Friday, February 15, 2008

Show up on Sunday!




WARNING. THE FOLLOWING IS ANOTHER LECTURE FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO CAN BUT DON'T ATTEND THE BASKETBALL GAMES.

Last night's attendance was listed as 5,138. That number seems generous given the photos above were taken eight minutes before tip off. On TV it appeared the crowd arrived late. No doubt this team is struggling and has to fight to get into the NIT, but there is no justification for the lack of support.

If you are current student...go to the games!!! Like my last lecture, you don't realize how much free time you have now. Studying, hanging out, drinking, going out for a Valentine's date...that all could have fit into your schedule WITH the basketball game. This team might not be as good as the ones you've grown accustom to, but they are not far off. They will get better soon. You are missing a golden opportunity to see great basketball, up close, in a potentially great environment for cheap. Go to the games!!! The alternatives are not that great.

If you are a season ticket holder...I won't get on you as much. Work, families, trying to get to campus by seven when the game is on ESPN are all legitimate excuses. But that doesn't let you off the hook. If you have seats -- especially the great ones on the floor -- and are not going to use them, then please get them to someone who will. Friends, family, coworkers. Anyone. Give them away if you have to. I know you bought them to see Duke and UNC. Maybe NC State doesn't excite you. Surely you know someone who would like to go. You bought them for a reason. Now put them to use!

BC plays Virginia this Sunday at 1 PM. A win would put us in the middle of the conference and back on track. Get there early, be loud and take advantage of your proximity. There are thousands of BC fans scattered all of the country who would love to be in your place.

8 comments:

bceagle08 said...

As a student, I agree with you. Last night's attendance was an embarrassment- not just to our basketball program but to our school spirit as a whole.

Next time when you want to give our students/fans one of your "lectures" don't feel bad about it. I'm sure last night's game was difficult for a lot of people to make but there is no excuse for a school of 9000+ to only get a few hundred students to show.

Big Jack Krack said...

Was it the (early) beginning of Vacation Week?

Joe Grav said...

Thanks to BC Athletics' mindnumbingly dumb student ticket policies, I didn't have a ticket for last night and I don't have a ticket for Sunday.

Langsgangs said...

JG I can guarantee you can get a ticket to the game if you want. Go to Upper Campus and knock on the door of the first freshman girl's room you find. 7 out of 10 freshman girls have tix that mommy or daddy bought them that they never use...

Claver2010 said...

Joe cannot question your dedication to BC athletics. But you can get a ticket to Sunday so easily. And Joe, honestly, is there any better method of distributing tickets?

Ben Hinchey said...

I got lucky and found great seats on stubhub for $50/seat - fourth row center court! However, I've looked at every game this year on stubhub, craigslist, etc. and season ticket holders are often asking for $100, $200+ for lower level seats. I'm betting that the donor-based seating policy has a lot to do with this...

BC needs to generate more interest amongst the student body and alumni before they start charging outrageous prices for games. I'm not buying season tix and then spending $2K on a gift to Athletics, and it sucks that the only other option is to get less-quality seats. Another reason I can't stand Gene D.

BTW, the online ticket exchange program works great, and keeps greedy season ticket holders from overcharging for games they can't go to.

smh said...

joe grav... stub hub has consistently has $8-$15 tickets, really no excuse not to be at the games.

SouthieEagle said...

I was at the game on Thursday -- and while the attendance has been so/so lately, you have to chalk up some of Thursday's low numbers to the fact that husbands around Boston were told they couldn't go to the game with it being Valentine's Day.

I expect a good crowd tomorrow though - no excuses. A win at home builds momentum with two weeks left before the ACC.