Colorado State University Athletics
RamWire Mailbag: Drawing in the Student Population
1/30/2020 5:00:00 PM | RamWire
Softball success, spring football and new sports
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – I always look forward to the Super Bowl, but times have changed.
I used to like to gather with friends, tons of food, a big party, a few cocktails. A few more.
Now, I like quiet. Just me, the wife and the dogs at home. The dogs just sleep. Every time a player gets injured, my wife mutters that she hates football.
Simple.
It allows me to actually watch the game, and if I time my jambalaya correctly, I can completely ignore the halftime show.
Not that you care. Now, on to what you wanted to know …
Why is more not being done to get students to attend basketball games?
This is a loaded question, but glad you asked and are showing an interest in the topic because the athletic department is exploring all avenues to try to create a campus-wide culture the teams are very much part of in the overall college experience.
Each game, they've worked with Greek Life and student groups on campus, picking one organization for each home game. They serve as hosts and ambassadors and receive their own portion of the student section. The university recognizes them in-game, promoting an aspect of the group, and in turn, they help promote attendance for the contest.
This week, freshman David Roddy visited with campus sororities and fraternities to drum up support, and the program used social media to send out a special message from Isaiah Stevens. He in turn proved why students should attend, draining the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Thursday, the marketing department helped the men's basketball team engage with students, informing them about Saturday's Orange Out with UNLV by passing out orange T-Shirts. Actually, the marketing department does something similar each Tuesday and Thursday, working campus with free T-shirts to encourage attendance.
For the CU game, the athletic department worked with Ram Ruckus for a student tailgate. The seats in the student section have newspapers, complete with game info, rosters and cheers. Meetings between the basketball teams, Ram Ruckus and other student groups have been held looking for solutions. Patrick Krza and Joe Parker will have breakfast with student Cameron Naseman, who has proven to be the most enthusiastic person in the student section. They'd like to pick his brain.
The ticketing process has never been easier for the students. They no longer require a hard ticket for entry, just a swipe of their student ID as they enter, and that ID can be used to claim tickets in advance online.
There are a lot of students who work within the athletic department, and they are bringing forward ideas to reach the rest of the student population. There are 3,000 seats available for students. The goal is for them all to be filled.
If anybody else has ideas, the department is listening. I know one thing, one group doing it all it can to draw in fan support is the men's team itself. Damn, they are fun to watch, have won 15 games and posted a 9-3 record at home. Stevens may not hit a game-winner every night, but they will put on a show.
I was in college once, too. Every now and then, you need a couple of hours to get away from the books. Why not make it Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons at Moby Arena?
When will the spring football schedule be released?
Probably pretty soon. With a full coaching staff finally in place, they can start discussing how they want to map out the spring.
That said, it hasn't been at the top of the to-do list either, not with every coach on the road recruiting to finalize Wednesday's signing class and build a foundation for years to come.
As of Monday, the coaches can all be in the offices together, and while a majority of the time will be devoted to getting in synch with each other on systems and teaching, they will start to draw out when they want to start and finish spring. I know the former regime really enjoyed having camp done before spring break started, creating a longer, more consistent lifting cycle for the end of semester, but every coach has a different philosophy, and that set up would be impossible to pull off with a coaching change.
You can pretty much expect a five-week period starting sometime in March.
How do you think the CSU Rams softball team will do this year?
I expect them to challenge for the Mountain West title again, and I know the players hold the same expectation.
People are going to get caught up in what the Rams lost, which is notable in ace pitcher Bridgette Hutton and her catcher, Amber Nelson, who was the conference player of the year. Those are big subtractions, but the Rams were far from a two-person show in 2019.
There are still four all-conference players returning, starting with Ashley Ruiz and Tara Shadowen, who both slugged better than .700 last year. There is still thunder in the lineup, and speed at the top in Ashley Michelena. Pitcher Jessica Jarecki won 15 games in the circle last year, posting a 2.65 ERA.
The culture around the team helped fuel the run, and being around some of the players, it still exists. They are not looking at who is no longer in the locker room, but who has joined them.
CSU was picked to finished third, tied with UNLV. Six teams received at least one first-place vote from coaches, and coaches were not allowed to list their team on the ballot. Even they think it's up for grabs, and the Rams will contend.
Is Colorado State considering adding to the athletic roster?
Always an interesting question, and it's a topic the athletic department looks at frequently, always evaluating the portfolio to provide the best experience for students. As of now, there isn't a big push to add a team, but if the timing becomes right, the university wants have already started the leg work.
All the usual suspects in terms of rationale come into play, and if it does happen, it would likely be a women's sport first. In the past, lacrosse has had some support, and some of the facilities required are already on campus.
Right now, Colorado State is an active member in every sport the Mountain West oversees with the exception of men's tennis and baseball. Lacrosse is gaining popularity out West, and at the time, only two Mountain West schools have programs – Fresno State and San Diego State. In state, Denver and Colorado both field teams.
So, the idea is always being discussed, but there is no active movement on the front at this time.
I used to like to gather with friends, tons of food, a big party, a few cocktails. A few more.
Now, I like quiet. Just me, the wife and the dogs at home. The dogs just sleep. Every time a player gets injured, my wife mutters that she hates football.
Simple.
It allows me to actually watch the game, and if I time my jambalaya correctly, I can completely ignore the halftime show.
Not that you care. Now, on to what you wanted to know …
Why is more not being done to get students to attend basketball games?
This is a loaded question, but glad you asked and are showing an interest in the topic because the athletic department is exploring all avenues to try to create a campus-wide culture the teams are very much part of in the overall college experience.
Each game, they've worked with Greek Life and student groups on campus, picking one organization for each home game. They serve as hosts and ambassadors and receive their own portion of the student section. The university recognizes them in-game, promoting an aspect of the group, and in turn, they help promote attendance for the contest.
This week, freshman David Roddy visited with campus sororities and fraternities to drum up support, and the program used social media to send out a special message from Isaiah Stevens. He in turn proved why students should attend, draining the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Thursday, the marketing department helped the men's basketball team engage with students, informing them about Saturday's Orange Out with UNLV by passing out orange T-Shirts. Actually, the marketing department does something similar each Tuesday and Thursday, working campus with free T-shirts to encourage attendance.
For the CU game, the athletic department worked with Ram Ruckus for a student tailgate. The seats in the student section have newspapers, complete with game info, rosters and cheers. Meetings between the basketball teams, Ram Ruckus and other student groups have been held looking for solutions. Patrick Krza and Joe Parker will have breakfast with student Cameron Naseman, who has proven to be the most enthusiastic person in the student section. They'd like to pick his brain.
The ticketing process has never been easier for the students. They no longer require a hard ticket for entry, just a swipe of their student ID as they enter, and that ID can be used to claim tickets in advance online.
There are a lot of students who work within the athletic department, and they are bringing forward ideas to reach the rest of the student population. There are 3,000 seats available for students. The goal is for them all to be filled.
If anybody else has ideas, the department is listening. I know one thing, one group doing it all it can to draw in fan support is the men's team itself. Damn, they are fun to watch, have won 15 games and posted a 9-3 record at home. Stevens may not hit a game-winner every night, but they will put on a show.
I was in college once, too. Every now and then, you need a couple of hours to get away from the books. Why not make it Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons at Moby Arena?
When will the spring football schedule be released?
Probably pretty soon. With a full coaching staff finally in place, they can start discussing how they want to map out the spring.
That said, it hasn't been at the top of the to-do list either, not with every coach on the road recruiting to finalize Wednesday's signing class and build a foundation for years to come.
As of Monday, the coaches can all be in the offices together, and while a majority of the time will be devoted to getting in synch with each other on systems and teaching, they will start to draw out when they want to start and finish spring. I know the former regime really enjoyed having camp done before spring break started, creating a longer, more consistent lifting cycle for the end of semester, but every coach has a different philosophy, and that set up would be impossible to pull off with a coaching change.
You can pretty much expect a five-week period starting sometime in March.
How do you think the CSU Rams softball team will do this year?
I expect them to challenge for the Mountain West title again, and I know the players hold the same expectation.
People are going to get caught up in what the Rams lost, which is notable in ace pitcher Bridgette Hutton and her catcher, Amber Nelson, who was the conference player of the year. Those are big subtractions, but the Rams were far from a two-person show in 2019.
There are still four all-conference players returning, starting with Ashley Ruiz and Tara Shadowen, who both slugged better than .700 last year. There is still thunder in the lineup, and speed at the top in Ashley Michelena. Pitcher Jessica Jarecki won 15 games in the circle last year, posting a 2.65 ERA.
The culture around the team helped fuel the run, and being around some of the players, it still exists. They are not looking at who is no longer in the locker room, but who has joined them.
CSU was picked to finished third, tied with UNLV. Six teams received at least one first-place vote from coaches, and coaches were not allowed to list their team on the ballot. Even they think it's up for grabs, and the Rams will contend.
Is Colorado State considering adding to the athletic roster?
Always an interesting question, and it's a topic the athletic department looks at frequently, always evaluating the portfolio to provide the best experience for students. As of now, there isn't a big push to add a team, but if the timing becomes right, the university wants have already started the leg work.
All the usual suspects in terms of rationale come into play, and if it does happen, it would likely be a women's sport first. In the past, lacrosse has had some support, and some of the facilities required are already on campus.
Right now, Colorado State is an active member in every sport the Mountain West oversees with the exception of men's tennis and baseball. Lacrosse is gaining popularity out West, and at the time, only two Mountain West schools have programs – Fresno State and San Diego State. In state, Denver and Colorado both field teams.
So, the idea is always being discussed, but there is no active movement on the front at this time.
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