Pantagraph writer's open letter to the ISU students

[Da Coach]

Bloomington Pantagraph sports writer Randy Kindred addresses the ISU students in a column today-
Kindred: Neither ISU, nor Dunson, need a Gordon replay
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/01/29/usports/doc49828b2063673083372510.txt

Kindred notes that every student seat at Redbird Arena will have a message taped to it from the ISU administration asking them not to use their profane, expletive laced cheers, and to act ???with great class and dignity??? during the game.

I would like to believe that will happen, but I don't.

 

[Da Coach]

Well, I think I know which "State" the lyrics were referring to in the video, and it's not Iowa State. But realize the lyrics for the Braves MVC Shuffle were not written by the players, and it's all in fun, nothing that justifies ISU students or fans getting their undies in a twist about.

Besides, maybe if Dodie went to ISU out if high school 3 years ago, they don't have enough room for Osiris Eldridge, or maybe they don't have an extra scholarship to get Champ Oguchi last year.

And, here is another "State" to consider- when he committed to Bradley out of Vincennes, his other offers included an offer from Indiana State. So maybe the lyrics actually refer to them?
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=72835&sport=2

 

[thefish7]

I think we all should know that "State" refers to our big rival Illinois State. I don't think anyone should take it seriously as it was all for fun (and charity anyway). If anyone wants to take it too personally consider that the lyric isn't factual... I believe BU was recruiting Dodie and he told us to take a hike for ISU when he was a freshman. I'm very glad he's ended up here, and ISU fans, as DC notes, should be happy with how their team has come along because it's a very talented team.

 

[Double D]

IMO this article, while supposed to be harmless, may work against what Kindred says is his motive. It may cause a situation that likely didn't exist to begin with.

Comparing the Dunson situation to the Eric Gordon situation is absolutely crazy.

There is very little if any buzz over here in the B/N area about Dodie Dunson playing at Bradley. I would have anticipated a very mild reaction to DD by the ISU fans on Saturday. Likely no different than any other Bradley player. Remember, he left ISU 3 years ago under a different coaching staff who most ISU fans hated! Much different than the whole Gordon/Weber/Sampson issue.

 

[Murph]

It shouldn't be too bad, they only average 4500 per game which means most people there will be Bradley fans....

 

[RedbirdFan21]

IMO this article, while supposed to be harmless, may work against what Kindred says is his motive. It may cause a situation that likely didn't exist to begin with.

Comparing the Dunson situation to the Eric Gordon situation is absolutely crazy.

There is very little if any buzz over here in the B/N area about Dodie Dunson playing at Bradley. I would have anticipated a very mild reaction to DD by the ISU fans on Saturday. Likely no different than any other Bradley player. Remember, he left ISU 3 years ago under a different coaching staff who most ISU fans hated! Much different than the whole Gordon/Weber/Sampson issue.

While I understand your point... i don't think it will do more harm then good because I don't think too many people will even see the article.

It is one of his blogs... and I am pretty sure they are not printed in the paper, and they are not usually even on the sports page of the website... just the "blog section"

 

[RedbirdFan21]

nvm... its on the main sports page... o well

 

[DannyCooksey]

It shouldn't be too bad, they only average 4500 per game which means most people there will be Bradley fans....

Try doubling that little fella. RA is averaging a shade below 9 grand in Valley play. And please don't offer the outdated sham of the excuse of only bu or SIU filling it up. It was sold out against CU over break. How many CU fans were there 15 maybe? Please.

The 6-800 bu fans that will be there Saturday would easily have been sold to ISU fans had we been hosting WSU or Drake or whoever. Outdated concepts you speak of little fella

 

[Murph]

Try doubling that little fella. RA is averaging a shade below 9 grand in Valley play. And please don't offer the outdated sham of the excuse of only bu or SIU filling it up. It was sold out against CU over break. How many CU fans were there 15 maybe? Please.

The 6-800 bu fans that will be there Saturday would easily have been sold to ISU fans had we been hosting WSU or Drake or whoever. Outdated concepts you speak of little fella

Little fella....lolololol

Put your valuable ISU edumacation to work.

Did you see the wink?

 

[houstontxbrave]

Try doubling that little fella. RA is averaging a shade below 9 grand in Valley play. And please don't offer the outdated sham of the excuse of only bu or SIU filling it up. It was sold out against CU over break. How many CU fans were there 15 maybe? Please.

The 6-800 bu fans that will be there Saturday would easily have been sold to ISU fans had we been hosting WSU or Drake or whoever. Outdated concepts you speak of little fella

Average 9K+ for an entire schedule then feel free to pop off.

 

[Phantom]

Average 9K+ for an entire schedule then feel free to pop off.

After tomorrow's attendance is factored in, we'll be averaging 9100 per game in conference, and over 7000 per game for the season overall. That is a FAR cry from how things were just a few years ago. It's been quite some time since we've averaged over 9K for an entire season.

 

[houstontxbrave]

After tomorrow's attendance is factored in, we'll be averaging 9100 per game in conference, and over 7000 per game for the season overall. That is a FAR cry from how things were just a few years ago. It's been quite some time since we've averaged over 9K for an entire season.

Thats great. A State University with what over 15K students, most living on campus, team coming off one of its best seasons ever with a large majority of its team returning and you are able to get to over 7K average for the season with what 3/4 home games remaiing?

Feel free to congratulate yourselves. I though think that figure and what ISU has in a team and the number of students the school has on its campus, is an extremely sad figure.

 

[Phantom]

Thats great. A State University with what over 15K students, most living on campus, team coming off one of its best seasons ever with a large majority of its team returning and you are able to get to over 7K average for the season with what 3/4 home games remaiing?

Feel free to congratulate yourselves. I though think that figure and what ISU has in a team and the number of students the school has on its campus, is an extremely sad figure.

I'm not congratulating anybody. I'm just stating a fact. Just a couple years ago we had 9-19 and 15-16 seasons that generated an average of 5400 and 5100 per game respectively. Both were record lows in attendance at Redbird Arena. Compared to that, I'll take what we have now. ISU fans are, and have always been, fair-weather. It's pretty much common knowledge.

 

[RedbirdFan21]

Amount of students really has no effect on this year attendance... we have sold out student tickets in possibly every valley game (phantom knows for sure)... so we could have 100000 students, if there are only X amount of tickets for them... it doesnt mean much

 

[Da Coach]

Thats great. A State University with what over 15K students, most living on campus, team coming off one of its best seasons ever with a large majority of its team returning and you are able to get to over 7K average for the season with what 3/4 home games remaiing?

Feel free to congratulate yourselves. I though think that figure and what ISU has in a team and the number of students the school has on its campus, is an extremely sad figure.

The actual enrollment at ISU is well over 20,000--
http://www.mediarelations.ilstu.edu/isuhome/enrollment_fall08.asp

 

[Bravesfan]

I'm not congratulating anybody. I'm just stating a fact. Just a couple years ago we had 9-19 and 15-16 seasons that generated an average of 5400 and 5100 per game respectively. Both were record lows in attendance at Redbird Arena. Compared to that, I'll take what we have now. ISU fans are, and have always been, fair-weather. It's pretty much common knowledge.

That's decent, but during some of our bad seasons earlier this decade Bradley's attendance managed to stay over 7000 a game.

Not bad for a school with only about 6000 students!

 

[Phantom]

Amount of students really has no effect on this year attendance... we have sold out student tickets in possibly every valley game (phantom knows for sure)... so we could have 100000 students, if there are only X amount of tickets for them... it doesnt mean much

Correct. Student tix have sold out for every game when students have been on campus, which actually has only been 4 games so far, 5 including tomorrow. Not sure the exact number of student section seats but they are in rather high demand.

 

[Da Coach]

Amount of students really has no effect on this year attendance... we have sold out student tickets in possibly every valley game (phantom knows for sure)... so we could have 100000 students, if there are only X amount of tickets for them... it doesnt mean much

The enrollement of a University does have more to do with attendance at games than just the number of students who attend. Larger state schools graduate many times as many graduates, many of whom stay in the region and continue to finalcially support their alma mater, and who also continue to attend and follow the games.

If you look at the top schools in attendance, the overwhelming majority of them are state schools. Conversely, if you look at the lowest attendance D1 schools, they are mostly smaller private schools.

 

[BUBrave28]

if you look at the lowest attendance D1 schools, they are mostly smaller private schools.

...and ISU.

 

[SaintLouBrave22]

Try doubling that little fella. RA is averaging a shade below 9 grand in Valley play. And please don't offer the outdated sham of the excuse of only bu or SIU filling it up. It was sold out against CU over break. How many CU fans were there 15 maybe? Please.

The 6-800 bu fans that will be there Saturday would easily have been sold to ISU fans had we been hosting WSU or Drake or whoever. Outdated concepts you speak of little fella

You failed to mention the free upper bowl seats that were given away for the Creighton game!