The Indiana basketball program has been through an awful lot in the last four years. In 2008-09, when a new coaching regime came in, nobody had any idea how difficult the process was going to be. Now 8-0 and off to a spectacular start, the IU students have yet to fill the student section. And when asked about it, all they do is complain.
IU students will pack Assembly Hall against Kentucky, but where have they been?
A lot has been made about the student section’s attendance for the first six home games where it has never been more than 60-percent full, even though IU has won all six games.
The conversation was first brought about on the Dan Dakich Show Monday, when my mentor and longtime Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer joined the show for his weekly visit.
“I got a big problem with our students right now because they have not been very good with their 7,600 tickets and about 3,000 of them at least going by the wayside for all these games of non-name programs that Indiana has faced,” Fischer said.
“And that upsets me because let me just tell you, if you are going to be the best program in the country, your students have to be there game in and game out and it doesn’t matter who plays. And that’s not happening right and that’s upset me greatly.”
I completely agree and I’ve noticed an attitude change in IU students over the last five years or so. No longer are they dedicated fans by the masses, that will plan their schedule around the games. Fans that will always wear their IU gear with their head held high and be confident in their university.
I do want note, there is a solid core of passionate students but there are far too few of them. It looks like no more than a few hundred.
There has been an attitude change and I don’t like it. In a group of about 50 students polled, only about seven classified themselves as a diehard IU fan that will watch the team no matter their talent level. The worst part about this informal poll was that about ten claimed they rarely watch IU sports, yet they are a sports marketing major.
Too many times I’ve said at my fraternity house that I’m getting ready to work the game and they ask what game and who they are playing. Seriously? I cover every game and how could they not know when their university’s top sport plays? Maybe these students won’t buy in until Indiana wins consistently and against good teams.
Student support with the IU basketball team has been needed more than ever the last three seasons. Win or lose, the students should cheer on the Hoosiers every game, and stand up for the players that represent this great institution.
I did additional unofficial research Monday, when I questioned more guys at the dinner table. I asked friends with season tickets, “have you been at every game and why do you think the section has been so sparse.” Indirectly, the answers were all the same.
They were all frustrated and they feel entitled. Their no. 1 gripe was that their tickets were terrible so they didn’t want to go. They should be happy to have the opportunity to buy a ticket and a ticket to every game. Talking with some former students, they were lucky to get tickets in a lottery to half of the games. Entitled.
Sticking with the student section, they don’t like the fact that their section is not the prime seating surrounding the basket. Instead of being grateful for the largest section in the country, nearly 7,600 seats, they believe that they are above alumni and donors. How irrational. There’s no way Indiana can take away seats from longtime donors and alumni that donate thousands each year to the university. Remember: students are paying $15 a ticket. Regularly priced seats cost about $40 each.
I even heard from one friend, “these are my four years and I’m paying out of state tuition so I should get the best seats.” Man, he’s dreaming.
Coming in a close second for the reason students weren’t showing up was that lack of quality opponents. Well, this is true but Indiana is winning in convincing fashion. These games are fun, entertaining and feel-good games. I thought winning by 20 points was enjoyable.
If students aren’t dedicated and in attendance for non-conference games, they don’t deserve to stand in the student section for the big games. I bet every sports fan on campus would love to have the best seat possible Saturday against Kentucky. And for half of them, it may be just their second or third game of the season.
I agree completely with Fischer’s argument that if the students don’t show, cut the size of their section. And I also agree with Dakich’s comments that the IU is bringing in too many students out of state that just don’t get what Indiana basketball is all about. They don’t get the history, tradition or culture. They don’t understand you should show up early and heckle the opponents during warm-up. And they don’t get that students should appreciate having a top-program nationwide on campus and the access to tickets each game at a reduced rate.
I’m from Indiana and IU athletics was the reason I chose Indiana University. I didn’t even think to apply anywhere else. No need. Growing up in the state of Indiana, I understand there is no other team consistently more powerful than the IU basketball team. Ask any media member in Indy. The interest in Indiana basketball is outstanding and has been since before they were alive.
My hope is that the students get with it and change their attitudes. They should be happy to have the largest student section in the country with the ability to purchase a ticket to every game. They don’t have to wait outside a few days before every game to just get a seat. And more than anything, I hope they embrace the program if they haven’t already and understand how special it truly is.
Enough complaining about the opponent or where your seat is. Shut up, show up and be loud. Not just Saturday and not just the “big games.” Every game.
(Listen to Dan Dakich’s conversation with Don Fischer below, or click here. The attendance conversation begins at the 9:40 mark.)
[audio:http://media.1070thefan.com/Podcasts/2155/120511_DonFischer.mp3|titles=Don Fischer on with Dan Dakich]
The students not coming to the non-conference games has always been an issue. I attended IU in the late ’80’s and there were always poor turnouts for the weaker opponents. Now that the students are given a bigger ticket allotment and a student section the issue is highlighted.
I went to every IU home game(and several road games) during my 4 years. However I knew plenty of people that just were not basketball fans. IU basketball was not their reason for going to college at IU. I know that sounds crazy but its true. Games around the Holiday breaks were always an issue as kids simply wanted to go home to be with family and friends.
I agree that the empty seats is a problem. But like I said before its always been a problem. The University needs to do a better job and come up with a better ticket plan.
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Out of State Students are the problem?
Sorry guys … it is not the out of state students … it is the losing and questionable competition.
I sat court level for 5 years … living Indiana Basketball. It just happended to be in the early 1980’s.
In pre-season … you played Stony Brook … we play the Soviet Union. You played Gardner-Webb … we played UNC.
You played Evansville … ok … we played alcorn state.
You get to buy the worst tickets in the arena? We were only allowed to be every OTHER or every THIRD lousy ticket. (Not me … I played in the Band)
We also had the best coach in Basketball … you fired him. And then you hired a corrupt coach.
I wish Coach Dan the best in building the program back … we out of staters truly miss Indiana basketball. We just have not seen it played for a while.
I have suffered a lot for being a fan … growing up with wahoos and working with maryland terps. Much teasing has come my way in the past 30 years.
I relate the following as my last source of grief … 1984 … regional final … NCAA tourney … about to win against Virginia … IU in possesion with seconds left on the clock. An IU player advances the ball past mid court and confronts a defender … and moves the ball behind his back … into the hands of another Virginia player. Indiana loses by 2.
My phone rings off the hook for the next few days … old school friends from the Old Dominion … making sure I saw the game.
You ask who the IU player who lost the ball was? Dan something! Last name starts with a D.
Uh… In case you hadn’t noticed Dan is not the basketball coach at IU. Have you been living under a rock???
For the past 10 years … yes.
The Dakich thing building the program was obviously not written well …
the quote from Dan was the intended target
” Dakich’s comments that the IU is bringing in too many students out of state”
I have no idea how this comment relates to the students and attendance.
Great article Scott, this “Dan” guy who was in the band makes no valid arguments. Yea, we play a lot of weak teams, but we also have a lot more games now than they did in the 80’s. Also, IU never played a #1 team at Assembly in the 80’s. I know you didn’t sit court side during the games in the 80’s because court side seats weren’t put in until the 2000’s. The last 30 years IU has been to 4 final 4’s with 2 natl titles. That’s a lot better than most programs 30 years. You haven’t had it that bad “Dan”.
The ticket office makes the situation worse too. 1) Students don’t get tickets to any of the games over Christmas break. Complete bullshit considering we the amount of money paid for these. This is four games that we don’t get tickets for, including Ohio State and Michigan, two huge games. 2) The other day me and a couple friends, the dedicated fans we are, went and sat in out upper balcony tickets for the Stetson game. Obviously those seats sucked, and we noticed the lower level student was only one third full. We figured the ushers would have no reason to not let us move down to the lower level and sit in an empty row at the back because we paid the same amount of money for the tickets as the kids sitting down there did, and they must want the students to group together and create a better, louder atmosphere. But no. During halftime we walked down there and got randomly stopped by an usher and sent back to our seats in the balcony. Whats the point of diluting the student section and making kids sit in the balcony when the lower level is empty? It makes no sense…
To your first point, most students would be irate if they were charged another $60 for four tickets that they couldn’t use. Like I said in my piece, there are a LOT of students from out of state. Very few would come back on NYE just to see Indiana Ohio State. I agree it’s a hot ticket but you can’t include it in the ticket package when the students are away.
Secondly, I agree that there needs to be a resolution made concerning the empty GA rows. I think once the game begins, students should be able to sit anywhere there is an open seat. And then obviously a GA ticket trumps a student with a balcony ticket. Not only would it unite the section but it would look full and provide a lively atmosphere.
I think that is just the growing pains for establishing a new way of doing it. My hope is that this is resolved by Big Ten season.
I think the GA seats need to be filled 15 minutes before the game. There is no reason to get to a game late.
If you buy into the “biggest fan section in college basketball” BS, then you are naive. Fans don’t like to be patronized, and that is exactly what the administration is doing by making such a claim.
Student tickets might cost $15 dollars compared to the regular $40, but you’re forgetting one little thing…$30,000+ in tuition per year. That’s what those, “out of state students that just don’t get what Indiana basketball is all about” are paying. It’s that money that pays for the uniforms, the renovations, and the coach. And it’s that money that should justify a REAL student section.
There it is. I’ve been waiting for this response.
This is the lame argument I’ve heard a handful of times. And you are wrong on multiple levels.
What the hell does tuition have to do with the basketball team? Your tuition pays for school related items like professors, building maintenance, transportation, the health center and technology.
The uniforms are GIVEN to Indiana in an Adidas deal. Boosters and tax payers help pay the coaches salary. And the renovations, like Cook Hall, were completely funded by boosters.
The same boosters that pay $40 a ticket and attend EVERY game. And they have been doing so for decades.
Paying out of state tuition, or tuition for that matter does not benefit the basketball team or sports for that matter. This argument has no legs.
Rob just got clowned on. haha
Tuition does not benefit the basketball team or sports for that matter? Really?
So how about the $90 activity fee that every single IU student is REQUIRED to pay each semester?
And don’t you see, it’s all circular. Tuition improves a university. Improved universities mean more donations. The connections are limitless.
Clearly Rob has no clue how the budget of the Athletic Department is structured. Nor does he probably even know what the Varsity Club is or what it does. What Rob needs to realize, is that there are countless boosters that donate between $1,000 and $20,000 per year to help fund IU Athletics. This donation does not pay for their tickets. Tickets are a separate cost, nearly $700 per season ticket for basketball, and most people purchase 2-4 tickets. On top of that, these boosters are buying tickets for away games. They’re flying and driving long distances to support the team.
So tell me – why are students complaining about their tickets? Rob, you’re here for 4 years and you have a false sense of entitlement. You should be thankful to have the opportunity to be inside the building for 16 out of 20 home games.
As Scott said perfectly, SHUT UP and SHOW UP. And next time you get on your soap box, please make sure you know what you’re talking about.
Sincerely,
A happy IU Senior student season ticket holder
Where are these numbers coming from? They seem less reliable than Scott’s classroom survey.
I don’t doubt that many people make sizable donations. I just fail to see how that’s related to them occupying what should be a student section.
These numbers from Chris are called ‘research.’ It’s simple but let me explain it to you.
Multiply $40 times the number of home games for the cost per ticket.
For the annual giving levels I’ll help you out. http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/c-varsityclub/spec-rel/annual-giving.html
Great article, Scott. I, too, have something to add to Rob’s comment. The $90 activity fee you claim is used to help pay for the basketball program… again, simple research and typing in “Activity Fee Indiana University” into a cool search engine I found, Google (not sure when this will take off, but it’s gonna be huge :D), provided the following info:
2008-2009 IU Activity Fee Explained:
Campus Day Care – $0.39
Graduate Student Organization – $0.94
IU Auditorium – $3.05
IUSA General Fund – $1.20
IUSA Student Organization Support Fund – $4.75
IUSA – Readership – $1.25
IUSTV – $0.79
Indiana Memorial Union – $2.81
Outdoor Adventures – $0.68
Rec Sports and Aquatic Facility – $47.58
Student Legal Services – $9.98
Union Board – $4.66
WIUX – $0.45
Total Fee (per student, per semester) – $78.47
http://www.indiana.edu/~gpso/docs/student-fee-use.pdf
Not sure if you realize this or not, Rob, but nowhere on this list does it say you are paying for the basketball program.
I could be wrong, but I’m guessing you never spent a minute inside the campus library learning how to research huh, Rob? I was happy to pay my $90 activity every year because I was allowed to use facilities like HPER and SRSC.
On top of it all, I have watched every game live, on TV or at AH, since the I can remember. I grew up knowing that once you heard Martha the Cleaning lady (Farm Bureau game opener) it was time for the family to sit down and enjoy the Hoosiers together.
I love where CTC is taking this program. I love watching him pace the court. I love seeing him actually pull a guy out of the game and love watching how he explains what was right or wrong with the play until you see the lightbulb go off in the kids head. Most of all, I look forward to the day when I can teach my kids (my fiancee’ may think I’m jumping the gun here) about IU basketball and how great of a program it is.
“I cover every game and how could they not know when their university’s top sport plays?”
Interesting point Scott. However, in terms of both all-time winning percentage and national championships, the soccer team is superior. Where was the “research” on that one?
I should have been more specific. By top sport, I meant most notable, popular and publicized. The soccer program has been impressive and over the last few decades, dominant. However soccer as a sport, doesn’t have the notoriety it deserves.
Especially in Indiana, where basketball is king.
I’m on board with this. The lack of student support has been noticeable and disappointing. Supporting your school’s athletics, especially basketball is a big part of college.
The lack of support for football is obvious and that’s a program as a whole that must earn your attendance. Most are too busy in the tailgating fields.
I think it’s important for these students to enjoy every game, support their peers and most importantly, support their school. Feeling “entitled” as you described Scott, may be an indication of their generations today and how spoiled some of these students are.
They must step their game for the rest of the season. And I sure hope they don’t sell their ticket to Saturday’s UK game to cash-in. Where’s the loyalty?