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Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

From an attendance side, what do you guys think is most to blame for that? Is it lack of marketing? Is it that NU is becoming a "white-collar" upper tier school and the student body couldn't care less about athletics? I think the list could continue but the doghouse isn't the only empty place in the rink. The entire arena looks barely above 50% full.

Losing the Beanpot doesn't help either. The fringe alumni fans simply want a win more than 3 times every 60 years.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Losing the Beanpot doesn't help either. The fringe alumni fans simply want a win more than 3 times every 60 years.

Does it? I don't think the majority of the fans that show up for the Beanpot would show up for an average regular season game even if we were winning it every year. Further, I think our recent close-but-no-cigar teams at the Beanpot have actually helped NU attendance there, much like the pre-2004 Red Sox teams helped drum up a strong fan base by for them. Fans love an underdog.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Also, ahead of the game you could advertise the fact that THEY WERE GIVING OUT FREE BURRITOS!!!
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

I think the live streaming of home games hurts. Think of it like this, you can get a 30 pack sit in your room with a couple of guys and watch the game on-line in your dorm, or go to the game. 9/10 college kids are going to pick the first option. They need to stop the free streaming.

I disagree. I do not think students are choosing to watch online over the real thing. I would need to see some #'s to back that up.

I do not think attendance has been as much of an issue as people think it is. The Doghouse is not filling up, and that really is about it. Otherwise attendance to me seems to mirror what we have had since I started in 96. Outside of a freak season or two, the building has never filled up every game. It also does not help that the team sucked the last two seasons, there have been no OCC draws, they have lost all the big home games prior to this past weekend, and really, the team for the most part this season has been boring, spending more time playing defense and chasing the puck then do much of anything else. These last two games with standing.

Doghouse has had no idea what to do too. Singing Stacey's mom? Yeah, that gets everyone going! Thankfully the Benny Hill bit has been retired though.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Does anybody know anything about our players injuries and when we could see some players returning to the lineup.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Does anybody know anything about our players injuries and when we could see some players returning to the lineup.

I don't post over at DHD but usually someone over there will have info on injuries that plague our team.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Does anybody know anything about our players injuries and when we could see some players returning to the lineup.

What I was told on Saturday night - Benning out several weeks, Hedges and Manson probably available for the bu series.

It looks like Benning will be available just in time for the Frozen Four. ;)
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Seriously, people are not picking GoNUxstream over games...I'd guarantee the overwhelming majority of campus doesn't know it exists. People aren't going because the athletics department is awful at marketing. Nothing but a couple "hockey game tonight" signs at odd parts of campus. Nothing in Curry Student Center, nothing in front of the ticket office. They think a generic email that 99% of people look over will do the job.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Does it? I don't think the majority of the fans that show up for the Beanpot would show up for an average regular season game even if we were winning it every year. Further, I think our recent close-but-no-cigar teams at the Beanpot have actually helped NU attendance there, much like the pre-2004 Red Sox teams helped drum up a strong fan base by for them. Fans love an underdog.

You're entitled to your take. I am an alum '97, who had season tickets, was a member of the Varsity Club that stopped going to the Beanpot semis a long time ago, and won't go to the Beanpot until they win another. Could be a long wait. My beef isn't with the team, its with the administration who nickle and dime alums, and a bullzhit "holier than though" AD who ran a coach (and in turn) Johnny Hockey out of town. Not to mention the "close but no cigar" doesn't cut it. It has been 26 years since they have won a Beanpot with what is sold as a premier team in a premier league. Unrelated but we missed the boat on the CAA, the A-10 several years ago and we have a competitive hockey team once or twice a decade. The water mark for this program is the bottom of the league and more than likely not making the playoffs.
 
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Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

I am with you in the likely minority with that opinion. Look around campus during class, very diverse student population. Looks around the Doghouse on gameday, not so much. It's a culture thing. Even though basketball attendance is worse than hockey, 40% of those that do show are international. That sport has appeal to them. Unfortunately hockey does not, regardless of the fact that hockey is the school's best sport in an area where hockey is top dog.

I don't want to get in to a whole big thing here like "when we were running the Doghouse" or whatever, but from what I've seen from the Doghouse for the past couple of years is pretty discouraging. There are a few things missing that used to happen. They don't cheer anymore. They have turned in to the UNH fans that sit on their hands until a goal is scored. There should be constant noise, cheering, heckling the goalie and opposing players. I mean, when former DH guys are starting chants and urging the DH to make even the littlest amount of noise there is a problem. I'm not sure what goes on anymore from the Doghouse "leadership" or even if there is still a group of guys that kind of lead the pack, but leadership guys in the DH used to pass out flyers on campus about big games, use sidewalk chalk on the Quad to advertise the game etc.... Not sure if that is happening now. Also, how is the DH traveling? I know that our group used to go everywhere. Ottawa, Dayton you name it. Just not sure if the type of commitment is there with this group. I do believe too that the Athletic Dept (Roby the BOZO) is unconcerned with promoting hockey because 1. It's not a money maker, and 2. Because Peter Roby told me that they are trying to promote Basketball when asked about why there are beer sales and other promotions going on for Bball but not hockey. Would love to see the DH get a lot more active, creative and interested. If any current students are reading this and the leadership guys arent doing their part, then step in and start doing it! We need to pack the student section and make it fun again. This team should be drawing far more students to the game. Roby is part of the problem, getting the word out and having those leadership guys take charge and promote and attract people to the games is the other piece.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Seriously, people are not picking GoNUxstream over games...I'd guarantee the overwhelming majority of campus doesn't know it exists. People aren't going because the athletics department is awful at marketing. Nothing but a couple "hockey game tonight" signs at odd parts of campus. Nothing in Curry Student Center, nothing in front of the ticket office. They think a generic email that 99% of people look over will do the job.

I won't argue with marketing. This athletic department always runs like they have 1 hand tied behind there back. They always seems caught off guard by the fact there is a game being played.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

I think that they do a fairly good job with the marketing piece and getting word out, at least via social media. I get a weekly email from someone on JM's staff about the prior weeks games. It could be a much better read, its like reading something out of a third or fourth graders mouth, but its a start. As a season ticket holder, I get emails about the games, about buying tickets to other games. It may not be weekly like I get from the Harvard or bu ticket office, but again, its coming. There is also enough stuff to follow on twitter, like GONUMenshockey, or whatever it is, that tweets before/after/during games. I am not on facebook but there is stuff on there too based on what I read.

Now, could there be more grassroots marketing done? I am not on campus so I cannot answer that one, but I would guess yes.

Also, if Roby and such decided to put more of the budget behind men's hoops for t-shirts/glasses/paws bobble heads, I can understand that a bit too. I mean, going into the season, I think more people were putting stock into mens hoops for doing something then mens hockey. Why dump $$$ into a 9th place team, when you could spend more on building a home court advantage for a team that could potentially challange for something? It just worked out that mens hoops tanked, and mens hockey has played above expectations. *(not the team really, just the goalie)

Its really up to the students and the DogHouse in the end to grass roots market, get to games, and create atmosphere. Roby is not keeping students from games. Students are keeping students from games.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

I disagree. I do not think students are choosing to watch online over the real thing. I would need to see some #'s to back that up.

I do not think attendance has been as much of an issue as people think it is. The Doghouse is not filling up, and that really is about it. Otherwise attendance to me seems to mirror what we have had since I started in 96. Outside of a freak season or two, the building has never filled up every game. It also does not help that the team sucked the last two seasons, there have been no OCC draws, they have lost all the big home games prior to this past weekend, and really, the team for the most part this season has been boring, spending more time playing defense and chasing the puck then do much of anything else. These last two games with standing.

Doghouse has had no idea what to do too. Singing Stacey's mom? Yeah, that gets everyone going! Thankfully the Benny Hill bit has been retired though.

I would gladly take Benny Hill over the awful spelling chants. Nobody thinks the *******, Anal and Sex chants are funny nor do they actually contribute anything; if anything, they all sound like a bunch of morons, and usually not even sure which letter they're on. Add to that the fact that the student section has no sense of rhythm or tempo and it's quite discouraging (seriously, can ANYBODY clap in time without speeding up twice as fast?).
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

off topic.. but Huskies01.. as much as Witt played up/down this wknd, it was the team in front of him that came from 0-2 down Fri for tie & then went on to beat a decent Maine team, Saturday. Apart from this wknd, several instances this season they have not quit.. (team, that is).

With a good BU series & heck Madigan (gulp! :)) is in the running for HE Coach of the Year..
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

I would gladly take Benny Hill over the awful spelling chants. Nobody thinks the *******, Anal and Sex chants are funny nor do they actually contribute anything; if anything, they all sound like a bunch of morons, and usually not even sure which letter they're on.

I agree, i dont know who came up with this or when, but it's pretty dumb and not even clever. I'm surprised that NU Athletics haven't told them to stop that chant, I mean Deputy Dog (Mike Windsor) used to shut down the DH for far less. Did the Doghouse guys stop drinking or something?? I've found that he best heckling and yelling used to come after several beers....at least.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

I would gladly take Benny Hill over the awful spelling chants. Nobody thinks the *******, Anal and Sex chants are funny nor do they actually contribute anything; if anything, they all sound like a bunch of morons, and usually not even sure which letter they're on. Add to that the fact that the student section has no sense of rhythm or tempo and it's quite discouraging (seriously, can ANYBODY clap in time without speeding up twice as fast?).

at least they are cheering/chanting. Benny Hill was watching 3 kids running around the upperdeck. What does that have to do with the game going on?

Do they need to come up with new chants? Of course. Does there need to be more during the game? Yup. I think what else hurts them is that there is never any point where there is no noise from the Pep Band or the music. We never had that issue back in my day. But now as soon as play stops until the puck drop, the Pep Band is going full blast. Total audio porn.

As for Witt, i do not think his play was up or down this weekend. It was as steady as it has been all season. Just so happened a few more then normal got by him. Not due to him overplaying, or being out of position. He got beat. It was due.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

I would gladly take Benny Hill over the awful spelling chants. Nobody thinks the *******, Anal and Sex chants are funny nor do they actually contribute anything; if anything, they all sound like a bunch of morons, and usually not even sure which letter they're on. Add to that the fact that the student section has no sense of rhythm or tempo and it's quite discouraging (seriously, can ANYBODY clap in time without speeding up twice as fast?).

It was still classier than any day at Mullins. THOSE kids sound like idiots. I was at Matthews Saturday and thought they at least had some enthusiasm during play (although 90% of it was because Maine fans had already started their own cheer). That said, they lacked the excitement I have seen at Conte and The Alfond where students will get going any time the puck crosses a blue line in the correct direction or someone snakes a nasty pass through a few defenders.

Edit: Oh, God. And the "Shoot it!" calls. Non-stop. Perhaps, as some of you have noted, it's a lack of hockey knowledge and interest in the student body.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

I think that they do a fairly good job with the marketing piece and getting word out, at least via social media. I get a weekly email from someone on JM's staff about the prior weeks games. It could be a much better read, its like reading something out of a third or fourth graders mouth, but its a start. As a season ticket holder, I get emails about the games, about buying tickets to other games. It may not be weekly like I get from the Harvard or bu ticket office, but again, its coming. There is also enough stuff to follow on twitter, like GONUMenshockey, or whatever it is, that tweets before/after/during games. I am not on facebook but there is stuff on there too based on what I read.

Now, could there be more grassroots marketing done? I am not on campus so I cannot answer that one, but I would guess yes.

Also, if Roby and such decided to put more of the budget behind men's hoops for t-shirts/glasses/paws bobble heads, I can understand that a bit too. I mean, going into the season, I think more people were putting stock into mens hoops for doing something then mens hockey. Why dump $$$ into a 9th place team, when you could spend more on building a home court advantage for a team that could potentially challange for something? It just worked out that mens hoops tanked, and mens hockey has played above expectations. *(not the team really, just the goalie)

Its really up to the students and the DogHouse in the end to grass roots market, get to games, and create atmosphere. Roby is not keeping students from games. Students are keeping students from games.

What have been you if you didn't sneak that last line about not the team just the goalie. What team is Witt on?
 
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