Give Me Your Ideas

[bassmaster]

oh gtfo

That's all you got because you know it's true.

 

[campbest]

I guess they have been coddled all their lives so we can't stop now.

You can thank prior generations for that, not the current crop.

 

[Smash Williams]

I know the South Oval is the opposite direction, but it's not very far from the dorms -- it's certainly not as far as LNC -- and once you're on a bus or shuttle, who cares if you're traveling an extra block or three?

I'm 54, and I walk 1.3 miles to and from work every day -- the same distance that Cate Center is from LNC -- so I can't feel too sorry for 19-year-olds being asked to walk to the South Oval or even to the LNC. I'm not sure where the excuses end with our students. Perhaps chauffeured limos would lure them from their dorm rooms.

Do you really believe your daily experience as a 54-year-old in NYC is relevant to OU students? No one is arguing that 19-year-old students aren't physically capable of walking a mile; however, they also don't live in Manhattan, where walking a mile as a method of travel is a regular everyday thing. In that regard, the culture is completely different in this part of the country; it's one of the many reasons obesity rates in Oklahoma and Texas are so high. Also, walking 1.3 miles each way to somewhere you absolutely have to be is completely different from walking a mile to an optional event in which one's interest isn't especially high.

Perhaps students should have more interest and pride in the basketball program. Perhaps they should be willing to walk a mile each way despite not being avid basketball fans. Perhaps these things make them selfish, lazy kids who don't take as much pride in their school's athletic programs as the students who packed LNC for Billy Tubbs. Whether those things are true or not doesn't matter. That's simply not the culture at OU nowadays, for better or worse. Lamenting about the way things are isn't going to get any more students to games.

This isn't about excuses. It's about recognizing the reality of the situation, and looking for possible ways to improve it. Given how much of an uphill battle it is, hats off to the OP and other students who are making this effort.

 

[Smash Williams]

You can thank prior generations for that, not the current crop.

Exactly. If you're 40-55 years old and have a problem with today's college-age generation, blame your peers, not the kids...or blame your parents' generation for not adequately preparing your peers for parenthood. Kids don't raise themselves.

 

[skyvue]

Do you really believe your daily experience as a 54-year-old in NYC is relevant to OU students? No one is arguing that 19-year-old students aren't physically capable of walking a mile; however, they also don't live in Manhattan, where walking a mile as a method of travel is a regular everyday thing. In that regard, the culture is completely different in this part of the country; it's one of the many reasons obesity rates in Oklahoma and Texas are so high. Also, walking 1.3 miles each way to somewhere you absolutely have to be is completely different from walking a mile to an optional event in which one's interest isn't especially high.

I don't just walk to and from work -- I used that example because I live exactly as far from my office as the dorms are from LNC. And I'm fully aware the culture is different, but given the very obesity rates that you cited, it's clear that culture needs to be changed.

So perhaps a campaign should be launched to encourage students to walk or bike to games. That's a win-win -- they get in better shape and we get more butts in the seats.

How about this: free tickets to students who arrive on foot or bike (I had a car in college, but I rode my bike everywhere around campus). Have three or four checkpoints along the way where they have to check in -- they get a card stamped or are given a coupon to prove they walked or rode the whole way, and when they show that card or those coupons at LNC, they are given a free ticket.

 

[garyeb2]

The populace responds well to what they percieve as a quality product at a good value. A business plan that consist of one hokie promotion after another will reap nothing but one hokie promotion after another.

 

[WTSooner]

The populace responds well to what they percieve as a quality product at a good value. A business plan that consist of one hokie promotion after another will reap nothing but one hokie promotion after another.

Agreed.

Win ball games, and we'll get a solid crowd. It might never rival the crowds at our football games, or the crowds that Duke has, but it'll be acceptable.

If we MUST do something for the students, give them free tickets or some free food at the game. All this other stuff isn't going to fix anything, IMO.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I don't just walk to and from work -- I used that example because I live exactly as far from my office as the dorms are from LNC. And I'm fully aware the culture is different, but given the very obesity rates that you cited, it's clear that culture needs to be changed.

So perhaps a campaign should be launched to encourage students to walk or bike to games. That's a win-win -- they get in better shape and we get more butts in the seats.

How about this: free tickets to students who arrive on foot or bike (I had a car in college, but I rode my bike everywhere around campus). Have three or four checkpoints along the way where they have to check in -- they get a card stamped or are given a coupon to prove they walked or rode the whole way, and when they show that card or those coupons at LNC, they are given a free ticket.

students aren't going to walk or bike even for free tickets. Hell they are basically free already

 

[skyvue]

students aren't going to walk or bike even for free tickets. Hell they are basically free already

Funny, we've seen many posts in the past bemoaning the price of student tickets, insisting they should be cheaper or even free. Which is it?

Whatever. Coming up with ideas to motivate these clowns to go support their team seems to be the worst kind of moving target.

 

[boksooner]

Funny, we've seen many posts in the past bemoaning the price of student tickets, insisting they should be cheaper or even free. Which is it?

Whatever. Coming up with ideas to motivate these clowns to go support their team seems to be the worst kind of moving target.

What is your problem? There are students giving tons of free time for the betterment of OU and it's basketball program. You need to get over yourself.

 

[skyvue]

What is your problem? There are students giving tons of free time for the betterment of OU and it's basketball program. You need to get over yourself.

My problem is certainly not with those students who are working to support the basketball program. Their efforts are greatly appreciated. It's with the students who have to be convinced -- even enticed -- to turn out to support their team.

The discussion about how to convince them to drag themselves (that seems to be how they view it, anyway) to LNC has been going on on this board and elsewhere for literally years on end.

By all means, hats off to ksSooner and BigTime and all other current and former students who have put in the hard work to convince those who don't support the team with their attendance, but from my admittedly distant vantage point, I don't know if anything reaches them. Perhaps winning will -- I certainly hope so. Because I believe we're going to return to our winning ways sooner than later. I just don't know how many students will be there to see it.

 

[campbest]

I don't just walk to and from work -- I used that example because I live exactly as far from my office as the dorms are from LNC. And I'm fully aware the culture is different, but given the very obesity rates that you cited, it's clear that culture needs to be changed.

So perhaps a campaign should be launched to encourage students to walk or bike to games. That's a win-win -- they get in better shape and we get more butts in the seats.

How about this: free tickets to students who arrive on foot or bike (I had a car in college, but I rode my bike everywhere around campus). Have three or four checkpoints along the way where they have to check in -- they get a card stamped or are given a coupon to prove they walked or rode the whole way, and when they show that card or those coupons at LNC, they are given a free ticket.

:ez-roll:

Can I be on the committee to set this up? Sounds like an instant hit.

 

[campbest]

The populace responds well to what they percieve as a quality product at a good value. A business plan that consist of one hokie promotion after another will reap nothing but one hokie promotion after another.

Exactly, don't know why this is such an issue. You put out a crappy product, you're going to get crappy student attendance...it's not rocket science.

The price of tickets is the most insignificant aspect of this whole thing.

 

[skyvue]

:ez-roll:

Can I be on the committee to set this up? Sounds like an instant hit.

Thanks for your input. I'll look forward to seeing the list of dynamite promotional ideas that I'm certain you're coming up with even as I type this.

 

[TheGimper]

Honestly, there are few things worse than talking to OU students about OU basketball. I say this as someone who has lived in Norman their entire life, attended OU, and spends the majority of my work and social time with OU students.

I'm not talking about the minority that actually show up to every game they came and can actually name the players. Even the ones that show up half the time don't seem to care. And I say this as someone who sat in the student section all last season and will be sitting in the student section again this season.

I'm all for creating new ideas to build excitement around the program and try and increase attendance. But until they start winning again, the fair weather students and citizens of Norman will continue to stay at home.

 

[campbest]

Honestly, there are few things worse than talking to OU students about OU basketball. I say this as someone who has lived in Norman their entire life, attended OU, and spends the majority of my work and social time with OU students.

I'm not talking about the minority that actually show up to every game they came and can actually name the players. Even the ones that show up half the time don't seem to care. And I say this as someone who sat in the student section all last season and will be sitting in the student section again this season.

I'm all for creating new ideas to build excitement around the program and try and increase attendance. But until they start winning again, the fair weather students and citizens of Norman will continue to stay at home.

This...it isn't really that hard to figure out. If the team was having attendance problems at 20-10 or 25-5, then yeah let's roll out the promotional idea. But when you're under .500 at a school that is not overly concerned with basketball, then don't gimmick people into showing up.

 

[campbest]

Thanks for your input. I'll look forward to seeing the list of dynamite promotional ideas that I'm certain you're coming up with even as I type this.

I will just parlay off yours, maybe we can add stations for bicycle safety awareness as well?

 

[SuperHoops]

I will just parlay off yours, maybe we can add stations for bicycle safety awareness as well?

Bicycle riding contests during timeouts and bicycle stunt show at halftime.

 

[campbest]

Bicycle riding contests during timeouts and bicycle stunt show at halftime.

...and Matt Hoffman will sing the national anthem while doing BMX tricks.

 

[perryj74]

Honestly, there are few things worse than talking to OU students about OU basketball. I say this as someone who has lived in Norman their entire life, attended OU, and spends the majority of my work and social time with OU students.

I'm not talking about the minority that actually show up to every game they came and can actually name the players. Even the ones that show up half the time don't seem to care. And I say this as someone who sat in the student section all last season and will be sitting in the student section again this season.

I'm all for creating new ideas to build excitement around the program and try and increase attendance. But until they start winning again, the fair weather students and citizens of Norman will continue to stay at home.

This is why it is important to humanize these players with the student body. If there is some connection between the students and the players it will lead to more people going to games to see their friends/peers. It's a completely different animal than football. Make some sort of connection between the students and the players and more students will show up.