TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Student Involvement
For the past two days on my radio show and in a short blog section yesterday I mentioned my disappointment with student attendance at the Clemson-Georgia Tech basketball game.

I asked for some feedback on the air and received a few e-mails on the subject over the past 24 hours. The excuses include:

4-Student tickets are not that good. Some complained about the section of seats.

Sometimes I get accused of being Sonny Corleone. I will admit that sometimes I overreact and sometimes act before I think. I ripped into the students yesterday and jumped the generation for their sense of entitlement. You have to admit the idea of standing in line for free tickets is not an excuse. The sense of entitlement issues rears its head with the complaining of the location of the student tickets as well. Also, it is clear there is more apathy with this generation. One athletic department official told me yesterday that they had a lack of volunteers of cheerleaders to go to the men’s and women’s ACC basketball tournament this year. Seriously. They had a hard time getting enough cheerleaders for the ACC tournament!

I could write a book on the disappointment of the generation but that gets me nowhere because this generation does not react to criticism well. Therefore, let’s all be part of the solution instead of the problem. How can we help? How can we get more student involvement? How can we get the students excited about basketball? How can we insure more participation from the student body?

I think there needs to be an institutional wide emphasis on basketball. For example, other activities need to be scheduled around home basketball games. This happens in football. I will admit that parking would be a problem with having campus activities on home football game Saturdays but this has been a football school and other activities are not scheduled during home football games.

Clemson basketball hosts only eight home ACC basketball games per year. It seems to me that those should be a major priority. Is it too much to ask that intramurals not be scheduled during home ACC basketball contests? I asked this question yesterday and found this is not a simple problem. I was told that intramurals are scheduled on Sunday evenings because students don’t want to participate on Fridays or Saturdays because of parties, etc. I can sympathize with this but could the intramural games not have been scheduled for earlier in the afternoon on Sunday?

I am not a frat boy but understand many hold fraternities and sororities in high regards but could rush not have been moved up a day or back a day? Could rush not been moved up a few hours on Sunday?

If loving the Lord is wrong, I don’t want to be right but could bible study have been moved up a couple of hours?

The point is that basketball has to become a priority if we are too maximize our potential in the sport. Clemson basketball has never been a major priority partly because of the lack of success. That cannot be used as an excuse now. The Tigers came into Sunday night’s game with a 16-2 record and were ranked ninth in the country. So where was the excitement?

Let’s be honest about this subject too. If Clemson had defeated North Carolina we all know that the student section would have been full. I have a hard time with that. One loss and now we have hundreds of empty seats for an ACC game?

I reached out to students in football season and received over 100 e-mails from students on the lack of students at home football games. I still have those but the momentum of that movement got derailed when Tommy Bowden was out just a few days later.

1-Alcohol cannot be served at on campus sporting events because of an NCAA rule.

2-The Clemson athletic department does not have any say as to the day or time of ACC basketball games.

Maybe we can make it easier for ticket distribution. What would be easiest for the students?

Clemson’s enrollment is listed as 17,585. I find it hard to believe that we allocate a couple of thousand student tickets and we have a home basketball game and there are several hundred empty seats in the student section for a home ACC basketball game. This team is now 17-2 with the two losses to top five teams. This team is ranked 11th in the country. They are a projected three seed in the latest NCAA tournament bracketology on ESPN.com. Why the lack of interest? How can we get students to come pick up their free tickets to ACC basketball?

Did two losses really kill the Clemson spirit? Are we that weak? Are we that fair weathered as fans?

I would love feedback but please make it constructive and thoughtful. Let’s try to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. I want to see Clemson basketball reach its maximum potential. I don’t want Oliver Purnell to leave Clemson to go to a basketball school. Let’s give him reasons to stay here. Let’s get behind this basketball program.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover-was born Wednesday, January 14 several weeks pre-mature and was 2 lbs. 15 ounces. She is doing well but like all pre-mature babies she will have to get through several issues over the next few weeks.

Larry in Naples, FL. Larry is currently being kept sedated in ICU and has acute pancreatitis. Larry is going to be transferred this week to Shands in Gainesville, FL for surgery on his pancreas. The doctors are saying that there is a 40% mortality rate with this surgery and if successful, there will still be a very long recovery. Larry is a great guy and a wonderful husband/father. Larry is 32 years old.

Kaitlyn L-4 year old girl in TN who has seizures and a brain lesion that may be a slow-growing tumor. She will likely have a biopsy in February.

Daniel Rosborough-4-year old Inman, SC who will have a kidney transplant 1/14/09 in Charleston

I am starting a signing for my son's best friend who has cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma). He is 11 years old and is not doing well at all. He was diagnosed with this cancer 2 weeks ago and the tumor is next to his jugular vein and entwined in it...has moved his wind pipe over a inch making it hard for him to breathe. The tumor is the size of a large eggplant and is sitting right above his heart. This little boy needs all the prayer he can get. I would like you to sign this and pass it on to as many people as you can. Once we get to a thousand people can you please send this back to me at: 1volsgirl@bellsouth.net When I get the 1000 people that have signed it...I am going to print this up for my sons best friend and show him how many people care and how many people are praying for him to get better. If you have a heart at all, you will all do this for me. I love this child as though he is my own and we really need all the prayers!

Comments:

I agree with many of your points, but we will not get the cameron crazies overnight. Most upperclassmen are used to having a mediocre/above average team, and didn't see it as a priority to attend every game. I do believe the mindset is changing among underclassmen now though.

Posted by Seegs on January 27, 2009 at 10:37 AM EST #

I am student, and was very disappointed Sunday night. I knew it was probably going to be like that. It is the same students fault who cause many true student-fans to not get tickets to the Wake game. Because they made it a lottery, we only had to wait in line for 4 hours rather than 3-5 days. It will be like the wake game for duke. If we lose to VT or to duke by more than 10-15 points it will be just like the GT game for flordia state. makes me sad

Posted by tiger_rag2010 on January 27, 2009 at 10:58 AM EST #

There is a reason you are a sports talk radio host in Clemson. Current Clemson students are busy studying so they can make $100,000+ in the near future. They are at Clemson to get an education. They are not there to be cheerleaders.

If Ryan were at Clemson would you rather him attend basketball games and have a 2.0 GPA or study during that time and have a 3.5 GPA? That difference could mean millions in the long run.

Posted by JohnMa on January 27, 2009 at 10:59 AM EST #

Intramurals is scheduled around Friday and Saturday night partying? Really? Do they realize how stupid that is? And the fraternity/sorority/bible study excuses, I can fix them quickly. CU administration lets it be know as soon as the football and basketball schedules are out that those 14 or 15 days that home games are held no other school sponsored events are to be held. I would probably add womens bball to that also, it could only help it improve. Baseball has to many games to do this and the other sports don't have the potential to generate the revenue and enthusiasm that the "ESPN" sports do not only at Clemson but at the vast majority of other schools. Problem solved. I'm sure some of you will think that there are errors in my logic, but I can save you some time and tell you that you are already wrong ;)

Posted by kfast600 on January 27, 2009 at 11:08 AM EST #

Mickey, I think this is an issue for the student body president--or the kid who wears the Tree Rollins jersey. Seeing an empty student section during the 2nd half of an ACC Clemson football game was disheartening, and seeing few students in the stands again during basketball season makes me ill. I would like to see our student body leaders come up with some creative ideas to get students in the stands. And this should be a top priority for them. When the national perception of our fans and our school is on the line, and it directly relates to the student body, this is a top priority for student leaders. What can they do to get their peers in the stands? I don't know--maybe have sorority and fraternity contests to see who brings the most people to games, have the women's rowing team be recognized at halftime of every game, etc. The leaders need to step up to the plate and figure it out.

Posted by Paws4Effect on January 27, 2009 at 11:13 AM EST #

How do they distribute student tickets now for basketball?

When I was there from 1992-96, I seem to remember just walking up and showing a student ID to get in the game.

If they've got a set amount of seats for students, why not just scan the ID's at the gate - once they hit the number, turn everyone else away. First come, first serve - the only wait would be right before the game.

Posted by CRed21 on January 27, 2009 at 11:32 AM EST #

Taking a couple hours out of your time to watch a game is not going to make you drop to a 2.0 student, just look at Duke and UNC, they seem to be doing ok with it.

Posted by CUson1 on January 27, 2009 at 11:37 AM EST #

Just wanted to say that I think Tiger_rag2010 has an excellent point. I wasn't sure how student ticket distribution was done now. But, if you only have to wait a few hours in line for them, you'll have very many more apathetic fans willing to wait in line for them for the "one good game." Then, they won't attend the marginal ones. That's really unfortunate if it's really going on. Students are getting a block of tickets with the intention of only using one of them...

JohnMa, I guess I respectfully disagree with you. It's 2 hours. I'm not saying to force students to go to any event, but two hours per week at a basketball game won't push a 3.5 down to a 2.0. Sure, maybe it could affect grades some. But students can learn to allocate their time; it's a life lesson, and that's what school is for as well. Wake up 20 minutes earlier every day and you have that two hours back. I'm just saying it's not that much of a commitment.

Posted by barbasol on January 27, 2009 at 11:40 AM EST #

Get a life Mick.

Not everyone works 3 hours a day.

Posted by otisman on January 27, 2009 at 11:57 AM EST #

By Mickey's logic, the student turnout "looked better" against GT. You know, kind of like how 69% free throw shooter Trevor Booker looked better from the line with a 7-11 performance Sunday (as you wrote in yesterday's blog).

I fully expect Mickey to delete this comment, just as he deleted it when he woke up this morning after I pointed out the fact that (with only Clemson sports to obsess about as a career), he still fails to get basic facts right.

Posted by coby D+tiger on January 27, 2009 at 12:13 PM EST #

The biggest reason that students don't show up is that it's not nearly as good a sport as football. Who wants to watch the back and forth for two hours, in uncomfortable staium seating, when the last ten minutes decides the game.
Really, whoever is on a run at the end of the game, or whomever has a lead and can shoot free-throws wins. A ten minute game stretched out to hours.

Posted by clemsontiger2000 on January 27, 2009 at 12:22 PM EST #

There is not reason to take up for the students, because they could go to the games if it was high enough up on their priority list. Take Cliff Hammonds for example...he majored in Architecture, maintained a high GPA, and not only attended all of the home games, but also all of the practices and away games. If he can do all of that and keep a high GPA in architecture, then our students can fill up the student section for the few home games we have every year.

Posted by Locotiger on January 27, 2009 at 12:45 PM EST #

I am a senior who faithfully attends basketball games. I'm also frustrated with the lack of students. But, it is hard to complain when I look back on my freshman year and remember strolling up 30 minutes before game time and being asked if I wanted floor seats.

Nowadays, I do wish there was a quicker way to get tickets. Waiting in line for 2 to 3 hours does deter a lot of my friends from coming. Unfortunately, I cannot think of a system that would work better.

I think the one thing that bothers me more than student attendance is student attire. I absolutely cannot stand when students don't wear orange! These students should be shoved up in the upper bowl because they clearly do not care enough about the sport to contribute to the game atmosphere.

Posted by ktfishatcu on January 27, 2009 at 01:00 PM EST #

one day all video game consoles disappear...suddenly a football, basketball, or baseball appears...problem solved folks

Posted by carson80 on January 27, 2009 at 01:05 PM EST #

one day all video game consoles disappear...suddenly a football, basketball, or baseball appears...problem solved folks

Posted by carson80 on January 27, 2009 at 01:10 PM EST #

one day all video game consoles disappear...suddenly a football, basketball, or baseball appears...problem solved folks

Posted by carson80 on January 27, 2009 at 01:11 PM EST #

its hard to get excited about a team that will not finish better than 4TH in its own conference...Who cares?? We are highly overrated.

Posted by balllin on January 27, 2009 at 01:16 PM EST #

As someone who was at Clemson during the Shyatt years, attended at least 80% of the home games, and was in a fraternity, I will say the following:

1) At that time, the school/athletic department did not do a good job of promoting basketball and from my perception currently, still does not.

2) With respect to fraternity rush, fall and spring rush in the past were always scheduled for a specific calendar week based on when school started and MLK weekend and generally last several days consecutively. I very much doubt rush represents the lack of student attendance that you note, because often times outside of rush there is a lack of student attendance. If rush scheduling is a concern, I suggest someone take an initiative to have IFC and Panhel coordinate with the athletic department so that the student organizations that set up these events are aware of the basketball schedule ASAP

Posted by CUhoopster48 on January 27, 2009 at 01:27 PM EST #

3) Basketball is not a sport that South Carolinians in general follow very closely. As roughly half of Clemson enrollment is South Carolinians, you are in part looking at an ingrained instinct of not prioritizing basketball. Winning consistently may change this. However, without trying to stir up a hornets' nest, when in school, I noticed the group of students blamed for drop in student football attendance (e.g. Yankees) are more likely to attend a basketball game than their southern counterparts due to baskeball being a more popular sport in the area they are from...and yes, I am from SC.

4) Regarding academics, I missed a couple games as an undergrad when I had an exam or engineering lab project the next day. However, that does not affect every game and should not be relied on as a crutch.

Posted by CUhoopster48 on January 27, 2009 at 01:28 PM EST #

5) Regarding the suggestion of recognizing the student organization that brings the most or highest percentage of its members to the game, this was done for a few games during the Shyatt era and the prize was $200 and a team signed ball. Granted it was the Shyatt era, but I did not see a noticeable increase in attendance and only a third tier school should stoop to paying students to come to games.

Posted by CUhoopster48 on January 27, 2009 at 01:28 PM EST #

Honestly,how lomg have you been coming to the BBall games?

Posted by CM Shack on January 27, 2009 at 01:42 PM EST #

Mickey...why not be disappointed in all generations? Your opinion is to care about basketball - why not tennis? volleyball? swimming? others?

You rip students for their choices on basketball, but until you rip others (and presumably yourself) on not supporting other sports, its a very very shallow view.

Posted by Justwannaread on January 27, 2009 at 01:59 PM EST #

Mickey...why not be disappointed in all generations? Your opinion is to care about basketball - why not tennis? volleyball? swimming? others?

You rip students for their choices on basketball, but until you rip others (and presumably yourself) on not supporting other sports, its a very very shallow view.

Posted by Justwannaread on January 27, 2009 at 02:02 PM EST #

I agree, students who don't want to wait in line a few hours for a FREE ticket?!?! That's just lazy!! I mean the ticket is free, right?

Oh wait, don't students pay thousands of dollars a year in tuition? Come to think of it, a year's tuition is far more than most IPTAY donors pay in a year. How dare those students feel entititled to that free ticket!

Also, students wouldn't feel entitled to better seats if they didn't see it done at basketball schools with less successful programs...you know, like Duke.

I'm usually with you Mickey, but you're way off on this one. Whine all you want, but it's not the old farts in the good seats that are on their feet the whole game. Why don't you write a blog about them? Here's a thought, make a deal with the students from your generation to the students'. If you can get your "apathetic" generation off of their butts during a game then the student's "apathetic" generation will show up. Sound fair?

Posted by clemsonfarmboy on January 27, 2009 at 02:14 PM EST #

I graduated last year from Clemson and I am back for grad school. I have a couple of problems with the non-students filling Littlejohn.

One: There are a lot of games that students don't sit in the student seats because they have the ability to get better seats by going over to the sides of the arena and filling in for the non-students that decided the team wasn't good enough to show up even though they have already paid for their ticket. So I think it is kind of ridiculous that fans will pay for a ticket and then not come. This point leads me to my second point.

Posted by tigerman316 on January 27, 2009 at 02:16 PM EST #

Two: Until you comment on the non-students selling their tickets to away fans, then I don't want to ever hear anything about the students again. I want you to explain to me how when we play teams like Duke and North Carolina and even a few weeks ago Wake Forest, their team manages to get great seats and a lot of them. This is a major problem, probably much worse then student not even coming.

So Mickey, I would appreciate some kind of response to these two problems since you seem to bash the students so much and rarely ever say anything about your generation.

Posted by tigerman316 on January 27, 2009 at 02:16 PM EST #

So Mickey, I would appreciate some kind of response to these two problems since you seem to bash the students so much and rarely ever say anything about your generation.

Posted by tigerman316 on January 27, 2009 at 02:18 PM EST #

So Mickey, I would appreciate some kind of response to these two problems since you seem to bash the students so much and rarely ever say anything about your generation.

Posted by tigerman316 on January 27, 2009 at 02:18 PM EST #

stupid video games...that's where it all started

Posted by carson80 on January 27, 2009 at 03:08 PM EST #

I'll happily drive from Columbia and wait in line for a free ticket.

Posted by LanceC on January 27, 2009 at 03:16 PM EST #

Not an excuse, but I'd love someone to do some research and list some other successful basketball programs that only sell 2000 student tickets but put over a third of them into the upper arena. It's sad that students don't have the, "I'm just glad I got a ticket to the game attitude" but many don't. Your "hard-core" fans stand in line for hours to get lower arena seats while your typical fans decide that I'm just gonna watch it on TV and get some H/W done because I'm not gonna get lower seats anyway. I'm fairly certain that if the administration seriously thought student attendance was a problem (which besides Purnell I doubt any care), then they would do like MOST other schools and put the students in the lower arena. This would entice your typical fan to come more often. Don't think that this isn't an issue because it is. Students get frustrated when they see Duke, Michigan St, NC St, Florida, Illinois, etc..play on TV.

Posted by mjm on January 27, 2009 at 03:43 PM EST #

Have you ever seen Littlejohn on TV compared to these places? The empty seats along the sidelines is what looks so bad.
Take out the temporary stands and make it standing room down near the floor (except for directly behind the visitor bench). Then you have even more room to sell Tix to everyone else. The only people who lose are the people who currently sit in those seats. But do they really lose by helping Clemson gain a more respected program? I have a feeling that most of these people LOVE Clemson and would do whatever it took to help out Clemson. Maybe a few just care about Number 1, but I bet most would be more than willing to help the atmosphere at Littlejohn.

Posted by mjm on January 27, 2009 at 03:45 PM EST #

hey man, you want come watch the tigers kick some yellow jacket butt with us tonight? nah fellas, lets play MARIO KART! Yayy! Cool!

Posted by carson80 on January 27, 2009 at 04:00 PM EST #

What is the advantage of forcing kids to wait in line for hours instead of letting them study, read, exercise, or do something else that is actually useful? How many thousands of man-hours are wasted in line, and what purpose does it serve? Surely there could be some kind of allocation system implemented and tickets could be acquired online. I can think of a dozen criteria that would merit ticket allocation better than how long somebody is willing or able to wait in line; like seniority, GPA, community service points, whether-or-not they actually used their last ticket, etc.

I don't have to wait in line if I want to buy tickets for a concert or any other kind of entertainment event. Even the DMV doesn't make me wait in line anymore.

Posted by Razzmatazz on January 27, 2009 at 04:01 PM EST #

"If loving the Lord is wrong, I don’t want to be right but could bible study have been moved up a couple of hours?"

Now this really made me laugh. I can see it now... "Reverend could we please bump bible study up a few hours I need to go worship Clemson basketball."

Posted by Murdawg on January 27, 2009 at 04:23 PM EST #

Hey Old Fart, don't blame this(or any other)generation when the product CU puts on the field/floor is truly to blame. How about finishing? How about playing an entire game in FB or BB for starters. How about not giving up HUGE leads in the Tourney or starting the season in the Top Ten and ending it with 6 losses. Spare us the entitlement crap, I don't care if you walked 10 miles(uphill both ways) to school. I'm sorry I feel ENTITLED to a quality product, how unAmerican of me! I guess the uninspired masses are waiting to see us NOT crash and burn AGAIN when we enter ACC play.

Posted by CM Shack on January 27, 2009 at 04:24 PM EST #

Mickey, posted a long comment under feedback- check it out, but in summary

I am a Greek, 2004-2008 Alumni who went to the majority of the home games in my career and oftentimes had to beg, (many times to no avail) to get friends to go with me to a game.

1) Scheduling of any kind isn't a real excuse for students.
2) Clemson students have a tendency to be bad fans. Note the number of students at football tailgate but not present for the most exciting 25 seconds of college football. Sports aren't the priority.

Posted by ptmoore24 on January 27, 2009 at 04:25 PM EST #

3) Older generations of Clemson fans, parents and students, (esp. in SC) have never cared much about basketball, regardless of rank or talent, and this inevitably gets passed on.
4) Our generation is lazy. TV and the couch is better than making the haul to Little John and waiting to get bad seats.

Posted by ptmoore24 on January 27, 2009 at 04:25 PM EST #

5) The real legitimate argument here is the student seating vs. non-student seating. The best student sections in the country put 10 rows of standing room only on the SIDE court. Behind the basket isn't a great seat to begin with, much less when you get delegated into the upper deck. Take a look at upper deck attendance by students at Chapel Hill. Moreover, the crowd on the side courts now are blatantly old and sit the whole game. If you want a better environment, put the students in the action where they can all get into it and put the sitters farther up. Students don't need seats, but they do need excitement, and regardless of how big a fan you are, it's hard to get up and get loud in the upper deck.

Posted by ptmoore24 on January 27, 2009 at 04:25 PM EST #

Mickey,

This blog sucks.

You have gone downhill fast since football season.

Yours truly,
One more apathetic young punk.

Posted by triggerhappy on January 27, 2009 at 04:26 PM EST #

This is a joke, right? Using low student attendance at a basketball game as a sign of a whole generation's sense of entitlement?

I think this could best be summed up with a Simpsons quote - "Old Man Yells at Cloud"

Posted by ClemsonHart on January 27, 2009 at 07:31 PM EST #

This is a joke, right? Using low student attendance at a basketball game as a sign of a whole generation's sense of entitlement?

I think this could best be summed up with a Simpsons quote - "Old Man Yells at Cloud"

Posted by ClemsonHart on January 27, 2009 at 07:34 PM EST #

How dare you!
I am shocked by the audacity of this blog.

Mickey I have been a fan for 10 years, but my friend you have completely alienated if not lost me permanently.

I am a 30 year old class of 200 graduate of Clemson University and I fully consider myself part of "this" generation. Lets look at my day. I awoke this morning at 3:30 AM to start my day. 30 minutes later I was gone from home and after a quick trip to the gym I was at the office by 5:00AM and I walked in the door less than an hour ago. (Its 11:40 est currently) Strangely this is a normal day for me. At the age of 30 I own a company and employ 60 people, most of whom are from a "prior" generation and dont share my apathy.

As a broadcaster you just made a foolish choice, perhaps you forgot who pays your mortgage. If we tune out you are nothing, looked at a demographics sheet lately?

Posted by RTiger00 on January 28, 2009 at 12:01 AM EST #

I have, and its why I pulled my ads from WCCP, you dont care about the 18-35 year olds who actually make this company move. Think about this, as Gen X-ers (and Y-ers) we are the first generation asked to support ourselves, our children, and the prior generation whose failure to elect competent leadership has left us with a deficit in social insecurity leaving us to support our parents and such society critical roles as radio DJs as we move forward.

When is the last time YOU employed someone Mickey?

Apathetic?

Really?

Why is football attendance so high?
Maybe because its a Saturday?
I didnt hear many complaints about attendance after the Wake game, also on a Saturday. Face it not all of us want to be DJs some have to or had to study and Sunday is tough.

Posted by RTiger00 on January 28, 2009 at 12:02 AM EST #

Apathetic?

Try getting the University or The ACC to give a damn and schedule around the students. If all B-Ball games were Saturdays I bet you would have more sell outs, what with the extra day to make up study etc.

Do I even need to point out that the game wasnt over until 11PM when many had 8Am classes, or perhaps eeven exams?

Guess what you cant leave at 11pm stuy for a few hours get a good nights rest and be ready at 8.

I am embarassed at you!
The audacity to challenge the faithfulness of our student body!
And to lump an entire generation in, shameful.

Dont worry WCCP will be getting my letter in the AM and withdrawal of my current ad campaign and it will have your name at the top!

(Here is some class for you, since you need lessons)

God Bless Ryan and his recovery.
And lets hope he never has to hear his Father condemn his entire generation again.

Posted by RTiger00 on January 28, 2009 at 12:02 AM EST #

Mickey,

I like how you asked for "constructive and thoughtful" solutions to the problem and still mostly got razzed. It seems the two best student perspective issues brought up were about the distribution of tickets and the student section seating.

I'm in my late 20s and remember sitting on the sides of the court with my student ticket. Those were Shyatt years, and the team was not all that good. Attendance was therefore low, and maybe that's why when they redid Littlejohn, they changed the student seating since it wasn't thought to be a priority. Perhaps, though, with the culture of Clemson BBall changing as you say, student seating should be re-evaluated.

As for the entitlement argument, I think it really is an issue (for me too, as a late 20er). Maybe this recession will put us back on the right path!

Posted by barbasol on January 28, 2009 at 12:13 AM EST #

No wonder no one will sponsor this blog.

Posted by loubello on January 28, 2009 at 09:08 AM EST #

I think you may have your priorities a little mixed up. The students at Clemson are here first and for most for an education, and I know it has been awhile since you have been in college but Sunday nights are usually crazy trying to get ready for the week. I have been to every single home basketball game this year and I absolutely love our team. We are so talented and the team deserves everyones support. Even with that said, you can't question the support from the students based on the GT game. ...

Posted by cutigerfan8 on January 28, 2009 at 12:11 PM EST #

... The students of Clemson are interested in basketball and because of that most people knew GT had not won a conference game yet and we would probably handle them easily, therefore if you were going to have to pick a game not to go to it would be this one. Also, the game was on TV and thus it was much easier to stay in the dorm and watch the game while doing some homework. ...

Posted by cutigerfan8 on January 28, 2009 at 12:12 PM EST #

... Another component to the lack of students in Littlejohn has to be the ticket situation. The game it's self takes up at least two hours of your night but then must also consider that if you want a ticket you have to go stand in line for a few hours. By the time you do all of this your whole Sunday is gone. Waiting in line for football tickets is different because it only happens at the most six times in one year. The basketball season is much longer. Students are constantly trying to balance school with school spirit. You have to understand that!!! Take a walk around campus and poll some of the students and you will see that Clemson basketball spirit is alive and well in Clemson.

Posted by cutigerfan8 on January 28, 2009 at 12:12 PM EST #

Posted by armsb on January 28, 2009 at 01:00 PM EST #