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Could the RAC be ROCKIN again soon?

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BuggsyRU

All-American
Mar 22, 2007
7,057
5,668
0
My freshman year was 1988. That fall was the very first season of the Bob Wenzel era.

Unbelievably, we went to two NCAA's and two NITs during my fur years at RU.

Expectations couldn't have been lower my freshman year...coming off an embarrassing 7-22 season (7 wins, sound familiar?)

Unbelievably, Wenzel was able to win some tight games, and slowly but surely, more people started turning out for games at the RAC. By Mid February, after winning 4 out of 5, we were building a little buzz, and the team started feeding off of it. The crowds at the RAC were getting into it....and growing every game.

We ended the regular season winning 9 out of our last 11 games, again, after an abysmal season the year before....and played our way into the NCAA by upsetting Temple in the semis, then Penn State in the finals of the the A-10 Championships.

Our once non existent crowds became a huge advantage for us....as students started filling every seat in the student section.

That led to some stronger recruiting classes for Wenzel, increased exposure, larger crowds, and so on.

Hey, I'm not stupid. The Big Ten is obviously a MUCH MUCH tougher league, and repeating that magic is nearly impossible given the quality of teams we now face on a regular basis....but we can see a huge jump in the quality of play from one year to the next...especially if everyone stays healthy like they did in 1988.

Here's hoping to we soon see Steve-sicles in RAC in the near future...because that will mean we're on to something.
 
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A

AreYouNUTS

Heisman
Aug 1, 2001
123,347
57,391
113
BuggsyRU said:
My freshman year was 1988. That fall was the very first season of the Bob Wenzel era.

Unbelievably, we went to two NCAA's and two NITs during my fur years at RU.

Expectations couldn't have been lower my freshman year...coming off an embarrassing 7-22 season (7 wins, sound familiar?)

Unbelievably, Wenzel was able to win some tight games, and slowly but surely, more people started turning out for games at the RAC. By Mid February, after winning 4 out of 5, we were building a little buzz, and the team started feeding off of it. The crowds at the RAC were getting into it....and growing every game.

We ended the regular season winning 9 out of our last 11 games, again, after an abysmal season the year before....and played our way into the NCAA by upsetting Temple in the semis, then Penn State in the finals of the the A-10 Championships.

Our once non existent crowds became a huge advantage for us....as students started filling every seat in the student section.

That led to some stronger recruiting classes for Wenzel, increased exposure, larger crowds, and so on.

Hey, I'm not stupid. The Big Ten is obviously a MUCH MUCH tougher league, and repeating that magic is nearly impossible given the quality of teams we now face on a regular basis....but we can see a huge jump in the quality of play from one year to the next...especially if everyone stays healthy like they did in 1988.

Here's hoping to we soon see Steve-sicles in RAC in the near future...because that will mean we're on to something.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it'll never be THAT loud again due to:

- the loss of 200 or so students seats behind the team bench

- the moving of the student section back 10+ feet from where it used to be (and loss of those seats)

- the 1500 students that would sit in the 300 level for "overflow" type games

...but it CAN be damn loud again and I can't wait!
 
R

Rutgers25

All-American
Jul 29, 2001
7,759
6,173
83
AreYouNUTS said:
Unfortunately it'll never be THAT loud again due to:

- the loss of 200 or so students seats behind the team bench

- the moving of the student section back 10+ feet from where it used to be (and loss of those seats)

- the 1500 students that would sit in the 300 level for "overflow" type games

...but it CAN be damn loud again and I can't wait!
Click to expand...

Why did they move the student section back? It looks so bad on TV...
 
A

AreYouNUTS

Heisman
Aug 1, 2001
123,347
57,391
113
Rutgers25 said:
Why did they move the student section back? It looks so bad on TV...
Click to expand...

They moved it to accommodate the press, IIRC - who were moved from the front row on the floor, where there are now VIP seats - a few years ago. Stupid. Put the press in the 300's. It's not like they're paying to see the games.
 
R

RU-Choppin-Ohio

Heisman
Jul 31, 2011
32,988
37,778
113
AreYouNUTS said:
Unfortunately it'll never be THAT loud again due to:

- the loss of 200 or so students seats behind the team bench

- the moving of the student section back 10+ feet from where it used to be (and loss of those seats)

- the 1500 students that would sit in the 300 level for "overflow" type games

...but it CAN be damn loud again and I can't wait!
Click to expand...

Students need to be moved back to the side of the court. Like most schools. The older dudes sitting on their hands can be moved to the other side of the court. Maybe Pikiell will push for this as part of his game day improvement plan.
 
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O

OntheBanks

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2001
13,205
4,556
113
Don't they have the press in the Handicap section behind 118 now?
Move the student section back forward 10 feet and get rid of that god awful DJ music.
I'd rather have the pep band play.
Don't move the students to the side court. You'll have nothing but empty seats during
the OOC games. We're not yet a big draw for students.
 
C

ColonelRutgers

All-American
Dec 15, 2003
7,106
9,298
113
RU-Choppin-Ohio said:
Students need to be moved back to the side of the court. Like most schools. The older dudes sitting on their hands can be moved to the other side of the court. Maybe Pikiell will push for this as part of his game day improvement plan.
Click to expand...
Sorry, no, I'll keep my seats thank you. Enjoy the games on TV in Ohio.

I'm guaranteed to be in my seats every game. Students. Not so much.
 
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Knight Shift

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,695
86,690
113
AreYouNUTS said:
They moved it to accommodate the press, IIRC - who were moved from the front row on the floor, where there are now VIP seats - a few years ago. Stupid. Put the press in the 300's. It's not like they're paying to see the games.
Click to expand...

Maybe Pikiell will change that back? Consider this regarding what they did at Stony Brook:
"Rather than lose the intimacy of Pritchard Gym, which has developed into a significant advantage for coach Steve Pikiell's men's team, plans call for front-row seats to be as close to the court as NCAA rules allow."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/colle...ook-to-begin-21-1m-arena-renovation-1.3728108
 
Sweet Pea's Corner

Sweet Pea's Corner

All-American
Sep 10, 2001
17,834
5,690
113
The press is above 118 now. VIP seats are behind the basket. I believe they originally moved the seats back after that RU protest vs UMass.
 
R

Rhuarc

All-American
Jul 25, 2001
6,473
7,012
113
I have faith in the new regime. As a result, I will be buying 2 season tickets for men's hoops next season for the first time since the Fred Hill error. Looking forward to the rise from the ashes.
 
C

ColonelRutgers

All-American
Dec 15, 2003
7,106
9,298
113
Knight Shift said:
Maybe Pikiell will change that back? Consider this regarding what they did at Stony Brook:
"Rather than lose the intimacy of Pritchard Gym, which has developed into a significant advantage for coach Steve Pikiell's men's team, plans call for front-row seats to be as close to the court as NCAA rules allow."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/colle...ook-to-begin-21-1m-arena-renovation-1.3728108
Click to expand...
No chance. The court side seats are the best bet for revenue generation (there's a SASF requirement for each above and beyond normal season ticket cost) in our tiny Big Ten arena. They're not giving them to students. Mulcahy had them put in padded seats and replace the bleachers about 15 years ago on one side to help. The RAC would be loud and intimidating as hell if the students would just pack the end zone but if they don't want to come you can't stop them. Back when students were courtside, they only used half of that side section and it wasn't behind the opponent's bench. The Big East had a rule where students could not be right behind opposing bench which I think was a very wise rule given the nasty things directed toward opponents and the fact that opponent's families usually are close by the bench. Doesn't look like that rule applies in Big Ten which is not smart.

Regarding the end zone, losing bleachers, I think it was more of a safety/crowd control issue than anything and they also need room for all of the cheerleaders/dance team members, our beloved DJ, etc. now
 
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A

AreYouNUTS

Heisman
Aug 1, 2001
123,347
57,391
113
RocktheRac said:
The press is above 118 now. VIP seats are behind the basket. I believe they originally moved the seats back after that RU protest vs UMass.
Click to expand...

Nope. It was quite a while after that game (which was OVER 20 years ago now, wow!) and actually, IIRC, they've been moved back TWICE now. At first it was just a couple of rows but now you could throw a party in the space between the baseline and the stands.
 
R

RUJMM78

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
26,216
12,477
113
RU-Choppin-Ohio said:
Students need to be moved back to the side of the court. Like most schools. The older dudes sitting on their hands can be moved to the other side of the court. Maybe Pikiell will push for this as part of his game day improvement plan.
Click to expand...
Not going to happen because they are the bigger donors.Students don't deserve any special seating after abandoning the program the last two seasons.
 
S

S_Janowski

Heisman
May 24, 2009
13,920
26,526
113
Pretty sure they pushed the students back and gated them in the season after the court storming vs. Nova. Whenever we get the the RAC back to life they need to find a way to get some students closer to the basket.
 
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E

ElmiraExpress

Senior
Oct 3, 2004
2,439
767
0
RUJMM78 said:
Not going to happen because they are the bigger donors.Students don't deserve any special seating after abandoning the program the last two seasons.
Click to expand...

Two years ? Students have mostly been missing since the Fred Hill Jr. Era began
 
R

RUonBrain

All-American
Apr 29, 2002
8,095
7,531
113
I was in the RAC PAC and sat behind the RUTGERS bench in the late 80s.
That was when the place rocked.

The "big donors" always sucked as they sat on their old asses.

Nearly every big time college game you watch on TV has students sitting courtside somewhere. That is what makes the atmosphere so great, and without atmosphere, you have nothing.

End zone?
That won't cut it.

Enjoy your naps on courtside, you old farts.
 
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