Cyclone Alley Survey (Long)

[stateofmind]

I have to say that for the last game this year I had row 2 tix. Awesome! But so lame from an energy perspective. I was right next to CA and my fat 41-year old arse was cheering way more than the students. But it isn't just the students, the privy few around me were lame as well. This society is all about image, and being a crazy fan is an image thing. "I just can't look cool going crazy for my team". During the "down" attendance games, I got down to the upper CA parquet and was amazed at the lack of emotion of the few students that were actually there. Never stood for the fight song, were texting more than watching the game. It's just sad that such premium tickets go to these kids that are too cool to cheer.

But until there is a need for more "adult" tickets, I'm sure you won't see those primo seats go on sale. I don't think this is a Hilton, or ISU thing, I think it's just a sign of the times.

 

[nfrine]

I think everyone should sit down during free throws. And one guy should stand up dancing in a thong.

Equal opportunity...I say one gal in a thong too.

 

[cyclonetrent]

I agree with most of the complaints in this thread about Cyclone Alley, but let me add one I haven't seen yet.

One of my biggest problems with Cyclone Alley is cronyism.

I graduated in 2006, never missed a home game, and to this day still see the same people sitting in the front row I regularly saw during my time at ISU. Anyone recognize a group of guys that wear red and yellow foam 10 gallon cowboy hats? I'm almost certain they got those hats in Manhattan, Kansas when we had that awesome comeback in the 4th Quarter. I was there and got the same hat at a Pace Picante Salsa giveaway. When was that, 2004? And it isn't just the 10 gallon hat wearers, I recognize people I sort of knew at school and from around Central Iowa who I know are my age who show up in the front row of Cyclone Alley with the powers-that-be time and again.

Now, maybe these people are on the good ol' 10-year graduation plan or are getting their MBA or some other advanced degree, but I think the much more likely conclusion is some Cyclone Alley Central cronyism.

A and B were on it, got their friends C and D on it when they left, who got their friends E and F on when they left. Now A, B, C and D all go back to Cyclone Alley, after graduation it seems, and sit in the front seats, usually for the big games.

I'm glad the hypothetical fans A - D continue to support the Clones, but am not happy they continue to do it in Cyclone Alley.

Maybe I'm way off base here, but I've been thinking this for a while now.

Go Cyclones!!!

I know for a fact that the guys with the ten gallon hats dont enter at the normal student entrance, they enter at the lower west doors. Which is why they always are able to snag the front row seats, why they are allowed to do that is beyond me(isnt the student entrance the north doors? or just any of the upper level doors?)

 

[MNCyGuy]

I have to say that for the last game this year I had row 2 tix. Awesome! But so lame from an energy perspective. I was right next to CA and my fat 41-year old arse was cheering way more than the students. But it isn't just the students, the privy few around me were lame as well. This society is all about image, and being a crazy fan is an image thing. "I just can't look cool going crazy for my team". During the "down" attendance games, I got down to the upper CA parquet and was amazed at the lack of emotion of the few students that were actually there. Never stood for the fight song, were texting more than watching the game. It's just sad that such premium tickets go to these kids that are too cool to cheer.

But until there is a need for more "adult" tickets, I'm sure you won't see those primo seats go on sale. I don't think this is a Hilton, or ISU thing, I think it's just a sign of the times.

The texting drives me nuts when I see it on tv. You spend all week staring at laptops and computers for class, you can't just relish that two hours to unplug and let go at a basketball game? If you want to just go and watch without going crazy, fine I guess, but why bother showing up if you're not going to be at least a little engaged in the game?

 

[dunar]

Its not like they asked you to give up your first born.

That comes much later, after you graduate, and the Foundation starts calling...

 

[packattack425]

Just because you sit in CA doesn't mean you can't reach down, grab your balls, and start whatever cheer you want. It doesn't always have to be the same cyclone power or Lets go state cheer. All CA really does is tell you where to sit and what shirt to wear.

 

[Cydwinder]

The texting drives me nuts when I see it on tv. You spend all week staring at laptops and computers for class, you can't just relish that two hours to unplug and let go at a basketball game? If you want to just go and watch without going crazy, fine I guess, but why bother showing up if you're not going to be at least a little engaged in the game?

This might just be the difference we have been searching for! When ISU had a great Hilton atmosphere, texting was virtually non-existent! I blame modern technology

 

[MNCyGuy]

This might just be the difference we have been searching for! When ISU had a great Hilton atmosphere, texting was virtually non-existent! I blame modern technology

I see your jimlad, but I think you're actually have a realy good point. You don't think that a lot of students were more rabid for bball tickets back in the 80's/90's simply because there wasn't anything else to do on a weeknight or Saturday afternoon? Or they weren't more involved in the game just because there wasn't as much other distracting **** going on during the game?

 

[TedKumsher]

My only complaint would be the free throws. Everybody's arms are still, and at the moment the shooter releases the ball from their fingertips, everybody moves their arms one way or the other.

I don't think that affects a shooter one bit.

Waiting until the shooter is that far into his shot will not change anything.

If you really want to affect a shooter with your arms moving... you have to do it while he's visually lining up his shot.

I think everyone moving their in unison is a great idea because it can somewhat make the backboard appear to be moving while the background is still... but it has to be done while the shooter is thinking about the shot, not at the moment of release (or even the shooting motion for that matter as a shooter should not be adjusting his shot in mid-motion anyway).

End Rant.

Just for the record -- in Hilton, the shooter's direct line of site is a few feet above the very top row in the nosebleed seats when they are shooting a free throw. Movement will still have an affect, but much smaller than many people think. Movement prior to the release is absolutely essential -- realistically it needs to be non-uniform single-direction repetitive movement the whole time of lining up and taking the shot (I vaguely remember some experiment by Mark Cuban).

 

[TedKumsher]

To cyclonepower1:

1) Same shirt -- probably has at least as much to do with how it looks on TV as anything else. Frankly -- that's probably a really big reason for where the student section is at this time also.

2) I like the oooo's. Personal taste. At least it feels like a large section of people are involved. I *hate* the awkwardness of cheers that aren't embraced by the audience (think of poor crowd participation with cheers before football games -- ugh).

3) I don't really care. They're done wrong (discussed above) anyway -- and what vague "studies" I've heard about don't show them to be effective.

4) "Hilton Magic". There's nothing like the ability of memories to be glorified over time. There are many different definitions of "Hilton Magic". By some definitions, it's been back for 3 years (or never left). By other definitions, only a Big 12 championship can bring it back. To a marketing person -- well I think you're out of luck. They'll market anything until you're sick of it.

5) Our current culture in many ways seems to laugh at the 80's and early 90's. I don't know how to describe it very well -- it's like things that were considered fun back then (like crowd participation in lots of semi-organized cheers) is now considered cheesy (I'll make noise only when it's really important because I'm too cool). We're not as willing to look dumb. Perhaps mixing the students up with the rest of the crowd would help that.

 

[clonehenge]

Similar to Utah State's "Wild Bill"

YouTube - Utah State College sings "Im a Little TeaPot" at Bball game

That is nothing but pure awesomeness...creative and funny...great job by USU.