Student Attendance

[tophat]

From what I could see on tv, it appeared there were no more than a few hundred students at tonite's game. Acknowledging that this team is very much in a rebuilding mode and has played poorly so far, I still find the total lack of student support to be appalling. It's a friday nite, there are thousands of kids living on or near campus who don't even have to pay, and they don't bother to show up to support their team.

It was evident from his remarks during the game that Anthony Buford is in agony for the players on this team, who surely deserve better than this. This is a team with six freshmen after all, and it's going to get much better as they get more experience. You'd think more students would understand that.

Buford observed how tight the players look, and he thinks it's partly because they're trying too hard to get people behind them. The students have made themselves part of the problem.

I don't care how bad this team looked their first three games. There are alot of good young players, and the students should be supporting them instead of baling out. They're hurting this program.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

From what I could see on tv, it appeared there were no more than a few hundred students at tonite's game. Acknowledging that this team is very much in a rebuilding mode and has played poorly so far, I still find the total lack of student support to be appalling. It's a friday nite, there are thousands of kids living on or near campus who don't even have to pay, and they don't bother to show up to support their team.

It was evident from his remarks during the game that Anthony Buford is in agony for the players on this team, who surely deserve better than this. This is a team with six freshmen after all, and it's going to get much better as they get more experience. You'd think more students would understand that.

Buford observed how tight the players look, and he thinks it's partly because they're trying too hard to get people behind them. The students have made themselves part of the problem.

I don't care how bad this team looked their first three games. There are alot of good young players, and the students should be supporting them instead of baling out. They're hurting this program.

Reminds me of the 1980's but WIN and they'll be back.

[Kindog202]

While I agree there should have been more students there, maybe the St. X-Colerain game had something to do with it. Not often you get to see 2 high school teams ranked in the Top 10 nationally play against each other. This game tonight probably should be for the state title whoever wins will win state.

Just saw official attendence of 20,108.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

While I agree there should have been more students there, maybe the St. X-Colerain game had something to do with it. Not often you get to see 2 high school teams ranked in the Top 10 nationally play against each other. This game tonight probably should be for the state title whoever wins will win state.

Just saw official attendence of 20,108.

29-14 X with 2 minutes left in 4th Q. (EDITED - just went final, X wins)

[Johnny Mac]

Non-student attendance sure is nothing to write home about either. Lots of empty UCATS seats all over the Shoe.

John

[shaunsimpson]

Why should students have an obligation to go to the games. If there is not a good product on the court then there is no reason to go. If it is not entertaining then they will not be there. The administation has more of an obligation to put a better product out there.

Because they will be good in 2 years does not make me want to view a product.

[CroninCrazy]

Also, this is close to Thanksgiving Break...I'm swamped with exams and projects.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Also, this is close to Thanksgiving Break...I'm swamped with exams and projects.

Bearcats are ALWAYS more important than exams and projects.

[bearcatd]

The beauty of college sports is you are actually going to the school that you are rooting for and there is an allegiance to the school. At least that is how I feel and felt when going to UC. I root for UC through the wins and losses and go to games regardless. Unless I was a St. X or Colerain student, I would not have gone to a high school football game over a college basketball game. They are free so don't give me the excuse of good vs. bad product. Games were an experience when I went to UC and the fans add to the experience. It's almost as if UC has to have a dominating sport and football is there right now. Thanksgiving is next week. School is still in. Students are still in town. The students only make themselves look more ridiculous by not showing up right now. It's not making a statement. It's making the program look bad. Why would UC ever build another arena when they can't fill the one they have? How can they expect Mick to recruit the top players when nobody comes to the games? He's done a pretty good job in spite of the students' lacking support.

Regardless of wins or losses, you're either a fan or you're not.

[thebearcat]

I am a student who was at the game and have been absolutely disgusted with student attendace. Here is my outlook:
1. Its friday night so eveyone is out partying cause they dont care
2. We not good and Cincinnati is all a bunch of fairweather fans
3. HS game had no impact on the attendance we just cannot draw rght now.

As a part of the student group responsible for this it is causign me stress and frustration as I do not know what esle to do. We get the word out. Everyone should know its just their perogative not to go. Its sad. Its embarassing and im disgusted.
There is no real answer. But I like the fairweather fans answer.

[tophat]

The beauty of college sports is you are actually going to the school that you are rooting for and there is an allegiance to the school. At least that is how I feel and felt when going to UC. I root for UC through the wins and losses and go to games regardless. Unless I was a St. X or Colerain student, I would not have gone to a high school football game over a college basketball game. They are free so don't give me the excuse of good vs. bad product. Games were an experience when I went to UC and the fans add to the experience. It's almost as if UC has to have a dominating sport and football is there right now. Thanksgiving is next week. School is still in. Students are still in town. The students only make themselves look more ridiculous by not showing up right now. It's not making a statement. It's making the program look bad. Why would UC ever build another arena when they can't fill the one they have? How can they expect Mick to recruit the top players when nobody comes to the games? He's done a pretty good job in spite of the students' lacking support.

Regardless of wins or losses, you're either a fan or you're not.

Nice to see somebody gets it. If a student's busy studying that's one thing, but I have trouble believing that's the way all UC students spent a friday evening, and I don't think they're that enthralled by a high school fb match-up. And yes, I do think students have some obligation to support their school's teams.

If this team was totally without talent and possibilities that might be one thing. But if students have bothered to learn anything about this team they should know there IS plenty of talent here -- it's just young talent. Are they to be dismissed just because of a couple poor showings the first week of the season?

This school IS working to put a quality product on the floor, as evidenced by this group of freshmen. Watching this team play poorly and lose to lesser programs is frustrating, no doubt, but by snubbing this team the students are not only disrespecting the players, they are also disrespecting our tradition.

[tophat]

I am a student who was at the game and have been absolutely disgusted with student attendace. Here is my outlook:
1. Its friday night so eveyone is out partying cause they dont care
2. We not good and Cincinnati is all a bunch of fairweather fans
3. HS game had no impact on the attendance we just cannot draw rght now.

As a part of the student group responsible for this it is causign me stress and frustration as I do not know what esle to do. We get the word out. Everyone should know its just their perogative not to go. Its sad. Its embarassing and im disgusted.
There is no real answer. But I like the fairweather fans answer.

It's nice to see someone who cares enough to do something about it. Your post confirms my suspicions. I hope you and others will keep trying.

Last year attendance picked up when BE teams came to town. I hope that happens this year.

[Bp4thebest]

The beauty of college sports is you are actually going to the school that you are rooting for and there is an allegiance to the school. At least that is how I feel and felt when going to UC. I root for UC through the wins and losses and go to games regardless. Unless I was a St. X or Colerain student, I would not have gone to a high school football game over a college basketball game. They are free so don't give me the excuse of good vs. bad product. Games were an experience when I went to UC and the fans add to the experience. It's almost as if UC has to have a dominating sport and football is there right now. Thanksgiving is next week. School is still in. Students are still in town. The students only make themselves look more ridiculous by not showing up right now. It's not making a statement. It's making the program look bad. Why would UC ever build another arena when they can't fill the one they have? How can they expect Mick to recruit the top players when nobody comes to the games? He's done a pretty good job in spite of the students' lacking support.


Regardless of wins or losses, you're either a fan or you're not.

I wanna first say that i was at the game tonight.. im a student but live 20 min from campus.. if i dont work ill be at the games! idk what the record is ill be there supporting them! but first of all, the arena was over half full, the students sections were the least filled though. and when you say when i was a student there.. well if you graduated already then your arguement is easy to say b/c u were there when they were a power house. So you cant say you were there regardless of the product. and when uc was good the arena was always packed.. if every fan was like me or you the arena would be packed, but now a days ppl come support winning products even if its their school.. its like that everywhere.... few places have sold out crowds every year and those places always win. the fan support can help but dont give me that.. we are not the reason they are bad.. plus they played a bad team the same night a football game is going on at a time when papers and exams are everywhere with the break coming up and on top of that basketball is a after math right now to football.. not saying its the way it should be but its how it is.. no matter what ill be there for my cats every time i can just as im there for the reds through rough times! just cant support your arguements

[Bp4thebest]

I am a student who was at the game and have been absolutely disgusted with student attendace. Here is my outlook:
1. Its friday night so eveyone is out partying cause they dont care
2. We not good and Cincinnati is all a bunch of fairweather fans
3. HS game had no impact on the attendance we just cannot draw rght now.

As a part of the student group responsible for this it is causign me stress and frustration as I do not know what esle to do. We get the word out. Everyone should know its just their perogative not to go. Its sad. Its embarassing and im disgusted.
There is no real answer. But I like the fairweather fans answer.

i as a die hard fan can admit how fairweather this city is! i hate it! i wish ppl were like us.. going through hard times actually makes me like the team more b/c i feel good about myself supporting them plus when you give support where ppl dont get it u have a chance to be closer to the players! they respect u more! i stayed after the game tonight and all the players came up to me and gave me a five and a hug! i guess i understand other fans though b/c there is so many of them.. i get discusted with them but hey whatever.. i wish they were here for support the team just so that it makes them better but besides that screw them!

[thebearcat]

Now heres the thing...im a second year student. So I have seen this year and last year. I never saw the glory days I only been here for this and to see turnouts like this is sickening. Now I know it shouldnt matter but I beleive this has a lot to do with the teams we playing. We should be fine when we play Memphis and get into Big East. Not worried about the actual games...Im worried about attendance

[Bp4thebest]

It's nice to see someone who cares enough to do something about it. Your post confirms my suspicions. I hope you and others will keep trying.

Last year attendance picked up when BE teams came to town. I hope that happens this year.

it will.. you will see it for memphis and big east! everyone stick with the cats lets make a difference.. every chance you get tell a player how much you respect them b/c knowing someone likes you without knowing you gives them confidence and for the record all the freshman are good guys.. bishop is sorta gansta but he is a respective man to his peers and appriciative of the support. Alvin is never seen around school and always leaves a different way then the other players i think to avoid fans, but i think its b/c he is uncomfortable to this point! it sucks b/c i waited for him to get a pic with him b/c he is my favorite player.. once he becomes comfortable his play will change and he will knock down shots.. right now he is pushing his shots and i think its he is thinking too much.. but he is still a big body that is contributing! he will be good eventually. (sorry for getting off topic) but keep up the support guys i as a fan respect you guys for this! some ppl just dont get it!

[Bearcat Jeff]

i as a die hard fan can admit how fairweather this city is! i hate it! i wish ppl were like us.. going through hard times actually makes me like the team more b/c i feel good about myself supporting them plus when you give support where ppl dont get it u have a chance to be closer to the players! they respect u more! i stayed after the game tonight and all the players came up to me and gave me a five and a hug! i guess i understand other fans though b/c there is so many of them.. i get discusted with them but hey whatever.. i wish they were here for support the team just so that it makes them better but besides that screw them!

As I posted earlier this month, this city has the worst sports fans in the nation. Rupp Arena would be full no matter how bad the team is. Indiana draws regardless. Louisville fans support their team, even when it is lean. This is not just in regard to the Cincinnati Bearcat basketball team. Why wasn't the football game sold out a couple weeks ago? Why were there 400 student tickets available for the West Virginia game this week? Students make the college environment. The fans in general here will not come unless 1) you are front running 2) ranked or playing someone ranked 3) they are getting screwed by Mike Brown. For some reason the Bengal games sell out no matter how bad they are. This university has a chance to build something special with it's two major sports. It's a shame that people don't play an active part by supporting the team and help draw recruits thru their experience while on campus.

[kirkenka]

Bearcatd - I don't know the last time you went to a game but the shoe hasn't had a great atmosphere for 3 years with or without the students. Although I still attend alot of games and watch all of them on TV, I don't blame anyone for not attending that garbage - free or not. The team will get better but the attendance will probably decline as the losses pile up

[shaunsimpson]

We can make all of the excuses we want but the students are not there because of the bad team.

[cincycpaw]

The ack of student support is awful. It is unfortunately a trend at UC.

Unfortunately, what it will mean is that UC will take a look at the number of Student seats they save for each game. If you reduce the number, you make the big games tougher to get tickets and thus make the lesser games some students chance to see a game. I hate this, but I could see it happening.

It seems the students come out for who UC is playing and not to see the Bearcats.

Any excuse like "I have exams coming up' or 'There was HIGH SCHOOL football' is just plain sad. A game takes 2-3 hours out of a 10 week quarter. Manage your time, going to athletic events are part of the college experience.

[tophat]

Bearcatd - I don't know the last time you went to a game but the shoe hasn't had a great atmosphere for 3 years with or without the students. Although I still attend alot of games and watch all of them on TV, I don't blame anyone for not attending that garbage - free or not. The team will get better but the attendance will probably decline as the losses pile up

I don't think that's true. The last 2 years (plus one week) have seen decreased attendance for sure, but there have been several games that have drawn good crowds that have been really involved. I've singled out the students because they're the bedrock and the place where support should begin. (Not to mention the fact they live there and get in free.)

"Garbage"? A bad team? That's a rather glib way of dismissing a youth dominated team one week into the season. At a true basketball school the students would appreciate the fact that this group of freshmen has tremendous potential, and they would want to watch their progress during the season. They would also consider the effect that losing their best player and currently being without one of their backcourt leaders is having on them.

Let's face it. This is the same student body that was indifferent to the football team for so many years, until the team got so good, the coach so charismatic and the environment so favorable that even UC students could no longer ignore them.

[jplog]

Good point. I think a little more "attitude" from Mick could go a long way with both the fans and his players.

[Bp4thebest]

As I posted earlier this month, this city has the worst sports fans in the nation. Rupp Arena would be full no matter how bad the team is. Indiana draws regardless. Louisville fans support their team, even when it is lean. This is not just in regard to the Cincinnati Bearcat basketball team. Why wasn't the football game sold out a couple weeks ago? Why were there 400 student tickets available for the West Virginia game this week? Students make the college environment. The fans in general here will not come unless 1) you are front running 2) ranked or playing someone ranked 3) they are getting screwed by Mike Brown. For some reason the Bengal games sell out no matter how bad they are. This university has a chance to build something special with it's two major sports. It's a shame that people don't play an active part by supporting the team and help draw recruits thru their experience while on campus.

i bet if the bengals kept losing they wont show up... the bengals use to be a joke to this city thats why its hard to support them... noone use to support them.. atleast alot of people dont! but chances are they will be good enough next year! bengal fans are no different

[Thegreatone]

You guys need to relax. It is a Friday night game verse a team most of the students have never heard of. What did you all expect? We could have won our first three and it wouldnt have been much different. Dont put too much into this.

[Bearcat Jeff]

We can make all of the excuses we want but the students are not there because of the bad team.

See my post above about other programs. That is no excuse and you are proving my point!!!!! Front running fans!! A fan is a fan is a fan is a fan. They hate losing, they can be critical, but they do not abandon their team!! I agree that the Shoe is a horrible place to watch a game. So what? I go to watch my team play and cheer the youngsters on while they attempt to bring the program I love back to prominence. They deserve that. I want to be along for the ride, not jump in the car after we arrive.

[kirkenka]

I was a student during the Kenyon years and I didn't miss too many games, football or basketball and travelled to some games as well.

UC needs to consider lowering the ticket prices in upper arena while the team is down. I think $25 is too much to sit in the top six rows of the stadium when no body is at the game. I bought a partial plan and am only planning on attending those games. I am not a fair weather fan and root for the team and watch every game, but as a consumer I don't think it is worth the money for the current product.

[tophat]

You guys need to relax. It is a Friday night game verse a team most of the students have never heard of. What did you all expect? We could have won our first three and it wouldnt have been much different. Dont put too much into this.

I wouldn't make anything out of this if the turnout were just poor. But 200 students out of a student body of 35,000???? That's beyond poor. That's incomprehensible at a school with a big time tradition and big time recruits who were lured away from programs at which such a turnout would be unthinkable, I don't care what teams they lost to.

I hate to think what's going thru the players' minds when they look into the stands. Hopefully this will be forgotten in January. For now, it's deeply embarrassing.

[shaunsimpson]

See my post above about other programs. That is no excuse and you are proving my point!!!!! Front running fans!!

What are sports? They are entertainment. When you fail to be entertaining you are not going to get kids to give up their Friday night.

Front running fans....I am not one as I have been here for the good and bad of football and now basketball, but do I blame someone from not seeing a questionable product. NO. When did supporting a poor product become a obligation?

If you do not enjoy something then you are not going to do it. Why would you expect others to do it? You think that 18-21 year old kids are going to watch the games because the other kids that are getting free educations deserve it.

To get someone to purchase something you need to provide value to them. I don't think telling someone that they have an obligation to support the team is the way to go about that.

[Brian H.]

Good point. I think a little more "attitude" from Mick could go a long way with both the fans and his players.

I definitely think Mick could use some personality. The things that describe Mick are hardworking, great recruiter, etc. What he is not though is charismatic or fiery. I know most would say that you don't have to be a great people person to win games but if you aren't winning games you better be entertaining. You could walk Mick through the mall and most people wouldn't recognize him, same for the players except for the ones that are tall.


That being said I don't think that really makes that big of difference to the students. Winning does.

[ransohs]

basketball needs brian kelly to hype things up!

im on coop right now, so maybe im out of the loop a little bit...but when i make it back for the weekend i dont hear anything about the basketball games...it seems that the promotions and advertisements are lacking...

i wouldnt be worried though, once the beast schedule starts up, the students will come...

cant wait til i get back to cheer my cats on!

[cincycat1]

student attendence has been lacking i think because right now the entire campus is still buzzing about the football team. once football season is over i expect the students to start to go to more basketball games

[OhioFootball]

I'm a UC student. It's obvious that NOBODY cares about UC basketball. It's a mix. I still hear people complaining about Huggins firing every day and the team hasn't been good. It's gonna take a big turnaround to fix things. People loved Huggins, right or wrong.