A Plea to Our Basketball Fans..

ArcherSPS

Junior
Aug 22, 2012
3,637
244
63
Dear still bitter MSU basketball fans,

As I sit here this morning after another hard fought win, against the #1 team in the SEC, I began to wonder. Why aren't you coming to the games to support this young team and watch the fruits of Rick Ray's labor grow? Is it that you're angry? upset? I know alot of you are and I'm here to hopefully fix that. I know a lot of our alumni and fans were extremely upset when Stansbury was let go. You had a right to be, I understood where you were coming from, BUT guys, it's been 2 loooooooong years since that happened.

I can promise you this if you asked Stans what should you do in regards to supporting the basketball team and Rick Ray, I have a feeling he'd tell you to do support it like you supported him during his tenure. If you're more pissed at Stricklin instead of Ray then hold that grudge, whatever, but come to the basketball games. You ARE NOT supporting Scott Stricklin.. You are supporting Craig Sword, Fred Thomas, Colin Borchert, Gavin Ware, Trivante Bloodman, Tyson Cunningham, Roquez Johnson, IJ Ready, De'Runnya Wilson, Tevin Moore, Fallou Ndoye, Jacoby Davis, Dallas Prater, and Kyle Dobbs. Every one of those guys are something to be proud of if you wear the maroon and white. Each and every game these guys bust their collective asses to get a win for us and have to play in a half empty Hump.

All that aside I'll tell you something I heard from someone when Stans finished his tenure. He told me that Rick would want all of his supporters to move on and support the staff that came after him. He would want that because he remembers how much the Mississippi State family supported him in his tenure over years. If that's true or not who knows, but I do know one thing it's been two years and it's time to bury that hatchet. Come to the game wednesday night. We're 12-5 on the 2013-2014 campaign after going 10-22 last season. It's a big one in terms of our chance of making post season play. It's not too late, you haven't missed the boat, if you want to support this team then come and do it. I promise you it's a fun time, but we just need ppl to make it the atmosphere many of us grew up with. If you have tix and can't make it to a game find someone that wants to go and give the tix to them. You might make a Bulldog out of a kid who goes to his first collegiate basketball game. If you still want to be bitter and sulk at home, that's your m.o., but i'll be in the Hump cheering on a group of young men that embody our fight song's rallying cry. Fight for Mississippi State. I know I will. Will you?

Thanks and Hail State,
Sterling Mallory Archer Esq.
 
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Hump4Hoops

Redshirt
May 1, 2010
6,611
13
38
It's much more simple than that. Our fans are spoiled.

If they're not in the mix to be one of the top 2 or 3 in the SEC, they don't give a crap.
 

Cherokee

Redshirt
Sep 17, 2013
144
3
18
I'll second that

I've been to two games thus far (TSUN and T A&M) and have been impressed with the grit of this team. Have also watched a couple games on TV. Our talent level may be down but these guys are being successful becuase they are maximizing the talent they have. Clearly TAM had more depth and more skill but grit and determination won the day for the Dogs. This team has done enough to earn our respect and deserves our support. If I lived closer I'd make more games.

You can compare Rick Ray to Stans all you want to but there is little or no value in doing that. The only thing that matters now is supporting the coach we have. There was a part of me that wanted Stans to be able to stay but that wasn't to be. From the outside looking in, he failed to get the most out of what he had. He got burned on Sidney but he knew going in it was a risk.

This team doesn't fold from what I have seen (at least at home). Yeah the TCU loss was ugly but in both of the games against TSUN and TAM, they got behind in the second half and won on shear effort. When Ray gets a complete roster I haven't seen anything yet that says he won't field a competetive team. Heck, he already is.

Yesterday's crowd was smaller but maybe every bit as loud as against TSUN. It's time for more folks to get back on the bandwagon so get off your high horse and over your hurt feelings and be TRUE MAROON. You are better than that.
 
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yee dawgy

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
292
0
16
I've been behind Rick Ray since he had the chance to show his coaching ability last year. I'm still behind him but haven't been to a game. Nor have I done a good job of getting my tickets into someone else's hands. This is no excuse but I went to very few games in the past until holidays, hunting season, etc were over.
I'll either be there Wed or make sure someone is sitting n my seats.
I agree. This team deserves some respect.
 

pmack65

Redshirt
Sep 7, 2013
427
0
0
I totally agree, wasn't a big Stansbury fan but was always there to support the team no matter the situation with him his last few years. What Coach Ray has done in less then 2 years deserves some credit and the players even more. There's going to be bad losses and close losses but there's also going be more great wins like the Ole MS and TAM games. These players have improved dramatically from last year and with enough players to practice and teach you can see now see Coach Rays ability to coach during games. Do we need better players, absolutely, is Coach Ray going to bring our program back, that's still undecided. But what is factual is everyone needs to support him and the players every single game because they play their asses off and will continue to do so. So get to the Hump, moan,groan and cheer for this team and Coach Ray to show our support and appreciation for all their efforts.
 

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
5,656
0
0
I wanted Stans gone real bad, but I'm not going to lie... I was pissed when we hired Ray. I figure you're right, that most people are upset with Strick and believe not going to the games somehow puts him in a tight spot.

I went to every home game last year and somehow managed to make myself watch that Hawaiian massacre. The Missouri game might have been the worst thing I've ever experienced related to Mississippi State, athletics or not. They bussed in fans and they were louder than us and more obnoxious than is. I think we scored 12 points in the first half. It got to a point where they were calling out fans leaving.

I never want that to ever happen again in the hump.

But it's just hard for me to sit here and pretend I care about this team. Ray has earned my respect as a coach but unfortunately talent is what wins college games. Talent and swagger. We have neither. If there's was anything I always had a lot of pride in it was the talent level and our players having a "17 you I'm better" attitude. Ray and Stans would have complimented each other very well.

It's just different and I'm not used to it. I'll eventually be there. If I was on campus and I had nothing better to do I'd be at the game still. No excuse not to have a full lower bowl of students and Starkvillians at every game. Expecting a packed house is a stretch though. Stans wasn't even given the same courtesy any time he lost back to back games.

ETA: bring back Steele!
 
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ArcherSPS

Junior
Aug 22, 2012
3,637
244
63
perfect. that's what we need if you can't make it to a game give your tix to someone who wants to go or maybe wants to experience MSU for the first time.
 

prairiedawg

Redshirt
Aug 1, 2012
595
0
16
Its a little naive to think that is the main reason people arent showing up. Most fans have short memories. Its just been painful to watch until the last 6 or 8 games. They have already won as many games as I thought they would based on what I was seeing early on. I hate I had to miss these last two. The fans will come back if we are competitive, its just a delayed reaction. Hell, look at the empty seats at Bama the other night. You think those fans are pissed because they fired Gottfried?
 

The Peeper

Heisman
Feb 26, 2008
15,457
10,605
113
Can't wait for first pitch @ the Dude myself. Any air that is pumped into a basketball is wasted air.
 

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
5,656
0
0
I don't think there's any one single reason why our fans aren't showing up. If we had a knockout, can't miss hire but our team sucked we might have better attendance (just like our fans perceived Mullen as a knockout hire because everyone somehow morphs him and Urban together when referring to the success at Florida, people showed up to watch us lose in '09 for the first time in years). If there weren't all these Stans lovers we might have better attendance. If Hood hadn't bolted yet we still sucked we might have better attendance. Who knows. But I don't think anyone will sit here and deny that our basketball program has been Murphy's ***** the last ~3 years. Everything has been leading up to this. If a lot of you are honest with yourselves you knew this was coming.

If Ray keeps doing what he's doing he'll attract some ballers and everything will fix itself and everyone will come back. Simple. Time heals.
 
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Seinfeld

All-American
Nov 30, 2006
11,161
6,991
113
Fair enough, but are other SEC fanbases aside from Kentucky really any different? I've mentioned to my wife(huge Memphis fan) several times over the last few years that the reason that basketball doesn't drive all of the decision making in the college sports world is because there are only about ten passionate fanbases in the country that live and die with their basketball team every year. For the rest, fans will come out when they're good and they won't when they're not good. It's that simple, and NBA fans are no different in this city.

One other thing, though, for all the people talking about attendance. Didn't they start requiring additional contributions for lower level seats at the Hump during Stansbury's last year? I'm not trying to argue that people can't get tickets now if they really want them, but that was incredibly bad timing to increase the cost of going at the same time that you're trying to convince fans to come back.
 

civildawg88

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
2,692
1,314
102
This is not just an MSU problem people. It's happening everywhere in the country. Heck duke is even having problems getting students to fill up their spots.
 

rugbdawg

Redshirt
Oct 10, 2006
5,251
0
0
Well, SEC basketball is worse now than it was 2 years ago.

We are much worse than 2 years ago. In other words, our team is irrelevant in an already irrelevant conference. Couple that with our incredible baseball success of late and our historic football success, what do you expect? Time and money can be spent better elsewhere. Fact.
 

FallAmericanDawg

Redshirt
Dec 23, 2013
197
0
0
Been to a majority of the basketball games this year with a good number of my fraternity brothers, and I hate basketball. What sold me was Coach Ray coming to one of our chapter meetings and highlighting what having students at the game does for the confidence of the entire team. He's a passionate guy and he really wants to connect with the students. And he's done well with what he's got, and seeing how this team fights makes me proud as an MSU student and fan
 

The Peeper

Heisman
Feb 26, 2008
15,457
10,605
113
No different than any other fan of the Bulldogs other than I can't stand basketball, elementary through the NBA. I don't deduct $$ from my contributions because of the sport, I give the same amount I would as if I did like it. I graduated from there, my wife did, got two kids there now, been buying season football tickets for 25+ yrs. So why am I the worst kind of fan to have?
 

missouridawg

Junior
Oct 6, 2009
9,389
288
83
Because of your dislike for the sport, MSU shouldn't waste

one breath of energy on it? That's what makes your opinion awful.
 

jmac.sixpack

Redshirt
Apr 12, 2012
61
0
0
I understand your plea but

there are a lot of reasons for the poor attendance. I was at the A&M game, and I would say there were only 3500 fans. The atmosphere is just not there. I bought my 4 lower level tickets and didn't attend a game last year. Since I have a kid at State again and bought a condo, I have attended the OM and A&M games - being in town to visit my kid. We won even when both teams looked more talented than us, but I just didn't enjoy them as much as I should have. The talent level in the games is just not what it use to be - us, OM or A&M. So, just as a "game" (watching talented players) - it is not there. I remember sitting on the 2nd row watching State-Florida years ago when Florida won the national championship with Noah, etc. We battled them toe-to-toe. Even though we lost by a few points, I enjoyed that game. We won these last 2 games, and I watched from the stands almost a little bored. I appreciated how we won with less talent and just refused to lose - but it is not the same. The halftime show with the "Kings of the Court" (Grizzlies dunk team) was really more impressive than the game.
 

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
5,656
0
0
My buddy met him at the airport. He was on his way to Europe with his son to scout some kid (lord knows why). Had little to say about MSU except that he gets blamed for everything going on right now. My buddy said he wasn't smiling and seemed bitter about the subject.
 

olblue.sixpack

Redshirt
Aug 14, 2012
4,615
0
0
Wondering if Stansbury supports the program. Have there been any sightings?

Last I heard from someone who would know, he was spending a lot of time with the family, doing some scouting, and doing a weekly spot on Bill King's radio show.

Generally enjoying his time off.
 

The Peeper

Heisman
Feb 26, 2008
15,457
10,605
113
SterlingArcher asked "bitter fans" why they weren't coming to The Hump to support this team. I gave an honest answer to that question. Just as sorry as I can be your opinion is different than mine and you didn't like my honest response to his question.
 

dawgstudent

Heisman
Apr 15, 2003
39,457
18,903
113
Whenever Rick Ray is no longer our coach, I think that's when Stansbury comes back to the program in some capacity. Just like with Sherrill and Croom - Sherrill came back with Mullen.