That may never happen. They may have pissed(see, I used the word again)away any chance of that happening by the way they've promoted it for the past twenty + years, or perhaps I should have said by the "lack of promotion" during this time, but it can be built up somewhat. Newell was not a "one time wonder." There are a lot of young Mike Newell's out there, you've just got to find them. You can't just sit on your ass and keep promoting some assistant just because he's here and a nice guy, and he wants to be a head coach. I like Steve fine, but he's never struck me as having the charisma or the coaching skills to be the second coming of Newell. There are guys out there somewhere that can come in here and win and get the excitement built back up by putting an exciting product on the floor and winning something other than divisional championships.

It can come back, perhaps never to the heights that it was then, but a hell of a lot better than what it is now. It won't ever come near being what the hogs program is, and it never would have if Newell had stayed, but it can be a program that regularly draws four or five thousand a game if it wins big, plays exciting basketball and is promoted the right way.

I kind of look at this situation the way I see Pulaski Academy football. They draw well for a very small school(I realize it's a private school), but they also draw a lot of people who don't have any connection to the school, but love the exciting offense they play. I always go watch PA when Sylvan Hills isn't playing, or if they're not in the playoffs, or if they are eliminated from the playoffs. I always see people that I know out there who have no connection or love for the school, but that they simply like the brand of football(wide open)that they play. They score a lot of points, rarely punt, and on-side kick on practically every kickoff. Most people like a lot of offense. As Doc mentioned in his post about bringing in the fences at Dickey-Stephens Park in order for some of those long high drives that the Travelers hit yesterday would have been home runs, instead of being caught on the warning track. The Travs had several balls caught on the track.

We agree on something again. Twice in one day. Has to be a record.

(09-16-2013 01:39 PM)mjs Wrote:  We agree on something again. Twice in one day. Has to be a record.

Well as Gomer Pyle would say, Gol-lee.

Even back when Newell and I both(and perhaps some of you)thought that we had a team or two in those years that very likely could have beaten the hogs, I was never stupid enough(at least in my own mind)to ever think that we would ever overtake the hogs in popularity(that would have been a stupid), but did think we had a chance to be a very good mid-major program who could beat a lot of bigger programs(including the hogs)on occasion. I just wanted UALR to be Little Rock's team. That's all I still want. I never had any illusions that we'd ever be the #1 team with the entire city of Little Rock, but would have enough fans here that either weren't hog fans, or those that were hog fans who didn't get to see them play here, and who liked exciting basketball, like Scotto and a few others.

(09-16-2013 02:30 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  I just wanted UALR to be Little Rock's team. That's all I still want.

You have summed it up.

We should have been advertising and still could, UALR as "Little Rock's Team". That's a no brainer, and one that will stick in people's minds. I know some of you believe Chris has run the program into the ground. I disagree on that. He has kept the program afloat. Maybe not the way some would prefer, but he's getting the job done. On what else could be done, I don't need to rehash that here. Most of you have made yourselves clear on that point. I have said on numerous occasions that I would hope Steve can get the job done that we all want. I don't know if he can meet everyone's expectations. I do think change in leadership after a certain number of years is good. Whether or not it would lead to more wins and more fan support, I don't know. Programs and coaches can get stale after awhile. If we don't win a league championship this season, or get to the post season in either the NCAA or the NIT, I believe it would be in Chris's and the programs best interest to change our direction. It's like when the new preacher comes to town.
It normally leads to an increase in attendance for awhile at least. And if he's really good, the attendance continues. If not, you find a new preacher. That's just the way the world should work. And in most cases it does.

(09-16-2013 02:55 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  We should have been advertising and still could, UALR as "Little Rock's Team". That's a no brainer, and one that will stick in people's minds. I know some of you believe Chris has run the program into the ground. I disagree on that. He has kept the program afloat. Maybe not the way some would prefer, but he's getting the job done. On what else could be done, I don't need to rehash that here. Most of you have made yourselves clear on that point. I have said on numerous occasions that I would hope Steve can get the job done that we all want. I don't know if he can meet everyone's expectations. I do think change in leadership after a certain number of years is good. Whether or not it would lead to more wins and more fan support, I don't know. Programs and coaches can get stale after awhile. If we don't win a league championship this season, or get to the post season in either the NCAA or the NIT, I believe it would be in Chris's and the programs best interest to change our direction. It's like when the new preacher comes to town.
It normally leads to an increase in attendance for awhile at least. And if he's really good, the attendance continues. If not, you find a new preacher. That's just the way the world should work. And in most cases it does.

Keeping the boat afloat when the motor is burned up doesn't help much when you don't have a paddle. It's sorta like being up **** creek without a paddle. And, how many more years are you going to keep hoping that Steve can get the job done? Isn't our situation kinda like being on a respirator? You're alive but that's about all you can say.

Obviously we don't have a "do not resucitate" clause in our fan's contract.

(09-16-2013 02:40 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 02:30 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  I just wanted UALR to be Little Rock's team. That's all I still want.

You have summed it up.

That's all I ever wanted as well. I think it is clear that Chris has convinced a lot of business people that it makes economic sense to support the program in your own city. I think they are doing that. Getting them out to games is a whole other issue. It may be easier to get the average Joe, who isn't sitting on board meetings or running a business, out to the arena. We just have to find a way to do that. But the reality is you are very unlikely to make a basketball fan out of someone who is not. Everyone who I have taken to a game (Dr. J does a lot better job of this than me) usually enjoys it, but rarely comes back on their own. It would be the same thing if they invited me to the opera. But, I still have to believe that there are enough basketball fans in the area for us to average 4 to 5,000 a game. That's not that many people in a metro area our size.

(09-16-2013 07:05 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 02:40 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 02:30 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  I just wanted UALR to be Little Rock's team. That's all I still want.

You have summed it up.

That's all I ever wanted as well. I think it is clear that Chris has convinced a lot of business people that it makes economic sense to support the program in your own city. I think they are doing that. Getting them out to games is a whole other issue. It may be easier to get the average Joe, who isn't sitting on board meetings or running a business, out to the arena. We just have to find a way to do that. But the reality is you are very unlikely to make a basketball fan out of someone who is not. Everyone who I have taken to a game (Dr. J does a lot better job of this than me) usually enjoys it, but rarely comes back on their own. It would be the same thing if they invited me to the opera. But, I still have to believe that there are enough basketball fans in the area for us to average 4 to 5,000 a game. That's not that many people in a metro area our size.

The only way "we" can find a way to get the average Joe out to the games is if "we" find a way to get a new Athletic Director.

Peterson is the issue. Steve is by product of Chris at this point, meaning Chris is making some of the decisions the effect Steve.


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(09-16-2013 08:00 PM)insideualr Wrote:  Peterson is the issue. Steve is by product of Chris at this point, meaning Chris is making some of the decisions the effect Steve.

That is the way I have it figured.