Stand Up! Be Proud! Be Loud!

by Gopher Broke on Feb 13, 2009 8:24 AM EST Comment 23 comments

C'mon Penn State fans, let's get loud this weekend! Don't let sportswriters for other universities have an excuse to call us the worst fans in the conference anymore! Here's something I found here at the Minneapolis Star Tribune website:

-Penn State men’s basketball or Bruce Springsteen? What’s the bigger draw? It sounds like Penn State’s leveling the playing field with the Boss by bringing in crowds not seen at the Bryce Jordan Center since the Crispin brothers played for the Nittany Lions at the start of the decade.

Out of all the crowds in the Big Ten, I thought Penn State’s, per capita, was by far the worst last season. Sure, Minnesota went to Northwestern last season in the middle of a snow storm. I’m not sure that made much of a difference with Northwestern’s usual sparse attendance, but at least the few fans there pretended to care.

Penn State’s fans were very nonchalant and with their team struggling against Minnesota in the final minutes, numerous fans left and missed one of the best finishes in the Big Ten last year. Maybe, the crowd will get more involved when the Gophers travel to State College, Pa., Saturday.

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All Apologies

I’m sorry and I want to let everyone here know that I am not some sort of hater, but I just cannot get into Penn State hoops. I just don’t see any sort of tradition of rivalry involved with the program that can get me, or a casual observer, interested in a game. I grew up watching the Big 5 (City 6, whatever) in Philadelphia and there is no comparison to seeing a game at the Palestra and then going to the cavernous BJC. I don’t know, I just do not think I can ever get excited and worked up about Penn State basketball.

by Bob Sacamano on Feb 13, 2009 8:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well if you're looking for rivalries

I suppose you aren’t getting that much in the Big 10. The games individually just don’t mean enough to make a win really great or a loss really bad. The excitement, for me anyway, is in the two tournaments (conference and NCAA), in those games the stakes are finally raised and thing matter.

What PSU can do in the mean time, though, is sell the players and try to play some type of interesting basketball. They could start by designing an offense.

BSD

by Kevin HD on Feb 13, 2009 8:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"the cavernous BJC"

This is why games need to return to Rec Hall. Back in my days (87-91), even though the bball team wasn’t great, at least in Rec Hall you felt more a part of the action. Like you could provide them your vocal support. BJC, while it may look fancy, doesn’t cut it. The Palestra – that place rocks.

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Feb 13, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rec Hall

I’d agree, at the very least they need to hold the non-conference games that we like to schedule against the likes of New Jersey Tech and Lafayette in Rec Hall. I mean, if only 3k people are going to show up anyway, why not make it look like you’re at least running closer to a sellout? The atmosphere would be way better, for the fans, players and TV. If we can regularly get crowds over 10k for Big Ten or “big” non-con games (should we ever schedule one), then I guess I’m okay with the BJC as a venue, but there’d still probably be more excitement over the basketball team if there was an actual scarcity of tickets, like there would be with Rec Hall.

Let's Go State!

by Gopher Broke on Feb 13, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Eh

I don’t know. I think that Rec Hall could be an amazing atmosphere. But, if the team isn’t winning the team isn’t exciting. The BJC is “cavernous” because no one is there.

I just feel like blaming the BJC is one of many tired excuses that don’t work for me as to why we don’t have a good basketball program.

by speedomike on Feb 13, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

That’s like saying playing in Beaver Stadium is no different than Pitt Stadium (cue “yellow out” pic). The atmosphere of a stadium/arena and its fanbase is a reason some kids pick a certain school. We had an earlier blog about the factors football players use to choose a school and stadium/fans was one of them. I would think it would be the same for bball. I mean, what kid wouldn’t be stoked to play in the Palestra, Cameron, or Allen Fieldhouse? Of course it’s not the only reason why our team is not so good, but it would certainly help make our program more attractive. I mean, who really wants to play in a quiet, empty warehouse (i.e. BJC)? Plus, the energy and noise of a rowdy crowd does wonders in energizing a team. (I know it helps in my own sports endeavors.) At least Rec Hall had that because you sat right along the court.

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Feb 13, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One thing I know

is that playing in Rec Hall was an advantage. A big one.

I’d put it at about three wins a year, which is the difference between the NIT and NCAA this season.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Feb 13, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

3 wins?

Really? I can buy that Rec Hall was generally a crazier atmosphere. But atmosphere alone is not going to give a team 3 more wins. Talent? Yes. Coaching? Yes. Arena? No.

Somehow I’ve become the anti-Rec Hall guy. Which I’m not. I’m just saying that I don’t consider the BJC a good enough reason that we can’t consistently field a good basketball team. I don’t buy location and tradition as reasons either.

by speedomike on Feb 15, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

By the way

It’s really, really hard to find all-time season records for college basketball. Does anyone know of the basketball equivalent of the college football data warehouse?

by speedomike on Feb 15, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If the team is winning, the BJC would be a good atmosphere. As crazy as Rec Hall? Maybe not, but still a really good atmosphere. I went the to the Michigan State game this year, and there were plenty of times when that place was going pretty crazy. Again, the BJC is a quiet, empty warehouse because no one is there. And no one is there because the team isn’t any good. That’s changed some this year.

The focus needs to be on fielding on a good team first, not the atmosphere.

by speedomike on Feb 15, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No way...

Three wins…minimum. This team maybe five.

Home court advantage is huge in Basketball, more than any other sport. The dirty little secret of the BJC is that on average the games are about as well attended as they ever were at Rec Hall. The difference is that Rec was a filthy stinking rat hole of a gym that got louder than Beaver Stadium and meaner than the 700 level of the Vet. It was that place in Hoosiers that Shooter warned Coach Dale about. The BJC will never, ever touch that.

I saw referees afraid to blow whistles, and Coaches (John Calapari for one) get into fights with people in the stands.

The Big Ten refused to play basketball there, the elimination of Rec Hall was the number one contingency of PSU joining the league. I think we played just over two seasons of Big Ten basketball there, they caught us at a down time but the Indiana game is still the single craziest Penn State game I’ve ever been to, football included.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Feb 16, 2009 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree to disagree

I appreciate your passion and get your point, but this a pointless argument. You’re trying to quantify something that can be quantified. You do realize this team has only lost 3 home games this year right? So where are those 5 extra wins coming from? And, can you provide proof that home court advantage is bigger in basketball than other sports?

And not once have I said that the BJC is or ever would be a better atmosphere than Rec Hall.

by speedomike on Feb 16, 2009 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was at that game

And I watched us choke away a 16 point lead by missing foul shot after foul shot. But I don’t recall fans leaving early as he says. And I don’t think anyone was nonchalant. I recall a collective groan with every missed free throw and moans of disgust every time Minnesota scored. I never felt as pissed off about Penn State basketball as I did that day walking out when the game was over. Everybody I saw was pissed off about how we blew that game. I wouldn’t say anyone was nonchalant.

This article strikes me as a guy who has had this date circled since the game last year so he could rip PSU fans for not supporting the team. Now that we’re filling up the BJC he feels ripped off that he doesn’t get to write his article, so he’s going to rip the fans for our lack of enthusiasm last year.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Feb 13, 2009 9:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

When he says

they “missed one of the best finishes in the Big Ten last year”, what is he getting at? I would say that wasn’t one of the best finishes in the Big Ten last year, and it certainly wasn’t if you are a PSU fan.

BSD

by Kevin HD on Feb 13, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought that too

Best finishes? I rather thought it sucked myself. If both teams were rainind down shots and there were five lead changes in the final two minutes that would be a great finish. Watching one team choke away a 16 point victory one possession at a time is not a great finish in my book. Unless you were a Gopher fan of course.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Feb 13, 2009 10:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree, I was there also

It was a major bummer, and it just felt like we gave up the game, it was probably really fun for Minnesota fans. I didn’t even stay for the autograph session like I was planning because I didn’t want to face the players and drag out the misery.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Feb 13, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess we should have "enjoyed" the Iowa football game, too

Anyone who would be happy to watch their team let a win slip away needs his head examined.
Is this the same guy that busted our chops earlier in the bball season about our attendance issues?
I guess we don’t have a real old bball coach for them to make fun of, so they find something else. Sheesh

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Feb 13, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That was an Iowa guy...

Which I find quite entertaining.

An Iowa guy and a Minnesota guy telling Penn State fans to show up.

Because both of those powerhouses sure are known for their year round fan support.

by NittanyBadger on Feb 13, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I will be there this weekend

Does anyone know of anything else going on in State College on Saturday for fun (that 3 kids can handle). We promise to stay to the bitter, bitter end.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Feb 13, 2009 10:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

State or Springsteen?

One will entertain me for 3 hours with enthusiasm, charisma, lots of running and jumping and ultimately send me home happy.

The other will play hard for 2 hours, the rock will frequently bounce off metal, and I’ll be wishful of the glory days of Joe Crispin (*seriously???). Ultimately I go home disappointed in what is now year 7 of the DeChellis failure.

Sorry, I’ll take the Boss.

*it bothers me how its always referred to as “Crispin brothers”. Jon was a freshman role player (at best) on the team. He sucked as a sophomore (ala Tony Johnson after his bro left), and never played more than 10 minutes in a game the rest of his career after transferring. Stop praising the Crispin “brothers”. Titcus and Gyassi were the heart and sole of that team. Joe was the overhyped outside shooter.

by NittanyBadger on Feb 13, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions 1 recs