(04-01-2019 09:21 AM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 12:01 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 10:55 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 10:16 AM)White Hall Wrote:  It’s simple, win and the fans will show up. It’s not about the arena or the schedule. During Lefty’s era, the Convo was sold out for every game, didn’t matter which night of the week or the opponent. Win consistently and nothing else matters.

Agree and somewhat disagree. We all agree winning will bring a lot of folks in or back in. Times are very different today though and far from an apples to apples comparison to the days of the Lefthander at JMU. All games are streamed live for starters now. Back then if you wanted to see the game you almost always had to be in the Convo.

Today students (heck even older fartekers like me) want good mobile phone connectivity as another example (and one that has improved a little at the Convo but still not great in my opinion). JMU back then wasn’t viewed as a “football school”. It is much more today. JMU has lost at least 2 decades of students in terms of interest in MBB. Winning will do wonders. But it will need to be consistent over a number of years to get to selling out every game like those glory days of the past. And, the experience needs to be great, not good.

I agree. Winning is the biggest factor in generating a filled arena, but the other elements you’ve outlined play a role too. Standards have changed and it is simply a different time. In some ways sports fans have become more discriminating on how they’ll spending their time and money, but it all starts with winning. After 20 years of mostly lousy to mediocre results in MBB I’m surprised JMU has as many fans as it does. Here’s to hoping that’s about to change for the better.

Coach Lefty was before my time. Up until the last 5 years ago, other than who won-who lost, I didn't really follow JMU all that much. For that time, mid 90's what kind of game/culture did he play/have? (half-court, fast past, run the clock, pressure D ?) I'm guessing the fan experience and atmosphere was "electric"? A team having a style that's entertaining too watch can offset some of the game loses. What was the football program like? Was JMU more of a basketball school than a football school back then?

The Electric Zoo began before Lefty in Godwin under
Lou Campanelli “Loooooouuuuuuuuu” and moved to The Convo without missing a beat. You could only get student tickets by lottery to many games. Our streamers were toilet paper rolls, the early precursor to purple and gold streamers. We could play with anyone! VA, Notre Dame, Ohio State UNC, Georgetown, UNC, VCU, GMU and ODU. I learned to loathe ODU in the early eighties and I still do. I made every ECAC Tourney and two NCAA trips to cheer on our amazing teams. We lost to UNC, Jordan’s team, by two points people! How I miss that excitement. Can’t believe we have fallen so far. New Arena + New (JMU worthy) Coach = Wins = Return of Electric Zoo!

(04-01-2019 06:38 PM)Dukedame84 Wrote:  

(04-01-2019 09:21 AM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 12:01 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 10:55 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 10:16 AM)White Hall Wrote:  It’s simple, win and the fans will show up. It’s not about the arena or the schedule. During Lefty’s era, the Convo was sold out for every game, didn’t matter which night of the week or the opponent. Win consistently and nothing else matters.

Agree and somewhat disagree. We all agree winning will bring a lot of folks in or back in. Times are very different today though and far from an apples to apples comparison to the days of the Lefthander at JMU. All games are streamed live for starters now. Back then if you wanted to see the game you almost always had to be in the Convo.

Today students (heck even older fartekers like me) want good mobile phone connectivity as another example (and one that has improved a little at the Convo but still not great in my opinion). JMU back then wasn’t viewed as a “football school”. It is much more today. JMU has lost at least 2 decades of students in terms of interest in MBB. Winning will do wonders. But it will need to be consistent over a number of years to get to selling out every game like those glory days of the past. And, the experience needs to be great, not good.

I agree. Winning is the biggest factor in generating a filled arena, but the other elements you’ve outlined play a role too. Standards have changed and it is simply a different time. In some ways sports fans have become more discriminating on how they’ll spending their time and money, but it all starts with winning. After 20 years of mostly lousy to mediocre results in MBB I’m surprised JMU has as many fans as it does. Here’s to hoping that’s about to change for the better.

Coach Lefty was before my time. Up until the last 5 years ago, other than who won-who lost, I didn't really follow JMU all that much. For that time, mid 90's what kind of game/culture did he play/have? (half-court, fast past, run the clock, pressure D ?) I'm guessing the fan experience and atmosphere was "electric"? A team having a style that's entertaining too watch can offset some of the game loses. What was the football program like? Was JMU more of a basketball school than a football school back then?

The Electric Zoo began before Lefty in Godwin under
Lou Campanelli “Loooooouuuuuuuuu” and moved to The Convo without missing a beat. You could only get student tickets by lottery to many games. Our streamers were toilet paper rolls, the early precursor to purple and gold streamers. We could play with anyone! VA, Notre Dame, Ohio State UNC, Georgetown, UNC, VCU, GMU and ODU. I learned to loathe ODU in the early eighties and I still do. I made every ECAC Tourney and two NCAA trips to cheer on our amazing teams. We lost to UNC, Jordan’s team, by two points people! How I miss that excitement. Can’t believe we have fallen so far. New Arena + New (JMU worthy) Coach = Wins = Return of Electric Zoo!

I was right there with you. Totally agree, anyone who believes the electric atmosphere started with Lefty, clearly doesn't know the history of JMU MBB. Going to those games in Godwin were the thing to do. You simply didn't miss it. Game day there was zero toilet paper on campus. We continued with the TP over at the Convo but I graduated that December of 82.

(04-01-2019 06:38 PM)Dukedame84 Wrote:  

(04-01-2019 09:21 AM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 12:01 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 10:55 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 10:16 AM)White Hall Wrote:  It’s simple, win and the fans will show up. It’s not about the arena or the schedule. During Lefty’s era, the Convo was sold out for every game, didn’t matter which night of the week or the opponent. Win consistently and nothing else matters.

Agree and somewhat disagree. We all agree winning will bring a lot of folks in or back in. Times are very different today though and far from an apples to apples comparison to the days of the Lefthander at JMU. All games are streamed live for starters now. Back then if you wanted to see the game you almost always had to be in the Convo.

Today students (heck even older fartekers like me) want good mobile phone connectivity as another example (and one that has improved a little at the Convo but still not great in my opinion). JMU back then wasn’t viewed as a “football school”. It is much more today. JMU has lost at least 2 decades of students in terms of interest in MBB. Winning will do wonders. But it will need to be consistent over a number of years to get to selling out every game like those glory days of the past. And, the experience needs to be great, not good.

I agree. Winning is the biggest factor in generating a filled arena, but the other elements you’ve outlined play a role too. Standards have changed and it is simply a different time. In some ways sports fans have become more discriminating on how they’ll spending their time and money, but it all starts with winning. After 20 years of mostly lousy to mediocre results in MBB I’m surprised JMU has as many fans as it does. Here’s to hoping that’s about to change for the better.

Coach Lefty was before my time. Up until the last 5 years ago, other than who won-who lost, I didn't really follow JMU all that much. For that time, mid 90's what kind of game/culture did he play/have? (half-court, fast past, run the clock, pressure D ?) I'm guessing the fan experience and atmosphere was "electric"? A team having a style that's entertaining too watch can offset some of the game loses. What was the football program like? Was JMU more of a basketball school than a football school back then?

The Electric Zoo began before Lefty in Godwin under
Lou Campanelli “Loooooouuuuuuuuu” and moved to The Convo without missing a beat. You could only get student tickets by lottery to many games. Our streamers were toilet paper rolls, the early precursor to purple and gold streamers. We could play with anyone! VA, Notre Dame, Ohio State UNC, Georgetown, UNC, VCU, GMU and ODU. I learned to loathe ODU in the early eighties and I still do. I made every ECAC Tourney and two NCAA trips to cheer on our amazing teams. We lost to UNC, Jordan’s team, by two points people! How I miss that excitement. Can’t believe we have fallen so far. New Arena + New (JMU worthy) Coach = Wins = Return of Electric Zoo!

Actually many of those zoo folks still attend games, they are gray haired, use walking canes and sit near me.

(04-01-2019 06:48 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-01-2019 06:38 PM)Dukedame84 Wrote:  

(04-01-2019 09:21 AM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 12:01 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 10:55 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  Agree and somewhat disagree. We all agree winning will bring a lot of folks in or back in. Times are very different today though and far from an apples to apples comparison to the days of the Lefthander at JMU. All games are streamed live for starters now. Back then if you wanted to see the game you almost always had to be in the Convo.

Today students (heck even older fartekers like me) want good mobile phone connectivity as another example (and one that has improved a little at the Convo but still not great in my opinion). JMU back then wasn’t viewed as a “football school”. It is much more today. JMU has lost at least 2 decades of students in terms of interest in MBB. Winning will do wonders. But it will need to be consistent over a number of years to get to selling out every game like those glory days of the past. And, the experience needs to be great, not good.

I agree. Winning is the biggest factor in generating a filled arena, but the other elements you’ve outlined play a role too. Standards have changed and it is simply a different time. In some ways sports fans have become more discriminating on how they’ll spending their time and money, but it all starts with winning. After 20 years of mostly lousy to mediocre results in MBB I’m surprised JMU has as many fans as it does. Here’s to hoping that’s about to change for the better.

Coach Lefty was before my time. Up until the last 5 years ago, other than who won-who lost, I didn't really follow JMU all that much. For that time, mid 90's what kind of game/culture did he play/have? (half-court, fast past, run the clock, pressure D ?) I'm guessing the fan experience and atmosphere was "electric"? A team having a style that's entertaining too watch can offset some of the game loses. What was the football program like? Was JMU more of a basketball school than a football school back then?

The Electric Zoo began before Lefty in Godwin under
Lou Campanelli “Loooooouuuuuuuuu” and moved to The Convo without missing a beat. You could only get student tickets by lottery to many games. Our streamers were toilet paper rolls, the early precursor to purple and gold streamers. We could play with anyone! VA, Notre Dame, Ohio State UNC, Georgetown, UNC, VCU, GMU and ODU. I learned to loathe ODU in the early eighties and I still do. I made every ECAC Tourney and two NCAA trips to cheer on our amazing teams. We lost to UNC, Jordan’s team, by two points people! How I miss that excitement. Can’t believe we have fallen so far. New Arena + New (JMU worthy) Coach = Wins = Return of Electric Zoo!

I was right there with you. Totally agree, anyone who believes the electric atmosphere started with Lefty, clearly doesn't know the history of JMU MBB. Going to those games in Godwin were the thing to do. You simply didn't miss it. Game day there was zero toilet paper on campus. We continued with the TP over at the Convo but I graduated that December of 82.

Thanks guys (and maybe girls) for the history lesson! How many mid majors, even the top mids would love to have that kind of atmosphere today? I get the whole "Kids today" have so many distractions, options, commitments but as an "old guy" it sure seems they are missing out on some fond youthful memories.