West Side

[BCPanther]

Attendance seemed to be much stronger when kickoffs were always at 6:30. There are so many "dual" fans out there that it makes the most sense. Iowa is always going to play at 11 or 2:30.

Unfortunately there are many fans and STUDENTS that would rather stay home and watch the Huckeyes on TV. Move back to 6:30 and make the place a pit again!!

[Matt Trump]

Maybe I should be more clear...I'm not saying that an 'earlier' or 'later' kickoff is better, as there are certainly advantages to both. I'm saying we need to be consistent as to what constitutes an 'early' or a 'late' kickoff, to avoid confusion.

Thanks for the clarification. I agree

[Matt Trump]

Move back to 6:30 and make the place a pit again!!

Thats been discussed also and its obvious that public safety is doing everything in their power to prevent the pre-game party.

[Marc Wigim]

Yeah... God forbid they have to DO THEIR JOBS.

[panther2317]

JC's posse is tough to miss in the Mike Furrey throw back jeresey They seem to be into the game on every play! I think some of the 'west siders' are casual fans and are there just to enjoy the game. I'd love for them to get into the game more vocally as well...but I'm glad they're in attendance.

[Newsbreaker]

FWIW, on the "Public Saftey" front. I work with some people who are not from the Cedar Valley. They got some people together last year to tailgate before a UNI Home game. They, even a year later, were still talking about how UNI has to over-complicate everything, how they didn't feel the University allowed for a very festive atmosphere, and said they've never enountered a university so set on making things difficult.

I've said this time and again...our beloved university does way too much to get in it's own way half the time. We do not have the luxury of giving people excuses to stay away from UNI football games.

On another note...I talked my brother (a big Iowa fan, not a UNI fan at all, and not someone to give UNI credit for much) into attending the SIU game with me. In fact, I called to invite him right after the game saturday was over, and he had been watching the entire thing, and was excited to come see our boys play. These TV games, they're key, I'm telling you.

[Marc Wigim]

I'm in agreement with Newsy here. Public safety is so worried about preemptive discipline that when something DOES go down, they are left wondering what they did wrong... (answer: you pissed 'em off, PS).

[Panthers to the Bone]

This was a huge recruiting weekend for the Panthers. Iowa was off, and ISU was in Texas. For those recruits who stayed home, they were able to see the Panthers do damage, as well as the Clones take care of business. With ISU going into Texas and obliterating the Aggies, they will get a couple more Texas kids than usual. With that, more Iowa talent will stay in-state...and at UNI. Hopefully we see the benefits of big wins on tv and in the Dome pay off come signing period.

[Cat Girl]

As for the inconsistent kick-off times, I don't get why it is so hard for people to check schedules to see what time the game is for that Saturday? I am really not trying to be a snot, just genuinely wondering.

[Newsbreaker]

As for the inconsistent kick-off times, I don't get why it is so hard for people to check schedules to see what time the game is for that Saturday? I am really not trying to be a snot, just genuinely wondering.

It's a good question, and at the heart of it, you're right...people should be able to figure it out on their own. However, as I stated earlier, it's pretty standard to have set start times..an early, an afternoon and a late/night kick. At a time we're trying to build crowds and loyalty at every turn, we don't have the luxury of complicating things.

Say you're a moderately interested UNI student, and you're going to go to the YSU game. You're told it's an 'afternoon' game. Last time, 'afternoon' meant 4:05. You get some people together, everyone is going to meet at 3:30...opps, by the time you do, it's almost the 2nd quarter, and you missed a 3:05 kickoff. Next home game, again an 'afternoon kickoff', but this time it's 4 or 5pm.

UNI needs to establish 2-3 kick times, and go with those in every instance. Say 1:35, 4:05 or 7:05. That way, all people have to worry about is an 'early', 'afternoon' or 'evening' kickoff time.

Why not check the schedules? Becasue people are very lazy, and we don't have the luxury of giving extra excuses.

[Blue42]

Have to agree with Cat Girl. Not sure I understand the problem with the start times. In today's world of cable TV broadcasts, start times are not standard for anybody above DII. It's not hard to check a schedule and plan accordingly. I don't think this is having a meaningful impact on UNI's football attendance.

[Blue42]

It's too bad we didn't have a couple of PN members flashing signs on TV showing something like PANTHERNATION.COM

I do like this idea from Winder. Would it cost $$ to hang a banner on the south facade of the dome with the Panthernation.com name and logo. That would look good and catch the right audience.

[Jonsoup]

I can remember growing up and attending games in the dome and the games were always schedule for 7:00 pm except for the Homecoming game and usually that was schedule for 1:30 pm. I was wondering how much a radio ad would cost during the telecast of UNI athletics. Maybe can get a ad on the radio or have Rima or Peterson or Boyle mention during the telecast of the football or basketball game.

[Newsbreaker]

Have to agree with Cat Girl. Not sure I understand the problem with the start times. In today's world of cable TV broadcasts, start times are not standard for anybody above DII. It's not hard to check a schedule and plan accordingly. I don't think this is having a meaningful impact on UNI's football attendance.

Not true...Big Ten teams have very standard kick-times. 11am, 2:30pm, and then evening kicks (6:30 or 7, I don't remember.)

Jon, you'd want to call KXEL. My guess is that UNI radio avails are full for the year by this late in the season, but I'd guess it could be done. Of course, a local spot is cheaper then a network spot.

Someone could check into the price for PN.com to sponsor replays and other things on the videoboard in the dome, like Caseys, KWWL (who is offically up for sale, by the way), and others do.

[panther2317]

Big Ten teams have very standard kick-off times because they have the Entertainment Sports Programming Network telling them, "this is when your kick-off times will be!" If every Big Ten game wasn't televised, there would be more sporadic kick-off times there as well.

Maybe we should just get Fox Sports Net to have the Gateway Conference Football Network and televise all of our games Can you work on that for us News? (tongue planted firmly in cheek Newsie!)