I think that the student section should be moved to the other side of the arena, as it is you have to have an away section right behind the opposing teams bench, and that completely destroys the ability for a student section to cause chaos during timeouts and breaks in the action. Either move the section or get rid of the away tickets right behind the bench.

I stand behind my earlier statement of removing the piped in music. Really the only time that it is needed would be during player introductions, if each player wanted to pick a song to be announced to that would an entertaining twist. The pep band needs to be dominant.

One recurring theme of this board has been that with winning will come changes. That is very true, but what we need to remember is that we need to be a great atmosphere even when we aren’t winning. This is a Big Ten school that has a rich basketball tradition. Sure we are in a dark period right now, but that doesn’t mean that Crisler has to suffer.

One last thing, removing lazy and lethargic fans is a great idea, they should do the same thing at Michigan Stadium too. Just because you paid a ton of money for those seats doesn’t mean you can come and not embrace the team, the game, or the environment.

There is pleny of blame to be spread amongst the age groups. I think relocating any fans categorically is a huge mistake at this point. The only fans left are the most loyal ones. There just are not enough of them and they don’t make enough noise. Even students seemed to be MIA especially in the Minnesota game — they ignored challenges from the visiting Gophers.

My suggestion is to video the fans-all of them- and make it clear that retaining seats in the blue at the same location depends on enthusiasm and participation. But this will only work when they sell all the tickets.

Also, why not get cheerleaders to do more actual cheers that people can join in?

theres absolutely no place for that crap at chrisler.

take yost for example: anouncer is total straightforward and class. yet, the students have so much fun with him (not as good as the guy in the 90′s, but still good)

that is the way college announcers should be, glitz and that crap is for the bigs.

I am glad to hear this. In the time I have been going to UM games I have seen a lot of changes in the pep band. I am sure the new director will get it right and I always appreciate the effort the student members put into it.

One low point from the last season – they had fans vote on favorite songs via text message during the games and then played a recording of the winning tune during a timeout. On one occasion the winning song was “Living on a Prayer” – a song that I am sure I have heard the pep bad do before (I know the marching band does an arrangement of it). But instead we were subjected to a recorded version on that awful sound system. Hearing the band play it would have been a lot better.

I am an older, but enthusiastic, alumni fan. Moving the alumni fans is a tricky issue. I remember some controversy among alums years ago when the student section was moved from behind the south basket to midcourt. I was a good move and I supported it then and now. But devoting the full lower bowl to students won’t work when they aren’t even filling the section they have now.

Instead I would start by going after season ticket no-shows. Tell people they will be bumped to upper-bowl seats if they aren’t using the ones they have.

Finally, maybe some gentle chiding of fans doing crossword puzzles might be in order (except during visiting team introductions).

The biggest thing though is getting the old fans out of the best seats. I don’t care how long they have had them or who they know. THEY DON’T CHEER. I almost wen’t off on an older lady who was doing crosswords during the game. IT’S RIDICULOUS.