We need to have a CONSTRUCTIVE conversation about the Student Section

[camsu]

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.

[DCdawg]

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.

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.

['Merica Dawg]

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.

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.

[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.

[WPDawg]

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.

[bluelightstar]

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.

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

[bluelightstar]

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.

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.

[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!!

[bluelightstar]

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

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.

[TheRef]

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.

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

[ShotgunDawg]

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!!

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

[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.

[TheRef]

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.

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

[ShotgunDawg]

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.

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

[smootness]

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....

[Drugdog]

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.

[CadaverDawg]

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!!

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.

[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.

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.

[CadaverDawg]

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.

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.

['Merica Dawg]

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.

+1