Illinois State Bus Trip

[JCPanthers]

I know we don't want to look past SDSU and Drake, but we need 10 more people to sign up for the Illinois State Bus Trip or it will be cancelled.

Come on people, these trips are a great time and are alot of work to set up.

Don't wait!!!! The deadline to sign up was today, but has been extended thru next week.

PM alleycat or myself if you want to sign up.

[Panther'73]

Please sign up - I've talked a friend into going - we'll both be VERY
disappointed if it's not a go!!!!

[Chitown Panther]

need some students to get organized.....probably can drink on the bus.....

[UNI MadCat]

It seems like getting the bus to "go" is becoming more of an anamoly than a reality for these trips. I would hate to hear that the concept of planning them would fall by the wayside due to (deserved, but unfortunate) frustrations by the organizers from not getting enough people signed up. In principle they are all great ideas!

From the sounds of it, there will be many more than the 40 or whatever number the bus will hold, going to SDSU... so I wonder what it is about the bus that is making people consider other options?

Also, what other avenues are being utilized to promote the trip (or all trips, really)??

Just curious:

• I know the UNI alumni emails a newsletter... but I dont think I saw it there. Would they include it? It would seem like they would.
• Is there anyway to contact the students?
• Would the "NI" consider giving free ad space to help support the Panthers?? Or heck, we have NI writers that utilize this board... could one of you write an Op-Ed about why you think people should go??
• Wasn't there something in the Courier? Would they re-run it?
• Does Panthernation have a database of subscriber emails that they could contact? I know not everyone reads info here everyday and certainly doesnt look at every thread.
• Other ideas?

I'm not proposing you do these things to "work harder" but some of them could cause less work for you guys in the end.

I hope you guys are able to "warm up the bus" for one of these!!

[joecooll6]

Theres a decent chance we'll go on the bus, but dont count us in just yet.

[alleycat]

4 more signed up for Illinois State today.

[ubuntuCAT]

maybe would want to get permission for this. But I believe sending and email to [email protected] would go to all of the posse members. Over 2,000 strong!!!

[alleycat]

From the sounds of it, there will be many more than the 40 or whatever number the bus will hold, going to SDSU... so I wonder what it is about the bus that is making people consider other options?

Also, what other avenues are being utilized to promote the trip (or all trips, really)??

Just curious:

• I know the UNI alumni emails a newsletter... but I dont think I saw it there. Would they include it? It would seem like they would.
• Is there anyway to contact the students?
• Would the "NI" consider giving free ad space to help support the Panthers?? Or heck, we have NI writers that utilize this board... could one of you write an Op-Ed about why you think people should go??
• Wasn't there something in the Courier? Would they re-run it?
• Does Panthernation have a database of subscriber emails that they could contact? I know not everyone reads info here everyday and certainly doesnt look at every thread.
• Other ideas?

Thanks for your ideas. We would love to have you join JC and I in the planning and organization of these trips. We are always looking at new ideas. To date the following has been done to promote these trips:

- Flyer to all season ticket holders
- Flyer to all PSC members
- E-mail to KWWL.
- E-mail to the Courier(They did publish)
- E-mail to the Cedar Falls Times
- Posted on the UNI athletic website.
- E-mail to PSC members.
- "The Sports Guy" has talked about the trips on
his show.
- Communication has been sent to player parents
through the football office.

I think the day trips would be more appealing to students, but having to spend $95 plus a hotel to go to Brookings, SD would cut into the beer fund. Last year we just had one trip(SIU) and this year we thought we would open up more games and send the ones that fill up.

You would think sending out info to those who go to the home games(Season Ticket Holders) would generate a buzz around going on the road, but it hasn't been the case. One of the difficult things we face is people wanting to make last minute reservations. For example, last week we had several calls from fans who wanted to go to SDSU on the bus trip. The unfortunate problem is we had to cancel that trip since the bus company has a deadline and the hotel had a deadline. We have people out there wanting to go, but we need them to commit earlier. Don't get me wrong it's not cheap going on the road, but they are a blast.

[TravelingPanther]

wish i could go, but i'll see ya down there

[JCPanthers]

maybe would want to get permission for this. But I believe sending and email to [email protected] would go to all of the posse members. Over 2,000 strong!!!

Actually, I was told that it was going to BE mailed to all of the posse?

[JCPanthers]

It seems like getting the bus to "go" is becoming more of an anamoly than a reality for these trips. I would hate to hear that the concept of planning them would fall by the wayside due to (deserved, but unfortunate) frustrations by the organizers from not getting enough people signed up. In principle they are all great ideas!

From the sounds of it, there will be many more than the 40 or whatever number the bus will hold, going to SDSU... so I wonder what it is about the bus that is making people consider other options?

Also, what other avenues are being utilized to promote the trip (or all trips, really)??

Just curious:

• I know the UNI alumni emails a newsletter... but I dont think I saw it there. Would they include it? It would seem like they would.
• Is there anyway to contact the students?
• Would the "NI" consider giving free ad space to help support the Panthers?? Or heck, we have NI writers that utilize this board... could one of you write an Op-Ed about why you think people should go??
• Wasn't there something in the Courier? Would they re-run it?
• Does Panthernation have a database of subscriber emails that they could contact? I know not everyone reads info here everyday and certainly doesnt look at every thread.
• Other ideas?

I'm not proposing you do these things to "work harder" but some of them could cause less work for you guys in the end.

I hope you guys are able to "warm up the bus" for one of these!!

Thanks Mad Cat for the ideas. As Alleycat said, we've done all of that and more to get the word out.

I didn't think about the Northern Iowan and as I said above, the posse were going to receive an email from the marketing dept. Did they not send it out??

Of all of the media outlets I've e-mailed, I only got responses from Doug Newhoff of the Courier, Gary at On Press Row, Eric Braley of the Panther Sports Talk (However, I've yet to see anything on his show. hint. hint.). Nothing from KWWL or the Cedar Falls Times.

Kelly from the PSC has sent out regular e-mails to all PSC members as part of their weekly e-mail. I would like to see a seperate e-mail instead of the general info e-mail, because I think alot of people just glance over it or delete it.

Anyway, maybe just keep plugging it on PN, because today alleycat got 4 people to sign up and I also heard from 4 people and a few maybes.

Anyway, it looks like the bus will be going to Illinois State!!

[Panther'73]

YEA!!!! I sure hope so!!! THANKS AGAIN JC and ALLEYCAT for ALL your extra work and
TIME organizing these trips!!!
GO PANTHERS!!!!!

[Jonsoup]

So who is going the person to organize a get together at the stadium of fellow Panther Nation members. So we can have good time of meeting fellow members. I can't be the person as I'm coming in the day of the game so I can't block off a section of the parking lot. I usually get into town about hour before the game.

[alleycat]

The bus trip is a go!!!! We had two more sign up today.

[GonzoCat]

Is there a bus trip for W. Illinois in the works?