MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Civic Minded]

Weekend to watch: December 15, 16th.  The Hornets travel to Smokin' Joe Haklin's Marian College in Indianapolis for their tournament.  I think a few alumns will be making they trip to Indy.

I believe the Marian tournament is the 14th and 15th.

Man, if I weren't traveling to Orlando that weekend for another tournament (go Hope!), I'd seriously consider going to see Smokin' Joe in action again...  Ah, the memories!      He's a good fit for the Hoosier state -- we Hoosiers like our basketball dramatic!   

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Weekend to watch: December 15, 16th.  The Hornets travel to Smokin' Joe Haklin's Marian College in Indianapolis for their tournament.  I think a few alumns will be making they trip to Indy.

I believe the Marian tournament is the 14th and 15th.

Man, if I weren't traveling to Orlando that weekend for another tournament (go Hope!), I'd seriously consider going to see Smokin' Joe in action again...  Ah, the memories!      He's a good fit for the Hoosier state -- we Hoosiers like our basketball dramatic!   

Yeah, nothing like a good chair tossing to liven up a game   

[Stinger]

Coach Haklin is the Athletic Director for Marian.  He won't be on the sidelines. 

[GoKnights68]

I hear that due to the construction that involves the blocking of a fire exit, the fire marshalls may be setting the capacity-level at the fieldhouse lower than the usual one this season.  I guess this will only affect the Calvin-Hope game.

[Civic Minded]

I hear that due to the construction that involves the blocking of a fire exit, the fire marshalls may be setting the capacity-level at the fieldhouse lower than the usual one this season.  I guess this will only affect the Calvin-Hope game.

That could be a serious reduction, if it is involving a fire exit. 

Maybe they should just play that particular Calvin-Hope game in Holland.   

[almcguirejr]

I hear that due to the construction that involves the blocking of a fire exit, the fire marshalls may be setting the capacity-level at the fieldhouse lower than the usual one this season.  I guess this will only affect the Calvin-Hope game.

I have heard the same thing.  I think this will affect more than the Hope game, if Calvin
is doing any marketing at all.  I would think the last home game at Knollcrest will also be a sell out.  They should be honoring some of the great teams of the past 40+ years
that have played there.  Bring out some throwback uniforms and promote Calvin basketball and get some buzz going in that place.  If Calvin handles this last year correctly they could lead DIII in attendance.

[BrainOfJ.]

I have heard the same thing.  I think this will affect more than the Hope game, if Calvin
is doing any marketing at all.  I would think the last home game at Knollcrest will also be a sell out.  They should be honoring some of the great teams of the past 40+ years
that have played there.  Bring out some throwback uniforms and promote Calvin basketball and get some buzz going in that place.  If Calvin handles this last year correctly they could lead DIII in attendance.
[/quote]


I don't forsee Calvin beating out Hope in attendance this year. Marketingf or not, Calvin fans don't seem to get up for any games besides the Hope one.

[Dark Knight]

I hear that due to the construction that involves the blocking of a fire exit, the fire marshalls may be setting the capacity-level at the fieldhouse lower than the usual one this season.  I guess this will only affect the Calvin-Hope game.

I have heard the same thing.  I think this will affect more than the Hope game, if Calvin
is doing any marketing at all.  I would think the last home game at Knollcrest will also be a sell out.  They should be honoring some of the great teams of the past 40+ years
that have played there.  Bring out some throwback uniforms and promote Calvin basketball and get some buzz going in that place.  If Calvin handles this last year correctly they could lead DIII in attendance.

If the fire marshal limits the fieldhouse to 2000 attendance, as rumor has it, I don't think Calvin could win the attendance race even if the whole student body caught a sudden case of basketball fever.

Nor would special marketing make much sense.

[northb]

I don't forsee Calvin beating out Hope in attendance this year. Marketingf or not, Calvin fans don't seem to get up for any games besides the Hope one.

On what basis do you make that statement?

[GoKnights68]

I have heard the same thing.  I think this will affect more than the Hope game, if Calvin
is doing any marketing at all.  I would think the last home game at Knollcrest will also be a sell out.  They should be honoring some of the great teams of the past 40+ years
that have played there.  Bring out some throwback uniforms and promote Calvin basketball and get some buzz going in that place.  If Calvin handles this last year correctly they could lead DIII in attendance.

I don't forsee Calvin beating out Hope in attendance this year. Marketingf or not, Calvin fans don't seem to get up for any games besides the Hope one.
[/quote]


I go to basically every home game and a few road games.  It is usually a good amount of the same loyal fans that I see there at every game.  It is just there is unfortunate large group of students/parents/and faculty members that bring their kids in for free, that just come for the Calvin-Hope game and fill the field house, which does seat a lot for d3, to capacity to make it seem like barely anybody goes to the other games.

And I guess you're right, alm.  Depending on the difference the capacity level decreases, the homecoming game would likely be affected.

I too would love to see some type of assembly at the final home game made up of a video of a bunch of games at the field house.    Just like the Civic with Hope, Calvin will be leaving that place with a history of rich tradition.

[calvin_grad]

I don't forsee Calvin beating out Hope in attendance this year. Marketingf or not, Calvin fans don't seem to get up for any games besides the Hope one.

On what basis do you make that statement?

The fact that the student section used to be completely filled on the lower level and spill over into the upper level of seats.  Based on what I have seen, there are now probably only 150-200 students at most for non-Hope games.

I think limiting the attendance to 2000 now would really only affect Hope and homecoming.

Actually just looked it up.  Calvin had 4500 vs. Hope, 2294 vs. Albion, and 3302 vs. Olivet (homecoming)

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Even in Calvin's final year at the Fieldhouse I think they would be very hard pressed to beat Hope in attendance even if the Fieldhouse were allowed to maintain its full capacity. According to the NCAA official attendance stats from last year Hope averaged 2,923/game in 15 home games. Calvin averaged 1,891/game over the course of 14 home games, a number that is clearly bumped up by the Hope and homecoming games.

Nevertheless, Calvin was third in the nation in D3 attendance (Hope was first, Wooster was second (1,943)). Nothing to be embarrassed about but I think its clear that in recent history Calvin students do not show up in strong numbers except at the Hope game.

[Dark Knight]

Even in Calvin's final year at the Fieldhouse I think they would be very hard pressed to beat Hope in attendance even if the Fieldhouse were allowed to maintain its full capacity. According to the NCAA official attendance stats from last year Hope averaged 2,923/game in 15 home games. Calvin averaged 1,891/game over the course of 14 home games, a number that is clearly bumped up by the Hope and homecoming games.

Nevertheless, Calvin was third in the nation in D3 attendance (Hope was first, Wooster was second (1,943)). Nothing to be embarrassed about but I think its clear that in recent history Calvin students do not show up in strong numbers except at the Hope game.

True if by "recent history" you mean last year, when Calvin had a disappointing start to the season and Hope's new house was, well, new. If you look back a little further, Calvin, Hope, and Illinois Wesleyan have been the top three in DIII attendance for the last 12 years. In the last 14 years, Calvin led in attendance 7 times, Hope 6, and IWU 1.


http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/508d369a99.png

Obviously Calvin got big boosts in national championship years, to attendance at levels that appear to be unprecedented for DIII. Interestingly, Hope was down those same years. A coincidence? You decide. 

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Recent history would reference the last 5 years specifically when Hope was first in attendance each year, IWU second, and Calvin third. Once again, that's not a knock at Calvin they have a long history of being a top 3 team in attendance. However, since the last national championship run (and during my years at Hope so the time when I was able to more closely observe) it seems that as a whole Calvin students (obviously there are exceptions) really only get up for Hope, Homecoming, and maybe Albion.

[Erm Schmigget]

True if by "recent history" you mean last year, when Calvin had a disappointing start to the season and Hope's new house was, well, new. If you look back a little further, Calvin, Hope, and Illinois Wesleyan have been the top three in DIII attendance for the last 12 years. In the last 14 years, Calvin led in attendance 7 times, Hope 6, and IWU 1.

Obviously Calvin got big boosts in national championship years, to attendance at levels that appear to be unprecedented for DIII. Interestingly, Hope was down those same years. A coincidence? You decide. 

Meaning what?  Fair weather Calvin fans?   

So Calvin's numbers spike when the team is winning and falter when they struggle.  Compare that to Hope's and IWU's numbers that remain relatively consistent across the graph.  If I'm a player, coach, etc., I'd appreciate the fans support through the lean years, too, not just when everything's rosy.

Even so, Calvin's fan support is always great for a DIII team.  Kudos to those who fill the seats regardless of the team's fortunes.  For the rest:  you're missing some great basketball played by some great kids!


I ran some numbers after reading calvin_grad's post re: attendance.  Here's the long and short of it.

Calvin's home attendance last season was 1891 w/ Hope, and 1529 without.  Calvin's away attendance was 1326 w/ Hope, 922 without.  (Those away figures include some missing numbers I was able to pull from Hope's stats page.)

You can draw several conclusions from this, but the bottom line is this:  Calvin has great attendance figures...especially when Hope's fans are sitting across from them.  Coincedence?  Probably not.