Environment

[CoverTwo]

One day I hope we have a environment like Butler and Wichita State had yesterday. Saw both of those games and both home courts were turnt up. Especially Butler. That last 5 mins or so, crazy.

[The Yancey]

The Frank used to be that way when I was i school. Absolutely intimidating.

[HeadCockFan]

I believe student interest is high enough to do it. There needs to be a well-known student organization solely dedicated to basketball support. Like a Garnet Army council. Frank Martin and staff and the players need to select a student president and small council. In concert with frats and sororities there need to be regular meetings during basketball season. And there needs to be a recognizable presence of this group before games at the student entrance and on gamedays at the student union. They need cheer sheets and an inhouse 'leader' that with the band leads the student heckling in a clean yet loud way. There could be social events where only members are invited. There should be a record of the most loyal members and thye university should support it.

Big programs have things like this and the students love it.

[M.C.]

those venues have the college atmosphere to them...we have a NBA atmosphere

[ElectricCock]

win games... it will happen

we also need the dang student section up front for tv

[Sir Cuss]

Get rid of the football team, and I'm sure fans will be more involved with basketball.

[davidmc467]

Win and they will come.

I think of some of those games in Horn's first season that were sellouts or had crazy endings. Those were some crazy atmospheres. I would love to experience that again.

I know the CLA isn't exactly built for a great college atmosphere like the Coliseum. However, it can get awesome in there.

[Spurrier_Superior_One]

Originally Posted by HeadCockFan

I believe student interest is high enough to do it. There needs to be a well-known student organization solely dedicated to basketball support. Like a Garnet Army council. Frank Martin and staff and the players need to select a student president and small council. In concert with frats and sororities there need to be regular meetings during basketball season. And there needs to be a recognizable presence of this group before games at the student entrance and on gamedays at the student union. They need cheer sheets and an inhouse 'leader' that with the band leads the student heckling in a clean yet loud way. There could be social events where only members are invited. There should be a record of the most loyal members and thye university should support it.

Big programs have things like this and the students love it.

While I was at Upstate we had the most obnoxious, rowdy student sections that was well organized but it was never really big. Teams actually didn't want to play at the Hodge because of how loud and nasty the student section got, it got to the point where opposing players wanted to jump the score's table from the heckling since the student section was almost directly behind the visitors bench. Two years after I graduated it lost its energy, they just didn't care they can't even wear black or green to games. It is pitiful to watch both online and in person.

[Carolina4Life]

Think back to when we knocked off then number 1 Kentucky. If all season could be like that.

[jared]

All it takes is winning. We will get there. Give Frank a little time. We will be much better next season.

[FanofCarolina1]

Originally Posted by jared

All it takes is winning. We will get there. Give Frank a little time. We will be much better next season.

If our key players don't transfer out.

[JNGolf]

Originally Posted by M.C.

those venues have the college atmosphere to them...we have a NBA atmosphere

As in Charlotte Bobcats atmosphere, sure...

[Spurrier_Superior_One]

Originally Posted by FanofCarolina1

If our key players don't transfer out.

Or don't go to class...

[jared]

Originally Posted by FanofCarolina1

If our key players don't transfer out.

What key players would leave? Don't see anyone leaving.

[markymark550]

The potential for a great environment is there. It seemed pretty good when I was in school (2001-2005), especially the 03/04 year with the team that made the NCAA tourney. It's going to take Martin a little time to change the perception, but once he starts winning the arena will get rocking.

[thumpin big]

The possibility of having a great home court advantage would be greater if the games were played at the Coliseum. I understand that the games will be played at the CLA instead, but that hurts the atmosphere and diminishes any homecourt advantage the Gamecocks would have.

[cack]

First, they need to completely close the upper deck for games. Until we need those seats. They shouldn't be available for purchase. You can still charge $5 (I have no clue what the cheap seat tickets cost) a ticket for the nose bleeds and do them as a will call option. If the game sells more tickets. Then those seats move up higher into the upper deck. If the game doesn't sell out, you don't have 5 peopl here, 2 people there, 4 people across the way, and a church group sitting against the wall. It'd bring everyone down to the court and pack it in.

Also, they need to do like the Baseball team does, and if seats are vacant after halftime (I'd even be ok if it's was earlier than that, because get to the game when it starts) they're open to anyone.

The closer the fans are to the court. The louder it'll be on the court. Lets be honest, we're not going to sellout the CLA when we're playing Ole Miss, LSU, UGA, or any of the other not so great SEC basketball teams. There's no reason to have the upper deck open for those games. Bring the fans down to the court and make it loud.

That to me is step 1. It's the easiest, fastest, cheapest way to boost the "environment" and it can be ready for the next home game.

[scfastpitch]

People have been moving down to the lower bowl for years . I don't think I have sat in my actual seat for two years at least . The lower bowl was close to full for Vandy, although a lot of those people came to honor the football team at halftime . Problem with most games is there aren't enough to even come close to filling up the lower bowl . There is only one thing that will consistantly improve the atmosphere - winning .

[Cockhornleghorn]

This subject has been rehashed, ad nauseum. When we start winning a little bit, those types of crowds will return. We don't even have to win big for that to happen, there just needs to be a glimmer of hope. I've been to nearly every home game for the past 30 years so just trust me on that. Win two consecutive conference road games and the CLAW will be packed.

[qcgamecock]

South Carolina basketball fans are a fickle bunch, at least the old school fans no disrespect I love them all but they were spoiled by McGuire, Roche, English, Riker, Winters, Dunleavy's, Zam Sr.... always being relevent in basketball nationally for a spell....
the truth is they will spill out of that building when we start winning, it will be like Williams Brice in a box with folks hanging from the rafters, oh wait that was the Carolina Coliseum. The CLAW will get a personality fitting a GAMECOCK athletic facility soon, very soon IMO