NAU fan support: What's wrong?

[mtjack]

This is a topic that's been bandied around many times by myself here and on other sites (egriz.com, Weber's board with their hoops fans, championshipsubdivision.com). I've stated my case til I'm been blue in the face and want to hear other's take on this topic.

King, dbackjon, jacksdude.....anyone else lurking? I'd love to hear your take.

 

[mtjack]

http://azdailysun.com/sports/college/nau-lumberjacks/nau-lumberjacks-win-four-titles-in/article_913417d4-7508-11e3-88e8-001a4bcf887a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Four Lumberjacks team titles and multiple upper echelon finishes from other sports in the Big Sky this past year... the competitiveness on the playing field is there. Community support needs to step it up.

 

[king]

It's depressing to think about, but here are the realities in my opinion.

1. The state has too many other professional/college teams which NAU cannot compete with. The Suns, Cardinals, Mercury, Dimondbacks (do they have a hockey team?) not to mention ASU and U of A have a much deeper tradition and following in the state than NAU. With so many teams competing for fanbase, NAU just falls through the cracks. Even around Flagstaff you see so many more ASU, U of A, Suns and Cardinal apparel than Lumberjack apparel. The community doesn't pay much attention to NAU because they would rather stay at home watching the Cardinasl or Suns than at the dome supporting the local college team. The state of Montana for example don't have pro teams to compete with so most of their population is 100% Griz or Bobcat which translates into full stadiums supporting their ONLY team. Idaho is similar.

2. Lack of Winning tradition with the big sports. Although NAU is very competitive in the Big Sky, championships are very hard to come by. You need the NAU basketball team to consistently make the NCAA tournament in order to atract some attention in Flagstaff and in the state of Arizona. ASU and U of A make it just about every year so that creates excitement and lots of attention. If NAU wants the same attention, they need to start winning championships and create a tradition of competing on the national stage. I mean look at the football team. We make the playoffs finally after how many years? 11? and BAM get blown out at home in our first playoff game hno: hno: hno: hno: You can't expect people to follow this team with these kind of performances. WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

3. Recruiting... although we do recruit solid athletes to the school, we need to take it up a notch and somehow attract a blue chip here and there. How do we do this? well, recruits tend to want to go to programs that have a tradition of winning (Championships) and NAU doesn't have that yet. Take a note from Boise State. How did they go from an average Big Sky school to a national power in football? What's so special about BSU that recruits wanted to play for them? I've been to Boise and they do have a gorgeous Football stadium which brings me to the last thing..

4. Facilities. The Dome is a nice football facility. The renovations were a much needed plus but it doesn't compare to football stadiums in schools with big time programs. Basketball recruits I'm sure don't go gaga for the dome as a basketball facility. NAU needs to invest in a nice basketball stadium like ASU, U of A or even Weber State. Recently NAU built a quality track and field facility at the old NAU Lumberjack stadium and the recruits they've attracted in Cross Country and Track are some of the best in the country such as the 2012 #1 and #3 recruits in the NATION Futsum Zeinasellassie and Nathan Weitz. As a result NAU cross country has placed 4th in 2012 and 2nd in 2013 at the NCAA meet. Good facilities attract good athletes.

Just my :twocents: :twocents: on the topic

 

[jacksdude0109]

"2. Lack of Winning tradition with the big sports. Although NAU is very competitive in the Big Sky, championships are very hard to come by. You need the NAU basketball team to consistently make the NCAA tournament in order to atract some attention in Flagstaff and in the state of Arizona. ASU and U of A make it just about every year so that creates excitement and lots of attention. If NAU wants the same attention, they need to start winning championships and create a tradition of competing on the national stage. I mean look at the football team. We make the playoffs finally after how many years? 11? and BAM get blown out at home in our first playoff game hno: hno: hno: hno: You can't expect people to follow this team with these kind of performances. WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS!!"

ABSOLUTELY!

 

[jacksdude0109]

Ive gone on many a rant on this subject, but Ill sum my thoughts up for you.

I agree 100% with #2 on kings list. Here are a few other points:

1. Not a sports school- If a high school senior cares at all about school pride and university athletics, they will most likely chose UofA or ASU. We tend to attract hippies and rock climbing/outdoors type people, which there is nothing wrong with, but they just dont tend to like sports.

2. Jerome Souers- I wont beat a dead horse here, but when football wins, crowds appear

 

[mtjack]

Well...I think this has been a productive session. Many a good analysis given. I just wish I had a solution to stirring up some interest/school spirit in my alma mater.

Case in point: I'm to the point in life that for the first time, a few of my college friends now have kids graduating high school and going to college. I banter with my HS/NAU friend and his wife on facebook and their daughter was in on the conversation regarding college football. They're big SEC fans due to growing up in the deep South. The daughter was belittling NAU athletics/football. Without being a dick, I asked her if she's been to any games. She said one...the first of the season. I asked if she knew the team was 8-2, or whatever they were at the time, and primed for a playoff bid. She said no. I gave details how many NAU fall sport finished in the top 1/3 of the league, made the league playoffs and even competed on a national level (cross country finishing number 2 in the nation). I don't think she truly knew any of this. And guess what....I see signs up around town, billboards along the highway, ads in the newspaper and banners on businesses and light poles in town. It's not out of lack of an effort at advertising/drumming up interest by the university. It's more a lack of interest and situational awareness on the community and student's part, in my opinion.

Another interesting observation the morning after the playoff loss to SDSU in football: Moping a bit still and decided to have my favorite breakfast burrito on the planet @ Tacos Los Altos in east Flag before going on a hike. Sitting there and listening in on the conversations around me and two guys in their late 40s/early 50s start talking about the football loss. I'll paraphrase below:

Guy 1: So, did you see NAU lost last night.
Guy 2: Yup. Nobody showed up. They always choke. Souers is the reason. He makes horrible in-game decisions. (Really bit my lip here as, in reality, Souers wasn't on the sidelines for this one.)
Guy 1: Did you go to the game?
Guy 2: No, I stayed home and watched tv.
Guy 1: Me too.

I contemplated my response, admitted to myself that whatever I said at this point wouldn't be positive and kept eating my burrito. But this mindset IS part of the problem. Bitching and griping about things is our right as US citizens and I'm engaging in said activity on a fan forum presently. But if someone wants to truly make things better then actually do something about it. Show up! Thick and thin. Win and lose. Rain and snow, etc.



Jacksdude - I agree with you wholeheartedly on your point # 1 that NAU isn't exactly a sports school, nor is Flagstaff a "sports" town apart from mountain biking, hiking, running and hippy olympics type stuff (frisbee golf...frolf). One of the reasons I chose NAU over ASU, U of A, Grand Canyon or other in-state options was the fact that I wanted to spend more time outdoors hiking/camping/backpacking, etc. That and get the hell out of the heat.

King - You and I win our state's respective lotteries and we can be the primary donors towards a new basketball arena. Start thinking of a catchy name.

 

[king]

I agree with much of what you say Jack. It's easier for people to bash and criticize and expect things to change by themselves. It's frustrating for fans like myself who live so far away and can't attend contests. If people would go to the games they would see that you can actually have a lot of fun cheering for those teams.

In December of 2006 I left Flagstaff to student teach in Idaho. My little brother still lived at home and that entire winter we drove to Missoula, Bozeman, and Pocatello to attend the basketball games when NAU came to visit. My little brother became NAU's #1 fan and he actually learned the names of some of the players. I remember him saying "yesss ssssir may I have another" whenever Steve Sir would make a 3 pointer. We had lots of fun. If people attended games, they like my little brother would grow to love the team. It's a sad situation because NAU is very competitive in conference in all the sports yet attendance is probably the worst in conference for all the sports. Oh well at least they have some truly loyal fans like...us :thumb: :ugeek: