similar run? in 2013 Kruger won 20 games. Last season he won 23. This year has the potential to be better. Could this be the start of a return to the glory days?

If you want that and live in the OKC metro, you have to attend games. Crowd support is everything. It helps recruiting, it influences officiating and it gives the team energy at home.

Sampson also had a great four year period where OU averaged 27.75 wins per season. This has happened twice in the past and it can happen again. I sure hope it does.

I was a student at OU from 87-91, which is probably why I'm such a big OU basketball fan. That was a glorious time to be an OU student.

 

[DenverSooner]

I was a student at OU from 87-91, which is probably why I'm such a big OU basketball fan. That was a glorious time to be an OU student.

I was in undergrad from 85-90. That may have been an even better run. OU won a national title in football. Was great at football in 85, 86 and 87 and was outstanding at basketball all five years.

(With respect to my five years I like to say I impressed the faculty so much with my maturity as a freshman, they invited me to stay for a fifth year)

 

[CobraKai]

I was in undergrad from 85-90. That may have been an even better run. OU won a national title in football. Was great at football in 85, 86 and 87 and was outstanding at basketball all five years.

(With respect to my five years I like to say I impressed the faculty so much with my maturity as a freshman, they invited me to stay for a fifth year)

That was definitely a better overall time to be there. I love OU Basketball because most of my tenure was during the Gibbs years. Football was largely forgettable after my freshman year. I got to see some great Billy Ball though. Also, some of the greatest names ever:

- Mookie
- Stacey
- Smokey
- Skeeter
- Kermit
- Angelo
- Tyrone
- "Helicopter"
- "Choo"
- Harvey
- Terrance
- Andre
- Roland

How could you not love those guys?

 

[152219]

That was definitely a better overall time to be there. I love OU Basketball because most of my tenure was during the Gibbs years. Football was largely forgettable after my freshman year.

Quit your complaining about football. My four years at OU

Schnellenberger
Blake
Blake
Blake

Dagger.

Sampson had some quality teams my 4 years with the run to the Sweet 16 my senior year.

 

[DenverSooner]

Quit your complaining about football. My four years at OU

Schnellenberger
Blake
Blake
Blake

Dagger.

Sampson had some quality teams my 4 years with the run to the Sweet 16 my senior year.

That sucks. You have to go back to pre 1934 to find a worse 4 year stretch.

 

[152219]

That sucks. You have to go back to pre 1934 to find a worse 4 year stretch.

Still had a great time at OU and received a quality education. But, overall the big 2 sports were a disappointment compared to what I watched during my youth.

 

[CobraKai]

Quit your complaining about football. My four years at OU

Schnellenberger
Blake
Blake
Blake

Dagger.

Sampson had some quality teams my 4 years with the run to the Sweet 16 my senior year.

Ouch. I'm so sorry. How are you still an OU fan?

 

[DenverSooner]

Still had a great time at OU and received a quality education. But, overall the big 2 sports were a disappointment compared to what I watched during my youth.

I certainly expected that. College is a great time. It always amazes me when I hear of kids dropping out because they don't like it. I loved college.