This is a massive episode but a lot of fun.

DJ fills in for Big C who, at the last minute, was feeling very under the weather.

Jim Fox also joins the show!


iTunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the ... F295683364

https://soundcloud.com/blackandgoldpodc ... state-bowl

FYI apparj the segment would not download on SoundCloud or pod cast.

Really enjoyed DJ's thoughts and perspective.

mountaineerman wrote:FYI apparj the segment would not download on SoundCloud or pod cast.

It's working for me and several other people. Have you tried again?

huskie3 wrote:Really enjoyed DJ's thoughts and perspective.

DJ is a pros pro! You can tell he's spent a lot of time behind a mic! I really appreciate you all keeping him connected to our sports program through the BGP!

Boone Goon wrote:

huskie3 wrote:Really enjoyed DJ's thoughts and perspective.

DJ is a pros pro! You can tell he's spent a lot of time behind a mic! I really appreciate you all keeping him connected to our sports program through the BGP!

The pleasure is literally ours. Never a dull moment for BGP and especially when DJ or Brownie are involved.

No slight on BigC, but I thoroughly enjoyed this edition.

I loved the Varsity Gym talk. DJ and I were at App at the same time and I really appreciated the "open the Varsity Gym doors and let the pep band draw everyone away from their Food Court chicken fingers and mashed potatoes" talk. I went to most bball games over my days in Boone during the Apke and Buzz v1 eras - and most of them I went to because I was supposed to be going to the library and heard HiHiYikas coming out of the gym.

I'd be all for renovating Varsity and bringing basketball back to the center of campus. It may be expensive and well below other items on the list, but it would be a smart move at some point.

Tom Apke had plans draw up to do this in the early 90's.

I typically agree with most of the comments on the podcast, but I did not agree with the reasoning behind why we don't fill seats at Holmes, nor do I see the need to take bball back to Varsity. We are talking like Holmes is a mile away from campus. Anyone who lives in Boone or goes to App has good cold weather gear and is used to walking in cold conditions. If the team won more and made a little national noise every once in a while, more would come. App may be a football school, but its in a basketball state, and people love their hoops. Now in regards to Alumni support and parking, that does need some attention so those deep pocket donors can easily attend. However, I have seen way to may examples of poor parking situations around arenas to chalk it up to that. Parking around the Dean dome is not great, and if you want to include the weather factor, parking around the Dome in Syracuse is worse than what it is in Boone considering the numbers. Dorms are farther and people have to park in cemeteries and hoof blocks and blocks to go to games in deep snow and freezing temps. I do understand the difference in teams and national relevance, but people like winners and we have not been winners in basketball for ages. Start winning, the games will be more fun and people will start attending. Winning and good attendance go hand in hand and that is non arguable. Will we sell Holmes out if we start winning, probably not, but I don't see any one thing that will help attendance more than a winning product.

Once The Standard opens (perhaps in our lifetimes), the campus proper will make a significant shift toward the Holmes Center. A more competitive team and more convenient parking are the main ingredients we need for better attendance. A throwback game in Varsity Gym might be fun once a season, but it's not going to remedy the issues we have with our basketball program.

I think the varsity gym point was few people have ever 'planned to go to MBB'. But attendance was higher because half of campus would walk by the gym every day. It was an easy distraction from studying, so we did it.

From listening to DJ, it doesn't sound like a basketball game in VG is even possible with out adding millions in renovations due to bathrooms coming out and other structural changes that have since occurred. A winning program and people will come, the students will walk just as far for a game as they would for a cross campus class or beer at their favorite spot. A well placed deck and the donors will also come . . .

AppOrange wrote:I typically agree with most of the comments on the podcast, but I did not agree with the reasoning behind why we don't fill seats at Holmes, nor do I see the need to take bball back to Varsity. We are talking like Holmes is a mile away from campus. Anyone who lives in Boone or goes to App has good cold weather gear and is used to walking in cold conditions. If the team won more and made a little national noise every once in a while, more would come. App may be a football school, but its in a basketball state, and people love their hoops. Now in regards to Alumni support and parking, that does need some attention so those deep pocket donors can easily attend. However, I have seen way to may examples of poor parking situations around arenas to chalk it up to that. Parking around the Dean dome is not great, and if you want to include the weather factor, parking around the Dome in Syracuse is worse than what it is in Boone considering the numbers. Dorms are farther and people have to park in cemeteries and hoof blocks and blocks to go to games in deep snow and freezing temps. I do understand the difference in teams and national relevance, but people like winners and we have not been winners in basketball for ages. Start winning, the games will be more fun and people will start attending. Winning and good attendance go hand in hand and that is non arguable. Will we sell Holmes out if we start winning, probably not, but I don't see any one thing that will help attendance more than a winning product.

First, thanks for listening. Second, that's exactly why we ask people to give feedback! We welcome all ideas and opinions. I'm a bit in the middle between you and DJ. I think the Holmes Center on every level makes it harder to attend vs. Varsity... HOWEVER, as I stated in the show, I think there ARE things that can be done to marginally improve attendance. But it is hard for me to believe I'm right because DJ tried to get a lot of things done during his time and it seems not many in the old guard cared.

Nevertheless, thanks for sharing!

DJ has the wit and radio personality that is clearly evident when he is on air. Miss him on the radio broadcast!

What if 2-3 basketball home games could be played in Varsity to see how the turnout would be in comparison to the Holmes. I'm not sure how "game day ready" Varsity is but it would be interesting to see if it's feasible.

It sounded like the bathroom/concessions issue is a real hurdle, but I don't know we need a lot of bathrooms for 1,000 people. But I would recommend do one of the early (even pre-season) games to get the product in front of students. Once they see it, and like it, then they are more likely to walk to HCC. Think of it like a SAMPLE!

I love the podcast. DJ was great, I enjoy his perspective. 2 hours is too long IMO.

Boone Goon wrote:It sounded like the bathroom/concessions issue is a real hurdle, but I don't know we need a lot of bathrooms for 1,000 people. But I would recommend do one of the early (even pre-season) games to get the product in front of students. Once they see it, and like it, then they are more likely to walk to HCC. Think of it like a SAMPLE!

You would need some seating, locker rooms, and reorient the court. Not gonna happen.

Throw back games aren't possible as Varsity isn't setup to host hoops. It would need a full scale renovation which I'm not totally against if the HCC attendance doesn't improve in the future. If we start having successful seasons and attendance does improve significantly then we might need to accept the building has limitations. Until then we have more pressing needs.