Looking forward to Siegel tonight...

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wml33t

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After some jawing back and forth by me this week on here, I wanted to copy and paste a post I made at "the other site" in the VCU section after the game @ VCU last year:

Subject: My first visit to Siegel

... was a blast.

I was unhappy with some things on the court (not just the terrible performance by the Tribe), but I'll save that for another thread (if at all).

My general thoughts on the Siegel experience:

1. The passion in that arena is the best I have seen at any CAA basketball game I've been too (including away OOC Tribe games).
2. Compared to what I'm used to, the marketing department is top-notch. They are organized, have games that people recognize and understand, and create excitement for the games.
3. VERY nice scoreboards (although it's very weird to get used to looking over the baskets rather than above the center of the court).
4. Courteous fans. Let me clarify. In the heat of the game you guys are as emotional, trash-talking, Ram loving, SOBs as I've ever seen - but when it's not on the court, very courteous. This is the thing that frustrates me about certain other conference schools - there is no reason for disrespect from one individual fan to another individual fan outside of the context of the game (entering the arena, leaving the arena, at the concession stand, etc).
5. An amazingly entertaining band. They may not be the top musicians in the conference (although they are quite good), but they are god-damned entertaining. I knew your director was a nut-job (I mean that in the nicest possible way), but he takes it to an entirely different level in your arena.
6. On the band again - they root for your team without degrading the other team. I've said this in criticism of ODU many times in the past - I think the official school reps (cheerleaders, dance team, band, etc) should not be doing negative actions towards the opposing team (especially organized ones like ODU does). I noticed one point in particular a band member started to do something negative (I forget what at this point because the board has been down for so long) and the director quickly put a squash on it.
7. Control of the masses by the masses. I'll point to one incident in-particular. Some moron student threw some balled-up foil onto the floor. Next thing I notice is Pav whiping off his white board and writing, "If you see someone throw something, point them out" and the entire front row looking back at the student section with their best intimidation looks while he held the sign up.

I'll stop there, I guess that's enough gushing - I'm sure my fellow W&M fans will roll their eyes and be annoyed at me. But, this is what we need at W&M. I know we take a lot of flack for our atmosphere and we defend ourselves a lot. I think that other schools are overly harsh about it with the challenges that we face at W&M, but after experiencing this it makes me view things a bit differently.

Some of your posters on here do not represent the whole of your fanbase well at all. But in reality I feel that VCU has the best combination of rowdy but not a-hole fans in the conference. I have sworn off going to Norfolk for games ever again, but I'll damned sure be in Richmond again.
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I'm looking forward to another visit to Siegel tonight. I'm sure the atmosphere will be a bit more hostile with VCU looking for "payback" and the game having a lot more meaning in the conference, but I don't suspect that it will cross the line into an unpleasant experience. Regardless of win or lose, I'm sure I'll have a good time - and I wanted to say that before the emotions of a win/loss by either team gets in the way.

As W&M grows in local support in Williamsburg, I hope that we look to VCU for how to build a good atmosphere on gameday. I hope that we get a good chunk of fans (all relative of course) at Siegel so that they can see what the atmosphere is like.

I'll fall short of wishing VCU luck tonight, but I look forward to an entertaining night with a hard-fought basketball game. Hopefully I have a trip home happy over a win, but if not at least I know I won't be soured by the fans like I would be at certain other schools.
 
Class post. Looking forward to an electric atmosphere and one heck of a game this evening!
 
I remember your post from last year and thank you for the props. W&M has always been my 2nd favorite team in the CAA. With that said....

I hope you enjoy your evening at the Siegel Center and may you go home in disgust again tonight! :D
 
Good Post. The exact reason I take my family once a year on the trek to Richmond for a game.

I do have the fortune of having a neighbor that is 4 doors down that graduated from W&M. So I have my "Payback" sign ready for my son and I to put in his yard tonight. Last game He and His son cherry knocked my door and were dancing in green hair wigs while holding my last sign up in the air with a big "X" thru it after their win. My son and I stood at the front door laughing.

It's just a game and is all in fun and their is always next time - It's what makes all sports great!
 
You are right, John. This is a classy post. :) I just wish all 7,000+ of our fans could read it. It reminds me of what we should be like, but I fear sometimes, we are not. I have a friend from VCU who will never go again to ODU because of the way his wife was treated. :( That is a sad state of affairs. Thanks, again, for this post. See all of you good William & Mary fans tonight.
 
Classy Post. The atmosphere should be even better than last year!! Northeastern was the only atmosphere that I really remember being nuts but this year its been insane quite a few games. Not to mention sell outs on games one wouldn't expect.

(I love when people get the whole "the games over" thing. Leave it on the court. Reassured though there will be tons of heckling :lol: )
 
that's cute. and classy.
very classy.
brimming with class.


time to dispose of these guys like cheap hookers.
 
buckwheat said:
that's cute. and classy.
very classy.
brimming with class.


time to dispose of these guys like cheap hookers.
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Classy post, all the more reason i miss living in RVA. Wish i was there but ill be in spirit via the live feed streaming through the internets! BTW first post here...Go rams!
 
I too am very much looking forward to tonight's game. Here's hoping the Tribe fans come en masse, have a great time before the game, watch the best basketball in the best atmosphere the CAA has to offer and leave crestfallen.
 
ViCtorioUs said:
I too am very much looking forward to tonight's game. Here's hoping the Tribe fans come en masse, have a great time before the game, watch the best basketball in the best atmosphere the CAA has to offer and leave crestfallen.
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fwiw, I'm not real optimistic about turnout. It will be more than last year, but I can't see it being more than.. oh... 250?

I hope I'm wrong.
 
rvahbum said:
Classy post, all the more reason i miss living in RVA. Wish i was there but ill be in spirit via the live feed streaming through the internets! BTW first post here...Go rams!
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Welcome!! Don't forget that you can participate with fellow Ram fans during the games via our liveblog.
 
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