Siena Madness Feedback?

[billmurray]

Did anyone attend and if so was there anything to be taken from it or worth sharing?

[SaintMisbehavin]

I did not attend, but see that 4guysinblazers posted a synopsis:

4guysinblazers.com/fans-turnout-for-madness/5128

Sounds like an event light on basketball, heavy on student tickets and carbs. I kid, genuinely happy that the basketball program held an event like this to drum up student support.

[Sienafan]

I wasn't there, but Javion Ogunyemi was. And he loved it. So you can take from that the fact that there's a better than average chance he officially becomes a Saint next week.

You can also take from the dunking contest that was held that everyone on the team can dunk - including Brookins and Hymes at 5'10 & 5'8, respectively.

[siena2003]

This Siena team should be VERY confident this season !!!

[nygnep]

Sounds like a great time, wish we could have made it, but alas it was not to be.

I've often wondered if Siena has lost recruits to other schools (like Vaughn Gray to George Mason) because of these types of events.

It would be awesome to see significant improvement in student attendance at the TUC this season. Even though we old timers can hold our own, there's nothing like the vibe when the kids are there in numbers and desire.

I'm really looking forward to this season.

GO SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!

[DelmartianEd]

Oct 17, 2012 15:58:19 GMT -5 nygnep said:

It would be awesome to see significant improvement in student attendance at the TUC this season. Even though we old timers can hold our own, there's nothing like the vibe when the kids are there in numbers and desire.

They gotta work out how to get the students to and from campus better, or what to do when the students are waiting for the bus to come back. You ever hang around after the game on S Pearl Street? If those kids miss the first round of buses, they wait outside for 20 minutes in the Albany winter for their ride to come back. And then they literally fight their way into the bus doors. That's why the student section clears out at the end of games even worse than the blue-hair sections.

Aren't there any other backstage rooms in the TUC that they could use as a staging/reception area for students who're waiting for the buses?

[pshift2]

I remember spending many nights out in the cold as a student and a bunch of us just carpooled and split the parking fee. The other thing that could be hurting attendance is the fact that dog pound membership is $35. Back in 2007 tickets were completely free (and I think $10 for the t-shirt). There happened to be around 1200 student members of the dog pound that year. Just some food for thought.

[Deleted]

Oct 17, 2012 23:29:22 GMT -5 pshift2 said:

I remember spending many nights out in the cold as a student and a bunch of us just carpooled and split the parking fee. The other thing that could be hurting attendance is the fact that dog pound membership is $35. Back in 2007 tickets were completely free (and I think $10 for the t-shirt). There happened to be around 1200 student members of the dog pound that year. Just some food for thought.

Siena has always had good student support in general. Some years better than others and compared to other MAAC schools. Since you were a student not to long ago would you stay its the price of tickets, transportation, or based on how well the team is doing that effects turnout the most.

[pshift2]

Transportation had basically zero effect on whether or not we would go. The biggest effect was how the team was doing and when the games were. But if the team started playing well and you didn't join the dog pound you were kinda out of luck for tickets unless you had someone to give you theirs. A season like this is a great example. The expectations are a little lower than when I was here so naturally not as many students will sign up for the dog pound. But if they start playing well everyone will want to go and they simply won't be able to because they didn't want to pay the $35 at the beginning of the year. When the tickets were free this wouldn't have been an issue as many of these students would have signed up and only gone to the 'big' games.

[Deleted]

Oct 18, 2012 12:03:02 GMT -5 pshift2 said:

Transportation had basically zero effect on whether or not we would go. The biggest effect was how the team was doing and when the games were. But if the team started playing well and you didn't join the dog pound you were kinda out of luck for tickets unless you had someone to give you theirs. A season like this is a great example. The expectations are a little lower than when I was here so naturally not as many students will sign up for the dog pound. But if they start playing well everyone will want to go and they simply won't be able to because they didn't want to pay the $35 at the beginning of the year. When the tickets were free this wouldn't have been an issue as many of these students would have signed up and only gone to the 'big' games.

Thanks for the info. I can see good turnouts this year with all the Fiday night games and improved squad.