Have you been to a basketball game at your college? If you're a University of Michigan student, the likely answer is "no." Unlike football and ice hockey, which have a huge impact on social life throughout Ann Arbor, basketball has trouble barely making a dent. As we highlight today on page 4B in the Tipoff '99 section, the Athletic Department must think on its feet and make the sport more student-friendly.
Only 944 students purchased season tickets as of press time. This pathetic amount is nothing compared to the days of the Fab Five, when more than 6,000 students applied for tickets.
But our basketball team is not the Fab Five any more, and the Athletic Department must realize that. The Ed Martin scandal and last year's 12-19 performance deteriorated the public image of a once great team.
The team has great potential this year, with new Coach Brian Ellerbe's first recruiting class. But to showcase the potential, the department must draw students into Crisler Arena.
The department should restructure the seating arrangements so more students sit closer to the court. Why should students take the time to attend a basketball game when they probably will have bad seats?
By offering basketball tickets free of charge, the department would spark more student interest. The tiny revenues student ticket sales bring in do not justify the relatively large cost to students. Other universities, including Duke, offer free student tickets and enjoy impressive student turnout while maintaining elite programs.
A student-friendly basketball program helps both the student body and the team. Nothing is a better spirit builder than a crowd of screaming students. The Athletic Department must rebuild basketball as a student sport. It can be done, with some consideration of students' needs.
11-11-99
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