We Should Pack the Arena to Support Bad Teams?

[aucat]

I am copying below a letter to the editor which was printed in Sunday's Bozeman Chronicle. In a perfect world, yes, we would pack the gym even though we have lousy basketball teams and never compete for BSC championships. There is a lot of competition for entertainment these days, and if the athletic dept. of MSU doesn't care if their basketball teams are competitive, then yes, attendance will drop. Frankly, I have been expecting to see some letters to the editor calling for the firing of Brad Huse and maybe Peter Fields, rather than one like this chastising the fans for not filling the arena to watch losing basketball teams. Coaching is a job. At most schools if you don't win you get fired. Example, this week Auburn fired their basketball coach after four years on the job. It's the nature of the business of college athletics. Here is the letter:

Over the past several months, I have attended many MSU athletic competitions, football, basketball and volleyball. I must say how disappointing the attendance is for volleyball and basketball. These athletes train just as hard and just as long as the next student athlete and deserve fan support just the same. Their records shouldn't matter, having fans in the stands cheering you on and having the encouragement and support can make a world of difference. For example, the Cat-Griz men's basketball matchup this past February, even though it was on a Monday night which I find absurd, attendance has dropped from over 6,000 just two years ago, to just over 3,400 this year. I remember in the 1990s we had season tickets in the 200 level section for bobcat basketball in which most of the games were full, or very close to full. It was a special treat for me to go to these games with my dad and looking back, the amount of fans in the crowd was wonderful. I never once this season saw a game where the 100 level sections were full. Come on Bozeman, let's get out and show all these student athletes, regardless of which sport they participate in, our support for their hard work and dedication to Montana State University. Go Cats!

[MSU01]

From what I recall from the two games I actually attended this year, it was $12 and up per adult ticket, so it isn't exactly a bargain to bring your family to a game when the cost of concessions is added in as well. We as fans certainly don't have an obligation to show up and fork over our hard earned money if we don't think the product being offered is worth the cost of admission. I hope the Athletic Department doesn't also subscribe to the philosophy that MSU fans are somehow obligated to show up for games no matter how bad the on-court product might be.

I think the letter writer does have a point, although he/she didn't express it quite in this way, in that it can be fun to make an effort to get out and watch some of the lesser known sports if you've never been before. For example, I attended the Big Sky Track & Field championships a couple years ago when it was held in Bozeman and found it much more entertaining than I thought it would be.

[Jobu]

I think the letter writer does have a point, although he/she didn't express it quite in this way, in that it can be fun to make an effort to get out and watch some of the lesser known sports if you've never been before

I agree completely, 01. I certainly don't believe that poor teams deserve packed houses. But I do support attending the "non-revenue" sports. College tennis, track and volleyball (along with soccer for those who offer it) are all entertaining to watch.

[aucat]

I agree about attending the non-revenue sports. In fact, there is nothing more exciting than volleyball games.

But you know, dang it, you have to win. You have to compete for championship. It just ain't lots of fun to go out
and watch good ole MSU get bashed all the time.

For those of you who did not attend the Class B championship high school games in the Fieldhouse, it provided some idea
of what Bobcat Basketball could be like IF WE COULD SIMPLY COMPETE FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS! This was especially true for the
Fairfield-Malta girls championship game won by Fairfield. The place was packed, loud and electric. What an atmosphere!

Sorry to see the top player for Fairfield (who scored 41 in the championship game I believe) is NOT, I repeat is NOT going to
attend MSU.

[canyoncat]

I agree about attending the non-revenue sports. In fact, there is nothing more exciting than volleyball games.

But you know, dang it, you have to win. You have to compete for championship. It just ain't lots of fun to go out
and watch good ole MSU get bashed all the time.

For those of you who did not attend the Class B championship high school games in the Fieldhouse, it provided some idea
of what Bobcat Basketball could be like IF WE COULD SIMPLY COMPETE FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS! This was especially true for the
Fairfield-Malta girls championship game won by Fairfield. The place was packed, loud and electric. What an atmosphere!

Sorry to see the top player for Fairfield (who scored 41 in the championship game I believe) is NOT, I repeat is NOT going to
attend MSU.

Nope, she is going to Gonzaga.

[BozCatFan]

The reason they don't lower the ticket prices or run more promotions is because they don't want to devalue the event and encourage people to not just go when they get a deal. This is straight from PF mouth.

Although this is probably a good strategy in general for teams who consistently compete at a high level, the CATS are nowhere this. I'm no accountant but I'd take $5 for a thousand tickets over $12 for none. They should just mark the tickets down to $5 and promote it as something to do. Start the season off this way and adjust the season tickets accordingly. Make the off court entertainment better and hope people see enough value at that price to go.

I think the writer of this letter has good intentions but if the administration doesn't get behind all of their programs both with resources and high expectations it's awfully hard to expect fans to do it. You won't see me at another basketball game. Time to speak with my wallet and everyone else should do this too until we see a change. I dont think anything else will do it, at least it hasn't for far too long.

I heard a quote on Espn Radio from Coach K. If they don't win the conference and go to the final four he does NOT see the season as successful. It would sure be nice to have some expectations here from our admins and coaches....obviously scaled back to just the conference tourney.

I predict Huse will squeeze into the tournament in 2015, lose in the first round, and get another two year extension.

[The Butcher]

Well the Athletic Department ups the cost for football tickets because the team is competitive and successful while selling out most home games. Perhaps it should work the other way too; basketball is losing and seats are empty therefore the cost of tickets should go down.

[aucat]

With all due respect to Peter Fields, he made a huge mistake giving Huse a two year extension last year. I would hate to see him compound this error by going forward another year. A buyout would be pretty easy to do I would think.

I guess the bottom line is, if Fields is happy with the state of MSU basketball, then letters need to go to President Cruzado. It doesn't seem to me that she enjoys seeing MSU playing second fiddle to anyone, especially UM. In fact, I think she has been quoted on that. Perhaps if Cruzado heard from enough Bobcat fans she would have a little talke to PF about how he is doing these days with the athletic dept.

[TIrwin24]

I guess the bottom line is, if Fields is happy with the state of MSU basketball, then letters need to go to President Cruzado. It doesn't seem to me that she enjoys seeing MSU playing second fiddle to anyone, especially UM. In fact, I think she has been quoted on that. Perhaps if Cruzado heard from enough Bobcat fans she would have a little talke to PF about how he is doing these days with the athletic dept.

This ^

She helped make a huge impact on the football program. Why not let her try and do the same for basketball?

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

We should pack the arena to support the new coach and embrace the first real sign of hope in years!