vs. Gonzaga, 1/26, 8pm, ESPN2

PilotNut wrote:The students were great in their numbers tonight, but get a D for effort. Don't get me started here...

Sorry to poke the bear.

Where does last night stack up compared to the last 2-3 years in noise level?

The painted guys and the group in Schoenfeldt sweaters had to go sit up top because most of the seats in the front were taken. Then you had those guys starting one chant at the top of the section while the group lower down started another. The energy was good from the guys who are always into the game but when you get students who only go to one or two games a year getting them to cheer is going to be a challenge.

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:but when you get students who only go to one or two games a year getting them to cheer is going to be a challenge.

Seems to me you need to reward those kids who WERE loyal, active and actually gave a crap the whole year with the better seats.... Maybe a punch card system that you get so many games punched you get a priority seat for GU?? But yeah... I fully support PNut in his ranting endeavors, I'm just going to keep my seething in private since I was restricted to watching a game on my laptop at 1 AM...

As for the students... working on it. But, last night was atrocious. That's all.

Everyone: [everything we've all been saying for years now]

Well, that's it, we're just going to have to show them how it's done.

For one of the early conference home games last year when the students were out for break, we young alums filled the student section and whupped it up pretty decent. Do we need to do something similar every game? Do we need to get a section of our own and provide an example? I'm tired of waiting for the students to step up and own it.

VillaGorilla wrote:

Everyone: [everything we've all been saying for years now]

Well, that's it, we're just going to have to show them how it's done.

For one of the early conference home games last year when the students were out for break, we young alums filled the student section and whupped it up pretty decent. Do we need to do something similar every game? Do we need to get a section of our own and provide an example? I'm tired of waiting for the students to step up and own it.

I would be eager to buy season tickets in a section devoted to fans who wanted to make some noise and cheer on the team! I could be crazy but I would even be interested in standing for the duration of games.

This will also be long to some, so here's a synopsis: Padre did not plan well, Sacre is potentially defendable for the jersey thing, the section was fragmented so chants were not always effective, leading me to give up at times because I did not want to add to the cacophony of disjointed chants, the proud to be a Pilot videos and pictures were nice touches and the overall behavior of the section really makes me want to jump aboard an alumni section, if I stay up here post graduation. Props also to SP11 for trying to start a Go Pilots chant across the Chiles Center! Hopefully BYU can be better!

I fully endorse a poor grade and many of the ideas, but considering there have been few home games this year so Padre could not really develop a rapport with Marketing/Event Staff, there is potential for next year to have plenty of opportunities for your suggestions to be implemented. I encourage those with ideas to send them to Jonathon Brooks, the new Manager of Athletics Marketing at brooksj@up.edu. If the opinions are heard, things can turn around.

At risk of scorn and backlash, perhaps Sacre was honoring the fans that made the road trip by popping the jersey. I cannot defend the logo stop last year, just an immature move.

Overall, I was really disappointed by the student experience myself. When I got in line 45 minuted before doors opened, I only saw a few members of the VDS. Padre did not get in front because they did not get in line or even let me know they planned to be in front. If they had sent an emmisary to wait in line, I could have worked with them to set some seats aside after the cameramen finished their meeting. Even if they were painting up, arriving long after students were let in and assuming they would get seats because they have been to the last few games was folly. I could hear clapping and occasionally a muffled noise down front, so like PPT said, disjointed chants occurred and I doubt our voices carried and I too have strained my voice to little effect. This is why we need people spaced throughout the section, so the message does not get lost fice rows from the front. The time delay came mostly from indecision and also a few times where I would start a chant as soon as possible but it took a few seconds for others to catch on, something they should be able to do at a much faster rate.

Nevertheless, students should know how to chant/make noise through an entire possession!

Nut, the marketing department and event staff have not always been helpful to students but students also have mostly not accepted the help when it was offered. A few years back one of my compatriots had brought in a purple cone that had been used at a soccer game earlier in the year, but he was told it was an artificial noisemaker. They have offered stats and chant sheets, but students have not used them or leave them behind like the "represent" buttons and the rally towels. Apparently the Marketing Department met with the VDS last spring, but Trish was let go and the Marketing Department is facing a rebuilding year of their own.

I fully endorse the unification of student support and would enjoy a alumni section; I would also like to see a platform similar to LMU so leaders could be better seen.

As PPT has pointed out during soccer season, this game always features "tourists." This year definitely featured plenty who took the front rows or opted to be obnoxious during shootaround or throw one of the heads across the court. I am still stunned a technical was not called due to that lack of judgment. Since the next home game for the men is BYU, I expect to see a sign on the seats like after the USD game two seasons ago:

GREETINGS STUDENTS!
Thank you for your support tonight! It is because of YOU that we have created a true home court advantage and a 10-2 home record this season!! The University of Portland Athletic Department would like to ask for your help in rocking the Chiles Center, while still maintaining a fun atmosphere for ALL Pilot fans!

Here is a gentle reminder of our sportsmanship policy:

The University of Portland and the West Coast Conference promote good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial/ethnic and derogatory comments, or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the Chiles Center. We appreciate your cooperation and consideration.

SO BE LOUD, BE PROUD...AND GO PILOTS!!

Hopefully we can develop some creative chants that don't reference a political candidate or blatantly mock the Honor Code violation last year.

DJ Sherman wrote:Hopefully we can develop some creative chants that don't reference a political candidate or blatantly mock the Honor Code violation last year.

HER-MAN CAIN!! HER-MAN CAIN!! I'm assuming thats what you mean....

Hi folks,

Zag fan here. Have read your board for years (& have interacted with several of your posters over on the Zag board), finally registered as I wanted to reply r.e. Rob Sacre.
Obviously opposing fan bases often like to find villains. For Zag fans it has been Omar for years & now it seems to be Delly (though other than his ill-fitting mouthpiece it's hard to find anything wrong with him. Kid can play).
I can't speak to Rob stomping on your logo as I wasn't there. All I can tell you is in the last 20 years that probably only Ronny Turiaf is more beloved among Zag fans than Rob. The kid is a huge teddy bear, very outgoing & has a tremendous sense of humor. Got his degree in 4 years (is a grad student due to injury redshirt year). But beyond all that, Rob is the 1st one to round up teammates to visit the kids at the Ronald McDonald House, bring those same kids into the locker room after a game, help out every year with the Special Olympics program or go to an elementary school & read to kids. And even when assessing SMC ("we hate them, they hate us") always holds opponents in high regard.
Anecdotal evidence of WCC student-athletes seems to bear this out. Many Zag fans have reported flying into/out of Spokane (often after a hard fought game) on the same plane with an opponent. Without exception it has always been "yes sir, no maam" when interacting with these players. You would find Rob to be one of these guys, in spades.
Anyway, thanks for the time. Your kids played hard last night. Ryan obviously doesn't have a hard time getting up for the Zags. Hopefully Nem comes around for you; from my vantage point he has really suffered from the loss of Jared & Luke; I know he's the guy the Zags game plan for.
Good Luck the rest of the way. We respect Coach Rev a ton & know that he is retooling a really strong team.

sittingon50 wrote:All I can tell you is in the last 20 years that probably only Ronny Turiaf is more beloved among Zag fans than Rob. The kid is a huge teddy bear, very outgoing & has a tremendous sense of humor. Got his degree in 4 years (is a grad student due to injury redshirt year). But beyond all that, Rob is the 1st one to round up teammates to visit the kids at the Ronald McDonald House, bring those same kids into the locker room after a game, help out every year with the Special Olympics program or go to an elementary school & read to kids. And even when assessing SMC ("we hate them, they hate us") always holds opponents in high regard.

I too loved Ronny (as much as one can love a Zag), as he is an outgoing, likeable sportsman on the court, and was always great with the fans and staff at games at home and on the road.

In my four years of watching Sacre it has been on the court only, and he comes across as a real horse’s butt. I’m honestly glad to hear he acts otherwise off the court and is not only a good student and teammate, but also a good citizen. Some guys are just very emotional on the court and they can’t hide it; I respect that and understand it.

I was sitting near two Zag supporters Thursday evening when Sacre did his little act at the end of the game. Both fans agreed that it was embarrassing after such a well played and hard fought game, and both felt it was poor sportsmanship. Different strokes, I suppose.

Anyway, good luck against BYU Thursday; it is always good to knock-off the BIG schools with international following -- we play them at home two days later.

PilotNut wrote:I just didnt understand where it came from... it's not like Sacre or another GU player had just sunk a buzzer beater to win...

I'd much rather have a player treat every game like it's the most important game in the world than to have players who take winning for granted. Stomping on the logo last year (I didn't see it) sounds like too much but showing excitement? that's great! The sports industry pumps out robotic players all the time; I find it refreshing to watch a player revel in the delight of victory.