WSU engagement thread: what could/should WSU Athletics be doing differently

[ttowncoug]

In no order...

1) Restore Cougar Club Chapters and empower clubs to build an outreach network in their communities. Make this chapters nationally: EG Florida Cougs, So Cal Cougs, etc.
2) For non-revenue sports, create a pipeline of local athletes. I tend to think if WSU baseball was full of Washington kids, it would create more local interest and buzz.
3) Consideration of west side sporting events. Football is not a fan favorite, why not soccer or baseball as an example? Cougs could play a series at Cheney Stadium. Rainiers would support it. Think May when school is out. I drive by Cheney Stadium on HW16 every day along with like 70K other cars. The visibility would be great.
4) I don't know the cost, but the Spring game in Spokane was a good idea for exposure.

 

[UberCougars]

Looks like it's over
You knew I couldn't stay
She's coming home today
We had a good thing
I'll miss your sweet love
Why must you look at me that way
It's over

[Chorus]
Sad eyes, turn the other way
I don't want to see you cry
Sad eyes, you knew there'd come a day
When we would have to say goodbye

[Verse 2]
Try to remember
The magic that we shared
In time your broken heart will mend
I never used you
You knew I really cared
I hate to see it have to end
But it's over

[Chorus]
Sad eyes, turn the other way
I don't want to see you cry
Sad eyes, you knew there'd come a day
When we would have to say goodbye

[Guitar solo]

[Chorus]
Sad eyes, turn the other way
I don't want to see you cry
Sad eyes, you knew there'd come a day
When we would have to say goodbye
Sad eyes, turn the other way (Turn the other way)
I don't want to see you cry (Cry, cry, cry)
Sad eyes, you knew there'd come a day
When we would have to say goodbye
Sad eyes, turn the other way

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

In no order...

1) Restore Cougar Club Chapters and empower clubs to build an outreach network in their communities. Make this chapters nationally: EG Florida Cougs, So Cal Cougs, etc.
2) For non-revenue sports, create a pipeline of local athletes. I tend to think if WSU baseball was full of Washington kids, it would create more local interest and buzz.
3) Consideration of west side sporting events. Football is not a fan favorite, why not soccer or baseball as an example? Cougs could play a series at Cheney Stadium. Rainiers would support it. Think May when school is out. I drive by Cheney Stadium on HW16 every day along with like 70K other cars. The visibility would be great.
4) I don't know the cost, but the Spring game in Spokane was a good idea for exposure.

The Cougar club needs some serious energy behind it, like Minshew going event to event to get people excited type energy. I stopped going to watch parties because it was horribly cringe and disheartening being around folks singing the fight song as if their dog had just died.

People want to be excited. They want to be led. Show them the way.

Our fanbase is reflecting the energy that is being directed towards them.

I was just over on Facebook (spare me the comments) and there is a group/ page called "Washington State Cougars Football". It is run by 3 gen Z girls who just post a bunch of shit to generate engagement. I'm not sure if this is sanctioned by WSU or not, but its incredibly... fake?

This is one of their posts:

Pretty sure they're just farming personal data from people naive enough to "join" the group.

 

[SaveFerris]

There are 2 things I think WSU needs.

1. A poster brought this up on the other board and I agree. The university should increase the subsidy to athletics. It will hurt and anger faculty, but the alternative is a slow roll into the oblivion. We don't have a whale to do it and only need to look 80 miles north and 25-ish years ago for an example. Gonzaga was in serious jeopardy of closing down before hoops saved the institution. While it's backwards you can't ignore it. Athletics matter. Put $20-25MM per year into athletics with most of it going to football.
2. It's long overdue Pullman grow. I have heard since the 70s or 80s "Pullman" wanted to remain small. Maybe it was because WSU was in the Pac whatever but now I really think it needs other entities for the long-term. That theoretically should help WSU with support both butts-in-seat and donations. Right now a weakening WSU might become Colfax or Colton. The state should also be looking at whether a deteriorating WSU is ok for the state.

 

[Coug90]

None of these matter if you don’t have the right leadership at the top. Schultz is the biggest failure in the history of the school. It starts at the top.