We need to have a CONSTRUCTIVE conversation about the Student Section

OK folks, now that most people have stated their peace about the BG game, and, hopefully, have calmed down to the point of realizing that we won the game and at the end of the year no one will care how many points we won by, its time to have a constructive conversation about the student section.

What happened the other night was ridiculous, but it also happened last year against Tennessee, and yes it did because I saw it. However, I have come to a few conclusions about this situation:

1. Complaining and saying that our students suck doesn't fix the problem.

2. LSU and UGA had empty seats in their student section, so quality of play isn't as huge of a factor as people want to believe. However, I will say that our students leave at the slightest sign of adversity

3. This is an issue with kids of this era. They have twitter, Facebook, cable TV, cell phones, etc. In this day in age, kids have to be entertained 24/7. If they are not, they will find something else to entertain them. They can't simply can't stand to be slightly bored.

4. Selling alcohol in the stadium won't help much. Most of the students are underage and couldn't buy it anyway.

5. Our problem is getting students to stay at the game; not getting them to come to the game. The student section is usually full at the beginning of the game.

So with all this information, I would like to start a conversation, that could potentially help our athletic department, on how we can fix this problem. Complaining about it doesn't work. What we need to come up with are real life, applicable solutions.

Are there incentives we can offer students to stay till the end of the 4th quarter? Cafeteria coupons, etc?

Is there anymore that can be done with the game experience to make students want to stay? And don't say the "too many commercials" that has nothing to do with why students leave.

LETS GET CREATIVE and figure this out. Don't make this a bitching thread, or I will just start a new thread to direct this conversation in the right direction. We all want MSU to have a great student section. It helps the team and game day environment in so many ways.

Lets figure out how to do it!!

I think what we need, in the students eyes, is something to keep our interest in the game. Now, I'm not talking about a cheerleader getting a microphone and leading cheers because that doesn't work (look at Basketball two years ago). I'm talking about something that the students will rally around and start doing a lot more often. The "Hail State" after every first down isn't working and I don't see it working. It was a great idea, but an unrealized idea. I'm not sure how having the opposing team coming out from under the student section will affect the section. Maybe it will keep people motivated to stay so that they can heckle the opposing team as they run out of and back into the tunnel. It will be interesting to say the least. But for now, I'm not sure what to do.

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Originally Posted by TheRef

I think what we need, in the students eyes, is something to keep our interest in the game. Now, I'm not talking about a cheerleader getting a microphone and leading cheers because that doesn't work (look at Basketball two years ago). I'm talking about something that the students will rally around and start doing a lot more often. The "Hail State" after every first down isn't working and I don't see it working. It was a great idea, but an unrealized idea. I'm not sure how having the opposing team coming out from under the student section will affect the section. Maybe it will keep people motivated to stay so that they can heckle the opposing team as they run out of and back into the tunnel. It will be interesting to say the least. But for now, I'm not sure what to do.

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Good point Ref. Not sure how much the other team coming out from under the student section will help, but it can't hurt.

We could also lower the student tickets total, but this really wouldn't fix the problem. It would just create less empty seats in the 4th quarter

Students left because it was homecoming. It is still no excuse to leave.

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Originally Posted by ShotgunDawg

Good point Ref. Not sure how much the other team coming out from under the student section will help, but it can't hurt.

We could also lower the student tickets total, but this really wouldn't fix the problem. It would just create less empty seats in the 4th quarter

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I was a part of the council that was tasked during Stansbury's last year to increase student attendance at basketball games. Many things were thrown around but nothing solid was given. They tried gimmicks like giveaways, but there simply wasn't a good way to keep everyone at the games. This is the problem we are faced with right now. Don't be surprised if you see the Athletic Department try to run a gimmick next year to keep the students there. They tried it with basketball, they WILL try it with football. Most likely, it will have the same end result. Students staying until the big giveaway, then leaving soon afterwards. It sucks, I know.

Long time viewer, first time posting, but this is an important topic. The student section was pitiful Saturday, and unacceptable in a close game. Just some thoughts I had Saturday while I was complaining to my wife about our student section during the game.

What if student tickets were allotted on a per week basis instead of for the entire season. You could sell the first game on a first come first serve basis, but implement a point system for the games moving forward. I assume the student ID cards can be scanned or now have RFID technology that could be used, like chip timing on road race mats, to register students entering the game, and then use other mats or scans as soon as the game ends. People who get scanned at the end have a higher priority building up. Maybe reduce the size of the student section to further drive demand. If there were always plenty of tickets that a point system didnt matter, maybe the student tickets could be split into two tiers, upper deck and lower level.

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Originally Posted by Outside Dawg

Long time viewer, first time posting, but this is an important topic. The student section was pitiful Saturday, and unacceptable in a close game. Just some thoughts I had Saturday while I was complaining to my wife about our student section during the game.

What if student tickets were allotted on a per week basis instead of for the entire season. You could sell the first game on a first come first serve basis, but implement a point system for the games moving forward. I assume the student ID cards can be scanned or now have RFID technology that could be used, like chip timing on road race mats, to register students entering the game, and then use other mats or scans as soon as the game ends. People who get scanned at the end have a higher priority building up. Maybe reduce the size of the student section to further drive demand. If there were always plenty of tickets that a point system didnt matter, maybe the student tickets could be split into two tiers, upper deck and lower level.

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Only problem with that is that you will have a hard time selling the small-game tickets. Also, many students will buy the tickets only to sell them for a 100% profit afterwards depending on the demand for the game. Another problem is that the stadium does not have a fiber-optic network built in so the scanning of ID's is not possible, yet. There are discussions of integrating a fiber optic network into DWS. Also, since the student section will be solely in the endzone next year on the lower level the tiers plan won't be useful past this year.

My theory:

Comes down to quality of opponent. It was a close game at half time, but I bet most students thought we'd pull away and cruise to victory in the second half. Combine that with the ability to catch the game on TV at the tailgate, frat house, dorm room, or apartment and it sets up for an early exit.

Now, bring in a "quality opponent." I'm talking something like Kentucky or Vandy-- a team we can reasonably beat. It has allure of an SEC matchup with the likelihood of a victory. I think that might help with the homecoming game.

I think they need a reason to be there in the 4th quarter. Kinda like ref said, we need something they are in involved in. Wisconsin plays "Jump Around" at the start of the 4th quarter and EVERYBODY stays for that because it is a tradition. Other places sing Sweet Caroline or some other song. We have to start a traditional song that the students will WANT to be a part of. Even if we copy one of those songs.

We need to go to the frat houses and explain what song we are about to start playing right after God's Gonna Cut you down, and tell them we want them to be the ones that start this new tradition. Explain to them that the team feeds off of their energy, and when they leave so does the energy. Give them this "new tradition" incentive and see if they can take off with it.

Just a thought.

Simple solution is to start scanning ID's. Not just scanning ID's to get in the game, but scan them as students leave. Scan in and scan out. Offer some sort of incentive for staying the full game (Bulldog coalition points, some kind of contest for the Greeks with the most attendance points, etc). I know they did an attendance contest for the Greeks in tennis where the winning fraternity/sorority won a huge flat screen tv and they saw huge attendance numbers because of it. Maybe a raffle for the students with x number of points where the winner gets a semester of free tuition. Gonna have to make it worth it for the students. Student tickets need to be knocked down to around 7500 or 8000 as well. 11000 is an absurd amount for our enrollment.

Every game is on tv now. It use to not be that way. Half the folks at my tail gate dont even go in at all any more. They sit outside and grill and drink and watch on tv. These are folks that would never miss games in the past. Im talking folks that drive 3 plus hours to tail gate and not go in. Most have tickets too.

That tells me that it is more entertaining outside than inside. Not sure how you fix that.

Wifi or reliable 4G in the stadium probably goes further than anything. Not sure what the cell reception is like this year because I only get back for 1-2 games a year, but in years past nothing went through.

But as we've said, this is a national problem, not a msu problem.

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Originally Posted by Entodawg

Simple solution is to start scanning ID's. Not just scanning ID's to get in the game, but scan them as students leave. Scan in and scan out. Offer some sort of incentive for staying the full game (Bulldog coalition points, some kind of contest for the Greeks with the most attendance points, etc). I know they did an attendance contest for the Greeks in tennis where the winning fraternity/sorority won a huge flat screen tv and they saw huge attendance numbers because of it. Maybe a raffle for the students with x number of points where the winner gets a semester of free tuition. Gonna have to make it worth it for the students. Student tickets need to be knocked down to around 7500 or 8000 as well. 11000 is an absurd amount for our enrollment.

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Not a bad idea. Announce the winners of tuition, a flat screen, and some other small prizes at around the 7:30 mark in the 4th quarter every week. Tell them they must be in attendance to claim their prizes. Wouldn't keep all of them, but it would keep some of them. Maybe even announce a fraternity or sorority of the week for the one that showed the most spirit/best signs of the home game week that week. I don't know.

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Originally Posted by CadaverDawg

Not a bad idea. Announce the winners of tuition, a flat screen, and some other small prizes at around the 7:30 mark in the 4th quarter every week. Tell them they must be in attendance to claim their prizes. Wouldn't keep all of them, but it would keep some of them. Maybe even announce a fraternity or sorority of the week for the one that showed the most spirit/best signs of the home game week that week. I don't know.

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Like I said earlier, we don't have the technological infrastructure at DWS right now in order to scan ID's.

It shouldn't be too hard to get this fixed.
First, reduce the amount of student tickets so that supply < demand.
Second, sell tickets on a per/game basis instead of as a season pass. Allow upperclassmen to get priority for the first game.
Third, setup an HID scanner at the gate that students have to scan as they enter and as they leave (something similar to how they get in to the dorms). It may not be there now, but wouldn't be hard to implement. It's in place on every other building around campus for faculty/staff to enter after-hours.
Last, if a student misses a game, or leaves early more than twice, they don't get the opportunity to buy tickets for the next game / rest of season (or are given the lowest priority)

That would give them incentive to go to the smaller games, assuming they want to go to the bigger game next week, and to not leave early too often. I'm pretty sure that I've heard of other schools doing this with their sporting events.

I think we have to embrace the new Technology and make it more interactive. Something like This at Man City. Not internet, but a local wifi with live stats and streaming of the video available to everyone with a tablet or a smartphone. Maybe even an app.

1) homecoming games should never be at night. That sucks, but they have to be day games.

2) The fraternity council should shut down all frats until the conclusion of the game. No admittance to the house.

3) There should be assigned seating, with block seating for groups. If individuals/organizations aren't using their seats the whole game, they lose their right to buy tickets.

4) students who accept student tickets at a reduced price should be made to sign an agreement that they will stay for the entire game barring emergencies.

5) If students don't like the the new rules, they don't have to accept tickets. Those tickets can be donated to charitable foundations, Columbus AFB, local high schools, etc...

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Originally Posted by Political Hack

1) homecoming games should never be at night. That sucks, but they have to be day games.

2) The fraternity council should shut down all frats until the conclusion of the game. No admittance to the house.

3) There should be assigned seating, with block seating for groups. If individuals/organizations aren't using their seats the whole game, they lose their right to buy tickets.

4) students who accept student tickets at a reduced price should be made to sign an agreement that they will stay for the entire game barring emergencies.

5) If students don't like the the new rules, they don't have to accept tickets. Those tickets can be donated to charitable foundations, Columbus AFB, local high schools, etc...

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Riiiiiiiiight...

"having to be entertained" the entire game is a huge problem to me. I guess it speaks to the younger generation (I am only 29 but I guess I'm old now). I think all the "entertainment" at football games has sucked the life out of the stadium, and I think it sucks. I feel more into the game in my living room than the distractions while actually at the game. But I guess it is what it is.

1. Put the students in the upper deck for all non-SEC games. They are going to leave early, let the upper deck season ticket holders have a chance to sit down low. I don't know the logistics of this, but I'm sure it could happen.

2. Raise the price of student tickets. My brothers went to Auburn and had to pay a couple hundred bucks for their tickets, and that was just for half a season. It's should be a privilege to go to a game, and if you should only go if you really want to be there.

3. Increase the size of the FMB into a mega band. It has come to my attention recently that the FMB are some of the most hardcore State fans out there. Maybe it's because they all have to stay at the game until the bitter end. This is a joke, but maybe forcing students to stay would create an affinity for the football team. Maybe we should set up ticket takers at the exits and you have to show your ticket to get out and if you're a student your student ID scanned if you leave and it's a strike against you. This is no doubt an impossible solution but you get the point.

slightly off-topic but do we always have to play non-conference games for homecoming?

I like Hack's suggestions. Also, you could have tickets at the end of the game to hand out for $5 off for this or that or a movie ticket. My guess if Univ bought could get $5 off for $3. The additional sells of concessions would off set the the give away. Or T-shitrs, I stayed till the end.

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Originally Posted by dawgs

Wifi or reliable 4G in the stadium probably goes further than anything. Not sure what the cell reception is like this year because I only get back for 1-2 games a year, but in years past nothing went through.

But as we've said, this is a national problem, not a msu problem.

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This. It probably shouldn't be like this, but students want constant access to the internet and cell service in the stadium. Wifi will help. It won't solve the problem but it will help, in my opinion. I also think the student section moving to the bowled in area will help. We won't be spread out away from each other.

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Originally Posted by TheRef

I think what we need, in the students eyes, is something to keep our interest in the game. Now, I'm not talking about a cheerleader getting a microphone and leading cheers because that doesn't work (look at Basketball two years ago). I'm talking about something that the students will rally around and start doing a lot more often. The "Hail State" after every first down isn't working and I don't see it working. It was a great idea, but an unrealized idea. I'm not sure how having the opposing team coming out from under the student section will affect the section. Maybe it will keep people motivated to stay so that they can heckle the opposing team as they run out of and back into the tunnel. It will be interesting to say the least. But for now, I'm not sure what to do.

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I think the best temporary fix is for a few students to step up and keep it rowdy. Be the first in, get a seat at the bottom, and be the orchestrators. I remember when had this one guy that was always starting chants and keeping us going. Can't remember his name for the life of me tho but he was well known within.

As a student, I think part of the problem is the fact that frats have to shut everything down at 1 as well as the bars. Many of the frat guys have to leave to go set up for the bands they have. Girls leave at half time to go get ready. If the univeristy would lift that rule and Starkville bars actually stayed opened until two or so it would help the problem.

Another problem is the damn jumbotron not keeping people engaged. It kills the crowd. I actually yawned in the second quarter. I've never yawned at a football game.

Good Luck. Students have always left early. Except for the big games that we have a chance to win. Plus the game is on TV. How many of them think " I was there when we beat Bowling Green in 2013"? To many other things to do and chase then to stay at a "non-historical" game.

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Originally Posted by TheRef

I was a part of the council that was tasked during Stansbury's last year to increase student attendance at basketball games. Many things were thrown around but nothing solid was given. They tried gimmicks like giveaways, but there simply wasn't a good way to keep everyone at the games. This is the problem we are faced with right now. Don't be surprised if you see the Athletic Department try to run a gimmick next year to keep the students there. They tried it with basketball, they WILL try it with football. Most likely, it will have the same end result. Students staying until the big giveaway, then leaving soon afterwards. It sucks, I know.

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So was I. We tried everything, and no nothing worked. Al Davis said it best, "just win baby win."

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Originally Posted by BankerDog

As a student, I think part of the problem is the fact that frats have to shut everything down at 1 as well as the bars. Many of the frat guys have to leave to go set up for the bands they have. Girls leave at half time to go get ready. If the univeristy would lift that rule and Starkville bars actually stayed opened until two or so it would help the problem.

Another problem is the damn jumbotron not keeping people engaged. It kills the crowd. I actually yawned in the second quarter. I've never yawned at a football game.

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And I agree with this as well. Everybody in the endzone was literally bored to sleep during the 2nd quarter. There was nothing fun about Saturday's game.

but until the University, Student Association and Athletic Department put there heads together to solve the problem, nothing will be fixed. The best thing to do at this point, everyone who has twitter, tweet the following showing displeasure with the student section and demand they start searching for a solution. People like Whit Waide that has some cred with the student body may also be able to help.

Hell, direct them to this thread to show them its a noticeable problem among alumni, fans, and students.

@MSU_SA
@msstate
@HailState
@stricklinMSU
@whitwaide
@HailStateFB
@bhemphillMSU
@reflectoronline

this picture is with roughly 7 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.. a FREAKIN QUARTER AND A HALF LEFT!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWa8QhtIgAAge01.jpg:large

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Originally Posted by mjh94

but until the University, Student Association and Athletic Department put there heads together to solve the problem, nothing will be fixed. The best thing to do at this point, everyone who has twitter, tweet the following showing displeasure with the student section and demand they start searching for a solution. People like Whit Waide that has some cred with the student body may also be able to help.

Hell, direct them to this thread to show them its a noticeable problem among alumni, fans, and students.

@MSU_SA
@msstate
@HailState
@stricklinMSU
@whitwaide
@HailStateFB
@bhemphillMSU
@reflectoronline

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Having worked for SA Athletic Affairs, I promise you that all those people are already aware. Just be honest with you -- there's a fine line. Can't piss off the students either (I know that sounds crazy to alumni). Tents 4 Tickets created the most enormous blowback I'd seen in a while.

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Originally Posted by bluelightstar

Having worked for SA Athletic Affairs, I promise you that all those people are already aware. Just be honest with you -- there's a fine line. Can't piss off the students either (I know that sounds crazy to alumni). Tents 4 Tickets created the most enormous blowback I'd seen in a while.

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Ahhhh....Tents 4 Tickets.....#NeverForget. I always pester Rhett about it before every season. Good times...goooooood times.

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Originally Posted by mjh94

but until the University, Student Association and Athletic Department put there heads together to solve the problem, nothing will be fixed. The best thing to do at this point, everyone who has twitter, tweet the following showing displeasure with the student section and demand they start searching for a solution. People like Whit Waide that has some cred with the student body may also be able to help.

Hell, direct them to this thread to show them its a noticeable problem among alumni, fans, and students.

@MSU_SA
@msstate
@HailState
@stricklinMSU
@whitwaide
@HailStateFB
@bhemphillMSU
@reflectoronline

this picture is with roughly 7 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.. a FREAKIN QUARTER AND A HALF LEFT!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWa8QhtIgAAge01.jpg:large

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This picture tell me that the student section is the only problem. I'm happy with the attendance in the rest of the stadium. So, people who stay at their tents aren't the problem. The students are the problem.

I like the idea of them having to buy tickets for each individual game and people that leave after the final buzzer get a discount on the next game's tickets or get to buy them first. That would help

What is the common underlying theme to the students leaving? They all leave to drink beer and chase *****, and I don't blame them at all. So, let's adopt the NASCAR cooler rule and bring the junction inside. You get to keep that chunky chick buzzed on Smirnoff and you might get a halftime tug. Sadly, this will never happen.

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Originally Posted by HereComesTheSpiral

What is the common underlying theme to the students leaving? They all leave to drink beer and chase *****, and I don't blame them at all. So, let's adopt the NASCAR cooler rule and bring the junction inside. You get to keep that chunky chick buzzed on Smirnoff and you might get a halftime tug. Sadly, this will never happen.

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Send this to NCAA...they're the ones keeping it from happening.

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Originally Posted by HereComesTheSpiral

What is the common underlying theme to the students leaving? They all leave to drink beer and chase *****, and I don't blame them at all. So, let's adopt the NASCAR cooler rule and bring the junction inside. You get to keep that chunky chick buzzed on Smirnoff and you might get a halftime tug. Sadly, this will never happen.

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Yes, this would work wonderfully, but not sure we could legally make it happen

What do you guys see as the biggest issue with having students leave a game like that early?

Obviously I would rather it not happen, and so if it can be solved easily, obviously we should do that. Also, if this were happening at, say, the LSU game, there's no doubt that would be a serious issue that would have to be addressed.

But as it stands, I'm not sure it's that big of a deal that a lot of students left the homecoming game against Bowling Green early. That's always going to happen; there may be things we can do to give incentive to stay longer, but is it more of an issue than I'm realizing?

One solution would be to schedule tougher opponents....

Entodawg nailed it. WAY too many tickets to students. Cut in half, sell the rest to Alumni, use that money to put toward RETIRING the Ads during the game. Problem solved. More fans, less commercials=better game day experience.
Feel free to pass on to SS and administration.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mjh94

but until the University, Student Association and Athletic Department put there heads together to solve the problem, nothing will be fixed. The best thing to do at this point, everyone who has twitter, tweet the following showing displeasure with the student section and demand they start searching for a solution. People like Whit Waide that has some cred with the student body may also be able to help.

Hell, direct them to this thread to show them its a noticeable problem among alumni, fans, and students.

@MSU_SA
@msstate
@HailState
@stricklinMSU
@whitwaide
@HailStateFB
@bhemphillMSU
@reflectoronline

this picture is with roughly 7 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.. a FREAKIN QUARTER AND A HALF LEFT!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWa8QhtIgAAge01.jpg:large

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Guys, please don't tweet this picture out. The last thing we need is all of our damn recruits seeing this half empty stadium all over their social media. Just stop.

well, i dont know who you are, but i dont have any recruits following me. and all those people i listed sure as hell ain't gonna retweet that embarrassing-ass picture.

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Originally Posted by CadaverDawg

Guys, please don't tweet this picture out. The last thing we need is all of our damn recruits seeing this half empty stadium all over their social media. Just stop.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by mjh94

well, i dont know who you are, but i dont have any recruits following me. and all those people i listed sure as hell ain't gonna retweet that embarrassing-ass picture.

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Ha, I don't have any following me either...I just don't want that embarrassing ass picture being retweeted by every opposing fan on the interwebz, if you know what I mean.

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Originally Posted by CadaverDawg

Ha, I don't have any following me either...I just don't want that embarrassing ass picture being retweeted by every opposing fan on the interwebz, if you know what I mean.

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