Season Tickets--Why Renew?

[catfans5]

I think I have had tickets since about 2005. My kids were raised going to games. We had a great time and great memories. We saw some great games. We saw some really awful basketball. We went to meet the players. We attended senior night to say goodbye (This year we missed for the first time due to a memorial service) to the warriors. There are posters affixed to walls in my house with images of Craig Moore, Tim Doyle, Juice Thompson, John Shurna, Drew Crawford, Vic Law and Pete Nance. Aside from the usual B10 teams, I have seen Mississippi Valley State, Central Connecticut State and Chicago State play many times. We saw everything from the near loss to Wheaton College to the miracle against Michigan. Every emotion from frustration and disappointment to excitement and joy was experienced. But we always had hope.

Hope no longer exists in the basketball program. The win yesterday against Nebby was a mirage. I recall the inexplicable losses at home to Maryland and PSU. The simple matter is that NU is just not very good. I cannot think of any concrete reason to think that CC can or will change that trajectory that mediocrity is the best that can occur. There is no hope.

I have no fault with the players. They give it their all.

To me, there is nothing better than in person basketball. You can see so much of the play not seen on television, enjoy the crowd, feel the momentum changes and hear the pep band during the timeouts. I told a buddy early this year that I would keep the b-ball tix and would get rid of football tickets first. I am not an alum. I am a local fan who grew up in the area. I saw Billy McKinney play when growing up. NU is my team. I make some donations to the programs, buy the tickets and attend the games. Travel to and from games is about 1.5 hours. My money can be spent on other things. If CC remains, my money can go elsewhere. It will be very hard to renew if CC remains. I hope that the AD brings "hope" back to the program and makes the change.

 

[wildcatpn]

I think I have had tickets since about 2005. My kids were raised going to games. We had a great time and great memories. We saw some great games. We saw some really awful basketball. We went to meet the players. We attended senior night to say goodbye (This year we missed for the first time due to a memorial service) to the warriors. There are posters affixed to walls in my house with images of Craig Moore, Tim Doyle, Juice Thompson, John Shurna, Drew Crawford, Vic Law and Pete Nance. Aside from the usual B10 teams, I have seen Mississippi Valley State, Central Connecticut State and Chicago State play many times. We saw everything from the near loss to Wheaton College to the miracle against Michigan. Every emotion from frustration and disappointment to excitement and joy was experienced. But we always had hope.

Hope no longer exists in the basketball program. The win yesterday against Nebby was a mirage. I recall the inexplicable losses at home to Maryland and PSU. The simple matter is that NU is just not very good. I cannot think of any concrete reason to think that CC can or will change that trajectory that mediocrity is the best that can occur. There is no hope.

I have no fault with the players. They give it their all.

To me, there is nothing better than in person basketball. You can see so much of the play not seen on television, enjoy the crowd, feel the momentum changes and hear the pep band during the timeouts. I told a buddy early this year that I would keep the b-ball tix and would get rid of football tickets first. I am not an alum. I am a local fan who grew up in the area. I saw Billy McKinney play when growing up. NU is my team. I make some donations to the programs, buy the tickets and attend the games. Travel to and from games is about 1.5 hours. My money can be spent on other things. If CC remains, my money can go elsewhere. It will be very hard to renew if CC remains. I hope that the AD brings "hope" back to the program and makes the change.

I commend you for doing it all these years. Couldn’t blame you one bit for giving it up. It’s incredibly difficult being a NU hoops fan.

 

[PurpleFaze]

To see Big 10 basketball the ticket prices are almost ridiculously cheap. But if you aren’t being entertained then why spend the dollars?

The sad thing is with the right coach it would be a terrific atmosphere for basketball.

I frankly don‘t see it happening under collins. I get why they gave him a shot- local kid, the Duke name, etc but I just don‘t think he’s a good coach. At least he’s not good enough to make a difference at a school like NU. Any other guys from the Coach K tree that are that successful? Mike Brey is he the top one? Seems like most are average at best. It’s just a lot easier to do some things at Duke when you are rolling in 5 stars.

I don’t see much if any upwards trajectory for next year unless he can limit transfers out and find a couple good adds via the portal. I mean our incoming recruit class is almost non-existent. So he can talk about upward trend, but he’s selling hopes and dreams….

 

[gipnov23]

I'm in the same boat. Very strongly considering cancelling if Collins is brought back, cause I know how every game will end up going. Even if someone new is brought in and we're not projected to be good, at least there would be some intrigue and hope building

 

[CatManTrue]

That’s some dedication. You need to do what you need to do.

I really wonder where the players are at with this decision.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I can tell you that my daughter at NU told me that one of the players told her that "everybody on the team thinks Collins is going to be fired at the end of the year."

That was probably in January. Obviously thats not rock-solid, but that was not a good thing to hear.
On the plus side, the same guy said the players got along with each other pretty well.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Interesting point to be made - success out of Duke is meaningless. Different caliber of player.

You want the next level of carmody. A coach that succeeds at a school that doesn’t pull the five stars. Doesn’t matter the academics - two star is two star, smart or not. Being able to develop that two star is what’s important.

Carmody was one. Need to find an upgrade from carmody. I know, esker said than done. But no to alums or big names. Bring me the two star general please.

 

[GatoLouco]

I think I have had tickets since about 2005. My kids were raised going to games. We had a great time and great memories. We saw some great games. We saw some really awful basketball. We went to meet the players. We attended senior night to say goodbye (This year we missed for the first time due to a memorial service) to the warriors. There are posters affixed to walls in my house with images of Craig Moore, Tim Doyle, Juice Thompson, John Shurna, Drew Crawford, Vic Law and Pete Nance. Aside from the usual B10 teams, I have seen Mississippi Valley State, Central Connecticut State and Chicago State play many times. We saw everything from the near loss to Wheaton College to the miracle against Michigan. Every emotion from frustration and disappointment to excitement and joy was experienced. But we always had hope.

Hope no longer exists in the basketball program. The win yesterday against Nebby was a mirage. I recall the inexplicable losses at home to Maryland and PSU. The simple matter is that NU is just not very good. I cannot think of any concrete reason to think that CC can or will change that trajectory that mediocrity is the best that can occur. There is no hope.

I have no fault with the players. They give it their all.

To me, there is nothing better than in person basketball. You can see so much of the play not seen on television, enjoy the crowd, feel the momentum changes and hear the pep band during the timeouts. I told a buddy early this year that I would keep the b-ball tix and would get rid of football tickets first. I am not an alum. I am a local fan who grew up in the area. I saw Billy McKinney play when growing up. NU is my team. I make some donations to the programs, buy the tickets and attend the games. Travel to and from games is about 1.5 hours. My money can be spent on other things. If CC remains, my money can go elsewhere. It will be very hard to renew if CC remains. I hope that the AD brings "hope" back to the program and makes the change.

Really love your post. That's the thing about sports for a lot of people, most of us on this board included. It gets very emotional when we get very attached to a team.

Last night my wife was asking me why I was not watching any college ball. She could care less about sports but knows I love it and that this time of the year is a big deal. I just felt emotionally spent after the IA game. Could not find any motivation to watch something I love so much.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

The sad thing is with the right coach it would be a terrific atmosphere for basketball.

I would like to believe this, PurpleFaze, but I don't know. I've been going to games for 38 years. The best atmosphere I ever saw was in 2017 with Coach Collins, and I think we're figuring out that he's not the right coach. I acknowledge that we have to keep trying to find that "right coach", but what evidence is there that he/she exists?

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

The sad thing is with the right coach it would be a terrific atmosphere for basketball.

I would like to believe this, PurpleFaze, but I don't know. I've been going to games for 38 years. The best atmosphere I ever saw was in 2017 with Coach Collins, and I think we're figuring out that he's not the right coach. I acknowledge that we have to keep trying to find that "right coach", but what evidence is there that he/she exists?

Call me crazy (and I'm sure some do) but I think Bruce Weber could come into NU right now and improve the program. He is a guy who refuses to cheat and tries to graduate his players, which might actually be a recruiting positive for the types of guys we should target.

 

[TheC]

Really love your post. That's the thing about sports for a lot of people, most of us on this board included. It gets very emotional when we get very attached to a team.

Last night my wife was asking me why I was not watching any college ball. She could care less about sports but knows I love it and that this time of the year is a big deal. I just felt emotionally spent after the IA game. Could not find any motivation to watch something I love so much.

It's funny.... sometimes my wife will complain when I'm watching a lot of sports, but other times I think she likes that it can act like a babysitter for me so that I leave her alone.

 

[Sec_112]

I know your message is more than a question. I don't blame you.

However, you might consider unfortunately this isn't the first time NU has been this spot. You might be looking at this through a different lens that has a little more NU wear and tear on it than your first few seasons when there was Coble and not much else.

I don't disagree with much of your assessment, but I'm one who keeps going. I'm a bit of a masochist that way.

Also, I don't know what kind of tickets you have. There's a cost-benefit concern that was never a consideration in the old place. There's a price point with this program that's pretty obvious they are balancing that I hope they will soon reconsider. I have no clue why anybody would pay $90+/ticket for the midcourt and Wilson seats for this garbage. And it's pretty obvious, those are the seats NU has trouble selling (mid-court /non-Wilson) and using (Wilsons).

But you said it yourself, "there is nothing better than in person basketball." Collins will be gone in the next couple weeks or next year, then you can have your hope again. Leg it out for one more year. Sell your tickets in protest if needed. NU needs all the good fans it can get.

 

[Sec_112]

Call me crazy (and I'm sure some do) but I think Bruce Weber could come into NU right now and improve the program. He is a guy who refuses to cheat and tries to graduate his players, which might actually be a recruiting positive for the types of guys we should target.

Now I know I'm f'd because I agree. I've thought for a long time that Weber would work well here. He's from that Keady school that knows how to take average players and work them into a decent program.

I'm wondering if he's long in the tooth, but maybe he comes in with his successor in place (Chester Frazier?) and get the train rolling for five years. Or maybe he can be the right-hand man for somebody he endorses?

Anyhow, he'd be one of many calls.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

The sad thing is with the right coach it would be a terrific atmosphere for basketball.

I would like to believe this, PurpleFaze, but I don't know. I've been going to games for 38 years. The best atmosphere I ever saw was in 2017 with Coach Collins, and I think we're figuring out that he's not the right coach. I acknowledge that we have to keep trying to find that "right coach", but what evidence is there that he/she exists?

No doubt that year was the best environment in at least the last 30 years and I suspect ever at NU. If that’s the peak, why would any top player ever come to NU?

The ONLY thing that energized the building this year we’re the students! There aren’t many people at all that show up for the 38 years like you have. The building is a like a museum without the students.

 

[Sec_112]

The ONLY thing that energized the building this year we’re the students! There aren’t many people at all that show up for the 38 years like you have. The building is a like a museum without the students.

I couldn't have said this better myself.

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of confidence in the foundation of the NU fan base. Not very knowledgeable. Not very enthusiastic. And they don't show up.

And let me know when NU makes any long-term effort to build the next generation of local fans. Advertising and "Chicago's Big Ten Team" were cute but it was a band-aid. It didn't get to the heart of the problem.

 

[NUCat320]

The best argument for staying is ‘because it’s something that, despite everything, I enjoy doing and can afford doing.’ Sports shouldn’t make you angry. They’re fun!

The worst argument is, ‘Well, I’ve been doing it this long…’

Personally, I got at least as much enjoyment out of the three or four high school games I attended this year as I did for the B1G game I attended last weekend. Bummed that my son doesn’t want to go to the regional championship tonight.

 

[CappyNU]

Any other guys from the Coach K tree that are that successful? Mike Brey is he the top one? Seems like most are average at best. It’s just a lot easier to do some things at Duke when you are rolling in 5 stars.

Yes, Brey is by far the best former K asst. Amaker failed at the P6 level and had a run of success at Harvard, but hasn't made the tourney in 7 years. Same with Dawkins, 1 NIT championship and 1 tourney at Stanford, 1 tourney at UCF thanks to Tacko Fall, but otherwise very mediocre. Wojo underachieved at Marquette. Quin Snyder had a hot start at Mizzou but was gone after 7 years though is a head coach in the NBA now. Capel has largely been a failure aside from lucking into Blake Griffin at Oklahoma. David Henderson did nothing at Delaware in the 2000s. Bob Bender went to 2 tourneys with Washington in the 90s before flaming out and moving to the NBA.

Who was the worse coaching tree, K or Bill Belichek?

 

[its_the_sauce]

On the plus side for renewing I heard from reliable source that beers will be sold next year lol.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

I know your message is more than a question. I don't blame you.

However, you might consider unfortunately this isn't the first time NU has been this spot. You might be looking at this through a different lens that has a little more NU wear and tear on it than your first few seasons when there was Coble and not much else.

I don't disagree with much of your assessment, but I'm one who keeps going. I'm a bit of a masochist that way.

Also, I don't know what kind of tickets you have. There's a cost-benefit concern that was never a consideration in the old place. There's a price point with this program that's pretty obvious they are balancing that I hope they will soon reconsider. I have no clue why anybody would pay $90+/ticket for the midcourt and Wilson seats for this garbage. And it's pretty obvious, those are the seats NU has trouble selling (mid-court /non-Wilson) and using (Wilsons).

But you said it yourself, "there is nothing better than in person basketball." Collins will be gone in the next couple weeks or next year, then you can have your hope again. Leg it out for one more year. Sell your tickets in protest if needed. NU needs all the good fans it can get.

I disagree. Buying the tickets and selling to folks that will buy parking and concessions isn’t really a protest, it’s enabling.

I rather see a mass exodus. Season ticket holders drop, players transfer, students stay home and study and maybe even the band stops showing up. Media is already gone. Make WR a total and complete embarrassment and a stain on gragg and the new Prez. These are people that have egos and future expectations. Hurt em. Make them either upgrade or drop the program. Period.

 

[Username Not Available]

I plan on renewing my tickets and attending next year. I'll always remember going to a game with my dad back in the 70s. It was probably the first game of the season, and my dad turned to the guy sitting next to us and asked him what he thought of the team that year. The guy said "I love them, but you know they're going to break our hearts."

 

[stpaulcat]

To see Big 10 basketball the ticket prices are almost ridiculously cheap. But if you aren’t being entertained then why spend the dollars?

The sad thing is with the right coach it would be a terrific atmosphere for basketball.

I frankly don‘t see it happening under collins. I get why they gave him a shot- local kid, the Duke name, etc but I just don‘t think he’s a good coach. At least he’s not good enough to make a difference at a school like NU. Any other guys from the Coach K tree that are that successful? Mike Brey is he the top one? Seems like most are average at best. It’s just a lot easier to do some things at Duke when you are rolling in 5 stars.

I don’t see much if any upwards trajectory for next year unless he can limit transfers out and find a couple good adds via the portal. I mean our incoming recruit class is almost non-existent. So he can talk about upward trend, but he’s selling hopes and dreams….

Rolling in 5 stars at Duke was not ordained by God.

 

[stpaulcat]

I disagree. Buying the tickets and selling to folks that will buy parking and concessions isn’t really a protest, it’s enabling.

I rather see a mass exodus. Season ticket holders drop, players transfer, students stay home and study and maybe even the band stops showing up. Media is already gone. Make WR a total and complete embarrassment and a stain on gragg and the new Prez. These are people that have egos and future expectations. Hurt em. Make them either upgrade or drop the program. Period.

You forgot "pinch their nipples".

 

[hdhntr1]

Interesting point to be made - success out of Duke is meaningless. Different caliber of player.

You want the next level of carmody. A coach that succeeds at a school that doesn’t pull the five stars. Doesn’t matter the academics - two star is two star, smart or not. Being able to develop that two star is what’s important.

Carmody was one. Need to find an upgrade from carmody. I know, esker said than done. But no to alums or big names. Bring me the two star general please.

Less likely to see development in BB than in FB. Top guys are generally top guys coming out of HS and 80-90% or better of top players we cannot get through admissions the way it is currently structured

 

[hdhntr1]

I know your message is more than a question. I don't blame you.

However, you might consider unfortunately this isn't the first time NU has been this spot. You might be looking at this through a different lens that has a little more NU wear and tear on it than your first few seasons when there was Coble and not much else.

I don't disagree with much of your assessment, but I'm one who keeps going. I'm a bit of a masochist that way.

Also, I don't know what kind of tickets you have. There's a cost-benefit concern that was never a consideration in the old place. There's a price point with this program that's pretty obvious they are balancing that I hope they will soon reconsider. I have no clue why anybody would pay $90+/ticket for the midcourt and Wilson seats for this garbage. And it's pretty obvious, those are the seats NU has trouble selling (mid-court /non-Wilson) and using (Wilsons).

But you said it yourself, "there is nothing better than in person basketball." Collins will be gone in the next couple weeks or next year, then you can have your hope again. Leg it out for one more year. Sell your tickets in protest if needed. NU needs all the good fans it can get.

Peaple have suggested that midcourt on the one one side at least are pretty much sold out. People don't go but tickets are sold

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Less likely to see development in BB than in FB. Top guys are generally top guys coming out of HS and 80-90% or better of top players we cannot get through admissions the way it is currently structured

I disagree. Maybe more so w NIL, but the ones you describe are either one and done or skip college altogether. I would be curious to see where the juniors and seniors in the last few drafts were ranked out of high school.

 

[hdhntr1]

I disagree. Maybe more so w NIL, but the ones you describe are either one and done or skip college altogether. I would be curious to see where the juniors and seniors in the last few drafts were ranked out of high school.

Sorry but it isn't just the one and dones we would have trouble getting through admissions. Take a look for example at IL, MSU or a host of other programs in BIG and tell me how many would get through NU admissions. I would guess it would be one or two per program. With MSU it would be Christie but name another. How about ILL? I would guess you would find the same at most other programs in BIG.

 

[ParisCat_rivals]

Sorry but it isn't just the one and dones we would have trouble getting through admissions. Take a look for example at IL, MSU or a host of other programs in BIG and tell me how many would get through NU admissions. I would guess it would be one or two per program. With MSU it would be Christie but name another. How about ILL? I would guess you would find the same at most other programs in BIG.

At Illinois, Luke Goode had an NU offer, I believe, as did Ayo before that. I’m not aware of any others that we offered, but we have no way of knowing whether that’s because they couldn’t pass admissions or because they had zero interest in playing for a team with a tradition of losing and an arena that’s either half-empty or half-full of opposing fans.

 

[hdhntr1]

At Illinois, Luke Goode had an NU offer, I believe, as did Ayo before that. I’m not aware of any others that we offered, but we have no way of knowing whether that’s because they couldn’t pass admissions or because they had zero interest in playing for a team with a tradition of losing and an arena that’s either half-empty or half-full of opposing fans.

So you have 1 out of 12-13 on the roster. Couple programs might have another guy or two such as WIS or IA but most will be in the 1-2 range While it isn't the only issue it sure makes everything a lot harder

 

[4IUSox2]

Since CCC isn’t going anywhere it seems for now, gives NU AD another year to build his list. I totally agree on Bruce Weber, if still interested in coaching, make that call (Eff Chester Frazier, though). I’m sure he could bring in someone better than that to groom if NU wanted that set up.

Drew Valentine, Mike Davis, Counzo Martin or Wojo might all have interest. I know Wojo’s results weren’t great, but he recruited pretty well at Marquette.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Since CCC isn’t going anywhere it seems for now, gives NU AD another year to build his list. I totally agree on Bruce Weber, if still interested in coaching, make that call (Eff Chester Frazier, though). I’m sure he could bring in someone better than that to groom if NU wanted that set up.

Drew Valentine, Mike Davis, Counzo Martin or Wojo might all have interest. I know Wojo’s results weren’t great, but he recruited pretty well at Marquette.

That would make a point of redemption if AD secures the next coach quietly behind the scenes so he can step right in and hit the ground running.