Pollard's and Jeff Johnson's email to Cyclone alley

**tejasclone** · 01-16-2008, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by wonkadog

Some students are still in the balcony, FYI. Also, back when I first started college there were quite a few students still in the balcony and we still had the "rotation" where you only got to sit in the lower bowl for a few games. I don't know if going back to this system would be "sending the students back to the balcony where they used to be." Was there a time where students were only in the balcony? Maybe you're talking about when we played in the Armory.

My last year (06-07), I had to sit in the balcony for every game because I refused to sign up for Cyclone Alley. My first few years, one side was reserved for Cyclone Alley, the other was generic student seating. Then they gave Cyclone Alley both ends from the parquet down, and stuck the "regular" students up in the balcony. Seemed silly to me, because the Cyclone Alley sections were NEVER full (maybe against KU, if that).

**CyPlainsDrifter** · 01-16-2008, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by wonkadog

Some students are still in the balcony, FYI. Also, back when I first started college there were quite a few students still in the balcony and we still had the "rotation" where you only got to sit in the lower bowl for a few games. I don't know if going back to this system would be "sending the students back to the balcony where they used to be." Was there a time where students were only in the balcony? Maybe you're talking about when we played in the Armory.

Well, I was really speaking of the mass of student seating now available compared to the lessor amounts of lower level student seating we have had through the years. I am also quite sure that student seating was ALL in the balcony back in the early 80's, but maybe there was some I didn't know about. The amount of student seating currently available in the lower level, is certainly far and away more, than there has ever been in the history of Hilton.

My point really was that students are now enjoying this tremendous benefit and it would be a real shame for it to be discontinued or rolled back, due to these profane chants continuing from some misplaced student "pride", entitlement, new "tradition" or whatever would motivate the actions.

**gocubs2118** · 01-16-2008, 04:04 PM

I really think that CA would be most effective if we were behind the benches like Duke has it. No offense to anyone who sits down there but they could be a whole lot more energetic. Not to mention it looks bad when they leave the game 5 minutes early in order to beat the traffic.

**isuno1fan** · 01-16-2008, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

I really think that CA would be most effective if we were behind the benches like Duke has it. No offense to anyone who sits down there but they could be a whole lot more energetic. Not to mention it looks bad when they leave the game 5 minutes early in order to beat the traffic.

That's a pipedream...never gonna happen.

**gocubs2118** · 01-16-2008, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

That's a pipedream...never gonna happen.

Ya I realize that but I was just saying that where I feel CA should be.

**CyPlainsDrifter** · 01-16-2008, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

I really think that CA would be most effective if we were behind the benches like Duke has it. No offense to anyone who sits down there but they could be a whole lot more energetic. Not to mention it looks bad when they leave the game 5 minutes early in order to beat the traffic.

I don't disagree, but I HIGHLY doubt this is going to happen. There are people donating pretty substantial money and many of them do it JUST to get those seats. The programs would lose a ton of money by kicking these people to the curb.

I also HATE how many of our fans leave early. Drives me crazy.

**cy1225** · 01-16-2008, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by CyPlainsDrifter

Agree. JJ said it best.... all the profanity is just low class. We can have a great home court advantage without it. We did once and we could again.

It's also entirely possible that if it doesn't get toned down, Cyclone Alley could go away. Maybe these emails are a shot across the bow to the students.... I really don't know.

JP went out of his way to get the students great seats to make them happy and get them involved and to gain some home court advantage. It's entirely possible that he could reverse his decision on this and send the students back to the balcony, where they used to be. Pure speculation on my part obviously.

JP did not assign those seats. Cyclone Alley was started by the former AD and he assigned more seats in the lower bowl to the students. This was done with the students support.

**Aclone** · 01-16-2008, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by CyPlainsDrifter

I am also quite sure that student seating was ALL in the balcony back in the early 80's, but maybe there was some I didn't know about. The amount of student seating currently available in the lower level, is certainly far and away more, than there has ever been in the history of Hilton.

I think you're thinking of the mid-to late '80's. In '82-83 they started having student reserved seating because of the free for all, and worries that someone would get hurt. I know that I was in the lower circle for the huge Missouri upset of '83, when Stevens went crazy--with all the rest of the students.

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

I really think that CA would be most effective if we were behind the benches like Duke has it.

Trust me, at the Missouri game, we were quite effective behind the basket. If you watch that '83 Missouri game replay on Mediacom, you might actually see me, about five rows up from the floor.

**wonkadog** · 01-16-2008, 04:27 PM

I'd actually prefer that CA stay behind the hoops. It seems kind of the trendy thing to do as far as putting the students all along the sides of the court. Let's stick to what we've got - students happy with their seats and high donors happy with theirs.

**Aldude505** · 01-20-2008, 03:05 AM

Being in Cyclone Alley now I can see both sides. I dont think that people, even college students, should repetedly swear at basketball games. But the ocassional BS chant from a bad call or any other outburst i dont know how you would stop those. As far as the songs go i think most of CA does it because they see everyone else doing it, it is right? Prolly not but its what happens! Sorry!

**Flag Guy** · 01-20-2008, 03:27 AM

I mentioned it else where but I'll mention it here too - most students aren't even aware of any other lyrics besides the ones they chant. Until a year ago when I read through the Cyclone Alley handbook, I didn't either. I didn't know there was an alternative set of altnerative lyrics until last month when I was chatting with a lady in the balcony.

Changing a chant takes a lot of effort, an e-mail won't change that. People need to be educated as to what the proper words are. You need a good group of people to know what they are, and they need to be the ones starting the chants or being loud for songs. I don't think I've ever heard more than 2 people sing "Go Cyclones Go"

Getting Cyclone Alley to go over some of the chants during Orientation would be a good place to start. Throw in a pep rally or a practice cheer session or something for the rest of the Alley before the start of the basketball season, you can do the cheers in a controlled environment where people are much more likely to do the proper words.

Cyclone Alley got a good start with the booklet the put out - I now know the proper words but I assure you not every student reads that booklet like I did... change takes time and effort - 1 e-mail is not going to do it. 2 e-mails is not going to do it, and threatening/punishing the students sure as **** ain't going to do it.