PSAC WEST

[PSACwatcher]

I think it would help if there was a more focused, organized effort on the part of the Dean of Students office to attract students to games held on campus, just as the WLU women's coach does. But, winning is still the ultimate marketing tool. Sadly, many struggling colleges are using sports only to boost enrollment and don't care about winning. As a result, this sort of attendance apathy is what you get. I know it is disappointing to the players to run out for warmups to a smattering of claps by 150 people. Most of those players played in front of larger crowds in high school.

[Scrub]

The colleges could also do more to sponsor community events, such as, for example, inviting youth basketball programs to games for free just to have fannies in the seats but they don't.

WLU women's coach does exactly that. Every women's game, there's a different girls youth basketball program in the house. And he sometimes even gives them a little job (i.e., run a water bottle out to the ref during a time out, etc.). He does a great job getting local youth involved. As a result, the women draw around 800 or 900 on average. And, as someone said above, the women have their own pretty faithful following.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think there are two pools of potential spectators: students and "town residents". In general, I believe "town residents" will go to games only if the team is a legit winner, like an IUP. If Lock Haven or Clarion or even Seton Hill in Gbg was ranked top ten, I think they would draw more non-students to the games. But those colleges don't commit to winning like IUP does.

As for the students, winning would certainly help to bring more students, but I think the bottom line is that students just have too many other things to do as compared to 15-20 years ago. But I also think the colleges do a HORRIBLE job of trying to get their own students interested in going to sporting events on campus. The colleges could also do more to sponsor community events, such as, for example, inviting youth basketball programs to games for free just to have fannies in the seats but they don't.

The '15-20 years ago' was roughly my era as a student. Clarion used to be a brutal road game. They used to pack Tippin. That place was one of the loudest gyms I've ever been inside (when it was juiced up). I can recall big crowds at McComb, too.

Remember Gannon in the 80s and early 90s? The Hammermill was INSANE.

[PSACwatcher]

I think there are two pools of potential spectators: students and "town residents". In general, I believe "town residents" will go to games only if the team is a legit winner, like an IUP. If Lock Haven or Clarion or even Seton Hill in Gbg was ranked top ten, I think they would draw more non-students to the games. But those colleges don't commit to winning like IUP does.

As for the students, winning would certainly help to bring more students, but I think the bottom line is that students just have too many other things to do as compared to 15-20 years ago. But I also think the colleges do a HORRIBLE job of trying to get their own students interested in going to sporting events on campus. The colleges could also do more to sponsor community events, such as, for example, inviting youth basketball programs to games for free just to have fannies in the seats but they don't.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Averages in the MEC are only a touch higher on the aggregate. But overall pretty similar. Perhaps, Fightingscot82 is correct that it's an indictment on people's choices and "busy-ness" these days as much as anything. Even the meaningful, regionally televised grudge match between WVSU & UC yesterday only drew 1,000 (which is a standard Wednesday night draw for WLU). The WLU/Wheeling rivalry game drew about 1,900 yesterday by comparison. But, yes, overall the MEC numbers look a lot like those PSAC numbers. No one is reaching quite the heights of IUP's average, but the 2-5 teams are drawing a bit better than 2-5 in the PSAC.

The PSAC schools (the PASSHE members, anyway) just came back to class last week. This past Saturday was our first game with students back on campus. The endless 7-week break does no favors.

IUP has done a tremendously better job marketing the program under the new AD. Night and day. So far, they are up about 300 a game from last year. Keep in mind IUP isn't like most schools in D2. Tickets here aren't $5. Concessions are 'big league' prices. (Good) Reserved seats are $18 per. So, an extra 300 a game is a BIG deal on the bottom line. An extra 700 a game and Joe will want another raise. The prices have actually caught most of the blame the past several years for then-declining gates. They are high for D2. No doubt. But, ... the KCAC wasn't cheap.

The IUP women's team is averaging 1,072 a game. The women largely have their own following -- and it's pretty sizable.

I think the men's team will break 2,000 on average this year for the first time in about 7 years. They are at almost 1,700 coming out of the funeral season and have went over 3,000 each of the past two games. The Slippery Rock game in two weeks (Saturday night) will draw (guessing) 3,600 to 3,900. Gannon's visit (also a Saturday night) is always also a very large gate. Seton Hill's visit in 48 hours ... probably 1,700.

The SRU and Gannon visits get hyped up. And, guess what? People show up. Imagine that.

[Scrub]

Averages in the MEC are only a touch higher on the aggregate. But overall pretty similar. Perhaps, Fightingscot82 is correct that it's an indictment on people's choices and "busy-ness" these days as much as anything. Even the meaningful, regionally televised grudge match between WVSU & UC yesterday only drew 1,000 (which is a standard Wednesday night draw for WLU). The WLU/Wheeling rivalry game drew about 1,900 yesterday by comparison. But, yes, overall the MEC numbers look a lot like those PSAC numbers. No one is reaching quite the heights of IUP's average, but the 2-5 teams are drawing a bit better than 2-5 in the PSAC.

[Fightingscot82]

Only speaking with knowledge of Edinboro - that number is half of what it was 15 years ago. Probably more an indictment of the options folks have moreso than the programs themselves.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

3pm is a general start time for MANY men's games on Saturdays. Teams don't want to be on the road late on Saturday night. Can't blame them...

I get the logic but the gate really takes a hit. The attendance numbers in the PSAC this year (as usual) are horrendous. Night games draw better. At some places, significantly better.

Of course, some of our schools could play at 2 a.m., 3 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. and it wouldn't make a difference. Generally, 3 p.m. starts on Saturday are just competing against far too many other activities. The numbers speak for themselves. More behinds in the seats equal more concession money, etc. Far too many schools in our league treat these programs as if they are high school teams.

Men's average attendance this year ... these figures are beyond embarrassing:

IUP	1,649
Gannon	755
Shepherd	478
Mercyhurst	469
West Chester	464
Edinboro	398
SRU	395
Millersville	354
ESU	341
Kutztown	330
UPJ	284
Bloomsburg	282
California	259
Shippensburg	254
Mansfield	226
Clarion	145
Seton Hill	144
Lock Haven	130

[WarriorVoice]

3pm is a general start time for MANY men's games on Saturdays. Teams don't want to be on the road late on Saturday night. Can't blame them...

[CALUPA69]

This week in the PSAC:


* A tough week awaits for Gannon. The Golden Knights travel to Slippery Rock and then host UPJ this Saturday. Trips to Morrow are never easy -- for a variety of reasons. The Knights will then look to pay back the walk-off favor against the Mountain Cats.

* Can West Chester get back on track? A trip to a pesky Millersville team comes first prior to Mansfield visiting. We are witnessing the rare 13-0 start that has quickly turned in to 14-5. This may be the week to stop the bleeding. However, the Maurauders may actually be a home favorite.

* If Slippery Rock wants to prove it's for real, ... this is the week. After tangling with Gannon, the Rock will travel to the Mon Valley for a 3 p.m. affair in the Angelo Dome. With a 6-7 PSAC record, SRU is out of contention in the West. However, it can climb several spots in the tournament seeding with a February run. Getting a Round 1 home game in Morrow would be a huge advantage.

* Shippensburg, which has all but mathematically clinched the East, has a tough week ahead. The Red Raiders travel to rival Shepherd prior to hosting another rival, East Stroudsburg. The latter also has a very key women's game.

* IUP's make-shift lineup gets to host Seton Hill prior to taking the ride up I-79 to Mercyhurst. A much-needed bye date follows. These should be the final two games without the injured Chucky Humphries. Just a hunch but you'll see a little more spirited effort in the KCAC against Seton Hill than you saw against Clarion. The big guy wasn't real pleased Saturday night.

* Lock Haven has a chance to make up some ground this week. The Bald Eagles have a big one Wednesday at East Stroudsburg prior to hosting Shepherd. Neither game will be easy.

* Will Clarion's spirited effort at IUP turn out to be a fluke or can the Golden Eagles give California a run Wednesday night? Seton Hill then visits Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. Clarion is a better team now than it was in the first semester. The mid-year addition of Godspower Ogide has given them a spark -- and a monster off the bench. He's not ripping the stat sheet but his presence alters the way teams have to play against them. Mansfield's Baby Shaq isn't even moving this guy.


Side note: What's up with all these 3 p.m. Saturday games?

Slight correction...SRU at CAL U on Saturday is in HAMER HALL due to conflict in CONVO CENTER.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

This week in the PSAC:


* A tough week awaits for Gannon. The Golden Knights travel to Slippery Rock and then host UPJ this Saturday. Trips to Morrow are never easy -- for a variety of reasons. The Knights will then look to pay back the walk-off favor against the Mountain Cats.

* Can West Chester get back on track? A trip to a pesky Millersville team comes first prior to Mansfield visiting. We are witnessing the rare 13-0 start that has quickly turned in to 14-5. This may be the week to stop the bleeding. However, the Maurauders may actually be a home favorite.

* If Slippery Rock wants to prove it's for real, ... this is the week. After tangling with Gannon, the Rock will travel to the Mon Valley for a 3 p.m. affair in the Angelo Dome. With a 6-7 PSAC record, SRU is out of contention in the West. However, it can climb several spots in the tournament seeding with a February run. Getting a Round 1 home game in Morrow would be a huge advantage.

* Shippensburg, which has all but mathematically clinched the East, has a tough week ahead. The Red Raiders travel to rival Shepherd prior to hosting another rival, East Stroudsburg. The latter also has a very key women's game.

* IUP's make-shift lineup gets to host Seton Hill prior to taking the ride up I-79 to Mercyhurst. A much-needed bye date follows. These should be the final two games without the injured Chucky Humphries. Just a hunch but you'll see a little more spirited effort in the KCAC against Seton Hill than you saw against Clarion. The big guy wasn't real pleased Saturday night.

* Lock Haven has a chance to make up some ground this week. The Bald Eagles have a big one Wednesday at East Stroudsburg prior to hosting Shepherd. Neither game will be easy.

* Will Clarion's spirited effort at IUP turn out to be a fluke or can the Golden Eagles give California a run Wednesday night? Seton Hill then visits Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. Clarion is a better team now than it was in the first semester. The mid-year addition of Godspower Ogide has given them a spark -- and a monster off the bench. He's not ripping the stat sheet but his presence alters the way teams have to play against them. Mansfield's Baby Shaq isn't even moving this guy.


Side note: What's up with all these 3 p.m. Saturday games?

[Golden89]

[CALUPA69]

Updated Standings (Men's)

WEST	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK	NOTES
IUP	12-1	17-1	W8	Greensburg Pest up next
Pitt-Johnstown	10-3	16-4	W1	Baby Shaq otw to Johnstown
California	9-4	13-6	W2	Dropped hammer on Gary M.
Mercyhurst	8-5	10-7	L2	Trey Staunch visits the beer garden
Gannon	7-6	8-9	W1	#RockBoyz headed to the 'Mill
Slippery Rock	6-7	10-9	W2	Huge game at GU looms
Clarion	3-10	4-15	L1	If motivated ... can be dangerous
Edinboro	2-11	5-12	L8	Trip to the sports bar up next
Seton Hill	2-11	3-13	L1	The KCAC awaits.
EAST	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK	NOTES
Shippensburg	12-1	16-3	W9	East race is over
West Chester	8-5	14-5	L4	Titanic meet Ice
Millersville	7-6	10-9	W2	Reeling WCU Rams visiting
East Stroudsburg	6-7	10-8	L1	Very sporadic.
Kutztown	6-7	8-11	L2	On PSAC Tourney bubble
Shepherd	5-8	9-10	W1	Statement game as Ship visits
Lock Haven	5-8	8-9	L2	Underachieving
Bloomsburg	5-8	8-11	W1	Roadie to Kutztown. Potential.
Mansfield	4-9	5-13	L1	Not easy to win in Johnstown

Last time the VULCANS swept the season from SRU was exactly 10 years ago. At HAMER HALL. Which is where the February 1 game will be played. I love that arena and really hope they can be steady and strong enough to do it again versus a resurgent ROCK team.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Updated Standings (Men's)

WEST	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK	NOTES
IUP	12-1	17-1	W8	Greensburg Pest up next
Pitt-Johnstown	10-3	16-4	W1	Baby Shaq otw to Johnstown
California	9-4	13-6	W2	Dropped hammer on Gary M.
Mercyhurst	8-5	10-7	L2	Trey Staunch visits the beer garden
Gannon	7-6	8-9	W1	#RockBoyz headed to the 'Mill
Slippery Rock	6-7	10-9	W2	Huge game at GU looms
Clarion	3-10	4-15	L1	If motivated ... can be dangerous
Edinboro	2-11	5-12	L8	Trip to the sports bar up next
Seton Hill	2-11	3-13	L1	The KCAC awaits.
EAST	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK	NOTES
Shippensburg	12-1	16-3	W9	East race is over
West Chester	8-5	14-5	L4	Titanic meet Ice
Millersville	7-6	10-9	W2	Reeling WCU Rams visiting
East Stroudsburg	6-7	10-8	L1	Very sporadic.
Kutztown	6-7	8-11	L2	On PSAC Tourney bubble
Shepherd	5-8	9-10	W1	Statement game as Ship visits
Lock Haven	5-8	8-9	L2	Underachieving
Bloomsburg	5-8	8-11	W1	Roadie to Kutztown. Potential.
Mansfield	4-9	5-13	L1	Not easy to win in Johnstown

[CALUPA69]

My point is that it was the biggest waste of money... PERIOD!!!

Once again, you're surprised that PASSHE wastes money ??? You must be amazed that the sun comes up each morning.