HS Basketball declining in Indiana. What about football in TX???

[KFDM COOP]

HS Basketball declining in Indiana. What about football in TX???

In Hoosier state, schools searching for more basketball fans

By CHRIS MORRIS

THE EVENING NEWS AND THE TRIBUNE (JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind.)

NEW ALBANY, Ind. — In 1980, disgruntled New Albany basketball fans walked out of the school’s gymnasium shaking their heads. It was tournament time, and there were not enough sectional tickets to go around following the annual ticket draw.

Fast forward 26 years later. The ticket draw lasts less than 30 minutes and there are more than enough tickets to go around. The 8,000 seat Scott Gymnasium at Seymour High School — home of the Class 4A sectional —is less than half full for a tournament which includes New Albany, Jeffersonville and Floyd Central.

“It used to be you had to have a season ticket in order to get a sectional ticket,†said longtime Jeffersonville High School season ticket holder Tom Lindley. “Now, that is certainly not the case. Now, 10 minutes before tip-off you can walk up and buy a sectional ticket and get a great seat.â€

So, where have all the fans gone?

Some say doing away with the one-class system took the excitement out of high school hoops. Others point to a loyal fan base which is dying off and no interest among current students.

The numbers back up all three reasons.

This season, New Albany sold 1,081 season tickets. Of that number, 378 are held by fans 60 or older and only 137 were purchased by students. Around 40 percent of season ticket holders are considered senior citizens. Other area schools’ ticket sales are similar.

“It’s been like that for the nine years I’ve been athletic director,†New Albany’s Don Unruh said.

Lindley said schools can no longer count on their senior citizen base.

“For years and years, you had a built-in audience. All you had to do was roll out the ball and people would be there. But that generation is dying off,†he said. “How do you replace those people? That generation grew up following high school sports. It was primarily — if not the only — social outlet for a community besides church. It was something to do on Friday and Saturday nights.â€

Now there are other things to do ... especially for the younger generation.

Floyd Central Athletic Director Bill Pierce estimates his school sold less than 75 season tickets to students this year.

“We still get decent crowds for Friday games, but it’s hard to get kids to come back for Saturday night games,†Pierce said. “I don’t know if they work, go to the movies or what.â€

Jeffersonville Athletic Director Tony Branch said season ticket sales were a little less this year than last year, but didn’t have specific numbers. However, he said there seems to be more fan interest in the girls’ team this year. The Jeff High girls are ranked No. 2 in the Class 4A poll.

“Last year there was a lot of buzz going around because we got off to a fast start and had a new coach,†Branch said of the boys’ team.

Even at smaller schools, getting students to come to the games can be a challenge.

“It’s a good following, but it’s not as good as it should be,†Providence Athletic Director Mickey Golembeski said of student support. “More and more, kids work today and there is a lot more for them to do. We’re in the computer age ... 25 years ago you didn’t have a lot of the things that are pulling kids away from games today.

“There are so many computer gadgets for them and they would rather stay home and go on MySpace or play Nintendo.â€

Forty and 50 years ago, high school games were the big events of communities across the state. Now, there are malls to walk through and numerous clothing and fast food establishments to work at or visit. And, as Golembeski said, video and computer games to play.

“I used to go to all of the games, but I have only been to one this year and that was the Floyd Central game,†New Albany senior Amanda Warren said. “I go to the big rivalry games, but I have a job now. A lot of kids work.â€

One Jeffersonville senior, however, still attends every game.

Brittany Taylor plays in the school’s pep band and has to attend at least six home games a season. However, she attends them all — not only because she loves to play the trumpet in the band, but she also enjoys rooting for the Red Devils.

“I play at all of them,†she said.

But, she admits, others are not so loyal.

“It depends on who we play,†she said. “If it’s a big rival, a lot of students come to the game. A lot of kids work on the weekend, want to have their weekends free or do homework. And some play other sports so they can’t come to the games.â€

While many students only attend the big games, the senior citizens — the students of yesterday — have remained loyal to their teams.

Take New Albany fan Charles “Boots†Bensing, who has been attending games since the mid-1930s. He said he has missed only one football or basketball game in the past 30 years.

“It’s my life,†Bensing, 85, said. “The students don’t go anymore. When I was a student, I would get all excited about the game.

“Your (fan) base is predominately senior citizens today. We have a very good fan base compared to other schools.â€

Unruh agrees.

“They have been so loyal to New Albany basketball through the years,†he said of the older fans. “I don’t think there is another school who gets the loyal and supportive backing like we get. There has really been a special connection between the community and the basketball program here.â€

Pierce said other factors also come into play when trying to attract young and old fans. He said area teams just aren’t as good as they used to be.

“We may get an occasional big crowd if a good player comes in or if they want to see the new coach. I don’t think we’ll see consistent sellouts until another Damon Bailey (the state’s all-time leading scorer) comes along,†he said.

Pierce said he is trying to schedule games with more local schools to help increase the crowds.

Athletic directors all agree that boys’ basketball helps fund the other sports. They all depend on that revenue.

“I think people are under the impression that we get money from the school corporation. They pay coaches and take care of the building, but other than that we are self supporting and basketball ticket sales help support all the programs,†Unruh said.

Chris orris writes for The Tribune in New Albany, Ind.

[KFDM COOP]

Could this happen to football in Texas?? Just think about it?

[Guest tigersvoice]

Yes, Coop, I think it could.  Human nature seems to be "Cyclical" - tastes change over the years and subjects ebb and flow.  The many years ago that I was in public school, Friday night was football - period!  Saturday on the streets was discussion of football from the night before.  Monday through Thursday was discussion of football coming up on Friday night.  I now follow, go to, and even do some PA announcing of high school football and it is NOT THE SAME atmosphere.  It could happen.

[Tiger90]

It kind of has already.  You do not see the kids out for the sports they way you used to.  If the coaches were as tough now as they were then you wouldn't have any kids out.  I have seen great athletic kids refuse to participate in sports because "I don't want to have all of that practice", "All they are going to do is lose so why bother", "There ain't nobody who is going to holler at me and disrespect me", and the list goes on and on. 

In terms of basketball, the game has changed so much.  It isn't about finesse and being fundamentally sound.  It is about being physical.  Years ago a dunk was considered an insult and disrespectful towards your opponent.  Nowadays it is all some can do.  You look at Shaq, if you take him 3 feet away from the rim he can't do anything, but he pushes folks around and dunks.  I thoroughly enjoyed growing up watching the Lakers/Celtics.  You had Bird's shooting and Kareem's hook shot.  It was entertaining.  Now the entire sport has become playground ball IMO.