Muller Calls Out Fans

[Redbird23]

With the first ranked non-con coming to Redbird since 1999, Muller wanted a full Redbird with the crowd very into it for Dayton. Like how they were for the "Red Out". (UNLV doesn't count because the MVC/MWC provided them)

I love how he says, "All I heard from fans coming in here is we need to play better teams in the Non Con, and bring better opponents to Redbird Arena, we've done that." Now the fan's have to support it he was hinting.

[Black]

The problem a couple years ago was that Illiinois State had some decent, NIT-type teams but played the most atrocious non-con schedules in the country. Now, Illinois State has put together a decent schedule, but their team and program is atrocious. Not the best combo in either case to draw legions of fans. I would venture out a guess and say Redbird Arena is barely half-full on Saturday, unless of course there's some last minute discounts or whatever.

[jwa123]

There was a cyber Monday special for this game if people ordered tickets on-line and the ticket price was most reasonable so perhaps the attendance will be pretty good come Saturday.

Black, I agree with your premise but to what extent is where we might part ways. Where we would disagree is with the use of the adjective "atrocious" to describe both the team and the program. I know it is fashionable for some to condemn and criticize the Redbird program. This seems to be more prevalent among some - not all - WSU fans where I've heard "dumpster fire" to describe where the program is right now.

I would say the program is struggling through some growing pains and is not all it could and should be but I wouldn't catergorize it as "atrocious or a dumpster fire." Why would I say this? The talent on the current team is young and is learning how to play together as a team, thus, they struggle. However, the talent on this team is the best I have seen in Normal in years. I am very impressed with the recruiting job Dan Muller and staff have done. As we get further into the season and you have had a chance to see this team, you might agree with my assessment.

As for the coach, I watched him closely interact with the team. The communication between Dan Muller and the players is exceptional. During the game he talks with them about what has happened while they were on the floor in a calm fashion and not a denigrating stumping his chest kind of way. This communication is not a one way street as he listens to the players when they have ideas and other feedback. My observation is that Dan Muller has high expectations and when some of the players didn't meet those expecations it was dealt with. For those who met those expectations, though, it would seem that they have bought into Muller's way of doing things. Couple this with the increasing talent level and I think you will find that ISU is not nearly as atrocious as your perception is at this moment.

I'm not interested in getting into a flame war. I like a lot of WSU fans and think fondly of them. Some though that post here have their opinions and seem to be looking for a fight and for reasons to denigrate others and IlSU seems to be there target right now. That's OK if it makes them happy because as Paul Simon once wrote in a song, some are not happy unless they are unhappy criticizing others. I use to debate with these folks but no more. My point to this post is writing the IlSU program off entirely for now and to the foreseeable future is tantamount to when Mark Twain said "the reports of my death have been great exaggerated."

[shocktheheart]

There was a cyber Monday special for this game if people ordered tickets on-line and the ticket price was most reasonable so perhaps the attendance will be pretty good come Saturday.

Black, I agree with your premise but to what extent is where we might part ways. Where we would disagree is with the use of the adjective "atrocious" to describe both the team and the program. I know it is fashionable for some to condemn and criticize the Redbird program. This seems to be more prevalent among some - not all - WSU fans where I've heard "dumpster fire" to describe where the program is right now.

I would say the program is struggling through some growing pains and is not all it could and should be but I wouldn't catergorize it as "atrocious or a dumpster fire." Why would I say this? The talent on the current team is young and is learning how to play together as a team, thus, they struggle. However, the talent on this team is the best I have seen in Normal in years. I am very impressed with the recruiting job Dan Muller and staff have done. As we get further into the season and you have had a chance to see this team, you might agree with my assessment.

As for the coach, I watched him closely interact with the team. The communication between Dan Muller and the players is exceptional. During the game he talks with them about what has happened while they were on the floor in a calm fashion and not a denigrating stumping his chest kind of way. This communication is not a one way street as he listens to the players when they have ideas and other feedback. My observation is that Dan Muller has high expectations and when some of the players didn't meet those expecations it was dealt with. For those who met those expectations, though, it would seem that they have bought into Muller's way of doing things. Couple this with the increasing talent level and I think you will find that ISU is not nearly as atrocious as your perception is at this moment.

I'm not interested in getting into a flame war. I like a lot of WSU fans and think fondly of them. Some though that post here have their opinions and seem to be looking for a fight and for reasons to denigrate others and IlSU seems to be there target right now. That's OK if it makes them happy because as Paul Simon once wrote in a song, some are not happy unless they are unhappy criticizing others. I use to debate with these folks but no more. My point to this post is writing the IlSU program off entirely for now and to the foreseeable future is tantamount to when Mark Twain said "the reports of my death have been great exaggerated."

What was the price online for the tickets?

[jwa123]

Shocktheheart, it varied. I wasn't paying close attention but my wife bought one for our daughter and we paid $1. If I remember the facts correctly, from 8AM to 8:59AM it was a dollar. Then it went up a dollar each hour on the hour until the ticket office closed at 5PM.

For a top 25 team coming to town that is not only a real bargain but one could argue it was grand larceny.

[shocktheheart]

Shocktheheart, it varied. I wasn't paying close attention but my wife bought one for our daughter and we paid $1. If I remember the facts correctly, from 8AM to 8:59AM it was a dollar. Then it went up a dollar each hour on the hour until the ticket office closed at 5PM.

For a top 25 team coming to town that is not only a real bargain but one could argue it was grand larceny.

That is grand larceny and I would hope the community fills the arena. I have family in town around Christmas and looked at getting them tickets for the WSU game on December 29th against Davidson and only thing you can buy through WSU is scattered single tickets in the last row around the arena at $23. Stubhub starts at $52 for the last row and $60 for four rows from the top. Great time to be a Shocker, just wish they had more tickets available sometimes.

[Red]

No excuse not to have a packed house. I have a good feeling about this one.

[rlh04d]

You probably shouldn't be calling out the fans when you are personally responsible for taking a team that won 21 games before you got to town and might not break 10 this year.

[CaliRdBrd]

You probably shouldn't be calling out the fans when you are personally responsible for taking a team that won 21 games before you got to town and might not break 10 this year.

Does anyone agree with this
or, like me, do most of you consider this to be
unbecoming?
clearly there seems to be some
hatred in this comment, and none of the
excitement we Redbird fans feel.

But, I could be wrong
and if so, please forgive me. Nevertheless
great post.

[Cdizzle]

I don't have a side here. But if there is as much excitement among the fans, as you claim, why is Muller calling out the fans?