OT - UR Athletics Marketing

[wr70beh]

I don't mind using the local high school marching bands at the football games. It's a big deal to them and they are usually very good. Granted not as good as Norfolk State's band. For Basketball, maybe we could team up with a good high school pep band from a local school or combination of schools. Just for extra credit and look good on a resume for college. Maybe do a smaller version of GMU's band. Agree with above, forget our students.

Talked to someone who's son was in the Steward pep band. They loved being there. The band director seemed like a lot of fun, and he said that he really enjoys his work. If the true UR Pep Band can't happen (of course it would take someone to endow some scholies to make that happen), and if the Steward School, St. Chris or whoever band wants to play for the night, I would tell the "Sticky Situation" to take the night off and let the high schoolers take over. I think you'd get a true taste of what a real pep band is all about.

Mt. St. Mary's hired the VCU Pep Band for their conference championship game a few weeks ago. They're a well known marketing tool for their University.

 

[urmite]

Talked to someone who's son was in the Steward pep band. They loved being there. The band director seemed like a lot of fun, and he said that he really enjoys his work. If the true UR Pep Band can't happen (of course it would take someone to endow some scholies to make that happen), and if the Steward School, St. Chris or whoever band wants to play for the night, I would tell the "Sticky Situation" to take the night off and let the high schoolers take over. I think you'd get a true taste of what a real pep band is all about.

Mt. St. Mary's hired the VCU Pep Band for their conference championship game a few weeks ago. They're a well known marketing tool for their University.

I'm sure it helped that Mt Saint Mary's coach was a VCU assistant as well.

 

[coachfezz]

Talked to someone who's son was in the Steward pep band. They loved being there. The band director seemed like a lot of fun, and he said that he really enjoys his work. If the true UR Pep Band can't happen (of course it would take someone to endow some scholies to make that happen), and if the Steward School, St. Chris or whoever band wants to play for the night, I would tell the "Sticky Situation" to take the night off and let the high schoolers take over. I think you'd get a true taste of what a real pep band is all about.

Mt. St. Mary's hired the VCU Pep Band for their conference championship game a few weeks ago. They're a well known marketing tool for their University.

I think pay money for to play band at the home games. Would be very cheap I think

 

[KWeaver]

It'd be really cool to see the University do something like offer financial aid to high school kids who were once part of the Kids Club and continued going to games as teenagers. I have absolutely no idea about if this is "legal" per college admissions rules, but I would think families around Richmond would bring their kids to games if they could get some sort of aid for their kid to go to the school if they got in. I realize this is a radical idea but it would be great for growing a local fan base that actually stays involved with the university as they get older.

Coastie, good idea but would be an NCAA violation unfortunately.

What would the violation be? Many schools offer "hometown" scholarships as a way of being attractive to locals. I didn't think that we were talking about the players specifically?

 

[Spiders05]

Misread it.

Interesting idea.

 

[urfan1]

So we can't do the band thing, could we have a pep choir?

LOL

 

[urfan1]

What would the violation be? Many schools offer "hometown" scholarships as a way of being attractive to locals. I didn't think that we were talking about the players specifically?

I was trying to figure out what the violation would be also. You're not recruiting, you're simply giving kids a chance to earn tuition credits.

 

[SpiderHoops32]

Red sweater dance team?

 

[Eight Legger]

It's numerically impossible for us to have a marching band given the size of our undergraduate population, and I couldn't care any less about ever having one. The HS kids are fine.

Agree that it would be nice to have a bigger pep band for basketball games because it could make a difference there at times in crowd excitement and engagement levels. But I'm not going to sweat that one too much either.

 

[urfan1]

we had a marching band into the 70's -- we could have one now if it was a priority. It''s not. We could have a 10-20 member pep band if it were a priority, it is not. That one puzzles me.

 

[urfan1]

BTW, I would add, if you had more students involved, dance, pep band, mascot, fraternity competition, any other group you could think of -- these students will come to the games, and their friends will come to the games to be with their friends, some may actually enjoy themselves and come back just to see the game.

 

[MrTbone]

BTW, I would add, if you had more students involved, dance, pep band, mascot, fraternity competition, any other group you could think of -- these students will come to the games, and their friends will come to the games to be with their friends, some may actually enjoy themselves and come back just to see the game.

I thought student attendance seemed better this year. I know that there was a more concerted effort before/on game day to promote it to students and get them there.

 

[MolivaManiac]

I don't know if more or less students attended games than normal, but this group of rowdies was a bunch of zombies. They never chanted or really did any organized cheering whatsoever. The kids seemed to have no clue how to have fun at a sporting event.

Hopefully, next year's leadership is better.

 

[SpiderK]

I don't know if more or less students attended games than normal, but this group of rowdies was a bunch of zombies. They never chanted or really did any organized cheering whatsoever. The kids seemed to have no clue how to have fun at a sporting event.

Hopefully, next year's leadership is better.

I just don't think the average UR student knows very much about any sport other than Mine Craft or Quidditch.

 

[urmite]

I don't know if more or less students attended games than normal, but this group of rowdies was a bunch of zombies. They never chanted or really did any organized cheering whatsoever. The kids seemed to have no clue how to have fun at a sporting event.

Hopefully, next year's leadership is better.

Maybe I can help. Next season I expect to show up in a version of this outfit with webs on one side and spiders on the other and give the St Crispin's day speech.

That should be inspiring...

 

[MrVCU:]

Thought this was interesting to see and compare ...........

Men’s NCAA College Basketball Budgets 2015-16 ($$$ as per the US Department of Education)
1) University of Kentucky 18,910,412
2) University of Louisville 17,900,031
3) Duke University 17,890,632
4) Syracuse University 13,876,720
5) Indiana University-Bloomington 12,129,479
6) University of Arizona 11,761,006
7) Florida State University 11,730,040
8) University of Kansas 11,636,720
9) Georgetown University 11,343,826
10) Marquette University 11,308,266
11) Texas Christian University 11,256,999
12) University of Memphis 11,226,419
13) University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus 10,582,714
14) Michigan State University 10,432,557
15) The University of Texas at Austin 10,271,419
16) University of Wisconsin-Madison 9,834,445
17) University of Connecticut 9,516,308
18) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 9,478,661
19) Villanova University 9,447,198
20) West Virginia University 9,322,717
21) Texas A & M University-College Station 9,301,170
22) St John's University-New York 9,167,279
23) Ohio State University-Main Campus 9,142,079
24) University of California-Los Angeles 9,032,540
25) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 8,920,109
26) Baylor University 8,837,724
27) Auburn University 8,821,985
28) University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus 8,799,110
29) North Carolina State University at Raleigh 8,714,435
30) University of Arkansas 8,702,745
31) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 8,667,111
32) University of California-Berkeley 8,658,628
33) University of Virginia-Main Campus 8,644,445
34) The University of Alabama 8,577,428
35) Vanderbilt University 8,181,142
36) University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 8,156,541
37) University of Utah 8,053,466
38) Providence College 7,907,240
39) University of Oregon 7,785,909
40) Wake Forest University 7,647,068
41) University of Maryland-College Park 7,622,707
42) Oklahoma State University-Main Campus 7,478,661
43) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus 7,421,986
44) Texas Tech University 7,348,405
45) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 7,341,910
46) University of Nebraska-Lincoln 7,329,386
47) Creighton University 7,264,599
48) Gonzaga University 7,261,657
49) Purdue University-Main Campus 7,243,691
50) University of Iowa 7,218,539
51) University of Mississippi 7,127,529
52) University of Miami 7,118,296
53) Southern Methodist University 7,086,547
54) University of South Carolina-Columbia 7,080,820
55) The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 6,989,935
56) Wichita State University 6,920,933
57) Iowa State University 6,885,453
58) University of Notre Dame 6,816,663
59) Kansas State University 6,772,157
60) Northwestern University 6,771,619
61) University of Florida 6,718,902
62) University of Washington-Seattle Campus 6,453,983
63) Saint Louis University 6,414,061
64) Clemson University 6,403,541
65) University of Georgia 6,338,487
66) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus 6,329,728
67) Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College 6,325,362
68) Seton Hall University 6,264,583
69) Arizona State University-Tempe 6,199,000
70) University of Tulsa 6,174,244
71) Rutgers University-New Brunswick 6,147,089
72) University of Colorado Boulder 6,138,058
73) Mississippi State University 6,111,629
74) Brigham Young University-Provo 6,081,807
75) Boston College 6,024,594
76) University of Houston 6,023,125
77) University of Missouri-Columbia 5,963,284
78) Temple University 5,920,903
79) San Diego State University 5,734,713
80) Stanford University 5,727,840
81) Xavier University 5,710,021
82) Virginia Commonwealth University 5,676,415
83) Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 5,658,177
84) DePaul University 5,569,062
85) Oregon State University 5,498,174
86) University of Nevada-Las Vegas 5,386,263
87) University of Southern California 5,266,779
88) Washington State University 5,118,153
89) University of Dayton 5,000,454
90) University of Richmond 4,849,596
91) Butler University 4,833,565
92) University of South Florida-Main Campus 4,711,026
93) Grand Canyon University 4,306,041
94) University of Rhode Island 4,286,329
95) Colorado State University-Fort Collins 4,264,867
96) Duquesne University 4,229,922
97) Saint Joseph's University 4,208,092
98) University of San Francisco 4,205,606
99) University of Alabama at Birmingham 4,189,826
100) Fordham University 4,126,729
101) University of Massachusetts-Amherst 4,064,482
102) Tulane University of Louisiana 3,987,379
103) University of New Mexico-Main Campus 3,736,179
104) Liberty University 3,720,371
105) University of Wyoming 3,702,699
106) The University of Texas at El Paso 3,623,777
107) Old Dominion University 3,583,117
108) University of Portland 3,570,559
109) Loyola Marymount University 3,533,468
110) James Madison University 3,483,621
111) Rice University 3,427,660
112) Seattle University 3,413,715
113) Utah State University 3,363,296
114) University of Denver 3,361,111
115) Santa Clara University 3,345,588
116) George Mason University 3,342,681
117) University of North Carolina at Charlotte 3,280,507
118) California State University-Fresno 3,234,934
119) East Carolina University 3,187,963
120) University of Central Florida 3,166,282
121) Bradley University 3,128,419
122) Ohio University-Main Campus 3,101,150
123) University of Akron Main Campus 3,088,920
124) Siena College 3,083,128
125) New Mexico State University-Main Campus 3,003,045
126) Saint Mary's College of California 2,956,340
127) Belmont University 2,951,040
128) La Salle University 2,946,555
129) St Bonaventure University 2,917,071
130) George Washington University 2,915,197
131) Northeastern University 2,913,795
132) University of Northern Iowa 2,899,699
133) University of Evansville 2,899,667
134) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2,877,237
135) University of California-Irvine 2,825,452
136) University of Hawaii at Manoa 2,813,078
137) Davidson College 2,799,370
138) Western Kentucky University 2,759,058
139) Loyola University Chicago 2,745,553
140) Oral Roberts University 2,741,483
141) Middle Tennessee State University 2,726,526
142) California State University-Long Beach 2,717,429
143) Valparaiso University 2,666,213
144) Drexel University 2,618,412
145) Florida Atlantic University 2,598,852
146) Fairfield University 2,590,915
147) Pepperdine University 2,561,072
148) University of the Pacific 2,558,711
149) Hofstra University 2,545,499
150) Quinnipiac University 2,516,824
151) University of San Diego 2,513,504
152) Boise State University 2,503,447
153) Drake University 2,472,212
154) University of Detroit Mercy 2,467,735
155) University of California-Santa Barbara 2,453,112
156) Illinois State University 2,452,961
157) Wright State University-Main Campus 2,445,427
158) Louisiana Tech University 2,443,159
159) Stony Brook University 2,435,574
160) University of North Texas 2,433,472
161) College of the Holy Cross 2,403,572
162) Bowling Green State University-Main Campus 2,389,470
163) University of Toledo 2,340,047
164) Marshall University 2,333,564
165) University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2,332,684
166) Miami University-Oxford 2,329,719
167) University of Delaware 2,328,346
168) Iona College 2,308,176
169) University of Nevada-Reno 2,288,942
170) University of Arkansas at Little Rock 2,283,345
171) Missouri State University-Springfield 2,279,917
172) Georgia State University 2,261,334
173) University of Hartford 2,257,904
174) University of North Carolina Wilmington 2,257,718
175) Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 2,241,413
176) University of Illinois at Chicago 2,231,609
177) Murray State University 2,218,712
178) Stephen F Austin State University 2,188,109
179) Western Michigan University 2,183,818
180) College of Charleston 2,180,876
181) Furman University 2,179,662
182) Bucknell University 2,172,546
183) Cleveland State University 2,172,463
184) Kent State University at Kent 2,152,644
185) Oakland University 2,111,833
186) Elon University 2,099,972
187) Manhattan College 2,097,510
188) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 2,095,472
189) Boston University 2,093,165
190) California State University-Northridge 2,060,900
191) University at Buffalo 2,054,470
192) Monmouth University 2,054,441
193) Loyola University Maryland 2,048,853
194) Eastern Michigan University 2,031,759
195) Canisius College 2,027,506
196) Towson University 2,016,322
197) Robert Morris University 1,962,797
198) College of William and Mary 1,939,344
199) American University 1,934,639
200) Ball State University 1,905,730

 

[WebSpinner]

to spend as much money as some schools do, would love to see the breakdown, they must stay at 5 star hotels exclusively, travel by comfortable private jets, have an enormous recruiting budget, ie, meals, travel, gifts to moms, etc. am OK with that, if they make the money, spend it, they are non-profits

 

[MrVCU:]

201) Eastern Kentucky University 1,898,072
202) Mercer University 1,883,578
203) Coastal Carolina University 1,882,982
204) Northern Illinois University 1,880,733
205) Marist College 1,865,144
206) University of California-Davis 1,862,783
207) San Jose State University 1,851,101
208) Indiana State University 1,832,975
209) Texas State University 1,824,046
210) New Jersey Institute of Technology 1,823,046
211) University of Idaho 1,821,491
212) Colgate University 1,821,178
213) Samford University 1,821,098
214) East Tennessee State University 1,818,542
215) Lafayette College 1,816,334
216) University of Missouri-Kansas City 1,815,762
217) University of Southern Mississippi 1,808,186
218) LIU Brooklyn 1,805,546
219) Weber State University 1,799,880
220) Bryant University 1,796,753
221) The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga 1,793,638
222) The University of Texas at San Antonio 1,791,403
223) University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 1,776,757
224) Rider University 1,774,910
225) Florida International University 1,773,317
226) Lipscomb University 1,756,611
227) University of South Alabama 1,754,970
228) North Carolina Central University 1,752,803
229) High Point University 1,747,761
230) Florida Gulf Coast University 1,723,011
231) California State University-Bakersfield 1,697,054
232) Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus 1,695,086
233) Mount St Mary's University 1,687,798
234) Howard University 1,682,347
235) University of California-Riverside 1,680,520
236) Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi 1,680,402
237) Montana State University 1,679,625
238) The University of Montana 1,678,354
239) Jacksonville University 1,653,294
240) Central Michigan University 1,646,267
241) Stetson University 1,623,909
242) Northern Kentucky University 1,623,294
243) Niagara University 1,622,963
244) SUNY at Albany 1,621,247
245) Northern Arizona University 1,611,995
246) Wagner College 1,597,445
247) SUNY at Binghamton 1,590,639
248) Appalachian State University 1,588,454
249) Campbell University 1,581,464
250) University of Vermont 1,579,502
251) University of North Dakota 1,579,108
252) Eastern Washington University 1,564,917
253) Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis 1,564,479
254) The University of Texas at Arlington 1,549,654
255) University of Pennsylvania 1,546,923
256) University of North Florida 1,538,518
257) University of New Hampshire-Main Campus 1,534,596
258) Saint Francis University 1,529,048
259) Citadel Military College of South Carolina 1,527,117
260) Delaware State University 1,521,971
261) Central Connecticut State University 1,511,666
262) University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1,506,556
263) Wofford College 1,506,228
264) University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1,506,032
265) Gardner-Webb University 1,505,676
266) Morehead State University 1,495,716
267) Columbia University in the City of New York 1,494,045
268) University of Northern Colorado 1,490,726
269) University of Maryland-Baltimore County 1,485,381
270) Lehigh University 1,482,439
271) California State University-Fullerton 1,480,600
272) Longwood University 1,466,648
273) Charleston Southern University 1,458,792
274) South Dakota State University 1,443,001
275) Kennesaw State University 1,435,160
276) California State University-Sacramento 1,433,424
277) Sacred Heart University 1,431,536
278) North Dakota State University-Main Campus 1,417,450
279) St Francis College 1,410,698
280) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 1,404,530
281) Texas Southern University 1,400,553
282) Arkansas State University-Main Campus 1,389,844
283) Saint Peter's University 1,387,927
284) Dartmouth College 1,386,651
285) Lamar University 1,377,911
286) Morgan State University 1,363,395
287) Georgia Southern University 1,361,765
288) Troy University 1,355,678
289) North Carolina A & T State University 1,355,182
290) Youngstown State University 1,347,141
291) The University of Tennessee-Martin 1,340,126
292) University of Maine 1,328,389
293) Radford University 1,327,458
294) Virginia Military Institute 1,322,136
295) Tennessee State University 1,312,549
296) Austin Peay State University 1,304,155
297) Winthrop University 1,303,194
298) Harvard University 1,296,186
299) Idaho State University 1,290,851
300) University of Nebraska at Omaha 1,288,481
301) Portland State University 1,284,182
302) Houston Baptist University 1,273,000
303) Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne 1,269,206
304) Western Illinois University 1,238,197
305) Yale University 1,229,771
306) Presbyterian College 1,215,955
307) Bethune-Cookman University 1,203,595
308) Tennessee Technological University 1,201,935
309) Southeast Missouri State University 1,192,809
310) University of the Incarnate Word 1,180,488
311) Norfolk State University 1,170,179
312) University of Louisiana at Monroe 1,157,908
313) University of South Dakota 1,156,551
314) Hampton University 1,154,030
315) University of Maryland Eastern Shore 1,135,732
316) Princeton University 1,117,914
317) Utah Valley University 1,116,338
318) Jacksonville State University 1,111,582
319) Southern Utah University 1,111,575
320) Abilene Christian University 1,109,152
321) University of Central Arkansas 1,095,560
322) Sam Houston State University 1,087,458
323) Western Carolina University 1,082,372
324) Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 1,068,173
325) Brown University 1,044,289
326) Eastern Illinois University 1,040,415
327) Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville 1,025,625
328) Northwestern State University of Louisiana 1,023,827
329) University of South Carolina-Upstate 987,517
330) Southeastern Louisiana University 978,939
331) University of New Orleans 954,002
332) University of North Carolina at Asheville 934,569
333) Prairie View A & M University 910,637
334) Southern University and A & M College 883,227
335) Alabama State University 859,867
336) McNeese State University 819,396
337) Alabama A & M University 817,868
338) South Carolina State University 806,005
339) Cornell University 792,795
340) Savannah State University 752,761
341) Coppin State University 738,712
342) Nicholls State University 697,767
343) Chicago State University 681,728
344) Grambling State University 678,446
345) Alcorn State University 629,683
346) Jackson State University 619,321
347) University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 507,962
348) Mississippi Valley State University 505,795

 

[urfan1]

I also doubt all universities use the same formula to report

 

[spider fan]

A little off topic but was posted earlier as part of this thread about UR concessions. They have improved. Is the plan still on the table/under consideration about expanding the Robins Center toward Robins Stadium in order to have more footage for expanded concessions?

 

[SFspidur]

Haven't seen anything about expanding toward Robins Center, but the new main entrance on the opposite side should provide more space and the concessions completely redone.

 

[SpiderK]

Can't wait to hear the BS that the $5.7 million VDU spends is all donated money too!!!! It comes from my May 1st "donation" to the Commonwealth of Virginia every year.

 

[Eight Legger]

Looks like it's us and maybe 4 or 5 other programs in the top 90 spenders on that list that have missed 6 straight NCAAs.

 

[The Sauce of UR]

Bring back the Rowdy Run!

 

[Ferrum Spider]

Have Samuel L. Jackson come out and lead the Rich-what chant...

 

[gospidersgo]

Regarding the pep band, I think they do a pretty nice job most games. It's obvious at time though they must have a key person or two missing and don't sound as good.

My complaint would be with the communication between them and the sound booth though. Countless times this year the pep band would start playing over top of a song already going or vice versa. Not sure why this was happening but it was annoying to me.

Also, the Coach Carter "rich what Richmond" thing definitely does not need to be played twice every time. Once is enough, and maybe even one time too much.

Small things, but just something I've noticed.

 

[wr70beh]

Coach Carter is good. Like the video, and wish they played more like that.

Again, if you're not paying attention, you're making it easier for VCU to run over us and this city.

 

[spider fan]

Yes and when we played the "other school in the city limits" why did the band not play over their crowd led cheers?

 

[KBBFL]

Regarding the marching band, whether it is a possibility or not, it is consistently brought up in alumni/prospective student and parents meet and greets. Dr Crutcher spent a fair bit of time on this point the last time I went to one of these events this past summer.

 

[Eight Legger]

So what are we going to do, designate 200 incoming freshman spots for partial band scholarships, so that we can trot them out for 10 minutes 5 times a year? I just don't see the point, personally.

 

[97spiderfan]

So what are we going to do, designate 200 incoming freshman spots for partial band scholarships, so that we can trot them out for 10 minutes 5 times a year? I just don't see the point, personally.

Not a fan of bands personally. I think you can do just as well with music through the sound system. Seems like a lot of effort for very little reward as well.

 

[97spiderfan]

Dayton and VCU are getting a lot more for their dollar than we are.

 

[spider fan]

Student bands rock because they dress in school colors, their enthusiasm can be unlimited to the point of fanatical, they can be loud, they take up space, and they are Spiders through and through if they are in the band we are going to form! What is not to like? Bring it on!

 

[wr70beh]

So what are we going to do, designate 200 incoming freshman spots for partial band scholarships, so that we can trot them out for 10 minutes 5 times a year? I just don't see the point, personally.

We're talking Pep Band. Georgetown and Villanova don't have marching bands but use their pep bands in the crowd at football games. You'd only need about 50 partial scholarships for a decent pep band.

 

[spiderman]

uh, how partial are we talking about?

 

[Spiders05]

50 partial scholarships? We can't get our current sports fully funded. $15k each and 3% spend rate requires a $25 million endowment for a pep band.

I would love to see any music majors at UR (understand that there's few of them) get academic credits for participation in the pep band. Chemistry majors learn in the class, and then execute in the lab (for credits). Why can't we think of pep band as a lab (putting your learnings to practice)? Hopefully Crutcher explores some ideas, since this is more in his wheelhouse.

 

[SFspidur]

Students already earn credit for other music ensembles. I know pep band isn't necessarily high art, but it would seem tossing them a quarter credit or something should be doable.

 

[I-M-UR]

They win more than we do. This is not rocket science

That's it in a nutshell. plus they have many, many more local alumni and (obviously) students

 

[I-M-UR]

Students already earn credit for other music ensembles. I know pep band isn't necessarily high art, but it would seem tossing them a quarter credit or something should be doable.

We used to have a marching band it's small size made it look ridicules. Plus how many chellos can we have in a marching band.

 

[SFspidur]

A marching band makes no sense for us. A lively pep band *should* be easy to pull together with some incentives.