Some sad news, Dennis who has been contributing to PittBlather for the past year is leaving.
Dennis will be entering his senior year of high school (which, given the quality of his writing was a startling revelation to me) and has a crush of the usual issues including a summer job and working on college choices and visits. How he had the discipline, time and interest to post at all is a stunner. Especially when I think back to that increasingly dim memory of my lack of drive in high school.
He passed this along, though, an e-mail from DPJ of Cat Basket about trying to improve the gameday atmosphere at Heinz Field.
I was at a meeting with Steve Pederson and Dave Wannstedt where they challenged myself as well as other student leaders to improve the gameday atmosphere. While others were arguing that free t-shirts and hotdogs were the only way to get people to come, I argued that making the in game experience better was the real key for improving attendance (other than winning of course). Some people on SGB and other organizations felt I was crazy. Luckily Dr. Kathy Humphrey, Chris Ferris, and some other fellow student leaders agreed.
During the conclusion of the meeting, I along with our SGB president and Program Council Lecture Director was placed in charge of trying to figure out ways to make the in game experience better. One thing we all agreed upon was that there doesn’t seem to be anything engaging the fans to make them feel more included in the game. Sure we want to have a beach ball in the student section and to incorporate other ideas to make the entire stadium seem like one cohesive unit. However, we felt that there was one big thing that Pitt hasn’t used to our advantage yet. We have that massive jumbotron that usually is one big advertisement the entire game. Have you ever notice how excited people get when the Heinz ketchup flows??? That is why we decided that one of the most effective ways to improve the atmosphere is to use the jumbotron to get the crowd involved. Have you ever been to a Pens game and seen how they use a small outdated jumbotron to get the crowd fired up? Well, why can’t we use our state of the art equipment to get our fans fired up?
They are looking for more suggestions about improving the gameday atmosphere. So head over there with any thoughts.
This seems to be an ongoing process to try and figure out ways to get people to not only come to the games, but be engaged. You may recall the letter AD Pederson sent to season ticket holders after the 07 season. Cutting ticket prices will help sell more tickets, but the issue is getting the people to actually use them and not just sit on their hands.
Obviously the effort alone is a welcome step. Making an effort to get others to throw ideas out there. Rather than just act without actually talking to others who might be closer to the situation or have a better feel.
Here’s one for the jumbotron when the moment calls for the crowd to get fired up or make noise. It builds off the “shave the ‘stache” concept (yeah, I’m going to keep pushing this). I’m thinking Mike Ditka standing next to a cardboard cutout of Wannstedt. Ditka stroking his own mustache then speaking to the camera, “Hey Panther fans, I want to see this thing shaved as much as you do,” pointing to the Wannstache, “so how about some noise?!”
Which brings up another point. As times get tougher, the limited amount of disposable income available to fans will be divided along the lines of loyalty. The Steelers will always trump Pitt in Pittsburgh.
I think they’ll have to slash ticket prices even more if they’re really interested in filling the stands.
P.S. – If we want people regain enthusiasm for Pitt football, returning to the script could be a drawing card. I know the administration is against it and people are tired of talking about it, but I think they should be more receptive to the idea. I would venture to guess that fan sentiment is tilted in favor of a return to the script. If they want us to come to games, maybe they should take steps to appease us.
In order to get the student section where it needs to be, there needs to be free t-shirts and towels passed out EVERY GAME. I graduated in ’07 and when I was a student, the Panther Pitt was formed and they started with the “Code Blue” t-shirts when we played WVU at home. I’m not sure how still involved they are, but the student section needs to look intimidating and this would definitely help. If they’re not passed out every game, you’ll have half the students forgetting the towels or you’ll have students wearing shirts that have nothing to do with the university or you’ll have those girls wearing pink Pitt shirts. When you see the big time programs that have great students sections, everyone is wearing the same color shirts supporting the team.
Maybe I’m wrong, but after going to Pitt for 4 years and recently graduating, these were my observations. Anyways, we should have a solid team this year and hopefully we can turn things around.
Hail To Pitt!
Also, as discussed before ease up on the tailgating restrictions and stop hiding the students under a dilapidated bridge – they are the heart of the university. Its time we give our team a true home field advantage.
#2 Allow people who actually go to the games, park in the lots next to the stadium for tailgating. These lots are always half full.
#3 Win
#4 Shady for Heisman Bobblehead sponsored by UPMC
#5 Win
#6 Free towels handed out at every gate by various sponsors
#7 Win
#8 Chants to get fans involved (i.e. WVU shakes their keys after every first down). We need something that gets the fans involved other than the cheers during timeouts.
#9 Win
And stop losing to UConn!
Winning is a given…
Everyone complains about the off campus stadium. Give the students better parking up front. Hire local bands to play in the students parking lot. Have old timers (ie. Dorsett) come back and take the mic for an impromptu pep rally. Make everyone say, “i wonder who will be on stage this week”. “I heard a rumor that Marino was going to be in town.” Bring the recruits to these tailgates and let the students chant their names (ala Shady, Shady Shady).
I am glad to hear that Pederson and DW are attempting to listen to the students. I have always said that he should get a bunch of the Oakland Zoo’ers together with a couple cases of beer in the Union and lock the doors. Leave them in there until they have a full set of ideas.
I do not want to make a joke out of our coach before, after, and certainly not during the game.
One thing about Pederson, he understands Pitt athletics.
Maybe some creative chants that the fans can use during the game. I know a lot of schools do this. It revs up the crowd, the players, and gives the fans a way to be involved and effec the game.