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Filling seats is OSU's priority

OSU head football coach Mike Gundy speaks during the OSU caravan stop on Thursday in Tulsa. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 7/25/2008  2:06 AM
Last Modified: 7/25/2008  3:25 AM

 It's a frequently asked question.

If Oklahoma State has never averaged more than 46,805 fans in any football season, how can the university reasonably hope to fill the expanded Boone Pickens Stadium?

This season, the capacity has increased to 60,000. The new challenge for OSU officials is to cultivate a significant growth of its fan base.

Kyle Wray, director of university marketing, reports that OSU is about 3,000 ahead of last year's season-ticket sales pace. OSU has seven home dates this season. For six home games in 2007, OSU sold 33,400 season tickets.

"If you continue to get better and win big games, the people will show up," said Cowboy coach Mike Gundy, who was in Tulsa for Thursday's OSU Caravan program. "People say, 'Well, you were there in 1988. You won 10 games and had a Heisman Trophy winner, and you averaged only 34,000 fans or whatever.' That was different. Back then, we didn't have a brand-new stadium.

"I think there's more of a sense of pride. If we keep pushing and win a Big 12 championship, I think we'll have 60,000 people there."

Gundy and Cowgirl basketball coach Kurt Budke spoke to a group of 850 fans at the Renaissance Hotel.

"When you walk into our stadium, and you see the west end zone and the complete bowl in that area, it looks like a real stadium. It's first-class," Gundy said. "I'm excited about getting all of those people in there, and it becoming an even more intimidating place to play. Even though we've only averaged 35,000 to 40,000 a game over the last 20 years, it's still a difficult place to play. You get the basketball effect because the fans are right down there on the game."

Part of the Cowboy football marketing campaign, Wray said, is the promotion of junior quarterback Zac Robinson as a star performer. Last season, Robinson broke the single-season school record for total offense.

"Zac will be prominently featured on the pregame video this year at the stadium," Wray said. "When you're a quarterback at a Big 12 institution, and you've got the talent that Zac has, he's going to get a lot of attention. He's the pilot. He's dynamic and he speaks well. He's a friendly kid. He is very good and very comfortable in the role of a leader."

In 2004, OSU set school records for average attendance (46,805) and season-ticket sales (38,674).

In the attempt to sell more tickets this year, Wray said, "You reach out to families. We're looking at people, ages 25 to 35, in the Family Fun Zone. That's a $35 ticket for people who've never been ticket-holders before.

"We've got to draw more students. Typically, we're selling 10,000 tickets a year to students and 7,000 show up unless it's Bedlam or Texas. We need to sell 12,000 to 14,000 tickets to students, and we need all of them to attend the games."

In an 18-month period, Wray said, the POSSE booster club membership has grown from 6,000 to more than 8,000.

"Our football team was 7-6 the last two years, and there's a real feeling and excitement that we're about to turn the corner," Wray said. "Some people say, 'We've been turning the corner for the last 20 years.' But you see the sustainability that facilities give you, and you see the type of recruits that we're bringing in, and I believe that the excitement is justified."



Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com

Gundy, fans interact during OSU Caravan

During Thursday’s OSU Caravan program in Tulsa, Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke addressed a crowd of 850 fans who filled the Renaissance Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

The Cowboy football team begins practice next week and opens the 2008 season on Aug.

30 in Seattle, against theWashington State Cougars. Excerpts from Gundy’s Caravan questionand- answer session with fans:

Fan question: “Have you coached Zac (quarterback Zac Robinson) to run out of bounds and slide instead of taking the hit?”

Gundy: “One of his greatest attributes is that he’s tough.

I’m hesitant to take his stinger away. He doesn’t see himself as a soft quarterback. But I’m on your side. If he can avoid a hit by stepping out of bounds, I’m all for it.”

Fan question: “What is the status of Artrell Woods?” (A wide receiver, Woods missed the entire 2007 season after sustaining a serious back injury.)

Gundy: “That is an unbelievable story. You could look him in the eye (a year ago) and he would say, ‘I am going to play again.’ We just wanted him to walk again and have a good quality of life. But he has been released (to play) and he has had a good summer. We would expect him to play for us in Seattle.

What a great, great story.”

Fan question: “Who will we play in the Big 12 Championship game this year?”

Gundy: “That’s a great question.

If you go on what everybody says and predicts, I think Missouri is a good football team.

Don’t be surprised if Colorado plays better than people (expect).”

Fan question: “Who will call the plays this year?”

Gundy: “I want to make it very clear. The reason we haven’t decided isn’t that we have any hesitation about any (of the oaensive assistants). Gunter Brewer is next in line to do it.

We’re going to make that decision in about 20 days.We want our players to feel like everything is exactly the same as it’s been.”

One of the louder ovations was in response to Gundy’s report that tailback Keith Toston seems to have solved his problem with fumbling the football.

“That’s something he had to correct if he ever wanted to carry the ball again,” Gundy said.

Gundy on senior tight end Brandon Pettigrew: “The best recruit we had was keeping him from going to the NFL. He would play on concrete or in 10-degree weather. He just loves to play football.”

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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17 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (7/25/2008 8:47:46 AM)
Filling seats is OSU's priority? Really? I had season tickets for 14 years. Started out with 6 seats in section Q. They raised prices every year and I eventually dropped 2 of the seats because I couldn't afford them. They kept raising prices every year and I played along until 2005 when they informed me that the seats had been converted to donor seating. At that point I figured if I was going to become a donor why not move up to club level and just get 2 seats, so in spite of the ticket office's condesending attitude, I gave up my seats on the field and moved up to club level. The very next year they not only upped the price again, but they also decided to include the lousy food up there as an additional "service" reducing the tax deductible amount of the donation. Kind of took some of the fun out of tailgating when I'm eating a hot dog in the parking lot knowing I've got $75 worth of food sittting upstairs.

This year I threw in the towel. I made my donation but I didn't renew my tickets. Until we can improve the quality of what we're putting on the field I don't feel like it's worth it. It's not cheap entertainment anymore, and raising prices at the same time you need to sell more seats defies logic to me. I'm still going to some games but I'll buy tickets outside the stadium, there'll be plenty of cheap seats available.
Report Comment
snoop, (7/25/2008 9:05:33 AM)
Holder is an idiot....He needs to study a little economics. You can only increase prices when the demand increases. Holder is using the "hollywood theory of econimics" build it and they will come. Charge more and they will come.

OSU has not sold out the stadium on over two seasons. I would like to know what action plans OSU has for it's "PRIORITY" limiting tickets sales to the top game played in Boones Farm is not what I would call a smart business decision
Report Comment
Bixby Jeff, (7/25/2008 9:10:45 AM)
Fire Gundy, I feel your pain on getting squeezed out of good seats by price increases. I'm in the same boat. I'll still go to games but will try my luck buying them a game at a time.

But, I'm curious, what are your expectations for this team? What do they have to do this year for you to change your name to at least "Gundy Can Stay For Now"? Or do you have some personal problem with him and he will never be able to earn your praise?
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (7/25/2008 9:40:58 AM)
Jeff my expectations are that we will be a little better than last year but finish with a worse record. I just think Gundy needs to go, he doesn't have the maturity to effectively coach at the Big XII level. It pains me to watch us (or Pickens) pay for his OJT. I'm an alum and I got to watch Thurman, Barry, Dykes, etc etc play, so I guess my expectations are high. Heck I went to school with Gundy, and I give him props for being one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. But he's as aloof, hot tempered, and ego driven as he was back then. He appears to be respected by his players, but I'm not sure they like him. Then again maybe that doesn't matter. It would take a dramatic turnaround for me to think he should stay on.
Report Comment
Bixby Jeff, (7/25/2008 10:34:13 AM)
I too was there during the Gundy, Dykes, Thomas, Sanders era. I actually think our offense is more exciting now. But, back then we had a good defense to go with the outstanding offense. Poor defense is what has been holding the Pokes back the last two years. There have only been a couple of games where we did not score enough points to win with an average defense.

I guess since he is an alum and a former star QB from my era, I have been willing to cut him a little more slack than I would someone else. But my expectations are higher than yours for this year. And this is the last year I give him a pass. If we don't go at least 8-4, I'll join you in the Fire Gundy club.
Report Comment
T Bone, (7/25/2008 11:36:29 AM)

Next year (2009), I am plan on renting an apartment in Tulsa or Stillwater for September and October, as airfare is getting too expensive to travel to see three or four games. The ticket price for season tickets will be minimal compared to my other costs.
I still believe Holder is right and maybe I am wrong to believe that if the cowboys start to win, 60,000 seats might not be enough. I was invited to a suite last year with my son, and he thought the food was great. The suites are beautiful and the club level is great. Still like to be with the real football fans so will try to buy tickets in WEZ.
Report Comment
T Bone, (7/25/2008 11:37:44 AM)

Please remove the word "am" in the first sentence.
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (7/25/2008 12:05:02 PM)
T Bone- Jeff- good comments. I'll definitely be at a few games and I hope to see us improve. Jeff you're right about the defense, but what about Gundy's play calling? I was at the Georgia game last year and it was almost comical. Hey at least we get another shot at Troy this year...... haha
Report Comment
Lance-a-lot, Tulsa (7/25/2008 2:45:29 PM)
Good luck filling that stadium guys. Only when the big guys come to town will it happen.
Noboy wants to watch the JV play when the Varsity is also playing.
Report Comment
T Bone, (7/25/2008 4:45:18 PM)

it is very difficult to understand Lance-a-lot comment about the big guys. Is he talking about Texas, Georgia, Texas A&M, or Kansas? Who is the JV teams he is talking about. Would someone please enlighten me.
Report Comment
Lance-a-lot, Tulsa (7/26/2008 1:20:13 AM)
T Bone, the JV is OSU dude! Get a clue.
Report Comment
DanDDiver, Smyrna (7/26/2008 8:39:46 AM)
Lance-a-boil,

You're an idiot.
OSU was in the running for the Big 12 South late last year. Yes, we came up a little short, but we were there competing every week.
Had we any defense, we'd have won 2 games against UT and aTm and you'd look even more foolish with your "JV versus Varsity" statement.

OSU has the fan base to fill the stadium. Winning consistently has been the problem getting those extra thousands of fans in the seats.

It's easy to hook your wagon to a team that wins a championship. Look at all the NY Giants "fans" that appeared out of the closet after the Super Bowl.
It's the very same way with most OU fans. They are so desperate to feel better about themselves, they'll attach themselves to a school they've never even set foot in -- like OU.

My guess is that you're one of them.
Report Comment
SixGunSam, (7/26/2008 10:09:14 AM)
"If you continue to get better and win big games, the people will show up,"

"If we keep pushing and win a Big 12 championship, I think we'll have 60,000 people there."

Not since Pat Jones have I heard such insightfull genius.

So, since we've been told that 6-6 is "better" than and "improvement" versus 6-6, then, if "you continue to get better" does that mean we'll be "better" when we "continue" to finish 6-6???? Man, Holders really raised the bar since Gundy's been the coach. No wonder he keeps giving him raises and extensions. We "continue to get better". We were 6-6 again.
Report Comment
SixGunSam, (7/26/2008 10:21:47 AM)
"Gundy: “I want to make it very clear. The reason we haven’t decided isn’t that we have any hesitation about any (of the oaensive assistants). Gunter Brewer is next in line to do it."

I'm glad he cleared that up. Now it's crystal clear...

now who's going to call the plays again???????

In any case, it seems obvious to me that indecision is more often than not the result of having no hesitation. It's no wonder he can't decide, he has no hesitation.

Maybe they'll take turns calling plays and it will change every game like he did with QB's and Defenses for three years.

Continuity, consistancy, repetitions... nah!
Report Comment
SixGunSam, (7/26/2008 10:30:14 AM)
"OSU was in the running for the Big 12 South late last year." - DanDDiver

We've been in the running for the Big 12 South EVERY year, Dan... then we lose.

So somehow last year was better because we deferred the door slamming until later in the season????

You're really reaching to find "improvement" and "better", Dan.
Report Comment
Sis, Tulsa (7/26/2008 3:37:47 PM)
EGOS ASIDE, Boys!
OSU has PARKING problems. Last year, I had to pay $10 to park on mud!!!and walked a mile!!! TO STAND THE WHOLE GAME!!!! Ran back to my car in the rain...can't take an umbrella in the stadium! I have had season tickets for years but not any more! Last year, I didn't attend (even with tickets) but watched on TV!! Food, Air conditioning, heat, dry, comfortable seats and I had the gang at my home. It was a blast and we plan to watch every televised game together at one house or the other.I don't have to put up with the PARKING POLICE, NO PARKING!!!
Gone are the days of parking next to the stadium, cooking a dog and walking to the game. I may go to an individual game or two and probably will go to the bowl. I will donate and I hope they have parking plans for their fans with bus transportation to the stadium!! How about bus transportation from OSU Tulsa to the game and back????

Maybe Tulsa BOK Center could buy those ugly warehouses West and North of the center and build a big secure parking garage!!!!!!!
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (7/27/2008 10:12:16 AM)
Sis- OSU does have parking problems. A lot of it has been due to the stadium construction, but I feel your pain. My seats at the stadium were dry and comfortable but I'm still giving them up, SixGun's comments are right on the mark.
 

 
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