I am in pretty regular attendance at Appleton, however, the last Clarkson series was the three games in the playoffs in 2009 when McKenzie beat them singlehandedly in the 3rd of the third game. I would say that was more of a 50/50 energy show, but if I recall correctly the students were on break. It doesn't matter if the band is 25 members or 10 like the Brown band often is, in Appleton they are loud and generally the visiting bands are also obnoxious. I recall near brawls with the Cornell band in the last 5-10 years. My comparisons are from the 85 to 92 era where Appleton was loud, packed, and positive. I don't even sit in my preferred seats with the faculty anymore because there are some obnoxious townies that yell comments directed at the SLU players and, at the time, Joe Marsh which I can still hear on the other side of the rink. I can't sit there because I can't afford to spend time in the St. Lawrence County jail for putting my fist down their throats. I personally don't like the 'control' the administration and the nightly announcements exert over the crowd and especially the students. I miss things like the chicken man, and more students acting a bit out of control. I will say that the clear exception to that that I saw this year was the SLU - Clarkson game where SLU scored 2 quick and they place was bedlum. I'd like to see it like that more often so that Tom Budd's announcements about good sportsmanship are drowned out by energy producing borderline behavior. You see this in other rinks when you visit, Appleton needs more. I believe we can allow fans to get 'more into the game' and still keep it classy. I am not saying its bad, I am saying I don't agree with the tone they try to set with the announcements. I'd like to see more games with the crowd energy at the Clarkson level. For that to happen, one of the first things that has to happen is letting go some behavior that right now would get you tossed from Appleton provided the ushers are paying attention which they seldom are.
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