Kirk Wessler disses on the BU fans

[tornado]

He makes some good points, but I have heard time again from people who see a BU game for the first time at the Civic Center, that the BU crowd is surprisingly vocal, enthusiastic, and loud when compared to almost every other Division I school that is even remotely close to BU in size, or tradition.
So, again, it is a half full-half empty argument. Would I like to see the fans even MORE supportive--sure. But this isn't exactly BU's weak suit. Surely Kirk has been to Drake, UNI, or even ISU where the crowds are disappointingly small and even less vocal.

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/020205/KIR_B5FH4C6O.073.shtml

[Braveman]

The ones that are enthusiastic and noisy are great- it's the many near the floor and in lower bowl who are glued to their seats and there to be seen and not heard that he is referring to.

I agree with his article completely... I know where my mom sits- the people around them get mad when she and my brother yell and cheer and raise he ll. And my mother is 68 years old a a little bitty thing..

Get up and yell for crying out loud!

[Da Coach]

The points Kirk discusses in his article are not new ideas. This has been discussed in many previous articles and columns, as well as many discussions on various bulletin boards. I doubt anything will change by publically chastising the "gray hairs" who don't stand and yell.

[tornado]

Some numbers just for reference and comparison.

MVC Teams...........Enrollment.......Attendance
BU...................................6098......... ....9,313
WSU...............................15,100.......... .10,350
Creighton....................... 6,537............11,164
Drake..............................3,330.......... ...4,942
Evansville.........................2400........... ...6,201
ISU.................................20,419........ ....5,735
In St..............................11,484............ .3,755
SIU.................................13,441........ ....4,418
SMS................................21,387......... ....6,305

others
DePaul...........................24,300........... .8,535
BowlingGreen.................20,276............2,4 47
Northern Illinois.............25,260.............2,205
Pepperdine......................8,000............. ..2,019

[BradleyBrave]

I'm glad Kirk cares enough to try and encite a reaction. I think he knows how big this game is for this team right now. They're going to need all the help they can get tonight. A supportive, loud, raucous, vocal crowd can only help.

[beanocook]

Tornado..heres the point. Personally, I could care less what Drake and Northern Iowa draw for Men's Basketball games. Thats NOT the standard here. BU has ALWAYS outdrawn those schools. Always has, always will. Even in the down years.

But heres the thing...Bradley isnt Drake. Isnt Pepperdine. Isnt Northern Iowa. Its Bradley. The only standard of comparison is the program itself. There is a history of loud fans..a full arena....heck, in the mid to late 90's Carver was electric. As it was in the late 80's. Like the Fieldhouse was in the early 80's. And so on.

So..if your standard is to have more people than Drake then thats your perrogative. But to me, I could care less. I only judge this program based on what has happened in the program before. Im the same way with the results on the court and now with the attendance.

[it's boogie time]

I like the timing of the article. If Bradley ever needed a boost from the crowd, it is tonight against SIU. Who knows if it works or not, but the guy is trying.

[bigdaddystuck]

But heres the thing...Bradley isnt Drake. Isnt Pepperdine. Isnt Northern Iowa. Its Bradley. The only standard of comparison is the program itself. There is a history of loud fans..a full arena....heck, in the mid to late 90's Carver was electric. As it was in the late 80's. Like the Fieldhouse was in the early 80's. And so on.

Sorry...can't compare any crowd at the Civic Center to even a half full arena at the Fieldhouse. There has never been anything approaching a crowd in the Fieldhouse in the Civic Center.

MOVE BACK TO CAMPUS!!!!

[beanocook]

But heres the thing...Bradley isnt Drake. Isnt Pepperdine. Isnt Northern Iowa. Its Bradley. The only standard of comparison is the program itself. There is a history of loud fans..a full arena....heck, in the mid to late 90's Carver was electric. As it was in the late 80's. Like the Fieldhouse was in the early 80's. And so on.

Sorry...can't compare any crowd at the Civic Center to even a half full arena at the Fieldhouse. There has never been anything approaching a crowd in the Fieldhouse in the Civic Center.

MOVE BACK TO CAMPUS!!!!

Thats a facility thing though. Not an "oncampus" thing. The Fieldhouse downtown would be like the Fieldhouse on campus.

[user1]

Speaking of fans and attendance.
I ran across this article while looking for some news on Mike Suggs.
Central Missouri is 15-3 and is drawing 4650 fans, and here is how they describe the crowd:
"a loud and rowdy crowd of 4,650 fans."
http://www.stjoenews-press.com/main.asp?SectionID=81&SubSectionID=274&ArticleID=61227&TM=77337.36

Pretty impressive when just a few miles away, at Division I schools in the MVC and MAC they are only drawing 2000-6000.

[BradleyBrave]

Speaking of fans and attendance.
I ran across this article while looking for some news on Mike Suggs.
Central Missouri is 15-3 and is drawing 4650 fans, and here is how they describe the crowd:
"a loud and rowdy crowd of 4,650 fans."
http://www.stjoenews-press.com/main.asp?SectionID=81&SubSectionID=274&ArticleID=61227&TM=77337.36

Pretty impressive when just a few miles away, at Division I schools in the MVC and MAC they are only drawing 2000-6000.

Amazing what a winner will do. :)

[McFly]

I cuncur with KW completley. Agree that it is nothing new and doubt it will matter, but I appreciate the candor and honesty. Incidentally, he spot on with the attendance #'s vs the fannies in the seats #'s...big discrepency. Another age old discussion but it needs repeated for those that think BU is infallable...

[houstontxbrave]

But heres the thing...Bradley isnt Drake. Isnt Pepperdine. Isnt Northern Iowa. Its Bradley. The only standard of comparison is the program itself. There is a history of loud fans..a full arena....heck, in the mid to late 90's Carver was electric. As it was in the late 80's. Like the Fieldhouse was in the early 80's. And so on.

Sorry...can't compare any crowd at the Civic Center to even a half full arena at the Fieldhouse. There has never been anything approaching a crowd in the Fieldhouse in the Civic Center.

MOVE BACK TO CAMPUS!!!!

I have been to BU games both at the Fieldhouse and in Carver. I agree the Fieldhouse is uncomparable but there have been crowds hand over fist that are equal or better then crowds at the fieldhouse.

Les going end to end versus ISU, beating Drake to win the conference, coming back from 20 versus Tulsa, beating Old Dominon in the NIT, The night BU beat Cal Irvine when we scored 156, winning the MVC tourney, nearly any game during Hawkins Sophomore or Senior year.

Carver can and has rocked, I loved the Fieldhouse but Carver can get very loud also.

[squirrel]

But heres the thing...Bradley isnt Drake. Isnt Pepperdine. Isnt Northern Iowa. Its Bradley. The only standard of comparison is the program itself. There is a history of loud fans..a full arena....heck, in the mid to late 90's Carver was electric. As it was in the late 80's. Like the Fieldhouse was in the early 80's. And so on.

Sorry...can't compare any crowd at the Civic Center to even a half full arena at the Fieldhouse. There has never been anything approaching a crowd in the Fieldhouse in the Civic Center.

MOVE BACK TO CAMPUS!!!!

I have been to BU games both at the Fieldhouse and in Carver. I agree the Fieldhouse is uncomparable but there have been crowds hand over fist that are equal or better then crowds at the fieldhouse.

Les going end to end versus ISU, beating Drake to win the conference, coming back from 20 versus Tulsa, beating Old Dominon in the NIT, The night BU beat Cal Irvine when we scored 156, winning the MVC tourney, nearly any game during Hawkins Sophomore or Senior year. . .

Beating Michigan, and the night we led Villanova 31-6 were pretty special, too.

[houstontxbrave]

The one other game that sticks out as far as exciting and intense was when U of I came calling. That was electric. Also, I missed 3 shots from half court that night. 15 minutes lasted about 30 seconds with even a few boos... but I think those boos were ISU fans :)