Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread
Trying to fill in the time between the first game blowout (BTW, how would we have done against Wisco. Not 6-1, but without a doubt it would have been a loss).
Few points. First, forget a jumbotron. UNH does not have the money, there is no sponsor on the horizon who is going to shell out for a BU type screen and, besides, my take is that they turn the fans into lemmings. Been to a Bruins or Celtics game lately? The only time the noise comes up is when Big Brother tells them it is time to cheer. Is THAT the atmosphere you want at the Whit?
Second, never reference Wisconsin when lamenting about UNH. Badger fans are one of a kind and have been for over 50 years. Yes, alums cheer at Wisco games, but because the whole shtick has been ingrained in them since they were fuzzy faced freshman 30-40-50 years ago. It's part of a Badger fan's DNA. My neighbor's son went to Michigan State, another fine Big Ten institution with a history of athletic achievement, and even he says that Wisco has the best fans in the Big Ten.
Like tCBG, I was very impressed with the student section at Maine this year. But I have been there other years (2008 for instance), when they were getting blasted by UNH, and the crowd was comatose. Their band and their fans can be pretty electric, but they certainly have ripped off a few things that belong to Wisconsin (Budweiser riff, the Rouser, etc.). You would think that they would be embarrassed to do so but, after all, it is the school that welcomed Shawn Walsh back with open arms.
Re: STH, I am one, and have been since the Whit opened. I've probably attended 90% of the home games over the past 35 years and there is no question that there is a difference between Snively and the Whit. First and foremost, the Whit is twice as large. That pretty much means that, to fill the arena, you are going to get more casual fans. If things are going well, the team is scoring goals, they are into it. If it is a snoozer, not much going on, they are prone to sit on their hands. Second, and I think this is the biggest thing, is that the leaders in the student section sit right on the glass. I know you guys love those seats (I stood in the equivalent back in my student days) but, let's face it, when you start a cheer no one can hear you beyond the student section. I think you have to decide which is more important, a great seat for viewing or a great seat for leading cheers. If it is the former, then it is time to give up the role and let those higher up in the stands get things going. I sit down in Section 105 and watch you guys and it is almost like you are in an isolation booth. I can see you yelling, see you clapping, but I can't hear a thing. If your choice is to rouse not only the student section, but the entire crowd, you're gonna have to move. Back when I was a student, the cheers were led by students sitting right behind the visitors bench, and played off by students on the opposite side of the ice. That is impossible to duplicate now, of course, but the key was that the students could be heard. You guys can't, it just ain't working. Time for the band, if they are going to be there every game (important point), and are willing, to take the lead.
Final thing - Chris!!!!, Eaglebunny, Bobby Brady, Carmine, Jacques. Why does my cynical nature lead me to link these names together. And why do they feel that it is worthy of their time to pollute our thread when their own team is about to face off in the national semi-finals. Agree Chuck? If you don't, I'm sure Bobo will.
Carry on.
