Re: SNC 2012-13 Regular Season Thread
None of this really addresses the real problem though - the comatose fan base who do show up and who cheers SNC goals like the gallery politely clapping when Tiger taps in a six-inch putt for a bogey on the 18th.
I have a really dumb question. When did the tradition begin in hockey of not announcing a home team goal until after the next stoppage in play. I mean, it is really tough to get revved up again when a home team goal isn't announced until 2 minutes later. Not blaming you Dan, but just asking.
Next, as you can see by the small number of my posts I don't comment very often because there are many people far smarter than I whom I would rather listen too. However, I have a couple of points too.
Dan, you mentioned when you had a student fill in for you and that you got complaints about his music. You know, since the Bill Clinton presidency this country has become a bunch of whiners. I thought the music that night was really good. But as you said Dan, just because I like something doesn’t mean everyone else will. There are songs you play that I don’t like but you know what, I wouldn’t do your job if you paid me because I wouldn’t be any good at it. Maybe add one or two more of the current pop hits (oh, and some Johnny Cash) but other than that keep doing what you’re doing.
Second can we please stop pointing the figure at the students? I miss their enthusiasm too but if you continue to criticize them why would they even think about coming?
Next, someone mentioned the crowd of 7000 at the Gamblers teddy bear toss. Without doing any real scientific analysis, I looked at a website called hockeydb.com for the Gambler attendance numbers from the 1996-97 season thru 2011-12.
From 1996-97 thru 2000-01 when the Gamblers played at the arena the average attendance was 3217. Since then (the Resch was built in 2002) the Gamblers average attendance is 3433—the teddy bear toss is a great event but it is not the norm for that team. I’ll make some enemies but quite honestly since Don Granato left and since that team moved to the Resch I don’t think the hockey is that great.
In addition, someone else pointed to such things as a new sound system (a bad one doesn’t keep fans away and new one won’t bring more in)—liquor –an absolutely terrible idea in my opinion. Go to a Green Bay Deacons game where the beer is cold and there is plenty of it—but there are few fans.
Theme nights—not a bad idea maybe. I could see that. Not sure what or when but it sounds like there are a few really talented people who have those answers.
And lastly, several people have mentioned Eau Claire hockey crowds. With no disrespect to the city or their team, what else is there to do in Eau Claire? They don’t have a D1 college program to compete with, or the Green Bay Gamblers, or the Green Bay Blizzard, or the Green Bay Packers.
I get what everyone is trying to say but I go for the great hockey, the camaraderie of the fans and the people in my section and a chance to continually learn more about this great sport and be a part of one of the truly great D3 hockey programs in the country.
I ‘ll admit I am not the loudest but will try and do my part too going forward—this is such a fantastic program and I say enjoy it. One day the word retirement is going to come from a certain head coach and then we’ll all be saying, ”remember when?”