Another reason for lack of fan noise

[SectionThree]

Lack of fans. Today's Statesman tells us that the average attendance in the past
three years has dropped approximately 4,000 per game. 10,970 down to 6,800. When
the entertainment declines, so does attendance/enthusiasm. But Barnes will
collect a new $1,000,000 annuity. And lots of people who previously supported
the team will continue to stay home, probably until there is a coaching change.

 

[Vol Horn 4 Life]

Don't forget that according to Dodds we have to lose some to appreciate the wins. Don't fret, this is all part of the master plan.

 

[notanative]

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[ProdigalHorn]

Your really think the students are sitting at home until Rick Barnes is gone? He turns it around, they come back, simple as that.

 

[Hu_Fan]

And also reported in Statesman that Barnes getting $1M annuity. That was put in his contract in 2007 when he was being courted -- believe it or not -- by Kentucky. That really made a difference. He's only won two NCAA games in the past FIVE YEARS.

He also received a $1M annuity in 2010. This latest one kicks in this Sunday if he's still the coach when that day rolls around (the report said, explaining the terms).

One wonders if the fat pay these coaches are getting really softens them. The FGSU coach is barely getting any money at all. Wife's first date was to a Taco Bell. He right now makes $157,000 a year and is set to have that doubled. At $300,000 a year he'll be the highest paid coach in his league. FGCU aims to double Coach Andy Enfield's salary

FGCU aims to double Coach Andy Enfield's salary

Barnes is being paid $2.5 million this year.

 

[Third Coast]

Winning is certainly the key to filling the drum. The relevant question is, can Barnes get the team back to winning on a consistent basis?

I'm not a big fan of the Austin Statesman, but Mark Rosner is a decent beat writer for the basketball team. His article referenced by the OP gives a good overview regarding the state of the basketball program.

Barnes faces questions about program’s future

 

[SectionThree]

I did use the word "probably", so I was simply making a personal observation.
But that drop of 4,000 fans did not happen just this year. The decline has been
going on for three years. A steady slowing of the turnstile clicks likely indicates
a dissatisfaction that is a bit deeper than this year (or last year). Three years
ago we had (what?) four guys who went to the NBA?

 

[notanative]

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[Vol Horn 4 Life]

I was at the Alamodome which was virtually at basketball capacity when Texas beat Michigan State. Winning will cure attendance woes.

 

[blonthang]

Winning can be a little bit contagious across programs as well; I"m sure VY crossing that goal line late in the Rose Bowl NC game got a bunch of high school basketball and baseball recruits liking burnt orange a bit more.

All three major programs are down; I don't like it a bit, but I'm hopeful that they will turn up, starting with football (the kiddos are growing up, the coaching staff is a bit more settled in now, etc.), and maybe, just maybe, with a, say, 10-2 record and sniff at a BCS bowl this coming season or next, ....

...okay, I'm just hopin'. Guess I'm still burnt orange at heart.

IMHO, the biggest disappointment is with baseball. Winningest coach of all time, 5 NCs under his belt, hotbed of talent, one of the top 3 or so tradition rich programs in history.

And they're, well, ....

 

[l00p]

notnative, without looking it up I want to say I heard or read he is worth something like 300 million from his company. Coaching is a hobby or dream of sorts for him. He does not do it to make a living.

I think his style will be fun in LA and he will get a lot of kids that want that high flying style. I presume he's a good recruiter or has people that are.

 

[Unques prist]

If it is true that Enfield is worth $300M and left to coach ball as a hobby and just because he loves it as a former player and the fact he is married to a model, then he is living the dream of just about every male sports fan alive.

 

[Bevo Incognito]

In all honesty, the decent players leaving after one year has killed my enthusiasm. When Tristan Thompson left it was the last straw for me. He had a hellacious game last night or the night before in the NBA ---- 27 points, 17 rebounds etc... He would have been a JUNIOR at Texas this year.

I am not blaming Tristan for his choice. I would have done the same thing. Nevertheless, I used to go to 10 home games a year and this year I went to two.

As far as this year, I'm sure that losing Kabongo for 22 games was a huge punch in the face for Barnes and not once did I hear him complain about it, even though it probably had a pretty significant impact on this season's outcome. He was #@*$&$# in *** when that went down and he didn't complain ---- maybe because he had a million dollar annuity coming up. But I give him credit for that.

It's hard to have a good team when you're building from scratch every year.

 

[Statalyzer]

It's hard for me to get into the games when the team is mostly new guys every single year as well.

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[hornpharmd]

not much analysis needed. the team sucked last year. the team sucked worse this year. 4 players I think are gone for next year. recruiting isn't that great. the team will suck next year. anybody want to go to the movies to see a bad movie? Why would we want to go to see what we know is going to be a bad team? I want an X and O coach. for that to happenit will have to be a new coach.