On-Campus Conflicts with the Game Wednesday Night

[JFord]

In response to conflicts with the game Wednesday night (UnionBoard Kenell Night, and Intramural Championships), I wrote a letter to Jim Oakes, Bobby Dowling, The Director of the Intramural Center, The President of UnionBoard and their person in charge of "Special Events", Ronnie Walker, The Alumni President, and The Tech Talk. I also put this in the thread in Basketball about the game, but I think it got buried in the second page of the thread, so I thought I would make a thread regarding the letter. Here's the Letter:

To Whom it May Concern,
I am under the understanding that Intramural Championships were Wednesday night. Out of curiosity, I would like to know why the Intramural Center would schedule an event the same night as a Men's Basketball game? As I am sure you are aware, our attendance at home games leaves much to be desired and we could use all the help we can get getting fans in the seats. An event being scheduled the same night as an athletic event does not encourage student involvement in athletic events.

I am also under the understanding that Union Board scheduled Kennel Night for Wednesday night. As for the Intramural Center, I would like to know why Union Board would schedule an event the same night as a Basketball Game. I understand that the reason might have been to give students another activity for Wednesday night. But, with Union Board being a student led organization, it appears as if Union Board does not support athletics when scheduling such events the same night as a basketball game. When such an organization is student led, they should be all about supporting their peers. Many of our peers do not even know who Paul Milsap is, this is sad, considering he is on his way to being the only person in NCAA history to be the three time NCAA rebounding champion.

All this being said, I would like to recommend better communications between organizations from here on out. As a leader in an athletic support organization on campus known as "The Blue", I want to see as many students in the seats of the TAC. Such events as what we saw Wednesday night prevent maximizing the number of students in the seats of the TAC. Along with better communications between organizations, many students are totally unaware of athletic events. Their is nearly zero promotions on campus for athletic events being held. How do we expect to see students at games, unless they know about them?

Sincerely,
Jonathan Ford

JFord

[johnnylightnin]

Excellent note there JFord. Be sure and let us know if you receive a response from anyone.

[JFord]

I have received response already from nearly every party except UnionBoard...at work now, will work up a tidy list of the responses....

JFord

[DocMarvin362]

I really don't know what Ronny Ward would want with a letter like that. Now Ronny Walker might want to take a look at it. I know that he's been frustrated that we can't pack the TAC. Check your Ronny's!!

[Cool Hand Clyde]

Send it to the marketing director!!

[Dawgpix]

I have received response already from nearly every party except UnionBoard...at work now, will work up a tidy list of the responses....

JFord

A well-written letter that SHOULD be in The Tech Talk.
Excellent campus leadership being shown by the Blue.
tm

[firedog]

Good job, JFord!!!

[GatorDawg]

Great letter. I doubt Union Board will change. Hopefully this will stir better support throughout the groups and Union Board will focus more on athletic events.

[bulldawg03]

I'm sure I'll get completely blasted by this, but maybe not all students want go to the basketball games. Jford, I know you stated that in your letter (re: giving students other options), but I really don't think it would be wise to promote making basketball the only thing students can do on any given night. I commend The Blue on their efforts, but I hope y'all understand that not everyone shares your love and support for the game and the team, and asking campus officials to reschedule events or schedule them around athletic events (and if they do it) is only going to anger the students who could care less about sports.

I doubt having a UB kennel night, which when I was at Tech maybe might have drawn 50 people, and besides, the people who go to those types of things most likely don't have any interest in going to a game. What about all the religious organizations who meet on Thursdays (or has that changed)? I remember TNT or Common Ground, whatever it's called now, used to be at 7 on Thursdays. Should we ask them to rearrange their schedules, too?

I'll admit, I'm not a baseball fan, never have and probably never will be. I think I attended two games in the four years I was there, not because I didn't want to support my team, but because I simply don't enjoy baseball.

I hope this isn't taken as negative feelings toward The Blue and it's efforts, but I just want to defend these organizations and say that not everyone is a sports enthusiast and asking other campus organizations to plan around athletic events is not the way to improve attendance and build spirit.

[OmahaDawg]

I'm sure I'll get completely blasted by this, but maybe not all students want go to the basketball games. Jford, I know you stated that in your letter (re: giving students other options), but I really don't think it would be wise to promote making basketball the only thing students can do on any given night. I commend The Blue on their efforts, but I hope y'all understand that not everyone shares your love and support for the game and the team, and asking campus officials to reschedule events or schedule them around athletic events (and if they do it) is only going to anger the students who could care less about sports.

I doubt having a UB kennel night, which when I was at Tech maybe might have drawn 50 people, and besides, the people who go to those types of things most likely don't have any interest in going to a game. What about all the religious organizations who meet on Thursdays (or has that changed)? I remember TNT or Common Ground, whatever it's called now, used to be at 7 on Thursdays. Should we ask them to rearrange their schedules, too?

I'll admit, I'm not a baseball fan, never have and probably never will be. I think I attended two games in the four years I was there, not because I didn't want to support my team, but because I simply don't enjoy baseball.

I hope this isn't taken as negative feelings toward The Blue and it's efforts, but I just want to defend these organizations and say that not everyone is a sports enthusiast and asking other campus organizations to plan around athletic events is not the way to improve attendance and build spirit.

With thoughts like that, we will never move athletics forward.

Great letter Ford. Keep fighting the fight.

There MUST be communication on campus. There are only 11 - 15 home basketball games each year for Mean and 13 - 17 at home each year for Women. Should not be that big a deal to coordinate schedules. Lame response from most of the parties involved. The correct response will be that it will not happen again - PERIOD.

[johnnylightnin]

With thoughts like that, we will never move athletics forward.

Great letter Ford. Keep fighting the fight.

There MUST be communication on campus. There are only 11 - 15 home basketball games each year for Mean and 13 - 17 at home each year for Women. Should not be that big a deal to coordinate schedules. Lame response from most of the parties involved. The correct response will be that it will not happen again - PERIOD.

I agree Martie...it's not about forcing students to come see a game (which is total BS...Ruston is not a black hole and anyone who wants to do anything can drive to Monroe/Shreveport or even Dallas)...this is about the University showing whole hearted support for the activity that is going to make it the most money and therefore improve the University the most. I was on leadership council at the BCM and it burned me up when we would schedule things on game nights...I would usually skip out and go to the game. The problem with our athletic department is that not all involved parties have the same goal...what JFord has pointed out is just further evidence that the problem exists far beyond just the Athletic department. Once again, good job JFord...keep on keepin' on.

[DocMarvin362]

03 and Germ... I also understand y'alls point, but I don't think that this is the right situation for that arguement. There is almost nothing going on for most Mon, Tues, and Wed nights. I think that for the "major" sports that NEED attendance and noise, then no other campus wide events should be planned. Most churches have just made Wed night the secondary night for church services. It would be NOTHING to plan a month or 2 in advance to change those to Tuesday night, or to just make THAT your social event. If BCM, Wesley, UB, SGA, whoever want to make a social event, what better atmoshpere than a basketball game. I don't think that any college student would rather sit in the Tonk and watch Bambi with 50 people rather than go to a sporting event with a few thousand.

I think that one of the biggest things was the Intramurals events going on. These guys are obviously soprting fans... maybe not basketball fans, but sporting fans. Those are the guys that need to be told about the games and made sure that they attend. I'm not sure what Kennel night thing is, but I'm sure that they could have this on many different nights. They had the basketball schedules out in what.... August? (really asking.. I don't know) It would take NOTHING to move a Kennel night from Wed to Tues... or Wed to next Wed. in August or September.

[GatorDawg]

I don't think that any college student would rather sit in the Tonk and watch Bambi with 50 people rather than go to a sporting event with a few thousand.

I am pretty sure that depends on where we can get the girls. If the Blue focuses on recruiting girls to come to the games then guys will be there.

[firedog]

I am pretty sure that depends on where we can get the girls. If the Blue focuses on recruiting girls to come to the games then guys will be there.

Plus girls like to do things in groups....bring a couple of girls, they have fun and bring their friends to the next game and so on. So the key here is MORE girls in BLUE!

[theprofessor]

What about all the religious organizations who meet on Thursdays (or has that changed)? I remember TNT or Common Ground, whatever it's called now, used to be at 7 on Thursdays. Should we ask them to rearrange their schedules, too?

i can't speak for all the individual religious organizations on campus and how they schedule their events. but three years ago, common ground moved from thursday to tuesday nights -- in an effort to allow students to do other campus events, but also mainly because wac games happened on thursday nights. every week, once wac plays starts, there is a home game on thursday night -- either the dawgs or the techsters. common ground saw that and made a change.

i don't see why other campus organizations can't be as forward-thinking and accomodating. schedule your events around tech sporting events. it's not that hard -- there's one football game a week, at the most three home basketball games a week, and then baseball and softball normally happen on the weekends.

just for you information, common ground has now gone to a once a month format. part of the reason is because of a decline in interest. after six years, it's not as fresh as it was when it first began. also the band members have all graduated and started touring more often.



theprofessor