UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

[Born-a-Panther]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

Agreed Jay, that's perfect. Appropriate and it reaches the audience that might actually buy a Marching Band CD.

I really hope someone from here gets on that committee. All good things being discussed right now.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

I really hope someone from here gets on that committee. All good things being discussed right now.

I nominate you, BAP.

[panther-state]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

Considering that a lot of passionate and intelligent Panthers frequent this forum I hope a couple get on. Obviously (at least hopefully) this isn't the only extension of passionate Panthers but the point remains.

[jegbomb52]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

ubuntu and I have both applied, anyone else?

[UNIdad]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

It was more of a production and the script / timing was so much better. It was more of a build up to the opening of the door. They used to do this thing back in the 90's where TC was carried in on a platform and they had a big gong waiting at the 50 yard line. They'd let him off the platform and he'd smack the gong. That was pretty cool. The video as good last year but how many games did they either not play it or not play the whole thing? PR could barely say "Here come the Panthers" fast enough before the door was opening and the team was running out.

I used to tell people they HAD to see our pregame. The last couple (maybe 3) years I almost hope new people miss it because it seems so amateur. That sounds harsh, but I just know how good other schools do it and how good ours could be.

That sounds awesome. I would love to see that. Any links to video!

[UNIdad]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

A couple more things. Bring back the camera as they guys are leaving the locker room and waiting for the door to open. That was very cool and gets people jacked up. Oh, and I think our band needs to be wrapped up playing much earlier...about 10 minutes sooner than they wrap up currently. They finish with the alma mater (huge buzz kill) and then go right over to the door and wait for the team. The crowd is excited, then has a sleep song played, then in the next 60 seconds is supposed to get excited again. Bad order and bad timing. Play the alma mater much earlier, wrap things up and go wait by the door, but for the next 5 minutes or so crank up some music over the speakers to get the crowd going. Then show the team exiting the locker room on the video. Gets the crowd into it and cues PR. Let PR do his awesome thing and the crowd goes nuts. Then play the highlight video while the team is out doing their last minute stretching and running. A steady crescendo to the kickoff.

Having a camera on the team as they prepare to enter would be great. I would like to see the team do something special with the big metal door . . . like start banging on it until they are released.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

That sounds awesome. I would love to see that. Any links to video!

I wish. I'd like to see it again, too.

[Kyle]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

I'm pretty sure PN does make a legit impact on some decisions within the AD.

Outside of the worthless posters like TH and Mudra, this board is made up of good contributors with a ton of knowledge of Panther athletics.

[Mudrafan]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

I'm pretty sure PN does make a legit impact on some decisions within the AD.

Outside of the worthless posters like TH and Mudra, this board is made up of good contributors with a ton of knowledge of Panther athletics.

worthless poster? I am one of the founding members of the website & have fully supported UNI for nearly 50 years. I've forgotten more about UNI athletics than most of you have ever known. I have very deep roots to the university on a variety of levels.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

BAP, you have some "insider" knowledge; can you explain one of your comments? You mentioned the turnover of gameday staff is high. Is that because the AD has a revolving door on it, or because these functions are given to students, who naturally move on quickly?

The band issue is one that *should* be easily fixed. One of two things is probably true. Either the band hasn't been asked to speed things up, or they refuse. If he former, that's entirely on the athletic department and is hard to excuse. If he latter, first you ask nicely, then you ask again, then you tell. The band is something we all want there, but they don't have a band at all without a football game to attend - there is a football game to attend either way.

BAP can probably answer this as well: Is this seriously not subjected to at least a couple of full dress rehearsals with the band, PA, etc? The band does a fall camp of their own before classes start. Not having a full dress rehearsal a couple of times is inexcusable and amateur hour.

[Born-a-Panther]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

BAP, you have some "insider" knowledge; can you explain one of your comments? You mentioned the turnover of gameday staff is high. Is that because the AD has a revolving door on it, or because these functions are given to students, who naturally move on quickly?

Yes and yes.

As far as full "dress rehearsals" go... it doesn't happen. And yes... it absolutely should.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

Yes and yes.

As far as full "dress rehearsals" go... it doesn't happen. And yes... it absolutely should.

Strangely this actually makes me feel better. If you had said that they do full walk-thru's / practice our entrance every year, and yet that is still the result, I would have been really discouraged. At least this way we know there is a relatively easy fix to all of this...just make coordinating it a priority and part of the pre-season / game week routine.
In the past these kinds of theatrics may have been a side-note and filler on game day. Now days the show IS game day and sets the tone for fan enthusiasm, which ultimately puts butts in the seats. When even places like Alabama are forming committees and working to constantly improve their game day experience, our energy and efforts (although within the confines of the UNI budget) need to be just that much greater if we expect to increase fan attendance.
How about a post-game performance by Justin (Kirk) Adams? Maybe too difficult to coordinate, but again just trying to think outside the box. Something to attract and keep students / fans until the end of the game.

[UNIpanther99]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

Do athletic department officials have game day administration responsibilities that don't relate directly to their usual job? Because that's fairly common, and it would seem to help with the issue of turnover mentioned before.

Both Iowa and Iowa State have very senior administration officials with responsibility for event management and are very hands on. Paula Jantz is widely considered the #2 behind Gary Barta at Iowa and is directly involved in running the show at Kinnick. I'm assuming it's the same with Chris Jorgenson, Sr. Associate AD at ISU.

http://www.hawkeyesports.com/staffdir/iowa-staff-dir-11.html

http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1507638

http://www.unipanthers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26200&ATCLID=205184572

You have to go down the chain of command quite a bit to find anyone at UNI with event management in their title. It seems to me this is something that could be easily addressed by the committee.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

Yes and yes.

As far as full "dress rehearsals" go... it doesn't happen. And yes... it absolutely should.

Worst of all possibilities. The kids can't know what they're doing but have responsibilty, and there is no consistent and experienced person to turn to for guidance, and to maintain quality with consistency over time. No wonder it's a mess, and no wonder quality has declined steadily.

Even with that, not having rehearsals is inexcusable.

[PantherFan]

Re: UNI Forming Fan Advisory Committee

Do a pregame pep rally somewhere on campus. Maybe around the campanile. Marching band, cheerleaders, TC, the works. Encourage students and adults to be there. Then have all at the pep rally "parade" to the dome via the parking lots - band playing, drums doing something crazy, cheerleaders and drill team doing their thing. Get some excitement going before the pregame drill in the dome.

Have the basketball teams scrimmage a couple of hours ahead of the football game. I think the men actually have done this a couple of times several years ago.