begging for attendance

[TG1996]

Not that our non-student fans are an impressive lot either.

I don't think it's fair to judge an entire segment of the fan base on one or two old guys that sit around you.

[AyZiggy97]

Not that our non-student fans are an impressive lot either.

I don't think it's fair to judge an entire segment of the fan base on one or two old guys that sit around you.

LOL!!!

Actually, we need more of 'em.

[daspollak]

We are a minor league baseball team. Next year the logo on the helmet will be replaced by an advertisement.

[professorjackson]

"We are a minor league baseball team. Next year the logo on the helmet will be replaced by an advertisement."

Not quite. Minor league baseball teams are a business, and if they don't make money or break even they go out of business. Not saying BGSU athletics should necessarily go out of business.

It seems to me like BGSU does so much to manufacture school spirit and create an identity, when with the schools with lasting spirit and a permanent identity it seems to develop more naturally.

[1987alum]

It seems to me like BGSU does so much to manufacture school spirit and create an identity, when with the schools with lasting spirit and a permanent identity it seems to develop more naturally.

Well, it had to start somewhere. There was a time when the Ice Arena was absolutely packed - when the students were such a force to be reckoned with that they actually had an impact on the game (I can recall a game against UIC where Section A literally took the Flames goalie out of the game).

But times change and the athletic department is looking to rebuild spirit and identity. At the same time, I'm seeing a greater effort to market the university's academic programs and identity. Personally, I applaud both efforts.

[VDub26Falcon]

I know you hate the athletic department, professor, but there is no need to rip on them for trying to create a fan-base. The kids that wouldn't usually come to a game might come now and they might enjoy it and want to come back. I think it is GREAT that they are doing things like this and I hope they do it for hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis and every other event that can be attended by Falcon Fans.

GREAT WORK ATHLETIC MARKETING!!! KEEP IT UP!!!

[NWLB]

Not saying BGSU athletics should necessarily go out of business.

....necessarily.

It seems to me like BGSU does so much to manufacture school spirit and create an identity, when with the schools with lasting spirit and a permanent identity it seems to develop more naturally.

BGSU doesn't do enough of anything, and what they do isn't of the lasting kind. Cheap one-time tricks are too common and no effective.

They need to be insidious, consistent, and innovative. They aren't. It might help if they hired real talent and paid it more than a triffle to re-run the same low-budget tricks. That would also require giving the person a budget.

[VDub26Falcon]

Don't you DARE give any more money to the athletic department! Do you want professorjackson to have an aneurysm!?!?!?

[factman]

Do you really want me to answer that?

[Ydfalcon]

Do you really want me to answer that?

Just as long as you don't necessarily say you want him to.

[It's the Journey...]

I know you hate the athletic department, professor, but there is no need to rip on them for trying to create a fan-base. The kids that wouldn't usually come to a game might come now and they might enjoy it and want to come back. I think it is GREAT that they are doing things like this and I hope they do it for hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis and every other event that can be attended by Falcon Fans.

GREAT WORK ATHLETIC MARKETING!!! KEEP IT UP!!!

Have you met Dr. Jackson? My guess is no. If you would have ever taken the time to sit down and talk with him you would know your accusation that he hates the athletic department is bat s**t crazy! You do know the name of the institution is Bowling Green State University and not Bowling Green Athletics University? The picture of this University is MUCH larger than the athletic department.

Nathan, you hit the nail on the head. We don't do anything new in marketing, period! It is all the same stuff that has been tried and failed for at least the last 15 years if not longer. Because we don't have a comprehensive marketing plan that cuts across all sports we are wasting money that could be used for equipment or scholarships. I am quite disappointed that "18 sports, 1 team" has turned out to be nothing more than a catch phrase because I thought it had potential to be that one unified marketing theme.

1987alum, you are correct when you say the development of school spirit has to start somewhere. However, that somewhere has been at square 1 every semester for the last 15 years or more. When is starting somewhere going to provide a foundation for building? I'm tired of seeing us start over all the time. It's a waste of time and money.

[LowryFalcon]

Ive been going to BGSU sports since 1990. In the late 90's Anderson Arena was packed and at that time lived up to its name "The house that roars". It wasn't until Urban Meyer came in that the doyt was packed but shortly after simmered back down.

Part of the problem is the support of the town. Granted there are a lot of fans in BG and all over the US but most of the population of BG has no idea when or where BG is playing. I went to BW's last night to get some wings with the wife and watch the BG-Xavier game. We went to frickers first but they weren't showing the game there. When I got to BW's the first thing I asked was if they were gonna show the game. They had no idea it was even on! After telling the manager what channel it was on, my wife and I sat back and watched the game. There were a few high school kids that came in and when they saw them on TV one kid said, "WOW BG is on tv?" Seriously?
BG really needs to brodcast things better. No one knows whats going on. If I was to walk around BG and just randomly ask people when the BG-Akron game was, I bet most of the time they wouldnt know. If I was to ask people who Freddie Barnes was Id probably get the same response.

This horrible support is something thats been going on for years, its nothing new. The only way the Falcons will pack the Doyt game in game out or any other sport for that matter is if they go undefeated. It seems if we start the season off great we get lots of "butts" in the seats but if we lose at home then I can predict there will be a lot less people attending the next home game. I know most of you will argue with me here but really some how we need to change this trend. In my mind the main problem goes back to Ohio State and Michigan. With out looking at any numbers or polls I can tell you that atleast 90% of people in just wood county alone are either Michigan or Ohio State fans. Because of this we are seen as a second rate team. Alot of people ive talked football with before didnt even know BG was in the FBS. We need to somehow get support in BG!!! The Falcons come first for me and I hope someday this will happen for more people around here.

[professorjackson]

Guys, I don't hate the athletic department. I don't hate any part of BGSU. But I do like to think about the place of athletics in universities in general, and BGSU in particular.

[Redwingtom]

Additional promotions for the community:

- $9 ticket (normally $20) if you bring two non-perishable Meijer brand products with you.
- Free youth ticket with the purchase of a regular priced adult ticket.

[daspollak]

If BG needs butts in the seats they can go with just two options:

1. Win! This makes it easier to sell a team. Everyone can get behind a winner regardless of who they play. Look at TCU, Utah, and Boise. They will fill the stadium even if they are playing the last place team in their non-BCS conference. CMU stands have looked pretty good lately, because they are winners.

2. Sell your souls and get a good team to play here. This one is a little more difficult. Big names sell tickets. I wish we could get UM, OSU, or PSU to play us in a large stadium with it being a home game for us. If you want a ticket you have to be a Falcon Club member. Bang huge cash flow for us, and our attendance looks better. For this really to be a viable option the NCAA needs to put in limits on how many home games a team can have, but that will never happen.