NT Daily Article: Attendance on the decline in 3 major sports

[MGNation92]

To add insult to injury, Smatresk essentially agrees with RV in that the voices of displeasure are not "truly representative" of the masses. 

So much for Smatresk being our last hope. 

http://ntdaily.com/attendance-on-the-decline-in-major-sports-at-north-texas/

Edited October 29, 2015 by MGNation92

[UNTcrazy727]

Let me get this straight, the article highlights how attendance has fallen off a cliff and how alumni, overall, are decreasing their donations, but since a few people donated a million dollars it doesn't matter? Did I read that correctly? Pure insanity.

[VideoEagle]

“Just because there’s a human cry, doesn’t mean that’s a truly representative view,” Smatresk said.

I wonder if he actually said a "hue and cry" instead of "human cry?" That would make more sense. 

[forevereagle]

I didn't read Smatresk's comments the same way. It feels like he is saying what he has to. He didn't seem to have the same tone as RV, who seemed to write off the issues. I feel like he is not throwing RV under the bus, but hasn't openly supported him either. He is playing a political game here and I hope that we don't force his hand this weekend.

[MeanGreenHoops]

It's like they are taunting us to protest.

[MGNation92]

What I took from RV in this article:

[MeanGreenTexan]

I didn't read Smatresk's comments the same way. It feels like he is saying what he has to. He didn't seem to have the same tone as RV, who seemed to write off the issues. I feel like he is not throwing RV under the bus, but hasn't openly supported him either. He is playing a political game here and I hope that we don't force his hand this weekend.

Tact.   Some are using it.   Some are not.

[UNT90]

Well, I'm out after this year. I may try something unique to hold onto my seat license in case this university ever decides to get serious about athletics.

Nothing is ever Rick Villarreal's fault around here. Large donors who are personal friends with him are killing this program. Have fun in an empty stadium with your best friend and 17 others. 

All of my college friends were right. UNT athletics is a huge waste of time and money for anyone who can't pay enough to get personal attention from Rick Villarreal.

Fly and his gullible friends can worship at the RV alter while watching losing sports for the next 10 years. I'm convinced that winning really doesn't matter to them, anyway. At least not as much as RV's hand in friendship. 

You can have your dysfunction and losing. 

Edited October 29, 2015 by UNT90

[southsideguy]

lets face it rv will be here until his contract ends, there will be no buy out.  i doubt he gets a new contract. so lets find a good coach.   

[BillySee58]

Actual attendance for WKU was 5,422. Yikes. 

[MeanGreenHoops]

I didn't read Smatresk's comments the same way. It feels like he is saying what he has to. He didn't seem to have the same tone as RV, who seemed to write off the issues. I feel like he is not throwing RV under the bus, but hasn't openly supported him either. He is playing a political game here and I hope that we don't force his hand this weekend.

Agree, with this the most interesting quote.

“I don’t blame people for leaving after that kind of performance,” Smatresk said. “Would I like to see better and more? Yes. Do I hope good fans will find reason to be hopeful now? Yes I do. But those things will come in time, and there’s a timing for all the things that are happening here.”

 

But then he also said this

“Just because there’s a human cry, doesn’t mean that’s a truly representative view,” Smatresk said.

[BillySee58]

“Do I worry about the decline? I think the decline happens at every institution when you don’t win as many games,” Villarreal said. “But I think there is a lot of positive talk about basketball right now.”

 

What? From who? After basketball tanks it'll be "well, basketball hasn't gone the way we had hoped but there's a lot of buzz for the new football coach who is going to turn this program around."

[MGNation92]

"But those things will come in time, and there’s a timing for all the things that are happening here.”

Hayden Fry left in 1978. How much more time do we need

[NTAlum09]

RV is such a joke and full of excuses.

I'm not going to another home game this season after that homecoming disaster. Right now home games for the remaining season should be free admission and free beer.

[THOR]

i'm always up for beer...

[UNT90]

The lying by RV in this article is absurd. He is in full spin control mode. He operates under the motto "repeat it often and with feeling and they will believe it." 

UNT's basketball attendance is a reflection of general NCAA attendance decline? WTF!!! No, liar, it's because you hired a coach that destroyed the program. And you and everyone who was a fan in 2012 knows it. 

 

[Travis]

Never have I seen the demands to have him removed been at the levels they are now.  Likewise, I have never seen papers and media call for the removal of our AD like they have been this past month.   To ignore that is really poor on the part of our President and our AD. I am getting REAL tired of hearing this as the minority view. The lack of crowds in the stands seems to be an obvious vote for new direction.  

I will stay in tuned to what is going on in the program, but outside of that I am not going to give a dime until real change happens from the top.

[SilverEagle]

I know that there are incentives written into contracts to pay staff (in particular coaches and AD's) more when they are more successful, but don't we also write in penalties (like getting fired) for when the program loses money and other support from alumni/students/fans? 

If not, then here we have another example of why our athletic programs have been a joke for the last (insert your favorite number) years. Bone headed administrators.

[UNT90]

RV is such a joke and full of excuses.

I'm not going to another home game this season after that homecoming disaster. Right now home games for the remaining season should be free admission and free beer.

That would require some marketing ability. 

If the quotes in this article frustrate you, comment on the article. 

Edited October 29, 2015 by UNT90

[UNTDoc]

So let me get this straight. It seems as if both of these jokers are apathetic about RV's job performance as it pertains to falling donation levels, decreased fan attendance, and diminishing alumni engagement? Sounds like we have top notch leadership.

[Got5onIt]

Heopfully, Smatresk will make the final call when the HC hire is made. That way, he can just let RV run through his contract and save the university some cash. Benford isn't going anywhere either this year. He's thinking he may as well just ride out the next year with RV?

 

[EagleMBA]

The message I got from RV and Smatresk was they are dropping the gauntlet, smirking at the fan base, and loudly saying "Bring it! You want a piece of me?". Disgusting, particularly from Smatresk. Looks like I misjudged him.

April. I'm making my decision to continue support or not in April

Edited October 29, 2015 by EagleMBA

[GrandGreen]

RV's quotes are not only self-serving, they are delusional:  

Villarreal on the other hand believes the outcry is not as widespread as publicly perceived.

“The reality is, it’s a minute few who are very loud,” Villarreal said. “If there was a concern of what was going on in the program right now, I don’t think people would be writing million dollar checks. I don’t think people would be buying club level seats and doing those things in season.”

The minute few who include both the DRC, NT Daily News, the majority of fans on GMG.com, and the thousands that are no longer showing up for NT basketball and football.   No, the very minute few are RV's small band of supporters.    

“You could count the 22 people in the stands. We’re not in that place anymore, not anywhere close,” Villarreal said. “Are we where we need to be? No. But that’s a culture that was built right around here for a long time. It doesn’t change overnight.”

Back to the culture excuse, despite RV being in charge for about 15 years, overnight!

RV should be terminated based on his record, but the above referenced quotes point out why that change needs to be made very soon.   

 

[Eagle-96]

Look, it's time we realize that RV is not going anywhere until his contract runs out. RV knows this and is is thumbing his nose at us in the process. Look at the facts:

1. Declining attendance in the 3 revenue sports is not the tipping point.

2. Deplorable coaching record in the 3 revenue sports is not the tipping point.

3. Terrible MGC numbers that don't even approach stated department goals is not the tipping point.

4. Hiring Dodge, Stephens, Petersen, McCarney, Benford is not the tipping point.

5. Terrible scheduling is not the tipping point.

 

I'm not sure RV would be so bold in his characterization of the "minority" unless he has been emboldened by an under the table "vote of confidence" from Smatresk. If that's the case then prepare for 28 more months of the same. This is the first year that I have not been to a game since 1994. Sadly this is becoming a trend. 

[MeanGreenTexan]

"The reality is, it’s a minute few who are very loud,” Villarreal said. “If there was a concern of what was going on in the program right now, I don’t think people would be writing million dollar checks. I don’t think people would be buying club level seats and doing those things in season."

I think Rick is confusing "concern" as equal with "a minute few who are very loud".   He's very correct about there being only a "minute few who are very loud"...  
However, attendance issues (or just general apathy) should VERY MUCH be a cause for "concern", because there is an overwhelming majority there.  Just because people aren't leaving kicking & screaming doesn't mean they're not leaving.

“I think there is a lot of positive talk about basketball right now.”