Madness at Midnight 07

[fanblade]

2007 Madness at Midnight



Go Lions!

[lionspride]

Does anybody know what method of communication the Athletic Department has utilized in getting the word out about LMU's Midnight Madness to SEASON TICKET HOLDERS, ALUMNI, and the Marina del Rey, Westchester, and South Bay communities?

I know from the www.lmulions.com website that they issued a press release about Midnight Madness TODAY. Not much notice to fans about the festivities. I know they have done a decent job on campus with the students. However, that is just it. Focus on the students is great, but to become a legitimate top tier Mid-Major college basketball program, the athletic department needs to communicate better with the ALUMNI, SEASON TICKET HOLDERS, and neighboring communities. The athletic department needs the aforementioned individuals need to get more involved. Simple communication and targeted publicity. For example, in yesterday's papers (LA Times, Daily News, Pasadena Star News) all ran a 1/2 page about the USC March Madness at Galan Center. Free Admission to the public. Give aways and prizes (PS3, XBOX 360, season tickets, flights, etc.). Now that is publicity and an effort to drum up attendance and excitement about the program.

The Athletic Department needs to step up publicity. I am not saying to take out ads in the major papers (probably too costly for us), but other things could work. E-mails to alumni, SEASON TICKET HOLDERS specifically about Midnight Madness is a start. Reaching out to local community papers in the south bay. Flyers at the local grocery stores. Just some ideas.

I realize LMU March Madness festivities are more geared to college students. However, maybe they need to look at slowly adjusting things a bit (no streakers for instance...get public saftey to do their jobs). The press release states "It has become an annual tradition in collegiate basketball, and at Loyola Marymount it has grown to one of the largest student events of the season." Key in that sentence is "student" event. It CANNOT BE JUST A STUDENT EVENT if we are going to be a top-tier Mid-Major program. Having We need FANS (whether it be students, season ticket holders, local high school basketball teams, etc.) to generate excitement for the program.

Let's become the leader and trend setter in the West Coast Conference for March Madness festivities. Within a few years, let's shoot for CSTV or America's Channel have a camera on Gersten for a "live look-in" at the festivities. We need to come up with something unique that will garner eyeballs. An advertisers dream. Any ideas?

Go Lions!
__________________________________________
LIONSPRIDE SIGNATURE
How to increase attendance at LMU Basketball Games:
1) Tell someone you know that does not attend games and have them join you;
2) Call the athletic office and ask what they are doing to bring awareness of LMU basketball to the westside/south bay communities (let alone its own student population)
3) Donate your tax deductible contribution specifically to LMU Men's Basketball.

LionsPride's answer to most things = attendance

[Deleted]

Now tell us how you really feel! lol

I agree. I don't think there was any word spread past the school websites.

[rowdylion]

BEST MADNESSS!

[Family]

Great time had last night. Good to see the support of the students for all the teams.... Keep the excitement going!


Go Lions! Roar

[lionspride]

I realize everyone is on a high from last night and I want that to continue. However, my post from yesterday and what I am about to bring to your attention may dissappointing. Following my post yesterday about publicizing Midnight Madness, this morning I wake up and find the below article issued by the associated press. It mentions in the 7th paragraph, "Pepperdine and UC Irvine were the only other teams among the 13 Division I basketball schools in Southern California to participate in a Midnight Madness."

Now we all experienced LMU's Midnight Madness last night, right? Well according to all of civilization outside of Gersten Pavillion, NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT. I guess Pepperdine and UC Irvine's Athletic Department must have DONE THEIR JOB and atleast called the AP or other news services to alert them of their festivities.

This is a VERY SAD REALITY. Many people worked very hard to put on LMU Madness @ Midnight. Let's don't let all this hard work go unnoticed by the outside (possible fan base, possible recruits, etc.).

How easy could it have been to just pick up the telephone and call the AP yesterday? How easy could it have been to issue the PR multiple times last week? Questions that need to be addressed by the Athletic Department. We are moving in the right direction with our program (I can easily see the improvements and I am happy about them), but it would be so much easier if the Athletic Department could just extend a little more effort. Doing just a little more will accomplish SO MUCH MORE.



USC introduces heralded frosh Mayo
Posted: Saturday October 13, 2007 1:32AM; Updated: Saturday October 13, 2007 1:32AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Southern California has got Mayo, as in O.J. Mayo, and the Trojans showed off their star recruit when he and the rest of the team scrimmaged for fans Friday night.

The Midnight Madness session kicked off the start of practice for the Trojans, who open the season Nov. 10, at home against Mercer.

Introduced next-to-last, Mayo jogged onto the court with the index and middle fingers on both hands signaling the Trojans' V-for-victory sign. He wore a No. 32 jersey in tribute to his favorite player, Magic Johnson.

Mayo teamed with a female fan in a 2-ball game, with each of them trying to make as many shots as possible in 60 seconds. He tossed up an air ball on his first attempt and smiled as he chased after the ball.

Mayo made four of nine shots, mostly from the perimeter, capped by a miss on a half-court attempt.

Across town at UCLA, the Bruins held a 21/2-hour practice featuring highly touted freshman center Kevin Love that was scheduled to end at midnight. In keeping with coach Ben Howland's custom, it was closed to fans and media.

Pepperdine and UC Irvine were the only other teams among the 13 Division I basketball schools in Southern California to participate in a Midnight Madness.

USC is coming off a school-record 25-win season in which the Trojans advanced to the final 16 of the NCAA tournament. Leading scorer Taj Gibson, who averaged 12.2 points, is back, along with sophomore guards Daniel Hackett and Dwight Lewis.

Joining Mayo, who is from Huntington, W.Va., as newcomers are forward Davon Jefferson, 7-foot center Mamadou Diarra, and guards James Dunleavy, Angelo Johnson and Marcus Simmons. Dunleavy is the son of Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.

"Is everybody fired up? We are fired up," coach Tim Floyd told the crowd. "Our goal is to sell out every single night this year."

Among the Trojans' home opponents are Kansas and Oklahoma.

"We're going to try to kick those guys' (expletive) across town this year, too," Floyd said, referring to the rival Bruins.

USC's women's team also scrimmaged at Galen Center, where the lower bowl was nearly filled and the upper section was mostly empty.

The women were 17-13 last season and graduated five players. Among the returnees is guard Brynn Cameron, who sat out last season when she gave birth to the son of former USC quarterback Matt Leinart.


Go Lions!
__________________________________________
LIONSPRIDE SIGNATURE
How to increase attendance at LMU Basketball Games:
1) Tell someone you know that does not attend games and have them join you;
2) Call the athletic office and ask what they are doing to bring awareness of LMU basketball to the westside/south bay communities (let alone its own student population)
3) Donate your tax deductible contribution specifically to LMU Men's Basketball.

LionsPride's answer to most things = attendance

[fanblade]

Interesting post lionspride! I agree with most points.

LMU could have definitely done a better job getting the word out to the public. They could have issued a press release (free) to the Daily Breeze, LA Times, and Argonaut. The AP writer should have also done his homework before making that erroneous comment. I think many community members, alums, and boosters would find the irreverent atmosphere of LMU's midnight madness exciting.

But that said our MM is not the homogeneous pony show that are rivals put on. It really is raucous student event and I would be afraid to tamper with that formula. We are always talking about ways to get the students excited for the athletic teams and this event draws over 3,000 bodies and growing.

I think to compensate the Athletics department should host a MM after party (the next day) or pre-game BBQ for boosters, community members, alums, students that is more family friendly. If it is the next day (ie. before or after the Volleyball game) we could have a BBQ, prize give away, band, meet the players, etc the more sterile yet important events other schools do.

I just would not want to tamper much with what is no doubt LMU's biggest draw but the AD could leverage that popularity much better. By getting the word out and creating additional events that caters to a more diverse audience.

[lmu]

I think a pre-MM BBQ for our community and alums would be a great idea. Making this a bigger event without adding too much costs.

Also this is the first time I've seen the changes inside the GP and I have to say I like it. Nothing dramatic but it makes for a better home court advantage. Can we get new scoreboards for next year as well? Those 1980's scoreboards needs to be replaced. Let's just hang four 65' LCDs facing each side of the court and be done with it. It's cost effective and our thin-looking roof should have no problem handling the weight. Why didn't anyone in the office think of it yet?

[lionspride]

Fanblade's points are well taken. However, I think still think you cannot shield your alumni, season ticket holders, and local communities from this event. Alumni and season ticket holders love to see the student enthusiasm for the sport teams. If alumni and season ticket holders saw this great student body support, they may just be inclined to drop some more $$$$ to the LionsFund.

LMU MM is undoubtedly a grand student draw. However, let's don't fool ourselves. It is great to see 3,000 students on October 12, but where are they all on November 12 or January 12. Now if 3,000 students were showing up on those nights, I would be more hesitant to tweak the "formula." However, that is not happening. We need to accumulate the student masses also at more strategic times (like at Men's Basketball games). We can barely get 1,200-1,500 on an average night.

We need to bridge the gap between student population and alumni, donors, season ticket holders, and the community. The alumni, donors and season ticket holders are the ones paying to go see the games and supporting the program. Why do they come watch college basketball games? Many reasons, but one reason that most fans point to is the college atmosphere. More people come to college basketball games to experience the atmosphere. [Why do you think that multi-national media conglomerates are buying or establishing cable networks geared strictly to college sports? Over the last 4 years, ESPNU, CSTV, Big Ten Network, America's Channel have been established. College sports attendance and viewership is growing at a greater pace then professional sports. There is much money to be made in college sports.] Why keep this all vital college atmosphere of LMU MM away from your fans that have check books and deeper pockets than your students. Let's don't fool ourselves. Money provides the program the extra margin of excellence to compete. Let's bridge the gap between the students and the rest of the fan population (alumni, season ticket holders, community). Until this happens, there will be marginal improvement in attendance.

Let's don't shoot ourselves in the foot by keeping student enthusiasm displayed at MM a secret from the alumni, season ticket holders, and community. For LMU, MM is as close to lightening in a bottle for student attendance. Let's share the bottle with the alumni, season ticket holders, and community and making many magical bottles. This is why I don't think that formula is "untouchable." Let's not "compensate", let's collaborate. Collaborate the student body with the alumni base. Just my opinion. I would love to hear other opinions.

By the way, to assist LMU Athletic Department.....next time they can send the associated press a FREE press release to [e-mail]. Beth Harris is the individual from the AP that wrote that article inaccurately. I wish they could correct that.

[lionspride]

I like the alert 2 ideas about the local high school students. That's perfect audience to also pull in. Some more basketaball would be also a good thing. Thanks for the pixs.

I think the Athletic Department "sponsors" the event as it did a press release. It would be odd if they disclaimed this event.

[lmu]

This event explains why we have the reputation of being the "best-kept secret" or the "hidden gem." The biggest crowd in school history and still no one within 5 miles radius knows a thing about LMU MM. Sad.

[fanblade]

The athletics department is definitely involved with MM but not as much as they could be perhaps. I'll email Husak about the lack of media play for MM. I agree with everyone that we need to work harder at leveraging the "phenomenon" of LMU Madness at Midnight. They could have pre-events for boosters and even a special section in the stands during the festivities. It could be a great way to get more revenue and everyone should have a chance to experience it if they wish. It shouldn't be because they just do not know about it.

[lionspride]

You the man...Fanblade for your e-mail. The lack of media play is the most urgent need to be addressed. Targeted publicity of Men's Basketball (not to exclude other sports, but I am a firm believer that Men's Basketball is a catalyst for success of the overall athletic program. If it takes off in the next couple of years it will propel the excitement and $$$ for the other sports) could raise the program to a higher level. It may be a tough 2007-2008 season for our Lions but it will be key that the AD gets its house in order on the publicity side so when we hit our sweet spot within 2-3 years (going to the Big Dance), we have a media blitz that will propel the university as a whole. We have to be ready for that and seize the moment. The worst thing that could happen is not to capitalize on success on the basketball floor by being in awe of ourselves at that special moment. I point out these little things now because we don't want this to happen later when it is absolutely crucial to execute on the media play. Practice now to be near perfect later.

__________________________________________
LIONSPRIDE SIGNATURE
How to increase attendance at LMU Basketball Games:
1) Tell someone you know that does not attend games and have them join you;
2) Call the athletic office and ask what they are doing to bring awareness of LMU basketball to the westside/south bay communities (let alone its own student population)
3) Donate your tax deductible contribution specifically to LionsFund (LMU Men's Basketball).

LionsPride's answer to most things = attendance

[dead3man]

Okay,

I've read all the post and I do agree with each and every one of you.

Can we sit back and ask a couple of questions.

1. Why did the basketball department not issue a Press Release?
2. Why is there not much information about the team this year especially for boosters and alumni?
3. What can be done to fix it?

As a booster or alumni do you talk to the coaching staff, visit the program etc. I find the staff is very approachable not just because I'm a parent. Shoot sometimes they are so busy I just have to watch. If I had to give my take on why not a Press Release, I'm going to point to UofA and ASU and a lot of other big programs THAT are young this year and may have to start some freshmen. You have to protect these young guys as you teach them the D1 program a lot of US. I think our coaching staff felt it best to provide an enviorment for the young lions that was supportive and not speculative in nature. What better way than filling the gym with students cheering, performing and trying to build excitement for the players that are returners and all the new faces without pressure from the boosters and alumni. Just a thought. As I read these boards there are some strong shots taken at players and the coaching staff.

The beginning was who will start and who will not. Second was Coach T needs to do a better job of recruiting. At each point it was a negative dig but then when the players work there butts off and the coaching staff goes out and gets verbals from exactly who they wanted and the alumni and boosters wanted we say get them signed to there LOI's. Sometimes is like enough is enough. Let them come up with who there 1st team is going to be and then who will be support players. Give them time to work with each player and I'm sure the Boosters and the Alumni will be the first to know. Right now who knows, we may see several lineups this year until they can find what players will perform better with each other to provide a winning tradition. Shoot as a parent I don't even know and all my son says is MUMs the word, I'll see when the season starts. Very non commital. I don't think thats negative I think they are trying to build there family inside before they take it to the public. UofA will not disclose anything, UCLA is not disclosing much its like a game of chess and its nerve racking but its also a business to win.

Bright spot I say Wendall Wright at Madness at Midnight so guess what they are doing something right. Seems like a bright young man and his mother was even nicer. Also I don't think I will be attending next year, too crowded and a student body event, not that I didn't like it I just didn't think I fitted in this area.

Not questioning our support but we don't understand the masterplan of the coaching staff so lets give them a chance. One thing I continue to hear is there is no B. Worty or M. Knight on this team so from a business perspective they have to figure out who the man is going to be. Who will be the leader or will it be a leader by committee. I like the last one me myself for this upcoming year.

Just my takes, good job LMU Student Body, Performers and all the staff that it took to put this together.

[lmu]

Let's just say we need a successful M. B'ball season. It's much easier to rally behind a winning team than trying to create buzz around a team that hasn't been so successful in the last 17 years.

Let's win first, the crowd will follow. I am sure.