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December 20, 2006
Zac Hunter chips in his two cents while bloggin' from Boston.I have my plane ticket. I have my game ticket. And I'm bringing sexy back to Allen Fieldhouse. It feels like ages since I saw a game there but it was only last February against Oklahoma. Sitting in the worst seats in the best basketball arena in America, my dad and I lost our voices in the final eight minutes of that game as KU made a furious comeback to get by the Sooners. I left that game drained, leaving only enough in the tank to make it to Louise's West for a free hamburger and a couple of schooners.The Fieldhouse was loud and uncomfortable that day, my friends. I was hit in the head on several occasions by the person sitting behind me. The same person had his knee wedged in the middle of my back for the better part of two hours. I spilled Sprite all over my shoes. It was hot. It was loud. And it was great. That's what I'm expecting for the Boston College game on Saturday.But am I expecting too much? I haven't heard a lot of good things about the population of AFH this season, but it's certainly understandable. Boston College is the first big-name team to venture into Lawrence this season, and other than the game against Florida, the Jayhawks haven't exactly set the world on fire. My friend Shawn, season ticket holder and lifelong KU fan, said these are some of the worst crowds he's ever seen in the old barn. And mind you he attended KU with the likes of Eric Chenowith, Luke Axtell and Lester Earl. If we can get loud for Boostman and a country music superstar, we can get Arrowhead loud for Julian Wright, Mario Chalmers and the rest of the 'Hawks.There's been so much drama focused on the players only showing up against good teams and how the 'Hawks seem disinterested in playing teams like Oral Roberts, Dartmouth and Winston-Salem State. The same attitudes are being displayed by the fans. The 'Hawk faithful seem to show up when they want to. They cheer when they want to. Roy Williams once called out the "wine and cheese" fans for sitting on their hands. This year's crowds are Arbor Mist and Velveeta in comparison.So, this Saturday, I propose we wipe the slate clean on all sides. This Saturday we'll fill the Fieldhouse all the way to the rafters. This Saturday we'll forget about Oral Roberts and DePaul. This Saturday we will focus on what season we have left instead of the one-third that is over. This Saturday Bill Self will stop talking about how we need to find a leader. This Saturday Brandon Rush will stop saying the 'Hawks overlooked an opponent. This Saturday Julian Wright will own the Eagles the way he owned the Gators. This Saturday, all of us, will stop talking and start doing. Although we can't control what the players do, we can give them a reason to play hard. If we all do our part, we can make Allen Fieldhouse more than just a place to watch a basketball game. We can make it uncomfortable again.Show up. Be loud. Wear blue. And don't forget Louise's West for the burgers and beer.
Comments
kylecisnum1 (anonymous) says...
this is an amazing article!!! i totally agree with this. after watching the game last night, (and i know it was just winston-salem) i compared the ku student section to duke's. Cameron Indoor and AFH are supposed to be two of the toughest places to play in the country. i noticed at duke, the students were consistently loud. then when i switched to ku, students are "hooting" during free throws. YELL!! make the place as loud as you can, make the building shake. and geanted the students cant do it all. all the fans that go need to get up and not be afraid to show some passion! i would if i could but unfortunately for me, tickets are a little hard to come by. but for those who do have that luxury, take advantage of it and make Allen Fieldhouse a place to be feared, intimidating oppents that dare enter The Phog!
December 20, 2006 at 3:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwrist (Chris Wristen) says...
Great column Hunter. Yeah, the toned down crowds are noticeable on TV, and in person it's a paltry showing. It seemed to be that way somewhat last year, but this year the volume has been turned down even more. Part of that is the lack of competition to be excited for, but part of it also should be attributed to the KU students giving up a portion of their seats to the athletics department in return for having an addition built on at the rec center. Then there is the particular clientele attending games nowadays. A couple years ago I spoke with one of the ushers at a game who I'd gotten to know pretty good as a reporter. He told me he'd worked the games for a couple decades and knew most of the people by name sitting in the section where he worked. He said - and this was three years ago - that he wasn't recognizing a lot of people anymore, that it was different people every game, and a lot of them left early on a regular basis. They got corporate tickets, so they were there for the free tickets, not because they loved the Jayhawks.
Still, I'm totally with you on this one. I want the noise and the atmosphere, and I'm expecting it to be that way Saturday with a lot of alumni back in town over the holidays.
Cheers!
December 21, 2006 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bg97 (anonymous) says...
It's embarassing-Nice work Hunter. Thousands of empty seats, plenty of leg room for my coat/sweatshirt. Well guess what, I don't want legroom. If I wanted comfort, I'd sit on my fat rear at home and watch the game. You don't even have to get there when the gate opens to get a solid seat in GA. 30 minuets prior and your set. No need to hurry, the students aren't filling it up.
They better figure it out real quick, because Lew's pretty smart. Students need to be in those seats or KU will start packaging them elsewhere for quadruple the price.
December 21, 2006 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FlaHawk (anonymous) says...
Excellent article! The lack of fan participation is noticeable especialy on TV. AFH is no match for Cameron Indoor Stadium, but then again it is almost twice as large and the students are not as aggressive!
When I hear the fans on Messsage Boards threatening to boo Dean Smith, I realized how low some of the KU faithful have fallen! Give me the fans of the 90's when Roy was build a record consecutive win streak. Few Corporate types around then, just die hard KU fans!
rock chalk jayhawks!
December 21, 2006 at 11:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwrist (Chris Wristen) says...
Listen to the Spodcasters broadcast on KUSports.com right now. Gary Bedore picks BC to win, and he cites the fans' lack of presence for it. Once again, right-on Hunter.
December 21, 2006 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sherricoale_is_hot (anonymous) says...
I'd have to disagree on this one, Hunter. In the words of the incomparable Dale Earnhardt, "Finishing races is important, but racing is more important." No. 3 never needed huge crowds to get him going. If the Jayhawks rely on huge crowds to win, it's over before it's over. One more quote from the Intimidator that I think perfectly sums up this subject: "It's a never ending battle of making your cars better and also trying to be better yourself."
December 21, 2006 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kylecisnum1 (anonymous) says...
fans dont really effect the racers while they're racing though. in basketball the fans are supposed to rattle the visiting team because in basketball, players can hear the fans. in racing, all they hear is whats coming through their mics and the car.
December 22, 2006 at 8:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )