Anyone else feel like the atmosphere at the Hump has been killed?

[Seinfeld]

I've been to two games so far this year and granted, they weren't top notch games, but it's been awhile since I've seen that place so dead. I'm sure part of it had to do with competition, part of it was because it's still football season, etc. However, it's just a little sad to me when I can remember that place being a rabid packed house when I was in school. It didn't have to be an ESPN prime time game against Kentucky for the place to be crazy.

Well, hopefully the national ranking and SEC schedule will start bringing more fans after the new year. I'm beginning to think that moving the student section was a horrible idea.

 

[Seinfeld]

I've been to two games so far this year and granted, they weren't top notch games, but it's been awhile since I've seen that place so dead. I'm sure part of it had to do with competition, part of it was because it's still football season, etc. However, it's just a little sad to me when I can remember that place being a rabid packed house when I was in school. It didn't have to be an ESPN prime time game against Kentucky for the place to be crazy.

Well, hopefully the national ranking and SEC schedule will start bringing more fans after the new year. I'm beginning to think that moving the student section was a horrible idea.

 

[Seinfeld]

I've been to two games so far this year and granted, they weren't top notch games, but it's been awhile since I've seen that place so dead. I'm sure part of it had to do with competition, part of it was because it's still football season, etc. However, it's just a little sad to me when I can remember that place being a rabid packed house when I was in school. It didn't have to be an ESPN prime time game against Kentucky for the place to be crazy.

Well, hopefully the national ranking and SEC schedule will start bringing more fans after the new year. I'm beginning to think that moving the student section was a horrible idea.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

I have never seen it packed during Christmas break.....

 

[drt7891]

the Troy's and Florida Atlantic's on our schedule. It's usually about half full and unless there is a sick dunk or block, the crowd stays dead. It will be packed for our SEC games.

 

[whosyourdawgy]

to be behind both goals, giving the alums both middle sections. Sounded like an OK idea but it killed the students and it killed the atmospere in the Hump. Things should be back to normal come SEC play because our athletic department realized this mistake and corrected it. The student section is back in place and when we get some good competition in there, it will be packed. I will be coming from Brandon for every game I can get to and I'm sure if we keep winning and playing good, the atmosphere in the Hump will be MUCH better.

 

[Seinfeld]

but I was talking about a couple games from November. I was there in the Austin/Roberts years, and I can't remember going to a game where I didn't have to get there an hour early to get a decent seat. Maybe 30 minutes for non-conference games.

I guess I'm pointing mostly at the fact that we haven't sold out in season tickets for at least two straight years and the student section seems to be a shell of what it used to be. I'll see how it looks once conference play rolls around but I'm not a big fan of them being moved right now. It seems like the crowd intensity hasn't been there since that happened other than when we play KY or OM.

 

[drt7891]

I know folks down the list in the BC who weren't able to get season tickets this year, although I could be wrong. I know regular game tickets rarely sell out.

But I have one word that can sum up what you are talking about- expectations. I remember the Austin/Roberts years and the expectations are MUCH different now than they were then. Stansbury had been here about 7 or 8 years and we had done pretty well, but it was before the 2004 "Road Warriors" year, along with an underwhelming tournament appearance. That's when things really changed with our program because we realized we CAN do those things, but rarely ever do.

*Edit- Except in 1996... but that was with a different coach.

 

[drt7891]

Now, I just hope we don't decide to pull up chairbacks and put down bleachers.** AndyKennedyku

 

[EAVdog]

The scene outside the hump with students camping to get tickets was crazier than the Hump has been at times this last decade. Whatever the problems are they need to get them fixed. Maybe winning in impressive fashion will do that.

 

[AssEndDawg]

It just hasn't. All of your memories had to do with playing after January 1st. The Hump has not changed.

 

[jcdawgman18]

Student section was full.

 

[futaba.79]

The only real problem(s) I see,or hear as the case may be, are the PA guy and the game show host. I was neutral about Hank in football, but he added to the BBall games. Now we're splitting the duties. Holmes has improved some, but I just don't get the other guy. I can't understand a word he screams. I'm no clothes horse but, damn, if I hosted events during timeouts I'd dress the part.

Bring back Flick

 

[KurtRambis4]

never seen it wild for pre-SEC games (Nov-Dec). Now, once SEC play starts, there will be 9000+ a game.

 

[drt7891]

The timeout guy dresses like a tool and just doesn't know how to work a crowd... I mean he tries, but still...

Holmes does fine for football, but he doesn't bring much personality. He has a good voice, but it just seems dry. I agree wholeheartedly with this. Grasshopper, make it happen. NOTHING beats "TO THE HUMP!!!!... FOOORRR HOOPS!!!"

 

[Hanmudog]

The school has done about all it can do to get fans there for OOC games. Most of the tickets outside of the WV game were only $5 and we are ranked in the top 20. The last couple of years have certainly hurt fan enthusiasm but our fans need to realize that this team is not like some of our past teams.For the most part we justneed to get their asses to the Hump and have a similar intensity for basketball that we have for football if wewant to make the Hump intimidating and impress recruits.

 

[jeremyrbrown]

Am I wrong or is he turrible?

First he was just doing the promos during timeouts and half-time. Now they also have him doing the worst attempt at a Michael Buffer style intro for the players. Dude needs to learn how to enunciate. He's an embarrassment.

 

[starkvegasdawg]

I was at MSU during that year and it was incredible. I camped out for the Arkansas game and froze my butt off that night. I remember around 2:00 that morning the athletic department bought Papa John's pizza for all of us out there. They must have spent a small fortune because there was a lot of us there...some of us were even sober enough to know pizza was delivered.

 

[Hanmudog]

Yeah the slacker guy with microphone has got to go along with the lame contests like stacking DingDongs on your head. Never thought I would long for the days of the Abner's rubber chicken toss.

 

[Dinkle]

they were definitely $20

 

[GreaterCowbell]

Hank Flick needs to come back. I was in the Hump the night we invaded Kuwait the first time. He had everyone in the place ready to go kick some Iraqi ***.

 

[drt7891]

Much like football, Basketball has become infiltrated with ads and promotions, but not quite as bad. I imagine those halftime contests are the most expensive (as opposed to sponsoring the dance cam or kiss cam or future bulldog cam). I'm with you, though, can't beat Hank Flick, the chicken toss, and no screaming college guy in the microphone.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

lame contests like stacking DingDongs on your head.

Strangely enough, I figured you would like that.

 

[GloryDawg]

Gas isn't cheap and driving two to four hours twice in one week to Starkville is ruff. Just a thought.

 

[majors42]

A lot of true blue basketball fans had good seats but didn't give that much money. Once the athletic dept. changed how much you had to give to get the same seats, it pissed a lot of people off and moved a lot of fans to the upper deck. The new ticket holders don't come to games like people did before the shakeup. It's never been the same.

 

[Hanmudog]

lame contests like stacking DingDongs on your head.

Strangely enough, I figured you would like that.

Dammit, I shoulda seen that one coming.

 

[bullysleftnut]

lame contests like stacking DingDongs on your head.

Strangely enough, I figured you would like that.

/Wouldn't mind some Ho-Ho stacking on my head.

 

[hullabaloodog]

Solution...
<div>
</div><div>1. Bring back Hank.</div><div>2. Fire the guy with a mic. Hire a charismatic hot chick. (Or a charismatic "6" with HUGE tits)</div><div>3. Profit??</div>

 

[benatmsu]

*

 

[shsdawg]

with season tickets this year.

 

[shsdawg]

majors42[/b]]A lot of true blue basketball fans had good seats but didn't give that much money. Once the athletic dept. changed how much you had to give to get the same seats, it pissed a lot of people off and moved a lot of fans to the upper deck. The new ticket holders don't come to games like people did before the shakeup. It's never been the same.

is exactly right. You had rabid basketball fans who sat around other rabid fans they knew with a LOT on continuity from year toyear. They were comfortablewith getting loud and rowdy, even a lot of the old ones. AND THEY WERE THERE. The lower bowlwas almost entirely that along with students. Now even the few rabidones who are still in the lower bowl sit around new people almost EVERY year. They aren't as comfortable getting rowdy and it shows.

 

[TheGhostofJordyVerrill]

Mylady-friend (who attends about two games a year) mentioned, without prompting, the other nighthow bad and disjointed the whole production seems now. Used to be a fairly tight, well-produced experience. Hank was a real pro, and the pom-squad/cheerleaders actually had music to dance to, instead of standing there, staring off into space while a continuous string of adverts plays over the PA.

What the Mic guy does takes balls, no doubt - so, props for that, but he sucks all the energy out of the room, and gives everyone douche-chills. He needs to be gone ASAP, just like the football mic man from the late 90's.

I echo the sentiment that Flick needs to be brought back, they need to limit blocks of ads to a reasonable amount.

The half-time shows have been hit or miss, too.

 

[shotgunDawg]

<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri">Not to start anything here, but I have been to a few games this year and often wonder if the lack of non-conference attendance has played a huge role in the bad non-conference losses that have happened. Think about it, our team shows up knowing they are playing an inferior opponent, they walk into a 10,000 seat arena with only 3,000 people there and of that about 200 students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How could they be pumped up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Coaches can’t perform magic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I realize the past frustration with Stans losing these games, but it's like our fans expect our team to care when they obviously don't care enough about the game to support them. We can make all the excuses we want, but until non-conference attendance problems are fixed it is going to be really difficult for our basketball program to take the next step.</font></p>

 

[Xenomorph]

We didn't exactly give him the engraved gold watch the first time we retired him.

 

[TXDawg.sixpack]

"A GOOD, GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE HUMPHREY COLISEUM ON THE CAMPUS OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FOR AN EVENING OF BAAASKETBAAAL...MISSISSIPPI STATE STYLE!"

I'll never forget Hank's tag line to open the basketball games. I haven't been to a game with the new guy, but there's no way he's better than Hank.

 

[TXDawg.sixpack]

I was at MSU during that year and it was incredible. I camped out for the Arkansas game and froze my butt off that night. I remember around 2:00 that morning the athletic department Rick Stansbury bought Papa John's pizza for all of us out there. They must have spent a small fortune because there was a lot of us there...some of us were even sober enough to know pizza was delivered.

I was camped near the front of the line that night. Rick came out of the building around 1:30 and talked to a bunch of us. He asked if there was anything we needed. Someone told him "Some pizza would be nice." We all laughed, but about 45 minutes later, the pizza showed up.

No way LT would have authorized that expenditure.

 

[maroonmania]

middle of the week, late 8 pm start, students out of town and a weaker no-name opponent. I thought the crowd looked and sounded great against West Virginia. Maybe one of the best pre-conference game atmospheres at the Hump I can remember in quite some time.

 

[drt7891]

And you would be correct. He used to do Women's Basketball (and I think he still does). He has a good voice and is better than Hank for football, I think, but he is bland as all get-out for basketball. No personality, no excitement, just the same-old same-old. A lot of times it gets to the point where you don't even know he is there, it's just another noise going on. Hank brought personality and flare to the job, and his intro was something worth looking forward to. Plus, the new guy doing the line-ups is terrible.

 

[mayhemdawg]

When all the bowl games are over with, everyone is back from Christmas break and State starts playing teams like Florida and Kentucky.

 

[BiloxiDawg]

anyone remember exactly howthe National Anthem introwent??? That was my favorite...

I hated Flick infootball - "Norwood......... On the carry.......... gained 3 yards......... Flag on the Field........."