Email to Coach Hewitt

[PoorManProfit]

I didn't miss the point at all. When people stop buying season tickets and donating, it might register with the administration. People skipping games in a down year is hardly going to cause the AD to fire the coach. Heck, our attendance dropped significantly two years after our Final 4 year after we barely went .500 they year prior.

Again, we all agree there is some apathy. I just question how many people really care and, more importantly, does it even matter to the people in charge over there.

Attendance was never "good".

 

[Patriotfan49]

I didn't miss the point at all. When people stop buying season tickets and donating, it might register with the administration. People skipping games in a down year is hardly going to cause the AD to fire the coach. Heck, our attendance dropped significantly two years after our Final 4 year after we barely went .500 they year prior.

Again, we all agree there is some apathy. I just question how many people really care and, more importantly, does it even matter to the people in charge over there.

It just seemed that way to me, and apparently Brian with your comment then. Like he said, if you cant follow that trend....I sure hope the school has people that does.Not miss one game, miss half the games...thennnnnnnn no season tickets.

I also feel that it might be more people than you think that are getting over the whole thing. Me and the two friends (6 total seats) all are pretty over it. From what I hear each game this year, sounds like the folks behind us are getting there as well.

 

[gmutom]

P49, I'm not even sure what you are disagreeing with me about. We agree there are some disgruntled fans, and we appear to agree the administration is apathetic. I just don't think there are enough disgruntled fans to make a difference with our apathetic administration. I believe we also agree that money talks and that canceled season tickets and donations is what it will take to ultimately make a difference.

 

[Patriotfan49]

Im not really disagreeing. Only difference is that I think there may be more fans on the outs than you think.

Also, yes canceled season tickets and donations matter. What Brian and I are saying, is that you apparently are not seeing the trend of what his example was. You miss maybe one game a year, to now half the season...the next step is not buying season tickets.

 

[gmutom]

What Brian and I are saying, is that you apparently are not seeing the trend of what his example was. You miss maybe one game a year, to now half the season...the next step is not buying season tickets.

I definitely hear upset people and even some booing in my section, but we really haven't had a lot of no-shows amongst the regulars in my section (117). I haven't heard anybody say they aren't going to renew their season tickets, but I also haven't done an official poll of those around me. My hunch is that most diehard season ticket holders won't want to give up their seats for fear of not getting them back when we do get back to being good (whenever that is).

That said, I completely understand if Brian is hearing more grumblings where he sits, because those people spend a lot more money than we do 15 rows back. I'd probably be more pissed, too, if I was in their shoes.

 

[gmubrian]

To be clear it is not people threatening to stop getting season tickets, explicitly. I have heard a little of that, but not a lot. But what I see happening is you get to this summer, it is time to renew tickets and stroke a big check, then you think back "well, I really didn't go to many games this past year, I've been meaning to do more of X for a long time, now is a good time to spend my time and money on that".

The point I am making is that those with an interest in this need to pay attention to when your die hard fans start to become apathetic, disinterested, or even downright angry. That is the beginning of a potentially long, bleak period in Mason Basketball.

Winter is coming!

 

[GMUgemini]

I didn't miss the point at all. When people stop buying season tickets and donating, it might register with the administration. People skipping games in a down year is hardly going to cause the AD to fire the coach. Heck, our attendance dropped significantly two years after our Final 4 year after we barely went .500 they year prior.

Again, we all agree there is some apathy. I just question how many people really care and, more importantly, does it even matter to the people in charge over there.

We will see, Tom. But Hewitts first season here we had 5,800 a game. We are currently at 4,500. If these guys continue to lose at home the way they did last season, we will probably finish around there. That's 1,200 less per game for 14 games or 16,800 less tickets being sold or 338,000 dollars potentially lost

A few more seasons like this and we could easily be back down in The 3000 range and 3000 fans per game off our high of 2006.

 

[KAOriginal]

George Mason may have the best athletic jobs ever!

Since athletics is considered "the side door"....you don't really have to worry about putting out winning products. There's no strong group of donors or fans in numbers breathing down your neck for success. Sure you might have to shake things up and fire a coach of some program every 4-5 years for a show...but that's child play in college athletics. and, University administration doesn't care what happens as long as the numbers are in line financially and no scandals happen.

And then for Hewitt....get paid significant dollars for a few years to be mediocre for essentially the same reasons above?

What a place!

 

[TweederGMU]

Uh Oh... are GMUTom and GMUBrian in a lover's quarrel? Man.... I want to know who's sleeping on the couch tonight!

 

[gmubrian]

I am, the man always goes to the couch.

On second thought, I am working all night tonight, so I won't get the bed or the couch. Anyone going to be on here overnight to keep me entertained when there are breaks in my work? Jollay, you will probably coming in drunk about 3Am or so. Post something funny for me, please.

 

[azgmu]

We agree there are some disgruntled fans, and we appear to agree the administration is apathetic. I just don't think there are enough disgruntled fans to make a difference with our apathetic administration.

Actually I do think that disgruntlement is reflective of the fan base as a whole. The reason I think so is because the types of problems the team is seeing (disappearing from games, not showing up for games, inexplicable slumps, frustration plays, missing easy plays, etc) are the kinds of problems that come from being psyched out. And being psyched out can come in part from having a dissatisfied fan base.

 

[gmutom]

azgmu, I'm sure the players are pressing to play better, but I don't think you can attribute their bad play to trying to please dissatisfied fans. That said, I do hope the players realize we do support them and want them to win. I know I'll be pulling for them tomorrow. Hopefully, they feel the love from everybody at the game.

 

[gmubrian]

I think the players must feel the tension between us gmutom

 

[gmutom]

I think the players must feel the tension between us gmutom

How can they not? That's why you're on the couch tonight.

 

[gmubrian]

Jollay, you will probably coming in drunk about 3Am or so. Post something funny for me, please.

Jollay, you have failed me. I am very disappointed.

 

[mkaufman1]

GMURaider- did you get a response? Interested to hear.

 

[GMURaider]

Mr. Met: I've decided not to post it given the vitriol all of my other posts were greeted with.

GMURaider- did you get a response? Interested to hear.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

The funny thing about this year is the fans to seem to show up (have looked pretty good on tv) it is just the team has not - at least for the second half.

 

[Patriotfan49]

The funny thing about this year is the fans to seem to show up (have looked pretty good on tv) it is just the team has not - at least for the second half.

Agreed....weve actually had a pretty good attendance year. Students are starting to come out again too.

 

[Pablo]

Mr. Met: I've decided not to post it given the vitriol all of my other posts were greeted with.

I'm glad that you received a response. Perhaps, someday you will share it with us.