Nice win Rabbitts, but......

[wererabbit]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

I totally agree with you jackrabit1, because of my own experience. The last home game against unc i hope to bring some new fans to the game, currently one person has commited to go others not sure yet.

[jackmd]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

Sorry Jackmd, I don't have the time to post everyday, I am a student here and I do love the Jacks, and I'll say what I feel should be said. It's my opinion and that only. I feel that the attendance is horrible and calling out the students for one, which has been done on this board, is bull. I'm not saying that you have posted that personally, but I have seen it on this board. I agree with everything Rabbitden said except for the spouting off. There has been nose rubbing with attendance numbers in previous weeks. Unfortunately it came right back in our face simple as that. I ask to you, Jackmd, is that an unfair statement? I will admit that I was probably a little unclear in my previous post. I can assure you though, I will not "shut-up" , just like yourself I can post my harmless opinions on this board. I am fan and who are you to judge that? I feel no ill will towards you or anyone else on this board. I just hoped to maybe clarrify.

No apology needed but accepted all the same. Now my turn to clarify, read my short post. I didn't say shut-up just said den shut you up. I welcome all opinions and the opportunity to disagree that comes with.

I don't have the time to be here either, but I seem to make it anyways.

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

I'm amazed the number of people on a Saturday in Brookings who are totally oblivious that a football game is going on in town.

I'm surprised how many STUDENTS don't know the game is going on. I ask my classes (I have about 75 students) if they're going to the game. Usually only a couple raise their hands. And the looks on many of their faces tell me they didn't even know there was a game.

As for calling out the students, I realize that's not entirely fair. Student demographics have changed and more of our students have jobs that keep them busy, particularly on game days. And I think it's fair to give credit to the students who do show up. They're raucous and noisy and pretty into the game. I just wish we could get more of them to show. But it's true that it isn't always easy for them to make it.

[SD-STATE]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

Nothing personal, but what about Brookings residents? There's some 16,000 and change in Brookings according to the signs coming into Brookings, are the 11,000 students counted in that number I would think not. It seems to me that sometimes Brookings residents take SDSU for granted and take all of our money. Of course that might just be my "chip on the shoulder" thinking.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

Nothing personal, but what about Brookings residents? There's some 16,000 and change in Brookings according to the signs coming into Brookings, are the 11,000 students counted in that number I would think not. It seems to me that sometimes Brookings residents take SDSU for granted and take all of our money. Of course that might just be my "chip on the shoulder" thinking.

First of all, Brooking has 18,000 and change as its current population. This number does not include the students. Yep its a chip on your shoulder. I think Brookings knows what makes their community what it is and that is SDSU. Yes more of the locals should have shown up as should locals from Volga, Aurora, Estilline, White, Elkton, Arlington, and Desmet and other places in the Brookings trade area.

. I really think the mindset of so many fans have shifted to BB. Both are looking good this year.

[SD-STATE]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

I must be reading some of these replies in a wrong frame of mind. I'm actually begining to feel offended.

Den shut you up but just wanted to make sure you heard him. Change your name or go away. You are no supporter of SDSU.

First of all, Brooking has 18,000 and change as its current population. This number does not include the students. Yep its a chip on your shoulder. I think Brookings knows what makes their community what it is and that is SDSU. Yes more of the locals should have shown up as should locals from Volga, Aurora, Estilline, White, Elkton, Arlington, and Desmet and other places in the Brookings trade area.

. I really think the mindset of so many fans have shifted to BB. Both are looking good this year.

[89rabbit]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

I must be reading some of these replies in a wrong frame of mind. I'm actually begining to feel offended.

You do seem to be rubbing some of the Sr. members of the board the wrong way.


Go State! ;D

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

Nothing personal, but what about Brookings residents? There's some 16,000 and change in Brookings according to the signs coming into Brookings, are the 11,000 students counted in that number I would think not. It seems to me that sometimes Brookings residents take SDSU for granted and take all of our money. Of course that might just be my "chip on the shoulder" thinking.

In fairness to SD-STATE, he may have a point there about Brookings sometimes taking students for granted. I don't think it's really relevent to this point (we were talking about the lack of student attendance at athletic events). But I think the transient nature of the student population might lead some people in Brookings to think of them as second-class citizens, not here for the long run. That's not fair, of course, and I would hope most of us don't feel that way. We do rely on students to provide much of the service component to our economy, to pump a good bit of money into our community, and to bring that lively, youthful edge that makes a college town different, to say nothing of all the cultural benefits those kids bring us. It's probably a salient point and I know I'll give it some thought. But it doesn't really explain the near total lack of enthusiasm among students for SDSU athletics. I get a sense that it's just not cool to be enthused about Jackrabbit sports.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

In fairness to SD-STATE, he may have a point there about Brookings sometimes taking students for granted. I don't think it's really relevent to this point (we were talking about the lack of student attendance at athletic events). But I think the transient nature of the student population might lead some people in Brookings to think of them as second-class citizens, not here for the long run. That's not fair, of course, and I would hope most of us don't feel that way. We do rely on students to provide much of the service component to our economy, to pump a good bit of money into our community, and to bring that lively, youthful edge that makes a college town different, to say nothing of all the cultural benefits those kids bring us. It's probably a salient point and I know I'll give it some thought. But it doesn't really explain the near total lack of enthusiasm among students for SDSU athletics. I get a sense that it's just not cool to be enthused about Jackrabbit sports.

Students especially the traditonal's are people. They are very young. Some are very thoughtful and others are not so thoughtful. They seem to mirror society as a whole.

There is one young lady that waits on a group of grumpy old men on Saturday mornings for breakfast. She does a great job and she always gets a deserved tip. I have found other working students much the same.
These are the out going kids that have a very bright future.

On the other end of spectrum, I being brave, love to use the Walmart self check out devices as its quicker, and its a bit of a challange in following directions. I have had two run ins with the in charge people, who happen to be students, and they have done nothing but get on my back side by being very condesending. Rather than explain what they are doing to fix my problem, they kind of push you aside and also look at you like you are really "dumb" and some dummy who has never left Brookings. Plus you are old and grey.

So students whether on or off campus are no different than the rest of general population and I suppose so many are thinking years ahead of themselves in marriage and jobs and what have you. So to many maybe not being a rabid rabbit fan is cool. Most on this board are much younger than I am, and I am amazed with the enthusiasm that is shown about athletics by the younger alums. It grows on you after you leave so I dont think these current students are lost forever.

I dont have any easy answers here in how to get students to the games. I willing to bet OK Jackrabbit is one of few faculty that takes time to ask students about what they are thinking and if they are going to the game. The faculty if they were so motivated could help here to by asking the questions that you have asked. Most would probably tell you, its not my job. Maybe that true, as its not likely in their contracts.

I feel that this transient relationship between gown and town is a two way street. Some students have adapted to the local scene and spent the rest of their lives in Brookings. Its kind of an individual thing.

I do think some of these investing landlords are not living up to their responsiblities when they offer housing to students and the darn place burns down. If there is exploitation of students, its in the area of housing.

Just my thoughts for now.

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

It's interesting. When I talk to grad school friends at other universities, I hear a lot of complaining about their students. I really don't have any complaints. Sure, I wish a few of my students were more enthusiastic (about anything) than they are. But I really like most of them. They're good kids who are just trying to figure out how to fit into the culture they find themselves a part of. It's changing that culture that is difficult. That's why I talk frequently about working to re-engage the students. I think they would enjoy the entertainment they would find in athletic events (is there a team more fun to watch than the Jackrabbit women's basketball team?) But I'm not sure it's on their radar just yet. One thing I do know about these kids at SDSU: Most of them want to be a part of something, whether it's a student organization, the crew where they work, a group on the facebook.com Web community, or whatever. I think athletics could be their next "group" activity if we can figure a way to engage them.

[jackrabit1]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

I think one of the underlying problems that I'm seeing is that we think of SDSU's fanbase as being limited to just Brookings county and some of the outlying counties. But you need to remember this; the name of the school is South Dakota STATE Univeristy. Granted, quite a few of us live along the I-29 corridor, but I know there are fans across South Dakota, from Rapid City, to Buffalo, to Pierre, and yes, even in Vermillon!

I have to give USD's athletic and marketing departments a lot of credit. They're promoting themselves as "South Dakota's Team." While this automatically makes me want to upchuck , they've done a fantastic job of positioning themselves and creating awareness in the minds of non-USD people.

Personally, I think our athletic department is dropping the ball in the terms of expanding it's appeal on a state-wide basis. True, State is advertising the school, but why not the athletics part of it? Why not get a West-River station like KTOQ or some other station to become a satellite station for SDSU broadcasts, especially since WNAX's signal starts to die out somewhere around Wall? Why not negotiate a deal with South Dakota Public Broadcasting, or KELO, or even KSFY or KDLT to broadcast 2 or 3 home games?

There have been some posts talking about how "the student's don't care" or "we're taking the students for granted". Personally, I think we could do a better job of getting more students to the game, but if you look at schools like Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio State, the students that make up the crowd is a fairly small portion. The rest are simply fans (alumni and non-alumni).

We need to really concentrate on building our fan base and getting their butts in the seats. And I'm afraid we're not going to do that unless we swallow some of our foolish pride and start marketing ourselves better. OK_Jackrabbit, you're familiar with this area; am I right or am I just full of hot air?

[Charger13]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

I agree we need a better marketing campaign.  TV ads seem to me like a great way to get fans out to the games.  I know this has been discused before and people thought we should wait until the product gets better before we advertise it, but with teams like GSU coming to Brookings this needs to change.  Especially since, in my opinion, the football team has done their part by becoming a good product.  If we can compete with teams like GSU we need to get people out to Coughlin to see it.  I also agree that televising games is something that needs to be done as soon as possible.  I hope, with the caliber of teams coming to Frost, that we see some TV adds on the SF stations this Winter.

[Rodentia]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

Positioning USD as "South Dakota's Team" seems futile. I'm not smacking anyone, but a D-II team just isn't going to be the state's team when there is a D-I team in the state. What if Duluth claimed to be "Minnesota's Team", or Montana State-Billings claimed to be Montana's Team, or Virginia State claimed to be Virginia's team?

SDSU is South Dakota's D-I team. If USD wants to be South Dakota's Team, they will have to move to D-I and earn it.

[jackrabit1]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

SDSU is South Dakota's D-I team.  If USD wants to be South Dakota's Team, they will have to move to D-I and earn it.  

I agree with you there, Rodentia, but we're going to have to do a heck of a lot better job of marketing ourselves as such.

[22jack]

Re: Nice win Rabbitts, but......

What I don't understand is why half of the lower level seats that are owned by season ticket holders are empty for many of the games. Alot of people would give anything for some of those seats in Frost Arena. Maybe that will get better again this year.