UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

[freak]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

IIRC, the argument was that as the PA, he was not supposed to appear to be biased...on our home ice.

Not sure "who" made the decision, but I would imagine it came from the higher levels of the AD.

They don't even let him do it at women's games, and the crowd has taken over the "You're Welcome" reply, along with Jon's salute. And before the salute he would tip his cap, and once he even held up a sign reading "You're Welcome."

 

[Ned Braden]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

It's not the job of UNH's embarrassingly bad PA guy to "egg on" the crowd. It's his job to introduce players, announce goals, penalties, read endless advertisements, and so on. I personally think he sees himself as part of the game already and should tone it down.

 

[WildKitty]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

It's not the job of UNH's embarrassingly bad PA guy to "egg on" the crowd. It's his job to introduce players, announce goals, penalties, read endless advertisements, and so on. I personally think he sees himself as part of the game already and should tone it down.

Are you saying he thinks he should tone it down, or you think he should tone it down?

I'm curious about which aspects of the hockey announcing at UNH you think are bad. I realize everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I happen to disagree with you, personally (although I've been right on the glass the whole time I've been going to games, which is not conducive to hearing announcements). It is an extremely scripted position, and what he says is usually right off the page. And if his script writer is the same as for gymnastics, any word problems are not his fault. Can't be worse than that time when we waited ... and waited... and kept waiting to find out who scored. I forget where that was, but it was recently this season. (See, my memory is why people don't want me to try and do research for my Big Screen idea...) Maybe another faithful will remember and help me out here.

The gymnastics announcer was asked to encourage the fans at events by a member of the athletic department, to improve the atmosphere and remind fans that making noise is okay. He never got an official job description, so there's no way of saying "It's in his job description" or not, but I think being asked by a higher-up in athletics to do something kinda puts it in the job description, right?

So why not do this in hockey?

The thing with the hockey announcer is, since hockey's such a money-maker, the people on top have more interest in it, and therefore take more control and make more decisions. Gymnastics announcer wasn't completely autonomous, but the good suggestions weren't being quashed by "upstairs", either. Hockey announcer is being meddled with to get back at the fans. Whether he thinks making announcements about cheering is his job or not, he probably wouldn't do it anyways, just to save grief from upstairs.

As for toning it down... what is there to tone down? I thought we were trying to INCREASE the energy at the Whitt!

 

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

It's not the job of UNH's embarrassingly bad PA guy to "egg on" the crowd. It's his job to introduce players, announce goals, penalties, read endless advertisements, and so on. I personally think he sees himself as part of the game already and should tone it down.

You've obviously never been to the REA or a Final Five.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Sorry to break up the hate fest over here, but just curious if anyone can confirm whether or not UNH is making the trip to Oxford next season. I know Enrico said that there was a trip coming back, not sure if it was this or next season though.

Just got an advanced schedule (always subject to change) today. UNH plays at Miami the first weekend of the season, October 8 & 9. Closest airport is Cincinnati, then (from what I've been told) a 45 minute drive to campus. UNH hosts Michigan for one game the following weekend (Saturday,10/16), then plays one game at Cornell on Friday 10/29. Other OOC games are vs. St. Lawrence on Sunday, 1/2 (4PM start) and the Verizon game vs. Dartmouth on 1/15. BTW, that is the ONLY Verizon game listed on the schedule.

UNH plays 6 of their first 7 on the road, then 5 of their last 7 on the road. Considering their start this year, and their usual finish in most years, hosting the regionals in Manchester may be an irrelevant honor.

 

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

UNH plays at Miami the first weekend of the season, October 8 & 9. Closest airport is Cincinnati, then (from what I've been told) a 45 minute drive to campus.

Yeah, he would know where to fly, he's a Miami fan.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Having the PA announcer lead the cheers would be, in my opinion, beyond embarrassing. Right now the Whit is overrun by obnoxious rock music which saps the life out of the crowd. Adding cheerleading by the message board or the PA announcer would be a disgrace to the University.

I am way older (like your parent's age) than most of you posting here. But I will tell you that one of the big reasons l love college hockey is how the crowd can get into it. What has happened at UNH over the past few years is beyond the pale. The first time I ever went to a UNH hockey game, the thing that grabbed me was the crowd, how electric it was. Now I know we will never ever get back to those days because Snively was an intimate place and the fans were right on top of the ice. But the Whit used to be a loud place, led by students getting pretty rowdy. Can't explain why this is no more (maybe they don't drink enough before the games?), but to read this thread and see a bunch of like minded people arguing over turf is disgusting. Get together for gods sakes, figure out some basic cheers and get it going.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

That would imply that the UNH students want to take the initiative on such things. The argument people have been making is that while we would welcome the students to start cheers, the simple fact of the matter is that THEY DON'T.

So even when a small group of students organize, there is very little dedication and persistence.

You're right; we've argued that the students don't cheer. Ewe's suggestion is to form what amounts to a student organization to essentially find the students who want to cheer more (I believe they exist), and get them to get the rest of the students involved. That's not going to come from the Hosers. This is similar to what others have talked about, just a more organized version, separate from the band.

I merely said that we did not, and that it would require students to take the initiative to create such a group. Thus far, they've showed no such desire to take the initiative.

As for my contribution to a concrete change, there are several people who are aware of my "plan" for next year. Keith, Cloud, Ambrose, and several of the Hosers. I am still in the initial planning stages, however, so I haven't widely put out more information.

Again, 'ewe's suggestion doesn't merely leave it to the students to organize. It would come from older fans - possibly the hosers (or the younger fans that sit near/with us), then upperclassmen - essentially passing stuff down to the next group of incoming students. I believe Michigan Tech has something similar with "Mitch's Misfits", complete with a web page.

I'm not trying to be negative. I'm just calling it as I see it, and there is very little initiative on the part of many students. As I said, every game I see students showing up late, leaving early, and generally not really getting into the game.

It really isn't that hard. Get a group of friends and start screaming. Who cares if it sounds "stupid"? Of course you'll have cheers that are out of line... one group tried to start a "Vetri has herpes" chant a few years ago...but by and large, any cheer is good. Noise matters.

When I talk about students "killing time" until a party, I'm talking about the kids who leave in the mid-2nd or 2nd intermission, telling others that they have to get to a party.

Agreed. Although as I said, there should be less emphasis on "leaders." A leader by definition implies he/she is followed. This produces less innovation and initiative. Have someone...Band, students, Hosers, whoever...lead the traditional cheers. But we need to get away from trying to organize everything. Back in the early 00s, the organized cheers were just PART of the game. From what I gather, the same is true of the late 90s, and the Lively Snively days. Fans were just louder overall. That general volume needs to return, not just more organized cheers.

I'm going to call BS on some of this. Yes, I am sure that more students leave early than 6-8 years ago, but there are still students who get to the games early (before warm-ups even), and stay until the end.

Also, Ewe's suggestion is not to have one group lead everything, it's to have one group that leads SOMETHING. Few follow the Hosers, and the consensus seemed to be that the students need to be more involved. This seems like a viable option, that could be discussed.

If the students are as apathetic as you claim, nothing will work.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Right now the Whit is overrun by obnoxious rock music which saps the life out of the crowd.

It's the Devil's music! The DEVIL, I tell you!

Are you serious?

The pep band was horrible in the late 90's/early 00's. The Whitt was loud in the late 90's/early 00's. "Obnoxious rock music" was even more present back in the late 90's/early 00's.

If anything, there is far less canned music at the Whitt these days, as the pep band is actually good.

I don't think the "obnoxious rock music" is the problem.

(Besides, half the crap played doesn't qualify as "rock".)

 

[billb]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

I have to agree with Mr. Ambrose about the noise, but, then again, it seems to me that all major sporting events are marred by loud noise over the PA system when there's no play on. Is this necessary? No.
This is an odd discussion, maybe a reflection on the nature of the fans from different generations. At Snively there were few organized chants. The students then reacted spontaneously in their own way, and, for the most part, pandemonium ruled.
I can not understand why today's "fans/students" need to have scripted cheers, lest they sit on their hands until they leave early to avoid the rush, unless being at the game is more a proper activity to be seen doing than one to be done from passion.
I'm puzzled as to who benefits the most from the cheering section. Is it a parallel to the ubiquitous noise which is rammed into our ears between plays and periods, i.e., there can not be a lull in the "conversation?" I do know that we should never underestimate the extent to which people will go to feel relevant.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

I do know that we should never underestimate the extent to which people will go to feel relevant.

Like continuously harping on a coach's wardrobe, and relating that to on-ice performance?

 

[Ned Braden]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Are you saying he thinks he should tone it down, or you think he should tone it down?

I'm curious about which aspects of the hockey announcing at UNH you think are bad. I realize everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I happen to disagree with you, personally (although I've been right on the glass the whole time I've been going to games, which is not conducive to hearing announcements). It is an extremely scripted position, and what he says is usually right off the page. And if his script writer is the same as for gymnastics, any word problems are not his fault. Can't be worse than that time when we waited ... and waited... and kept waiting to find out who scored. I forget where that was, but it was recently this season. (See, my memory is why people don't want me to try and do research for my Big Screen idea...) Maybe another faithful will remember and help me out here.

The gymnastics announcer was asked to encourage the fans at events by a member of the athletic department, to improve the atmosphere and remind fans that making noise is okay. He never got an official job description, so there's no way of saying "It's in his job description" or not, but I think being asked by a higher-up in athletics to do something kinda puts it in the job description, right?

So why not do this in hockey?

The thing with the hockey announcer is, since hockey's such a money-maker, the people on top have more interest in it, and therefore take more control and make more decisions. Gymnastics announcer wasn't completely autonomous, but the good suggestions weren't being quashed by "upstairs", either. Hockey announcer is being meddled with to get back at the fans. Whether he thinks making announcements about cheering is his job or not, he probably wouldn't do it anyways, just to save grief from upstairs.

As for toning it down... what is there to tone down? I thought we were trying to INCREASE the energy at the Whitt!

I think he (not we) should tone down the phony/exaggerated inflections. Be a little less like your average NBA PA guy.

There are so many other things, I'll give you a few.

It IS a scripted position, but he's off script all the time. When you introduce the opposing team, tell me the:

A) Position
B) Class (Fresh, soph, etc.)
C) Where from?
D) Number
E) Name

In other words, the same way UNH players are introduced. Sometimes he does this, sometimes he doesn't.

When announcing a goal or a penalty, there absolutely should be a script, but he does it differently all the time. Sometimes he announces goals right after they're scored and doesn't announce assists. Maybe it's because he's excited? I don't know, but I'd rather he waits a minute to get it right.

When a player scores, tell me how many he's got! UNH is the only arena (college or pro) that I've been to where the PA guy doesn't tell you what number goal that is on the season. (they used to when the old PA guy was there). Something like....

"UNH goal, his 20th of the season, scored by #12 Bobby Butler. Assisted by....."

The whole "1-2-3-4 We want more!" cheer is dying. I know it's easier to yell "You Suck!" than it is to count, but it makes it harder to get it going when you have NO IDEA when the PA guy is going to stop.

Announcing out of town scores like "in Orono, it's Maine three Boston College five" makes me cringe.

There's other stuff too, but I've rambled enough. I know some of it may sound nitpicky, but when I add it all up, the guy is a bad PA announcer. It's nothing personal, but I'd just like to see him (or someone else) be a bit more professional about it.

 

[freak]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

I'm going to call BS on some of this. Yes, I am sure that more students leave early than 6-8 years ago, but there are still students who get to the games early (before warm-ups even), and stay until the end.

You can think what you want, but I've stood at the top of the section since my frosh year whenever the band didn't play, and pretty much exclusively since I left the band.

I've never seen the amount of early departures as I have the past couple years. And I'm not just guessing as to their destination. I've heard these groups tell others they were leaving for a party, or that they had to go "play some 'Rut."

 

[d.gerry]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

they had to go "play some 'Rut."

Who knew Rut would become the downfall of UNH Hockey!

The place has become way to PC and corporate, and this is the administration's fault. No more Black Betty, discouraging the "You Suck" chant, turning the fish throw into an advertisement, etc. I use to be pretty loud (season ticket holder in section 106), can't tell you how many times I got dirty looks or comments (even a confrontation or two) because of my "interest" in the game. After awhile you tone it down so you can live with your fellow season ticket holders. Also I am much older now (this will be my 16th year as a season ticket holder), so probably time for "younger" adults to pick it up a bit.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

You can think what you want, but I've stood at the top of the section since my frosh year whenever the band didn't play, and pretty much exclusively since I left the band.

I've never seen the amount of early departures as I have the past couple years. And I'm not just guessing as to their destination. I've heard these groups tell others they were leaving for a party, or that they had to go "play some 'Rut."

Again, I AGREE WITH YOU, but you make it sound like the entire student section is empty until midway through the 1st, and empties out completely by the start of the third.

This is flat-out NOT TRUE.

There are a good number of students who get to the game before puck drop. How many of them actually stay until the final buzzer? I'm not sure. The simple fact that they are there before the game starts shows that there are some students out there that just might care enough about hockey to treat it as more than a social event.

 

[boblav1]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Just got an advanced schedule (always subject to change) today. UNH plays at Miami the first weekend of the season, October 8 & 9. Closest airport is Cincinnati, then (from what I've been told) a 45 minute drive to campus. UNH hosts Michigan for one game the following weekend (Saturday,10/16), then plays one game at Cornell on Friday 10/29. Other OOC games are vs. St. Lawrence on Sunday, 1/2 (4PM start) and the Verizon game vs. Dartmouth on 1/15. BTW, that is the ONLY Verizon game listed on the schedule.

UNH plays 6 of their first 7 on the road, then 5 of their last 7 on the road. Considering their start this year, and their usual finish in most years, hosting the regionals in Manchester may be an irrelevant honor.

From the Brown thread.
Nov. 23 Tuesday at New Hampshire 7:00pm

 

[freak]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Again, I AGREE WITH YOU, but you make it sound like the entire student section is empty until midway through the 1st, and empties out completely by the start of the third.

I did not imply any such thing. My point, however, is that the early departures are increasing, and are far more than 8-9 years ago. It IS indicative of the general lack of interest in the student section these days.

 

[Jacques "Rabbit" Poriveau]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

I think he (not we) should tone down the phony/exaggerated inflections. Be a little less like your average NBA PA guy.

There are so many other things

There's other stuff too, but I've rambled enough. I know some of it may sound nitpicky, but when I add it all up, the guy is a bad PA announcer. It's nothing personal, but I'd just like to see him (or someone else) be a bit more professional about it.

Absolutement, e eez da ow you say SUCK.

 

[Jacques "Rabbit" Poriveau]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

I have to agree with Mr. Ambrose about the noise, but, then again, it seems to me that all major sporting events are marred by loud noise over the PA system when there's no play on. Is this necessary? No.
This is an odd discussion, maybe a reflection on the nature of the fans from different generations. At Snively there were few organized chants. The students then reacted spontaneously in their own way, and, for the most part, pandemonium ruled.
I can not understand why today's "fans/students" need to have scripted cheers, lest they sit on their hands until they leave early to avoid the rush, unless being at the game is more a proper activity to be seen doing than one to be done from passion.
I'm puzzled as to who benefits the most from the cheering section. Is it a parallel to the ubiquitous noise which is rammed into our ears between plays and periods, i.e., there can not be a lull in the "conversation?" I do know that we should never underestimate the extent to which people will go to feel relevant.

Very goods poste.

(Acorse da tards not gonna tink so, mais, oo care dey tards, n'est-ce pas?)

 

[Jacques "Rabbit" Poriveau]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Right now the Whit is overrun by obnoxious rock music which saps the life out of the crowd.

Oui, juste when da play stoppe et da crowd gonna cheer, nah drown it outs wit ze music. Non ph'ing clue bout crowde dynamiques. Reetahrds. Compleetly