Couldn't have said it better myself

by Smooty on Aug 27, 2010 1:23 PM PDT in Arizona Wildcats Football

Greg Hansen of the Arizona Daily Star wrote a long overdue column about the Game Day experience (or lack thereof) at Arizona Stadium.

It sounds like new AD Greg Byrne is already starting to make some changes to improve the atmosphere, and Hansen supplies a few of his own ideas. Some highlights from Hansen's article:

• Open the tailgating lots Friday night at 6 rather than the school's limit-the-fun, five-hours-before-kickoff routine. Even Stanford, an academic titan, opens its tailgating RV lots the day before games.

• Put visiting fans in the upper deck, east side, in the sun. When Arizona fans are at USC, Oregon, Washington, Cal and UCLA, they are seated in the most remote section of the stadium. Don't be Mr. Nice Guy.

• And while you're at it, put the Territorial Cup on display. It's the most cherished football trophy in Tucson (until a Rose Bowl trophy comes along) and it signifies that the Wildcats have beaten the Sun Devils.

Here are a couple of my suggestions, to supplement Hansen's:

Play up the Zona Zoo. It is arguably one of the best student sections in the Pac-10. Make them the unquestioned best. Show video montages specifically of the Zona Zoo in a frenzy. Make them a focus of the pre-game activities. It will only create more noise and excitement. The students will respond to being recognized.
Keep a running count on the video scoreboard of each false start or illegal procedure penalty by an opponent on the video board. The Seattle Seahawks do this at Qwest Field, and nothing fires up the fans more than seeing that number grow every time the crowd noise causes the zebras to throw those yellow hankies on the field.

What do you think Cats fans? Any great suggestions for Byrne and the Athletic Department?

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Send it to Greg

I think both of your ideas are some of the best I’ve read so far (after reading the story and the comments on the Daily Star), you should send them to Greg Byrne. What better way to get the fans riled than our own suggestions!

by Vision646 on Aug 27, 2010 10:01 PM PDT reply actions

Vision

Thanks.

I sent off the post to Mr. Byrne. Although, from the sounds of the Hansen article, we have a progressive AD ready to make some changes, so hopefully he already has similar ideas he is planning to implement.

Go Cats.

by Smooty on Aug 30, 2010 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Stadium atmosphere

It definitely needs some work.

As a student from 2002-2006, there was no sense of urgency to get to the stadium. Freshman year, my friends and I would get there after the opening kickoff. That didn’t happen during basketball season. There were riots outside the ticket office for student basketball tickets. The arena was packed long before the game started.

Arizona’s football program needs a boost in the tradition department.

by mattortega on Aug 30, 2010 7:54 AM PDT reply actions