BYU @ Portland, Saturday 2/4, 7pm

ShipstadPilot11 wrote:

DoubleDipper wrote:Two home games to go and they are both on a Thursday night; never the best night for fans young and old. How do we get the students out in numbers and noise? SP11, you’re the one with student contacts, we’re counting on you. :face:

I wasn't successful in motivating attendance as a student and I'm not sure how I'd accomplish it now. I know many of the students that are passionate about the team but they aren't the ones who need motivating...

Understood! I guess the ones who don't need motivating need to motivate those that do!

In total agreement with Nut, the school CAN provide tools, and CAN market the games in the dorms and classrooms. Remember high school, it was simply a matter of us wearing our team jackets on game day to remind the students that this was their opportunity to show school spirit and pride.

The players themselves (can) play a big part in motivating their fellow students. Stand up in front of class and invite them to participate and support their student-athlete classmates. I know the student-athletes are much more a part of the student body as a whole than they were when I was an undergrad.

I didn't state it earlier, but I'm pretty happy with the way we played this game. We put up a much better fight than I would have expected early in the season and we are improving. We were in this game for a good portion even on an off free throw shooting night. On an average ft night I think we have a very good chance to win as we wouldn't have needed to foul down the stretch.

So even though it's a loss I'm fairly happy as such things go. I think it showed good progress and promise for the last few games of this year and for next year.

I agree, that despite the FT situation, we played well and were in the game until the last couple minutes. The game had no flow (thanks to all the whistles), but we hung around, and played hard. This team is playing MUCH better than it did even a few weeks ago, and it is exciting to watch.

I look forward to the LMU game Thursday, as the next 3 games (LMU, @USD, @Pepp) will determine our Vegas seeding. We have shown that we can be competitive with the top teams in the conference (GU & BYU at home, and @LMU & @SMC), the we can beat the lower tier teams (SCU, @SCU, Pepp), and now it is time to see how we measure up against the mid-WCC teams, since we have been playing better.

A win on Thursday would do wonders for seeding purposes (especially tie breaker scenarios).

Bewhy U Koogs wrote:I heard on tv tonight that your administration let the BYU fans stay after so that the players/coaches could come out before getting on the bus and meet them. Very classy and appreciated.

Just wanted to drop a note that for the number of fans that traveled (from wherever) to watch the UP/BYU game, that's probably the most polite group of visiting fans I've met in a while, particularly after the game while the band is cleaning up. Can't say the same for the majority of WSU/GU/etc. fans.

PilotDrummer wrote:Just wanted to drop a note that for the number of fans that traveled (from wherever) to watch the UP/BYU game, that's probably the most polite group of visiting fans I've met in a while, particularly after the game while the band is cleaning up. Can't say the same for the majority of WSU/GU/etc. fans.

I too will admit there were quite a few good-natured folks at the game, many who had never seen BYU play since they were students, and many as it turns out, who never went to BYU, but it’s the team they support. There were sure a lot of young kids and youths in blue and white, and it made for a very nice spirited and family atmosphere.

I was ready to pick a fight from the get-go when a woman in a BYU shirt (I wouldn't call her a cougar) was talking on her cell phone during the National Anthem. But when I turned and glared at her, she immediately flipped it closed and then said she was sorry after the singing stopped.

Later when I yelled to SP11, "With all the BYU shirts surrounding you it looks like you’re at a Republican rally," it got some great laughs from those in purple, but the BYU folks too were having a lot of fun with it. (Maybe they know something..........).

ShipstadPilot11 wrote:Definitely a scheduling issue but I think anyone with the desire to could have attended both events.

As I think about this, I realize that the date of the dance was likely scheduled long before the hoops schedule was even put together (you would have to reserve the Crystal about a year out), but I agree that anyone with a desire to attend both certainly could (and I heard many did, including the players and students working at the game). After the game, you would still have PLENTY of time to get ready and get downtown by the time things weere picking up.

There will always be conflicts, it is a matter of making the game attractive enough to be a priority, and then move on.

Here are some pictures from the Beacon that show why some bypassed the BYU game and headed to the Chrystal Ballroom.




Love to see that excitement at a Pilots game! But, I can't blame them for having FUN!!!!!!!!