Solution to our Basketball Woes

[hammb]

The point is that you can't point to one specific reason why the majority of kids transfer. Kids transfer because of lack of playing time, homesickness, losing, not getting along with the coach, family tragedy, etc. Unfortunately for us, we have seen far too many kids leave, and it has obviously taken a toll on the continuity of the program.

Our problem is that, unless you believe what the official statements are, we are losing all of our kids for the same reason.

[Goose]

Our problem is that, unless you believe what the official statements are, we are losing all of our kids for the same reason.

To be honest, I don't take any stock in the official statement that is realeased regarding the reason why a kid transfers. When you transfer out you give a reason that can be agreed upon by both parties so the University will sign off on the transfer request. If you are a basketball player or a football player, the information gets realeased to the media because the public is interested in the reasons for the transfer. If a kid wants to leave they will agree to any reason as long as the school officials sign off on their release. I had to have a transfer approved as a member of the Track and Cross Country team, and I imagine that the process is pretty much the same for all Varsity Sports.

That being said, my comment was more to point out that winning is not going to solve the transfer problem. As for your comment regarding us losing all our kids for the same reason, aside from a few exceptions, you are probably correct.

[svillefalcon]

I am trying to think of a way to put what I feel about this topic into words without saying the wrong things to upset some people. So here it goes. Someone else has pointed out that we ARE getting good players to commit to the program. It is also the best known secret that we can't keep these kids in the program. Anderson Arena IS NOT the reason these kids are leaving. Let's be real. They aren't going to these other gyms and seeing better facilities, coming back to AA, and saying "I've got to get out of BG, these facilities stink". The kids that are leaving for multiple reasons, and we all know the reasons that have been stated. If the fans would come out on a regular basis and support the team, Anderson Arena would be and is a very valuable component to our success. Unfortunately with fair weather fans, it doesn't matter that a lot of the early games that were losses were close, all they saw was a loss.

I can tell you that it is very hard to get kids to play when there isn't a buzz in the gym. Kids feed off of the adrenaline of playing in front of a crowd, and when they see that there aren't a lot of fans their, and there is a silence that doesn't resemble what a college basketball game, it's tough. There is a reason that teams play music before a game, and have the pep band play when there is one. It's not for the fans, the players really do feed off of that. I would say that we can build a new gym, with better parking, but we better build it in the mold of Anderson Arena. Make the lobby bigger, make the lockerroom area bigger, but build the floor and the stands just like the House that Roars. Having the students on top of the action is what makes BG special. It's what gave us a big advantage back in the middle and late 90's when I was there. I understand the concerns of the fans that don't show up to the games. I'm only talking about the ones that aren't students that is. Students get in free, and most of them can walk to the game. Get your lazy butt out and support the teams. I understand that there are classes and studying, and that is very important. But part of the college experience is going out and watching the games, and supporting your university. I know I miss those days, and I'm sure everyone that's not a student on here does also.

Coach Dakich is I'm sure quite to blame for the transfers. I've said before that his harsh style is very difficult to take for a lot of these kids these days. I've documented on here what I feel is wrong with the type of kids that are good players. Most of them have been catered(forgive the spelling if it's wrong) for most of their playing days, and they have quite a bit given to them. The successful programs can keep these kids happy, because they are winning, and they usually have a tradition of winning. Winning keeps most kids happy, getting to the NCAA's makes kids happy, and that is why kids stay. They also have coaches that are tough, and most coaches try to make the kids better men, but they have a way with the kids that isn't so abrasive. I love Coach Dakich, and I love what he stands for. This is the first year that I can see, that all the kids seem to have given up on him. But I'm not sure that they all gave up on him, I think that there are other issues that were there, and if someone wonders, I'll let them know later. Some of those issues were stated above already. I don't know what the answer is, and I seem to have written a novel, and I apologize about that, but I think that there is a little bit of everything that needs to be fixed in the situation we have right now.

Bullseye!

Brilliant post, Houston. My hat's off to you.....and what is left of my hair.

I agree with a lot of this, almost all of it. I just believe that facilities have a much bigger impact than all of you think, i didnt say its the biggest reason, because there is no "biggest" reason why kids transfer...its a bunch of different reasons. I'm just saying that nowadays kids want to play in state-of-the art facilities, and when our new arena/convocation center is built, we will see a larger amount of players want to play here. But, again as i said before, coaching should be #1 on the minds of all of us. Lets see what DD can do in the final year of his contract. We will have a senior lead team, and historically, as someone else said, DD does well with a senior lead group

GO FALCONS!

[bgsufalcon24]

I am trying to think of a way to put what I feel about this topic into words without saying the wrong things to upset some people. So here it goes. Someone else has pointed out that we ARE getting good players to commit to the program. It is also the best known secret that we can't keep these kids in the program. Anderson Arena IS NOT the reason these kids are leaving. Let's be real. They aren't going to these other gyms and seeing better facilities, coming back to AA, and saying "I've got to get out of BG, these facilities stink". The kids that are leaving for multiple reasons, and we all know the reasons that have been stated. If the fans would come out on a regular basis and support the team, Anderson Arena would be and is a very valuable component to our success. Unfortunately with fair weather fans, it doesn't matter that a lot of the early games that were losses were close, all they saw was a loss.

I can tell you that it is very hard to get kids to play when there isn't a buzz in the gym. Kids feed off of the adrenaline of playing in front of a crowd, and when they see that there aren't a lot of fans their, and there is a silence that doesn't resemble what a college basketball game, it's tough. There is a reason that teams play music before a game, and have the pep band play when there is one. It's not for the fans, the players really do feed off of that. I would say that we can build a new gym, with better parking, but we better build it in the mold of Anderson Arena. Make the lobby bigger, make the lockerroom area bigger, but build the floor and the stands just like the House that Roars. Having the students on top of the action is what makes BG special. It's what gave us a big advantage back in the middle and late 90's when I was there. I understand the concerns of the fans that don't show up to the games. I'm only talking about the ones that aren't students that is. Students get in free, and most of them can walk to the game. Get your lazy butt out and support the teams. I understand that there are classes and studying, and that is very important. But part of the college experience is going out and watching the games, and supporting your university. I know I miss those days, and I'm sure everyone that's not a student on here does also.

Coach Dakich is I'm sure quite to blame for the transfers. I've said before that his harsh style is very difficult to take for a lot of these kids these days. I've documented on here what I feel is wrong with the type of kids that are good players. Most of them have been catered(forgive the spelling if it's wrong) for most of their playing days, and they have quite a bit given to them. The successful programs can keep these kids happy, because they are winning, and they usually have a tradition of winning. Winning keeps most kids happy, getting to the NCAA's makes kids happy, and that is why kids stay. They also have coaches that are tough, and most coaches try to make the kids better men, but they have a way with the kids that isn't so abrasive. I love Coach Dakich, and I love what he stands for. This is the first year that I can see, that all the kids seem to have given up on him. But I'm not sure that they all gave up on him, I think that there are other issues that were there, and if someone wonders, I'll let them know later. Some of those issues were stated above already. I don't know what the answer is, and I seem to have written a novel, and I apologize about that, but I think that there is a little bit of everything that needs to be fixed in the situation we have right now.

Basically what I'm interpreting this as is, Anderson Arena has absolutely nothing to do with our transfer problem, and that coach Dakich is almost completely responsible for the problem. At least he was during this past season. I have been very hard on coach Dakich since coming to BGSU and I don't find him to be very competent as a coach, especially when the game is on the line. However, I find it hard to pin all the blame on him when our program prestige is ordinary and our facilities are mediocre at best. One man cannot control all the variables that go into running a program. While Anderson Arena may not be making our transfer problem worse, it certainly isn't helping the situation either.

Houston, I like your comment about the students here at BG, I would agree that our students don't have enough spirit and really need to get out to support our teams much more than they do right now. It's actually quite depressing that we have as many supporters of OSU and scUM in the dorm where I am as we do of BG. It's almost like they don't know what school they are going to.

[Salsa]

I came to BG in 1966 and can tell you that from then through the next 15-20 years student and other fan support was very strong. Even when weak MAC teams (during that period Kent St. was probably the best example) came to Anderson Arena the place was packed or close to it. Frequently, attendance was well over listed capacity. In fact, the Fire Dept. eventually had to restrict attendance in order to conform to fire laws. This is how Anderson Arena became known as "The House that Roars".

When we had big out of conference games or played against MAC rivals such as Miami, Ohio, or Toledo, students would mass outside of Anderson Arena long before game time waiting for the doors to open. Hundreds of students had to be turned away.

Anyone who witnessed that situation would have no doubts about BG's ability to fill a considerably larger arena. And remember, the student population then was 10,000 or so.

The question is, why have things changed?

Here are a few possibilities.

1-Enrollment has changed. BG used to have a policy that balanced enrollment 50% men-50% women.
2-There were few hoops games on TV.
3-During the 60s, 70s, and 80s, far fewer students had to work while they were going to school.

I have to admit that I have very few ideas about what's behind the change.

I don't, however, think we can explain the change in attendance and enthusiasm simply because the team has not been as successful as we would like. And I can claim beyond a doubt that Dakich is a much better coach than several that we had during those "good times".

[dduncan]

1-Enrollment has changed. BG used to have a policy that balanced enrollment 50% men-50% women.
2-There were few hoops games on TV.
3-During the 60s, 70s, and 80s, far fewer students had to work while they were going to school.

I have to admit that I have very few ideas about what's behind the change.

College students these days would rather spend their time on the internet, playing video games, watch their team that they rooted for while in HS on TV, or watch anything else that may be on TV.

It's simple, find a way to win games and the students will be back. Lose and they will be gone. What have you done lately...

[CrazyFan]

I am trying to think of a way to put what I feel about this topic into words without saying the wrong things to upset some people. So here it goes. Someone else has pointed out that we ARE getting good players to commit to the program. It is also the best known secret that we can't keep these kids in the program. Anderson Arena IS NOT the reason these kids are leaving. Let's be real. They aren't going to these other gyms and seeing better facilities, coming back to AA, and saying "I've got to get out of BG, these facilities stink". The kids that are leaving for multiple reasons, and we all know the reasons that have been stated. If the fans would come out on a regular basis and support the team, Anderson Arena would be and is a very valuable component to our success. Unfortunately with fair weather fans, it doesn't matter that a lot of the early games that were losses were close, all they saw was a loss.

I can tell you that it is very hard to get kids to play when there isn't a buzz in the gym. Kids feed off of the adrenaline of playing in front of a crowd, and when they see that there aren't a lot of fans their, and there is a silence that doesn't resemble what a college basketball game, it's tough. There is a reason that teams play music before a game, and have the pep band play when there is one. It's not for the fans, the players really do feed off of that. I would say that we can build a new gym, with better parking, but we better build it in the mold of Anderson Arena. Make the lobby bigger, make the lockerroom area bigger, but build the floor and the stands just like the House that Roars. Having the students on top of the action is what makes BG special. It's what gave us a big advantage back in the middle and late 90's when I was there. I understand the concerns of the fans that don't show up to the games. I'm only talking about the ones that aren't students that is. Students get in free, and most of them can walk to the game. Get your lazy butt out and support the teams. I understand that there are classes and studying, and that is very important. But part of the college experience is going out and watching the games, and supporting your university. I know I miss those days, and I'm sure everyone that's not a student on here does also.

Coach Dakich is I'm sure quite to blame for the transfers. I've said before that his harsh style is very difficult to take for a lot of these kids these days. I've documented on here what I feel is wrong with the type of kids that are good players. Most of them have been catered(forgive the spelling if it's wrong) for most of their playing days, and they have quite a bit given to them. The successful programs can keep these kids happy, because they are winning, and they usually have a tradition of winning. Winning keeps most kids happy, getting to the NCAA's makes kids happy, and that is why kids stay. They also have coaches that are tough, and most coaches try to make the kids better men, but they have a way with the kids that isn't so abrasive. I love Coach Dakich, and I love what he stands for. This is the first year that I can see, that all the kids seem to have given up on him. But I'm not sure that they all gave up on him, I think that there are other issues that were there, and if someone wonders, I'll let them know later. Some of those issues were stated above already. I don't know what the answer is, and I seem to have written a novel, and I apologize about that, but I think that there is a little bit of everything that needs to be fixed in the situation we have right now.

Basically what I'm interpreting this as is, Anderson Arena has absolutely nothing to do with our transfer problem, and that coach Dakich is almost completely responsible for the problem. At least he was during this past season. I have been very hard on coach Dakich since coming to BGSU and I don't find him to be very competent as a coach, especially when the game is on the line. However, I find it hard to pin all the blame on him when our program prestige is ordinary and our facilities are mediocre at best. One man cannot control all the variables that go into running a program. While Anderson Arena may not be making our transfer problem worse, it certainly isn't helping the situation either.

Houston, I like your comment about the students here at BG, I would agree that our students don't have enough spirit and really need to get out to support our teams much more than they do right now. It's actually quite depressing that we have as many supporters of OSU and scUM in the dorm where I am as we do of BG. It's almost like they don't know what school they are going to.

Wow. That is the smartest, most unbiased statement I've ever heard from you 24. Thank you!!

[Lord_Byron]

This is the problem. We're allowing Diet Pepsi into the arena.

[ZiggyZoomba]

This is the problem. We're allowing Diet Pepsi into the arena.

Very few games go by that I don't enjoy a Snickers bar and a Diet Pepsi... if they stopped serving Diet Pepsi... I might transfer!

[svillefalcon]

This is the problem. We're allowing Diet Pepsi into the arena.

Very few games go by that I don't enjoy a Snickers bar and a Diet Pepsi... if they stopped serving Diet Pepsi... I might transfer!

this was what i was talking about when i said duct tape holding the bleachers together...theres your evidence right there

[TG1996]

I think the duct-taped bleachers is an ugly scar of age, and definitely a cosmetic (if not safety) detriment to AA, but I think it's a far cry from claiming that it's "falling apart".

[Rightupinthere]

This is the problem. We're allowing Diet Pepsi into the arena.

Very few games go by that I don't enjoy a Snickers bar and a Diet Pepsi... if they stopped serving Diet Pepsi... I might transfer!

this was what i was talking about when i said duct tape holding the bleachers together...theres your evidence right there

Actually you stated, "There is duct tape holding together a lot of the bleachers." I asked for clarification as to the quantification of "a lot". This picture shows "a three foot section of" bleachers.

I'm now bored. I'm going to go read some of my actuarial lessons.

[orangeandbrown]

The bleachers on the end of the arena are also in very bad shape.

[Flipper]

sville...you're arguing semantics with a guy who wants to be an actuary...give up now, there is no hope for you.