Some other issues:

[motel00]

These may seem like small potatoes given our inability to win a game, field a full squad, etc. But for those of you who actually attend games at the RAC despite our pitiful performances, I'd like to know how others feel about some of these things:

1. The video: So the visiting team is introduced, the lights go down and a video is played which seems to change somewhat from game to game. First of all, it's curious that the other team always seems to take this as a moment to continue to prepare for the game. They huddle up and continue to talk. Our team stands there and watches their own video rather than continuing game prep.

More importantly though, it's a little ridiculous to play that video for a program as hapless as Rutgers. If people want a video, fine but the team needs to earn it. As is, it's deeply embarrassing.

2. Enough with the hip hop/pop music at 20 decibels: This one seems to have been addressed to some extent. Having a DJ blast hip hop music is not the atmosphere I'm looking for. The players may like it, but I think the majority of fans don't. Additionally, we are a very old school trying to establish an identity. I don't think Hip Hop Nation is what we should be going for. I would love to get rid of the DJ but if we have to have him, his job should be to augment the experience, help establish a collegiate atmosphere, and stay out of the way most of the time. We have a great band, don't need to hear hip hop every game break, pregame, half time, etc. In fact, I think old school is what most arenas play at the collegiate level.

3. Just a very general observation so don't take this one with anymore than a grain of salt. But I sit upstairs and downstairs depending on the night. In terms of season ticketholders, the people downstairs seem old, entitled and obnoxious. People upstairs are gnerally more respectful. In any case, we obviously need to get more students into the gym and give them more of a presence courtside.

4. Food is atrocious. Unsafe, unhealthy, and unappetizing. Don't purchase anything unless out of desperations. Enough said.

5. The RAC needs more bathrooms: I don't know how football fans do it. Halftime comes, you can't even move in the concourse, have to wait outside to get to toilets. The RAC needs two more sets of bathrooms. We round ball fans should not have to suffer. There is room at the end of the building, put em in if this is where we're going to be.

 

[Shimmy24]

Deeper program issues aside, good luck appealing to high school recruits without playing hip hop music and showing cool pump up videos.

 

[bac2therac]

OP...great post, I agree with a lot of these issues. There are people who will come and poo poo this and call us complainers but this stuff matters

1. I agree with you about the video production. The program is so bad currently that it looks very lame and the crowd participation is virtually nil during the introductions. I just don't think that at this point its a good look.

2. I think there needs to be a balance. I think yes some hip hop is okay at times. However the average age of the RU fans is in its mid 50s and higher...so when you don't have any season ticket holders under the age of 40 and you have no students in the building, having a dj playing hip hop dance music is pretty ludicrous. There was one game where it was so obnoxious so I don't think every game is geared that way quite as bad. I would like there to be more of the band and less of the piped in music. The band has almost become obsolete. Between the constant announcements on the PA and the silly promotions, the band gets very little time. I used to recall it was the band who got the placed pumped up before the game. We live in a world of ADD, it seems as if every blank silence whoever is controlling the scoreboard has use a snippet of music for some odd reason.

3. I don't want to get on those people too much because they are the majority season ticket holders and donors, particularly the side across from the benches. My biggest problem with them is that they come dressed for theater and rarely will you see the entire section wearing red. I guess because they are so old they don't wear sweatshirts or t shirts. I appreciate what these people have done but a lot of them are also selling their tix to fans of other schools

4. Agree..the food smells nasty. I have not purchased anything in over two years. The safe choices are the pretzel which is way overpriced at $5 and the Aunt Annes Pretzels which no one know about because it placed all the way in the corner on the one side. If that stand was up front it would do better. I have always mentioned on the board that the RAC needs a legit stand..maybe a Chickie and Petes, perhaps with minor improvements to the RAC promised, Hobbs will look into a possible partnership. I clamored for chicken fingers and fries for years but RUs are deplorable and they are overpriced for how little you get.

5. Agree...bathrooms should be put in on the ends by the student section

one more thing I think the atmosphere at the RAC is just terrible. Much of it has to do with losing and no belief of any winning. I think all the timeout stuff to me is so lame because its trying to distract from the awful product the school is putting out and pretending it doesn't exist. I literally HATE that one minute giveaway thing they do where they throw t shirts out and pipe in all that crowd noise. It seems like the same exact people are given the same stuff game after game.

IF we get a new coach next year. Hobbs needs to make it mandatory that this guy go visit the dorms to drum up interest. I cannot recall a year in my 27 years of following RU where the students gave such a collective FU to the program. Not one game did they bother to show and we have a 20 member Riot Squad at this point

 

[RUsojo]

Although the food offerings taste horrible they are in no way, shape, or form unsafe.

We called for a better atmosphere so the atheltic department added a new Jumbotron and sound system and now you don't want to use it...

Bathrooms suck although they re modeled the bathrooms up front inside and from an aesthetic stand point outside.

I think we are stuck with the crowded concourse don't think that can be fixed.

It's my belief if you don't sit in the 100 level (I don't) then we have no right to criticize them.

 

[bac2therac]

at this point the program deserves the old scoreboard back

 

[Russ Wood]

Deeper program issues aside, good luck appealing to high school recruits without playing hip hop music and showing cool pump up videos.

Every recruit I've spoken to, after visiting for a game, talks about the "atmosphere" and the crowd. They've never said anything about the music. Having said that their enjoyment of the atmosphere and the crowd may be due in part to the music and they just don't mention it.

Anyway you look at it, the music tends not to be top-of-mind.

I personally like hearing hip-hop and pop music from the DJ when I'm at games but I love hearing the band.

 

[RU_kidding_me]

1. The video: I like the atmosphere of the introduction of the players but agree that the messages portrayed in the videos are embarrassing given the state of the program. Worst one is where it asks "why are you here" amazing they would actually ask that as many fans, including myself, wonder that all the time haha! They should really come up with a video that doesn't leave you laughing at the irony.

2. music: I am not a fan of hip hop but mixing in a couple hip hop songs does not bother me, just need to keep from blasting it at ear piercing levels to an empty arena, no excuse especially being that there is a DJ who should be able to gauge the crowd. I'll add that if the goal over the past 4 years has been to neuter the band, then mission accomplished. A shame as the band used to add atmosphere but now seems to be more of an unwanted side show that is allowed to play here and there due to contractual obligations.

3. 100 level: no problem with them whatsoever. Have to imagine any ill-demeanor is due to shelling out a lot of money and getting nothing back over the years. Amazing there is any 100 level fans left actually.

4. Food is atrocious: agree it's a disgrace how poor quality it is and how expensive it has become. as if it's not bad enough we have to watch such a bad product on the court, the least Rutgers could do is to offer the fans quality food at an affordable price,
Especially disappointing since 5 or so years the food was decent and cheep.

5. The RAC needs more bathrooms: yes, more bathrooms would be a good thing.

I'll add that I think they should include more than just first 500 fans in their game day giveaways. Rutgers fans get basically zero in return for their loyalty to the basketball program that even the school does not support, would it kill Rutgers to give most of the fans, say the first 2500 (basically all the fans for most games) the opportunity to at least get a free t-shirt or bobble head without Having to leave work early to get there an hour before game time.

 

[motel00]

On the music, I should say it's not an issue of taste for me, I just don't like a dj blasting pop music at me at a college basketball game, it's not the atmosphere I'm looking for at a Rutgers basketball game. In another forum, I have no problem with music that is new, loud, etc. And I shouldn't have singled out hip hop--I can live with it or pop in general at strategic moments between the action, just not blasting us out of the arena, not bleeding into the game, etc. And I don't think it has any effect on recruiting whatsoever. Coach K and other greats don't get players because they blast hip hop at games--sorry but really stupid idea.

And if the DJ blasts the song about calling you on his cellphone one more time, I may have to take matters into my own hands!

 

[Russ Wood]

And if the DJ blasts the song about calling you on his cellphone one more time, I may have to take matters into my own hands!

It's that Hotline Bing.

 

[bac2therac]

1. The video: I like the atmosphere of the introduction of the players but agree that the messages portrayed in the videos are embarrassing given the state of the program. Worst one is where it asks "why are you here" amazing they would actually ask that as many fans, including myself, wonder that all the time haha! They should really come up with a video that doesn't leave you laughing at the irony.

2. music: I am not a fan of hip hop but mixing in a couple hip hop songs does not bother me, just need to keep from blasting it at ear piercing levels to an empty arena, no excuse especially being that there is a DJ who should be able to gauge the crowd. I'll add that if the goal over the past 4 years has been to neuter the band, then mission accomplished. A shame as the band used to add atmosphere but now seems to be more of an unwanted side show that is allowed to play here and there due to contractual obligations.

3. 100 level: no problem with them whatsoever. Have to imagine any ill-demeanor is due to shelling out a lot of money and getting nothing back over the years. Amazing there is any 100 level fans left actually.

4. Food is atrocious: agree it's a disgrace how poor quality it is and how expensive it has become. as if it's not bad enough we have to watch such a bad product on the court, the least Rutgers could do is to offer the fans quality food at an affordable price,
Especially disappointing since 5 or so years the food was decent and cheep.

5. The RAC needs more bathrooms: yes, more bathrooms would be a good thing.

I'll add that I think they should include more than just first 500 fans in their game day giveaways. Rutgers fans get basically zero in return for their loyalty to the basketball program that even the school does not support, would it kill Rutgers to give most of the fans, say the first 2500 (basically all the fans for most games) the opportunity to at least get a free t-shirt or bobble head without Having to leave work early to get there an hour before game time.

how about all the season ticket holders get something, not just first 500..maybe some of us cant be the first ones in the building. Would it be that hard to give out vouchers to season ticket holders for prices...or how about coupons for concesssions. I remember last year they were going to have a big giveaway for Free Big 10 t shirts to commerate the first game, well guess what after advertising for weeks they didn't have the shirts that day..how could they screw that up, then they said you could redeem at a later game, but three games later (forget to bring for the next 2) they didn't have any more shirts...hmm okay, I have a voucher so you should have a shirt that corresponds to it. 22 years as a season ticket holder and I don't recall them giving anything out to us

 

[motel00]

It's that Hotline Bing.

View embedded media

Thanks Russ! This gives new meaning to the word redundant

 

[motel00]

BAC:

The sad thing is, when they give away that junk food, I don't even want any!

 

[PatrickRU92]

1. The video: I like the atmosphere of the introduction of the players but agree that the messages portrayed in the videos are embarrassing given the state of the program. Worst one is where it asks "why are you here" amazing they would actually ask that as many fans, including myself, wonder that all the time haha!

I lol'd [laughing]

 

[RU_kidding_me]

how about all the season ticket holders get something, not just first 500..maybe some of us cant be the first ones in the building. Would it be that hard to give out vouchers to season ticket holders for prices...or how about coupons for concesssions. I remember last year they were going to have a big giveaway for Free Big 10 t shirts to commerate the first game, well guess what after advertising for weeks they didn't have the shirts that day..how could they screw that up, then they said you could redeem at a later game, but three games later (forget to bring for the next 2) they didn't have any more shirts...hmm okay, I have a voucher so you should have a shirt that corresponds to it. 22 years as a season ticket holder and I don't recall them giving anything out to us

Great idea to issue vouchers to the season ticket holders!

I also remember how Rutgers screwed up the big10 shirts. It's amazing how many examples of total incompetence there are regarding the management of the basketball program. As fans we are constantly reminded how little Rutgers cares about the fan base and the product on the court. The Rutgers athletic department really has no shame when it comes to the basketball program.

 

[RU-ROCS]

The nasty smell near the concessions is in part terrible ventilation. I sit in section 114, the hallway behind that section often reeks of a grease fire and that awful smell wafts all the way down to the court from Section 114.

 

[RutgersJoe]

Not sure why, but I kind of like the video..yes it's a little strange , given the state of the program, but you have to at least try to get the crowd excited. Plus that string of highlights actually makes us look like a half-decent team :)

Music is a touch too loud at times - no problem w/ the hip-hop per say, but some of the song choices seem a little odd to me, and redundant at times.

I only sit upstairs, so can't really compare the crowds. Definitely no problems w/ the upstairs fans , although typically my section is about 85% visitors so kinda hard for me to judge.

I usually only get a drink at concessions, sometimes a pretzel...I have a bigger problem w/ how they are run than the actual food. Totally unorganized, 5-6 people standing around behind a register aimlessly while 1 person helps, and there's always a group of people waiting on something. Even more frustrating is the parking situation - can count on a backup there every single time , so inefficient.

 

[bac2therac]

and they are using War Pigs in the video....I see its cut off before the line goes...."Satan laughing spreads his wings"

I can assure you these screw-ups and missteps wouldn't be happening in football where they pay attention to detail. It is what it is basketball is very low priority here. Until a culture change happens this is what it is, it took years of ineptitude and neglect to reach this point, it will take years to get out of it

 

[mikefla]

I love it when someone calls alums "old" and surly
yeah...they are the ones that have shelled out money for decades
maybe a little respect?

Stay upstairs if it bothers you so much

I agree with BAC,,,,,,it took years,,,DECADES to create as bad a culture as we now have
it will take YEARS to change it
if and when someone tries to
its obvious to me.....EJ isnt trying...on ANY level
he is not stupid...he has to know his days are numbered

 

[motel00]

I'll sit wherever I like thanks! I never used the word surly, you did. I used the words "obnoxious" and "entitled". Your post makes you sound like one of the entitled. I know many alums who sit downstairs and I am not accusing all of this. But the behavior of SOME is surprising. I'm sure you would note the same if you've gone to the RAC at all in the last several years.

I will say, I prefer the view downstairs.

 

[higgins3]

To me the biggest concerns the RAC has are the losing and the lack of bathrooms.Maybe I should buy food to support something, but to me it is so overpriced and unhealthy I rarely even give it a thought.

Bring in someone that can coaches in the way that will help a team win close games(aka spend more time shooting freethrows, play straight arms up defense, know who shoots poorly from the line on the other team).

The RAC is a fine establishment. It just needs to see a win inside its building. Then it will start to roar.

 

[bchops]

As far as the people in the 100 level are concerned-I am one of them- many of us have been season ticket holders for too many years- many of us have football tickets too- some of us of literally running to the RAC because of our work schedules- 7 pm start time is tough when you commute to work. Motel00 you are more than welcome to sit in the lower level- pony up the approximately $1200 per seat plus parking and you can complain about us all that you want.
As far as the DJ goes- that the way things are done now a days- the kids like it- so I don't see anything changing there.

 

[higgins3]

The best food there was the asian chicken wings.

I remember last year I was with my dad at the game after the game and I asked a woman "How much are the wings?", and she said 3 dollars. I talked it over with my dad and went back and asked to buy a plate. The same woman said "4 dollars." Gotta appreciate the hustle there.LOL.

 

[bac2therac]

boom boom chicken...not there anymore

 

[soundcrib]

Get a box or tray on 27. Korean fried chicken. The best.

 

[motel00]

Bchops--I already do sit in the 100s. But I'm not aware that anyone has pay a certain amount of money in order to make an observation on this board! Pretty sure it's free.

 

[JPhoboken]

Not going to address each complaint. Don't really care that much about ancillary stuff when the state of our program is so bad right now.

Yes, the food sucks, the RAC needs renovation, more room in concourses, commercial food choices, more bathrooms, etc. Right now, I can't raise an ounce of care when we can't even win a game.

I will comment on two things I read.

1. Knocking any fans, anyway shape or form right now is ludicrous. They will be supportive, loud, and show up when we win. Its not the other way around. We all want more fans. Whining about the ones we have is not the answer.

2. A new coach can only do so much to get student support. He has to build a program, recruit, win some games, get some momentum going. Then, and only then, should they start going to dorms, etc. to drum up support. Then it will have some meaning. Going when you are not winning will serve no purpose, and IMO, be a big waste of time.

 

[motel00]

Think your self righteous indignation is causing you (and others) to misread and totally miss the point.

WE NEED MORE STUDENTS ON THE FLOOR.

Watch any game around the country, go to any gym at any major program, there are tons of students on the floor. In our gym, our season ticketholders give their seats to the opposing team's fans. We obviously need to change that along with everything else.

 

[JPhoboken]

Think your self righteous indignation is causing you (and others) to misread and totally miss the point.

WE NEED MORE STUDENTS ON THE FLOOR.

Watch any game around the country, go to any gym at any major program, there are tons of students on the floor. In our gym, our season ticketholders give their seats to the opposing team's fans. We obviously need to change that along with everything else.

Do you not understand. We are winless in our league, we are not getting more students anywhere. They don't care. Stop whining about fans, student or otherwise.

 

[LotusAggressor]

Think your self righteous indignation is causing you (and others) to misread and totally miss the point.

WE NEED MORE STUDENTS ON THE FLOOR.

Watch any game around the country, go to any gym at any major program, there are tons of students on the floor. In our gym, our season ticketholders give their seats to the opposing team's fans. We obviously need to change that along with everything else.

There are tons of students on the floor at other major programs because they play basketball that is worth watching.

 

[rufeelinit]

I happened to be switching back and forth between two games yesterday. One was Maryland/Purdue and the other was Kentucky/Vanderbilt. I kept thinking when was the last time we were ever involved in such intense games in a rabid arena and how much longer must we wait for such an event in Piscataway?

 

[motel00]

Unfortunately it may be forever but all of these side issues and others are part of a larger problem. Any new head coach has to have a vision that takes account of all of the details. We do so many things wrong that any prospective head coach worth his salt is going to say no unless we fix the way we present this program going forward. He will have to be someone who demands and forces change (Schiano like) as part of the whole package. And if changes don't occur, a coach who comes here and turns it around will be gone to a better job in a heartbeat. Even Schiano left because the changes were incremental but he did get a lot done.

It's not just the product on the floor that is a problem.

BTW--we don't have students on the floor because they have a section behind one basket. Even if that section is filled, we have no students on the sidelines. In a winning program, there are students around the floor.

 

[Russ Wood]

BTW--we don't have students on the floor because they have a section behind one basket. Even if that section is filled, we have no students on the sidelines. In a winning program, there are students around the floor.

This isn't quite true. The Tennessee student section is behind one basket. It was that way when Bruce Pearl was there and they were winning. It seemed odd to me when I went to a game there. The lower bowl seating behind the benches and across from the benches were dominated by people aged 40 and older who politely clapped when Tennessee scored but otherwise sat on their hands. It made for a quieter college basketball experience, especially when you factor in that Tennessee is much more of a football school than basketball.

North Carolina has students behind the basket at the Dean Smith Center in two sections in the lower bowl and two sections in the 200 level.

 

[rufeelinit]

I don't think where the students sit is a big issue. I have been around long enough to know from first hand experience that if the section behind the basket is packed with students and assuming the rest of the gym is nearly full it can be an intimidating environment.