Suggestions for improving MSU gameday experience

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:15 pm

The other thread has done a good job of breaking down some people's perceptions of shortcomings in the Bobcat game day festivities.

Let's create a fully inclusive list of suggestions for improving it (the more creative and detailed, the better), and then we can pass them along to the school. We can let this thread run for a couple weeks, and then I will summarize the findings and email them to the appropriate people at MSU. I am sure they will be interested in any and all constructive input.

This is our chance to be the ones coming up with the great new fresh ideas!

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:24 pm

I am going to put some very serious thought into this thread. I feel this is a very necessary item for the fans on game day. My first thougt is lets get the cheerleaders back. #2 lets pipe in Kris Atterberry at approiate times, ie half time, or maybe after a touch down? Can we use the big screen to a better advantage? More thoughts, hopefully, to follow.

MSU01 · Post by **MSU01** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:42 pm

I would like to see them go back to announcing scores from other games during halftime/between quarters. If you're a fan of other schools it's nice to know what's going on in other games, especially Big Sky and other important 1-AA games.

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:56 pm

I'd like to see speakers or a clock, or something to tell the tailgaters when there is 5 min, 2 min and 1 min left until kickoff - both first quarter and third quarter.

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:58 pm

Pregame: I think our pregame atmosphere is pretty good, and will only get better as long we keep winning. I think this will take care of itself.

PA: The first thing that we need to do is find a better PA announcer. The guy that we had at the end of this season what absolutely horrid. I know that Jason Walker left on short notice, but it seems like we'll let anyone off the street do the PA (Has anyone heard the announcer for men's bball this year, or the vball announcer?). Also, we thank FAR too many corporate sponsers during a game. It could be 3rd or 4th and long and our defense is trying to get our crowd fired up, and our PA guy is thanking JC Billion for courtesy cars.

MUSIC: I think that we have made some very good strides when it comes to playing "timely" music. I like the "lulay song", I like "hurts so good" after a sack, I like the "we like to party song" I think it's kind of our own cotton eyed joe. I like playing Mony Mony at the Cat Griz game. We could have a few better selections, but I think for the most part the music has been pretty decent, but I also think that there's a lot more that we could do here.

VIDEO: What the hell is the point in having this thing? The only way we use it is to once again thank our corporate sponsors. I think that there is a ton of things we could do here to help out the atmosphere. First of all, I would love to see replays after a sweet play. I also think that you could do some cool things with the coaches and players up there. I would like to see them introduce the starting lineups on the big screen similar to what they do on monday night football. Also, I would love to see Kramer on the screen saying something to get the crowd fired up. Such as: "Hey Bobcat fans this is Mike Kramer. It's the begining of the fourth quarter and that means it's time for you to see how much noise you can make. I want to see everyone out there stand up and help us out", and then cut into a rocking song. Also, how big of a waste is the big screen for the basketball games?

Mascot: YIKES! We have a ton of work to do here. I think that we need to make it a huge honor to be the bobcat mascot. Also, you need to make it worth the person's time. We should offer a tuition waiver to whoever the mascot is. In return, we need to require our mascot to spend at least 20 hours a week "working". Whether it be working at games or coming up with creative ideas. We need to give the mascot assignments on things to come up with for upcoming weeks. And of course, get a new freakin' costume already.

Cheer Squad: Start one!

Post game: Really pretty good.

Radio: I think Attebury is great. I didn't think that anyone would be able to fill Dean's shoes, but I think that Attebury has done as well as anyone could have.

These are all off the top of my head, but I'm sure I'll think of more suggestions once I start thinking about it.

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:08 pm

I agree lets utilize the video, Kramer is a great idea, we could do the same with Lulay and Eddie,Eddie,Eddie types. The replay annouced by Atterbury? Get the film and tv department to put together some fire up promos? Wow, this is starting to sound like fun.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:12 pm

Robcat wrote:I agree lets utilize the video, Kramer is a great idea, we could do the same with Lulay and Eddie,Eddie,Eddie types. The replay annouced by Atterbury? Get the film and tv department to put together some fire up promos? Wow, this is starting to sound like fun.

Yes, all great idea! Put some drunk students down on the field at haltime and give them some dodge balls, last one standing gets a free pizza

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:14 pm

On Promos,
Remember the promos for football tickets in 2003 with Kane and Joey chasing the truck (the dog was the best)? Those were fantastic. More promose like that, featuring the team and personalities on the team.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:16 pm

And even instead of the wave, get some beach balls out and let the crowd have at it with them. They do that at the volleyball games and the crowd loves it.

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:22 pm

Yes, all great idea! Put some drunk students down on the field at haltime and give them some dodge balls, last one standing gets a free pizza

That's the best idea yet....we could do that during basketball games instead of the tired old free throw shooting contests.

suckitgriz · Post by **suckitgriz** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:22 pm

No knock on you WBTFG, but i for one, hate the music. I think we could do much better. You have to play music that the students can relate to, not music that the Golden Bobcats listened to back in the day.

Next, why don't we get a new scoreboard all together. You have to admit, the jizz have a great one that centers around most of the activity that goes on during the game- i know it is expensive, but is it necessary? However, we do not even utilize the one that we have yet.

Tailgating- I like it. I tip my fair share back and enjoy the company. Maybe more bands and other things to draw a crowd that would not typically come to the games in the first place.

I really think that is the key. I noticed at the jizz games that even the people who know nothing about football come to the games (most of the crowd). Make it enjoyable and they will come.

I heard a rumor from a realible source that the stadium expansion is coming in the next 2 years. More boxes and bleachers on the South Endzone side. There is a giant waiting list for boxes, so they need to acoomadate for those people.

Radio is great- WBTFG- great idea about Chris. He is awesome. Point is, make it more exciting and fire angela- sorry angela, but it is time to go. I hear they are hiring for Bozeman's Small Fry Football League- I can hook you up. Take Champ with you and live happily ever after!

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:31 pm

No knock on you WBTFG, but i for one, hate the music. I think we could do much better. You have to play music that the students can relate to, not music that the Golden Bobcats listened to back in the day.

I agree with you 100% on that. I would love to hear more modern music that is popular TODAY rather than music that was popular 30 years ago. BUT...I can also see where the athletic department has to somewhat cater to what the boosters ($$$$$$$) want to hear as well. The athletic department also has to realize that every student is a potential booster, and if they don't cater to the students a little bit, then that will prove to be very harmful in the future.

MSU01 · Post by **MSU01** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:25 pm

About the music...the Athletic Department is in a no-win situation here. No matter what they play, some people will like it and some people won't! They should probably play a mix of both music that 20 year old students will enjoy and music that 50 year old boosters will enjoy, to at least make some sort of attempt to keep everyone happy.

Wow, that would be great if the next phase of the expansion happened that soon.

Cats15 · Post by **Cats15** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:33 pm

I agree that tailgating has gotten alot better but no one really comes till about an hour before the game. Since they bumped up the price to $10 this year on the student side why dont they offer a $5 discount if you are there say before 10 am. for a 12pm kick off. I for one could use an extra 5 bucks every other week.

Cats15 · Post by **Cats15** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:47 pm

How about putting a couple speakers on the student side. This way all those old people sitting on the other side wont complain about how its too loud. And there also wont be an echo.

spider · Post by **spider** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:12 pm

The best thing we could do is try to get the old people who sit in the gold section on the south side to cheer. I was sitting there once (using the boss' season tickets) and on third down I stood up and was cheering my head off and some guy yelled at me to sit down. I wanted to say "this if football not a chess match!"

gfallscat · Post by **gfallscat** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:31 pm

i think we need more replays during the game. all we ever advertise is the sponsers. that is great, but enough already (meaning once or twice).

that so called jumbo tron we have is wasting its life away.

just my two bits...

ah what the hell i am rolling and still pissed from the sac game, the music could still improve..like when and what they play. the idea of having speakers on top of the scoreboard would be great as well as on the student side.

suckitgriz..you have a nice xmas

billingscat · Post by **billingscat** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:12 pm

You guys are all coming up with some great ideas, but lets be honest is this just a pipe dream? Is there anything we can actually do about it?? Who can we contact? Would they even listen??

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:36 pm

billingscat wrote:You guys are all coming up with some great ideas, but lets be honest is this just a pipe dream? Is there anything we can actually do about it?? Who can we contact? Would they even listen??

If we come up with specific and interesting new ideas as to how to improve things, I have no doubt that people at MSU will be interested in hearing them. I'm sure they will be much more responsive to that sort of positive feedback as opposed to the vague sorts of criticism we tend to see.

I think of particular help would be for people to think of specific in-game things they would like to see done, or other specific improvements to the game day experience (especially those that don't involve spending a ton of money, but rather are more focused on making the fan experience better).

Complaining does absolutely no good -- especially if no specific alternatives are presented. This is our chance to no longer be whiners, but rather be the creative people offering improvements.

There has been a lot of good stuff thrown out so far, and I hope this discussion will continue to build and provide other creative and constructive suggestions.

Remember, the more specific we can be, the more helpful it is.

The information will definitely reach the decision makers at MSU. If we come up with some good stuff, and it is practical, they just might adopt some of it.

billingscat · Post by **billingscat** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:49 pm

Bay Area: so what you are saying is that "the people at msu" whoever they are will come across these postings and change what they do? Or is there an actual specific place or individual we can go to express these ideas??