TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Game Day
Last Friday on our morning radio show I made the comment that Clemson and South Carolina were going to play basketball the following day and we had not received one call on the subject all week. In fact I have done the radio show for years and doubt if we averaged two calls each year on the rivalry game on the hardwood.

I understand we are not talking about football where fans start to think about the next game between the two schools as soon as the current game ends. In baseball we have had a lot of interest in the game but a lot of that can be attributed to both programs being ranked so high. In basketball both schools lack history and tradition.

There are other factors that take away from the basketball game. For the past several years we have played the game in December which may lead to some disconnect. Often the game is within a week or two of the football game and some are still celebrating or sulking about the gridiron contest. Also December means shopping and holiday plans for many families so there are distractions for some.

The radio show conversation turned into trying to identify ways to make Clemson-USC basketball bigger and which lead us to comparing the energy of Clemson football to Clemson basketball.

After the show I spent the rest of Friday and some of the weekend talking to many about the idea of improving the Clemson basketball experience for the fans.

When I was a kid we lived in Chester, SC until I was 12 and Irmo, SC until I went to Clemson. Chester is about three hours from Clemson and Irmo is about two hours from Tigertown. I would ask my dad to take us to more Tiger basketball games but his answer made sense. He would explain how it did not make sense to him to drive six hours round trip from Chester to go to a basketball game that lasts an hour and a half (pre-TV era mind you). We would do it for football because tailgating was involved and it was an entire game day experience that made it worthwhile.

My dad was right but now I ask why not tailgate at Clemson? About 12-15 of my friends and my family got together and tailgated for the Clemson-USC basketball game last Saturday and it was great. Lane Miller made the best jambalaya you have ever had. My son Ryan and his friend Collin Brady threw the football around the lawn at McFadden for a while. The rest of us enjoyed food and drinks for a few hours. Some came in the morning hours for a 4:00 PM basketball game and we had a blast.

I will grant you that weather will not always cooperate with tailgating in December through March basketball and this is a legitimate concern.

But the question remained. How can we make Clemson basketball an event? I talked to a former Clemson player, the current basketball coaching staff ,Jon Seketa who does a terrific job with promotions in the athletic department, local business people and current Clemson students. Here is what we have come up with:

First we are only talking about four or five games a year. It makes little sense to do this on weekday games. On average Clemson plays four ACC home games on the weekends. Some years we will have more home ACC weekend games and some we will have less but an average of four is about right. I can even see one non-conference game in December working as well.

Now on to the suggested ways to make Clemson basketball game day more of an event.

1. Picture Day-Each August Tiger fans go crazy at fan appreciation day and thousands of people line up to get their pictures and autographs with Clemson players and coaches. This seems to be very popular and even frustrating to some because it is so crowded and not every fan gets everything they want on that day. So why not have Clemson football players at a table inside Littlejohn or in the annex at Littlejohn or even outside on a nice day? I think kids would love to have a separate picture day with James Davis and C.J. Spiller an hour before Clemson basketball.
You could have other current Clemson athletes at other games or even have former Clemson athletes as the guest of honor. I would think Tiger fans would love the opportunity to meet and greet Michael Dean and William Perry one weekend and Khalil Greene and Kris Benson the next. How about a Jeff Davis and Terry Kinard day? Brian Dawkins could draw a crowd couldn’t he?

Littlejohn only holds 10,000 but the USC game only drew about 9,400. Could Thunder and Lightening have brought in another 600 people? I would say they could.

2. Concerts-Last year the band Need To Breath played on the lawn at Littlejohn after a Clemson baseball game. The concert drew several hundred people so I ask why not have a concert outside the arena before the game to help draw more interest? This would help create more of a game day experience.

3. Game Day Vendors-I would think Mr. Knickerbockers and other local vendors would like to have a both set up outside the coliseum on a few game days. Maybe an even better idea is to have local restaurants set up booths and sell tickets like they do at Fall for Greenville or Taste of the Town in Charlotte. Food always gets people excited.

4. Hoops and slides-Instead of throwing out tee shirts during the game maybe we could have basketball goals set up outside and kids can shoot for tee shirts?

5. Pep Rally-Tiger Band, Cheerleaders, Rally Cats, Coach Purnell and a player or two maybe an hour and a half before the game would draw some fans wouldn’t it?

6. Downtown Pep Rally-A few years ago Seketa had midnight madness on College Avenue in Clemson. I thought it was a fantastic idea and it drew a huge crowd. I think we could block off College Avenue and let the fans enjoy a Welcome Back Festival atmosphere.

These are some ideas we have come up with and this will take the cooperation of the fans, former Clemson stars, the local merchants, Clemson students and the coaches and players. But I think we have something in Oliver Purnell and many of us want to make Clemson basketball more of an experience. The success of the team is crucial but we are currently ranked in the top 20 and still had empty seats at our last home game versus USC. Would more have been there if they could have eaten a variety of food, enjoyed a free concert, gotten James Davis and C.J. Spiller’s autograph or picture, won a tee shirt by making a free throw and got pumped up with a good pep rally?

Now for your homework assignment. Please give us feedback. What ideas do you think will work? What ideas do you have to add to the list? Let’s get involved and make this thing work. I know it will be difficult for our Charleston fans and Columbia fans but for us in the upstate we can do this. The weather is a problem. The lack of tradition is a problem. There are several problems but let’s get together and be part of the solution. Thanks for your interest and feedback.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Comments:

sell beer at the games.

problem solved.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=7575>otisman</a> on December 06, 2007 at 11:51 AM EST #

Bring the student section into the TV shot(behind the press table).

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=69297>OneArmSchleeve</a> on December 06, 2007 at 11:55 AM EST #

Students are the key to filling up the arena. If you promote students to attend, the place can/will be packed.

Beer at the games isn't going to heppen, but it should. Concert, FREE food and chances to win free things will draw more students to the arena.

Though most don't believe it, Greek Life has a huge impact on the Clemson campus. Conversing with IFC and Panhellinic to create Fraternity and Sorority blocks for a couple games a year would be key. Nothing better than going to a basketball game with all of your fraternity brothers. Also, allowing tailgates to be set up in the West EndZone lot. We do this for baseball almost every game!

There are countless things that could help draw fans, but from a students perspective, those would be the best. Thunder and Lightening would get me there as well.

IE - Greek Life is gave out free hamburgers and hot dogs yesterday. The athletic dept. could have merged with this event and organized it to be on the day of a game.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=67061>RobertsonCU</a> on December 06, 2007 at 12:11 PM EST #

I think all of the ideas are great! I was at the USC basketball game last Saturday and was surprised it wasn't a full house. Maybe we can get more students into Littlejohn!

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=3762>RWINGARD</a> on December 06, 2007 at 12:11 PM EST #

Ring the court with Students, instead of putting them in the endzones.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=21602>champs8487</a> on December 06, 2007 at 12:23 PM EST #

I agree the key is the students, because it is a lot easier for them to make a weeknight game than a booster who lives outside of Clemson. Also, more students = better atmosphere = more people want to attend the games.

An ACC title, our a trip deep into the NCAA tournament would also help generate interest, even though the fans should support the team regardless of the level of its on-court success.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=63429>Locotiger</a> on December 06, 2007 at 01:01 PM EST #

I think there was a comment on another post about those season tickets that are sold to the opposing team and only come for a game or two. Not sure how to regulate this, but I agree with giving the students better seats than the endzones of the stadium. Older people sit and watch anyway, so get more students around the court where the noise needs to be.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=67061>RobertsonCU</a> on December 06, 2007 at 01:09 PM EST #

1. allow parking / tailgating in half of the WEZ lot. It is never full of cars for basketball.
2. have some more interesting half-time contests that are actually winable (5 3-pointers in 25 seconds while getting your own rebounds???)
3. 2 for 1 ticket nights worked pretty well last year
4. Post game concerts in Littlejohn
5. Allow students to get in with only their ID. No ticket pickup = lots of student attendance!
6. Have carnival games, photo ops, food, etc in the concourse before games.
7. Have a former Clemson athlete game (all athletes, not only basketball)

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=19918>mgcopaman</a> on December 06, 2007 at 01:18 PM EST #

I was a student at Clemson during the Barnes years. Basketball was king during the winter. Students were a huge part of the experience on game day. My roommates and I sat behind the Clemson bench pretty much every game (first three rows). I remember huge games against Duke, UNC and Wake (No 2 vs No 2) and the student response was amazing in those game.

I returned to Littlejohn for my first basketball games since I graduated for the PC game and USC over the past few weeks. Though LJ looks great with its remodeling, I could not believe the students were in the "endzones". I understand the money issues from selling season tickets to alumni, but not having the students on the sides was really weird. I would like to see the students on the first 5 rows (up to the first divider, what ever the number is) so that the court is "ringed" with students as a previous poster stated. The rest of the seats could be for season tickets holders. The rest of the student body can fill the endzones (to the rafters like they did for the USC game).
We used to be on our feet for the entire game and the opposite side of non-students would only stand for the last few minutes if it was a close game. This drove me batty. To see people on both sides sitting down during most of the game now, is worse.

Improving the gameday experience around the court should be the first step to improving it around the campus.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=7828>clay_moody</a> on December 06, 2007 at 02:03 PM EST #

Though the main consensus is to let the students have the primary seats, it won't happen. If Seketa really wanted the atmosphere improved, he'd fix this, ASAP. He doesn't care about the overall atmosphere, they are trying to fill the seats with Alumni that have money instead of giving the students (the only reason the school exists year in and year out) the best college experience they can. Which in turn, will create more donations later in life because we will remember the way we had it and respect how future Clemson students should be treated, when it comes to athletic events. (In comparison to kicking us out of right field where we could pull up a truck, drink beer and heckly the right fielder -- not anymore since the rich alumni wanted to blow their organge smoke in the outfield).

Just my opinion, but yet, I'm just a stupid college kid that has no individual thought or feelings and am not as highly thought of as a fan because I'm not 40 years old.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=67061>RobertsonCU</a> on December 06, 2007 at 02:23 PM EST #

I'm a season ticket holder, and I realize that by doing this I would end up with worse seats, but I think they should ring the court with students similar to Duke. Let me say I don't mind standing the whole game, but it needs to be designed where the students can stand the entire game, AND the first row behind the student section can sit and still see.

In response to the comment about opposing fans buying season tickets: If we have a successful team AND we allow more students in, it will eventually require a higher priority to get season tickets. This would force some opposing fans out. They might be willing to pay $140 for 2 tickets, but if it gets to the point it's going to cost them $350 or $700 they might think twice. Trust me, if we start having success, the Clemson season ticket holders will up their donations if necessary.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=27562>NCTiger1990</a> on December 06, 2007 at 02:48 PM EST #

I was a student when Tates Locke came to Clemson. There were bleachers right behind the benches for students called the "Rabble Rouser Section". Tates brought this idea from Army. Our job was to make as much noise as possible. Our teams were not that good but there was exitment at each game and the Rabble Rousers were hoarse from yelling at the games. I feel we contributed to some upsets of teams like a highly ranked Maryland team that was ranked in the top 5 at the time. I find it hard to believe that students do not attend games in large numbers to support a good Tiger basketball team.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=65001>D210tiger</a> on December 06, 2007 at 02:52 PM EST #

One part of the Westzone area was to be the Westzone Plaza the current Westzone parking lot, if they would finsh that and make the area for tailgating and food vendors it would bring fans to the game more than 30mins before tip off. Also I think they need to give about 5K seats around the court to students like Duke, Mich. State, and others Clemson can't be making that much money on season tickets. Another thing they can do is improve the lighting around Littlejohn it is very dark in all the out lying parking lots and also the area right around LJ is not well lit.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=675>rhettm</a> on December 06, 2007 at 03:15 PM EST #

I don't really know how parking is in general because I always walk from the Esso, but how is parking for off-campus students? (I know weekday games there are intramurals going on so the student parking by FIKE is horrible) Do they close off the roads right by Littlejohn and the Breezeway? What about the WestEndzone lot? Off-campus students may not have easy parking either... even though walking from Jervey isn't far.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=67061>RobertsonCU</a> on December 06, 2007 at 03:27 PM EST #

As an old graduate, I love the idea about getting former Tigers at the game. I generally agree that getting more students to the games is the most critical element, and many of the suggestions for increasing student atendance are good ones. Great suggestions in the blog and the responses.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=68060>A7 Alumni</a> on December 06, 2007 at 03:39 PM EST #

My brother-in-law's senior year at his school the Athletic Department ran a contest based on student game attendance. The people with the most games-attended were put in a drawing to win a paid room for a weekend at <EXCLUSIVE RESORT>. At the end of the season, only a dozen or so had made every game, but attendance was up for all of them.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=1547>jroberts</a> on December 06, 2007 at 04:11 PM EST #

Deer Mackey, Nice belly putter...

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=36597>Voice of+America</a> on December 06, 2007 at 04:41 PM EST #

the biggest thing is the date. this was the first time i have missed a clemson/usc basketball game in four years, you mentioned the holliday shopping, but don't forget it is the same day as the SC State championship games in cootlumbia. that takes away some fans. although one of my favorite sports days was seeing rock hill win the state champ, then see Chyanne moore nail a 3-pointer to give the coots their first non conference game in the colonial center. not to mention it is the same day as the acc/sec championship games. not a factor this season, but why schedule it this date?

i like the idea of a midweek game better. it may hurt a little with longer ocummutes, but i think the excitement with students would help. one of the most hyped games in littlejohn saw a t-mac less #24 clemson team beat a #6 coot team.

Weekends are always at a premium, especially during december. i also think it would help a bit to be played later in the season. people are still in football mindset. i like the idea of the first game after exams, but that would diminish student attendance. it also has not hurt that neither team has been that good for the past 25 years or so, hopefully clemson will improve.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=11399>Paws-itive Tiger</a> on December 06, 2007 at 05:35 PM EST #

Mickey,

Sekata should definetely adopt the idea of a shooting contest for kids outside the building. It's worked well for the Magic for years. Interns staff the event and and inflatable unit is used, so the cost would be minimal

Obviously student participation is the key to increasing attendance long term, so winning the games, and having student contests and peer pressure from fellow students to go will be crucial

Mike

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=10100>MSYNAN</a> on December 06, 2007 at 05:58 PM EST #

I would gladly give up my "fat cat" seats for the students, if only to watch them create an excitement all their own. They should be allowed to ring the coliseum. How can the old alumni help make this happen?

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=37809>Spartan68Tiger</a> on December 06, 2007 at 07:11 PM EST #

GIVE STUDENTS BETTER SEATS. PERIOD.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=1046>90Orange</a> on December 06, 2007 at 08:59 PM EST #

Selling beer would NOT improve the atmosphere. The last thing we need is more drunks at the games. How about having a farm heritage night? Get the Agriculture folks to set up a petting zoo, bring out some farm machinery for the kids and dads to look at, have a country music concert, sell barbecue, have a pig roast, etc...

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=2195>Orange and+Purple</a> on December 07, 2007 at 07:56 AM EST #

Farm Heritage night? People don't want to come out to see a Top 20 college basketball team, but throwing some farm machinery into the mix will not bring the type of attention we're looking for, IMO.
I like the idea of bringing some former athletes back. Horace Grant should draw some interest as well.
Autograph / Picture day sounds positive and anything that can be set up outside Littlejohn to draw a crowd...you mentioned concerts and games for kids..both good ideas. People also seem to flock towards tv cameras. Is there any way to get more exposure from the networks? Have them run some pieces on Coach Purnell and get some nationally televised games.
Intstead of throwing T-shirts into the crowd throw some jerseys or basketballs. I understand the cost difference here, but think of the excitement at a chance to catch something special.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=30415>GoodFella</a> on December 07, 2007 at 09:52 AM EST #