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It was the most crowded game I have yet to see but yet everytime Akron went to the free throw line the band just sat there. No yelling, no hand waving, no nothing. Were they scared too? I never seen anything like that in my life. Maybe Romeo Travis may have missed some of the free throws with some movement behind the line. After being on the road to see the Marshall, Ohio, and Green Bay fans I am rather disapointed that we don't have the support the other schools have. They have hundreds of fans and they get into it. As a parent I am yelling and making all kinds of noise but sitting with quiet parents that clap and thats it. One woman looked at me as if I was crazy. I yell because repeatedly over the years I get request and compliments about cheering. I know from my kids that support of the fans is a motivater. My children love to hear their mother, father and fans cheer for them.

I guess attendance will decrease with even less support since we have lost the last two games. After discussing this after the game there were mixed comments about. What do you all think. How can we get more support from the fans, the band, and even the parents?

Well as someone who was front row with the students I was trying my best to make things loud, and it worked in the first half, but in the second half most seemed to stop caring, and then Akron starting on their run

Mrs. Miller, it's awesome to have parents like you who will cheer NO MATTER WHAT the score is. That's amazing and I'm sure Nate (and your other boy) expects and thrives on it!

It was a good crowd in Anderson today. $5 tickets got a lot of would-be homebodies out to the game.

Unfortunately, you, and many on this site who haven't been around for too long, have never seen/heard Anderson Arena when it's in a frenzy. It's an experience unlike any other. Honest-to-God, there's almost nowhere I'd rather be than a lathered up Anderson Arena.

Last REALLY amazing crowd like that I can remember was against this same Akron school 4 or so years ago when Angie (Andy to the newcomers) Hipsher was on their team and was TOTALLY neutralized by the crowd. It was SO loud... I get goosebumps thinking about that night.

The sad reality of it is, we got beat by 21 at home today. People were leaving midway through the second half. It got ugly. I don't know how many of those $5 first timers will be back. It's a shame too...

I'm at the point where I love going to BG basketball games no matter what. No, I didn't like getting beaten by 21 on our (too hard) floor, but I still loved being there. BGSU basketball is part of who I am. I fear there aren't too many people like me around anymore though. Die-hards who will be there cheering no matter what. There are some regulars, probably about 1000 of us... the rest are fickle and won't come back after seeing what they saw today.

As for being vocal. People enjoy games differently. I can't fault people for "just clapping." Just as I can't fault you for being loud and vocal!

I've been going to BG basketball games for 29 years now... since I was 8. I remember all sorts of things, all sorts of fans, and it takes all kinds. Keep coming, keep yelling, keep making people look at you like you're crazy!! That's what it's all about. When all is said and done though, have fun, no matter what the outcome of the game is.

the place really did roar in the past. It is a great experience when it happens. Too bad it hasn't happened in years. My guess is it will happen with the women before we see it again with the men.

The EMU women's game last year was the loudest and best crowd I've seen/heard in there since the Matela/Pardon/McLeod era.

If you aren't a die-hard, like most of the people that frequent this board, the product on the court hasn't often been "worth" cheering since that time. I realize that most around here think it's always worth cheering, no matter how good the team is, but casual basketball or BG fans don't feel the same way.

The women are going to end up out-drawing the men this year, and they'll still probably only average 1500-2000.

I appreciate the wonderful support by our parents. We had a decent and generally involved crowd for 25 minutes of the game. We need to get more students (and all) more vocally involved. It is tough when we can't get the rebound, get dunked on and so on. Sometimes the other team does get on a roll.

Winning is the single biggest thing, but by making the games the place to gather for a weekend event or midweek break with your friends will help. I see many of our student leaders there. Personally, I would like to see more response from our Greek community. I would think our fraternities and sororities would be more visible at the games. These folks are generally quite active and often do things as a body.

Don't forget we are on a three day holiday weekend at the university and I would guess that about 25% of the on campus students went home. Just guessing.

Keep cheering; bring your friends. And so will I.

Go Falcons!

On the note of the Greeks. Other than KKPsi and TBS, I don't know of many, if any, greek organizations that frequent the sporting events. I never have either except for the sisters of Alpha Gamma Delta, and that was only at hockey games. The greeks seem to have their own agenda, and anything to do with the school doesn't seem to be anywhere on it anymore.


On the band note. Its hard to hold today against them. They get very little appreciation from the fans, coaches and players (with the exception of the football team this year, if Mrs. Brandon reads this, please convey my appreciation for the team's showing at the sounds of the stadium concert to the coach) around here. I'm by no means calling anyone out on this, bands usually don't get a whole lot of appreciation, but they're out there playing their best and hardest and when the team comes out with a showing like they did today its hard to keep those energy levels so high. There are also other key factors that aren't appropriate for discussion outside of the band community, or even inside the band community. There were two sections that I know were giving it their all the entire game as they always do: the trombones, and the euphs!

Well...the Ice Arena can get plenty loud when you put more than 250 people in there, but a packed Anderson Arena is pretty awesome.

The UT game when Fitch went nuts in the second half was great too.

I think if the team stays together, builds an identity and starts winning consistently again, the crowds will come back. Things have been in disarray the past couple of years

The discussion I was in after the game was real simular to many of the post on here. I know I am only 1 person and I am going to play my part in being a positive, loud, supporting fan whether we win or loose. It was just frustrating to see the band and the dance team just sit as if it were us at the free throw line or as if the they were at a movie.

I applaud the front row of fans that dress up and yell at the refs and players. They are representing! That is what I am accustomed to. I wish there were more.

We simply got beat out played. In my many years of travel to games all over the country I know that fans can almost as if they were playing contribute to a game. I just thought I would throw the topic out there to get a response. Don't mean to step on toes or make waves but I was wondering what if anything we can do to get fans, the band, and dancers more involved outside of winning?

Flipper wrote:Well...the Ice Arena can get plenty loud when you put more than 250 people in there, but a packed Anderson Arena is pretty awesome.

The UT game when Fitch went nuts in the second half was great too.

I think if the team stays together, builds an identity and starts winning consistently again, the crowds will come back. Things have been in disarray the past couple of years

Flip: In the Golden Era of BG hockey, the Ice Arena was an incredible venue, largely because the fans really new the game (and, of course, were so "organized").

When AA is packed and the crowd is tuned in, it is a great place to be.

ZiggyZoomba wrote:It's an experience unlike any other. Honest-to-God, there's almost nowhere I'd rather be than a lathered up Anderson Arena.

I completely agree. There is just something about walking in to a packed Anderson with the pep band blaring, preferably Satisfaction, during the pre-game warm ups. After a 10-0 run and a dunk with the other team calling a timeout I sometimes thought I was going to pass out when I would hear the drum start to beat Rock& Roll Part II. There are very few feelings I can associate with pure joy, but being in a packed Anderson with the crowd roaring is one of them, for me at least.

As to the last few years there is the Toledo comeback/Fitch game and also the bracket buster UALR game in which we blew a big lead only to hold on and win in the final minutes which was also a loud and FUN crowd.

I was definitely into how the cheering was going the first half. That was the best it's been since I've been coming to games. I was clapping and cheering along and it was a lot of fun.

I don't mean to offend anyone with my next comment...but this something that stops me from getting too riled up.

I don't think children should be allowed in the student section. I welcome adults and alumni (as I am both), but when kids are around, it really dampens my spirit on the game because I am trying to be respectful.

I asked my husband to move down by the Animal's section because I want to make fun of opposing player and yell at the Refs (which I do anyway), but he has sat in the same spot for eight years. We shouldn't have to move because there are children present. And we shouldn't have to feel like we are holding our tongues because of them either. We are in the STUDENT section.

I just think that section should be adults only. Having kids in that section promotes the sitting down for the whole game and to me, the "quiet" atmosphere.

Just some food for thought...try not to flame away at me

I was debating whether or not to bring this up, but I guess it fits here as well as anywhere.

I only really started going to BG basketball games mid-season last year, but to me, it seems that - unless the place is packed - what makes Anderson a tough venue is the fact that the fans are on the floor, right on top of opposing players and officials.

What bugs me is that more than a few times this season, I (or some of the other fans) have been told to sit down by others and - more to the point of this post - at the game the other day, the official told me, and this is a direct quote, "if you say one more word to me, I'll throw your ass out". I think he was talking to me, but it could've been any one of us. Now, I'll admit, I've said my fair share of nasty things to officials, but in this case I was keeping it clean and merely arguing a call (or repetitive non-call) and suddenly he snapped at me. It was the first thing I said to/at him all game, and he blew up. Granted, it was through a megaphone, but it seemed pretty unnecessary to me.

I think this sort of reprimand from the officials as well as from fellow fans is one factor that is taking some of the noise out of AA.

We, as fans, need to be more unified and act as one to get our teams rolling in these games. There's nothing better than seeing our players feed off the crowd noise and seeing the taunts of the fans get into the opposing players heads. Rather than just cheering when we suddenly make a run-stopping three or when we get a big basket every once in a while, we need to be loud all game long. I've seen what it can do (women v. EMU last season), and I wish it would happen more often.

Given that not too long ago someone was praising one of Dakich's kids for calling an opposing fan a b*tch, maybe you shouldn't worry about the kids.