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Post by Bornthrilla on Jul 19, 2024 8:10:51 GMT -5
I remember at one time Colbert was mentioned in the same conversation with Carolina and Duke when it came to Fan enthusiasm at their venues on the national stage. Now we have been passed by Grambling and Alabama State for being the most daunting for visiting teams. Hell I don't think ( could be wrong), I don't think we are even in the Top 50 anymore nationally and definitely not in the top five in the state of North Carolina or the region. The modern golden era of our fan engagement at A&T probably came between 2006-2010. During that time we had a senior person on staff who focused primarily on fan engagement and game operations. The reason why Aggie fans started wearing gold to sporting events in unison was because the school actually launched a "solid gold" campaign to spearhead this trend and educate the fanbase on its importance. It was not organic. We got that idea from Clemson University's marketing department who already had a fan initiative called the "Solid Orange" campaign. I believe UNC even had a similar campaign back then called "Turn It Blue". Around that time, that same senior staff person actually created and was the liaison for a new student fan organization on campus called the Aggie Maniacs - because he felt the Aggie Livewires were not being effective. The Maniacs had officers, a budget and regular meetings to plan out how they could better impact the games and also influence other students to be more involved at games. This was not organic. This was a concerted effort by the A&T athletic department. Flash forward to 2011 and that senior staff person eventually left A&T for another job and Earl Hilton takes over as AD. Right off the bat, Earl had little interest in fan engagement and sports marketing in general - and as a result we begin to experience a steady decline in those two areas. That is until we hire Carl Hairston who brings renewed energy and some fresh creativity to the athletic department. Hairston was one of the architects behind the Club Corbett phenomenon with DJ K Grady and the gang. Flash forward again to 3 years ago when Hairston eventually left to take a job with the ACC and Earl Hilton decides he doesn't need another marketing director. The moral of the story is that you get what you pay for and you make investments into things that are important to you. If A&T is truly interested in improving fan engagement, there is already a blueprint out there. However, if our leadership does not want to get involved, it will probably not improve organically.
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bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Jul 19, 2024 10:08:34 GMT -5
Can somebody here provide an example of the type of FCS stadium environment they would like to emulate? I'm not talking about the Montanas and ND States of the world; I'm talking about a mid-level FCS program that has more fan engagement on a regular basis than we do. Division 2 Tuskegee. They have the best student engagement I have every seen.
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Post by Aggie Monster on Jul 19, 2024 10:23:01 GMT -5
I agree with you with the exception of NCCU...they support when they are winning. So, that's quite obvious they turn out in big numbers when their team is on top, who doesn't? Let them start losing and see what you get. Again, this is about engagement. And they are much more engaged and have things going on in their stadium than we do. We'll see what they have/do on 9/21. I've been to several NCCU games on a whim because I had a free ticket. They are not really engaged if its not a rivalry or super packed. About the same as us.
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Post by westcoastaggie on Jul 19, 2024 11:36:11 GMT -5
Can somebody here provide an example of the type of FCS stadium environment they would like to emulate? I'm not talking about the Montanas and ND States of the world; I'm talking about a mid-level FCS program that has more fan engagement on a regular basis than we do. McNeese State on the PWI side is an excellent example of a good FCS environment football-wise. And when they were in FCS, James Madison had an excellent gameday environment. FWIW, many CAA aficionados feels we'll side in JMU's place as the premiere CAA Football environment. Basketball too. We just got to start winning again.
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saabman
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Post by saabman on Jul 19, 2024 11:37:18 GMT -5
Can somebody here provide an example of the type of FCS stadium environment they would like to emulate? I'm not talking about the Montanas and ND States of the world; I'm talking about a mid-level FCS program that has more fan engagement on a regular basis than we do. Division 2 Tuskegee. They have the best student engagement I have every seen. Yes Tuskegee gets live under the shed. So does Wiley, Langston and Lincoln University in Missouri. All small venues but you will never know it the way the crowd be sounding off.
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Post by westcoastaggie on Jul 19, 2024 11:49:10 GMT -5
Can somebody here provide an example of the type of FCS stadium environment they would like to emulate? I'm not talking about the Montanas and ND States of the world; I'm talking about a mid-level FCS program that has more fan engagement on a regular basis than we do. Division 2 Tuskegee. They have the best student engagement I have every seen. Student engagement is enhanced by the fact that they barely have seats under the shed for students and they don't really have seating throughout the stadium overall.
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Jul 19, 2024 13:59:37 GMT -5
Again, this is about engagement. And they are much more engaged and have things going on in their stadium than we do. We'll see what they have/do on 9/21. I've been to several NCCU games on a whim because I had a fee ticket. They are not really engaged if its not a rivalry or super packed. About the same as us. 100% agreed...
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jbrob
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Post by jbrob on Jul 19, 2024 14:18:15 GMT -5
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A&T-roy
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Post by A&T-roy on Jul 19, 2024 15:19:15 GMT -5
I've been to several NCCU games on a whim because I had a fee ticket. They are not really engaged if its not a rivalry or super packed. About the same as us. 100% agreed... And this lends more credence to culture.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jul 19, 2024 15:39:50 GMT -5
Do you still believe black culture is the reason why we dont have strong fan engagement?
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Post by Aggie Monster on Jul 19, 2024 15:54:52 GMT -5
For us that are still going to high school games, the culture difference at football games and how far back it's learned or not learned is clear. We just have to find a way to retrain our youth once they get to A&T. So I understand Thrilla's point, but you cant ignore that it's definitely baked or should I say, NOT baked into the black culture. Look at Rolesville's( Its about 50% minority population there) student section. Where we at doh? I see a few sprinkles in there. Millbrooks "livewire" section shouldn't be bigger than A&Ts, LOL. I see a few sprinkled in there as well. We hanging next to the concession stand and under the bleachers. And these are not some country backwoods schools. They are in the heart of Wake County/Raleigh. Its stuff to do other than football on Friday. Show me Hillsides or Dudley's student section in comparison please. Probably not possible....
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bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Jul 19, 2024 16:14:44 GMT -5
I don't care if they only had one a year. If you go to a game, you'll see what I mean. Those kids don't sit down for the entire game. They have chants and songs lined up from before kickoff until the game is over. It's truly an experience.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jul 19, 2024 16:37:39 GMT -5
Aggie Monster, I agree that most black high school students are not dressing up in American flags and Hawaiian gear just to attend a football game. lol
That just seems like a SGA type of thing.
Also I am not sure how segregated Rolesville and Millbrook are, but the black students might just want to hang with each other during the games somewhere else in the stands. That doesn't mean they are not cheering for the team and engaged with the action on the field.
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Post by blessedaggie84 on Jul 19, 2024 16:38:41 GMT -5
For us that are still going to high school games, the culture difference at football games and how far back it's learned or not learned is clear. We just have to find a way to retrain our youth once they get to A&T. So I understand Thrilla's point, but you cant ignore that it's definitely baked or should I say, NOT baked into the black culture. Look at Rolesville's( Its about 50% minority population there) student section. Where we at doh? I see a few sprinkles in there. Millbrooks "livewire" section shouldn't be bigger than A&Ts, LOL. I see a few sprinkled in there as well. We hanging next to the concession stand and under the bleachers. And these are not some country backwoods schools. They are in the heart of Wake County/Raleigh. Its stuff to do other than football on Friday. Show me Hillsides or Dudley's student section in comparison please. Probably not possible.... Dudley has been consistently good and dont have much crowd engagement as you may see at other schools. I see a lot of the kids hanging out on the hill or walking around at Dudley games. I see what you are saying Aggie Monster.
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Post by Aggie Monster on Jul 19, 2024 16:55:43 GMT -5
Aggie Monster, I agree that most black high school students are not dressing up in American flags and Hawaiian gear just to attend a football game. lol That just seems like a SGA type of thing. Also I am not sure how segregated Rolesville and Millbrook are, but the black students might just want to hang with each other during the games somewhere else in the stands. That doesn't mean they are not cheering for the team and engaged with the action on the field. Yeah, you ignoring stuff for your side of the debate now. "American flags" is what you got out of that? Because again, I know where most of the black students are. They are in front of the concessions and socializing and doing everything but watching the game. And you know better and trolling, because I know you were at some high school games and got eyes. At some games the police and assistant principals have to literally force black kids to the stands. "If you ain't in the concessions line go to the stands please"
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