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Post by sleepy on May 19, 2015 7:39:07 GMT -8
In 2011, I attended my niece's grad ceremony at Viejas Arena. 2 months had passed since DJ, Kawhi, Billy, et al had forged new territory and lofted the school to Sweet 16 status. There was a mention of it in one of the speeches and the students let out a decent cheer. But other than that, most of the graduates didn't display an overt amount of "SDSU Love", for lack of a better way of putting it.
This Saturday, I went to my wife's graduation. Different story! SDSU bling all over the place on the graduates -- especially on the caps -- some of it really nicely done.
My guess on the difference is that these students were brought through during a time when a successful sports program was much more front and center, winning championships and taking the stage nationally -- while the Class of 2011 was more like the "transition year" from ambivalence (my graduating niece, e.g., hadn't been to a game since her freshman year) to interest and enthusiasm. In addition, I get the sense that participation in on-campus activities in general is way up. (Let's face it, SDSU is a much nicer "hang" than it was when I was there in the late 80's.)
It'll be interesting to see, with each successive graduating class, if things like donation levels and SDSU "gear" sales, go up as the university continues to be both a success on the field and in the overall look and feel of the campus.
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Post by AztecSports95 on May 19, 2015 7:45:58 GMT -8
<eye roll> Sports are not the only thing that bring enthusiasm and interest. Perhaps graduates are genuinely proud of the great education they just received? 35,000 students. 3,000 go to basketball games. There are a lot of people who do not care about sports (I know, blasphemy on this board). SDSU is a much better institution now than it has ever been -- ever. Perhaps the recent graduates recognize that and are proud of the opportunities they have been given.
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Post by vision on May 19, 2015 7:50:39 GMT -8
sports play a HUGE part in school spirit.
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Post by sleepy on May 19, 2015 7:59:23 GMT -8
<eye roll> Sports are not the only thing that bring enthusiasm and interest. Perhaps graduates are genuinely proud of the great education they just received? 35,000 students. 3,000 go to basketball games. There are a lot of people who do not care about sports (I know, blasphemy on this board). SDSU is a much better institution now than it has ever been -- ever. Perhaps the recent graduates recognize that and are proud of the opportunities they have been given. Hi. How ya doin'? Have we met? I'm called "Read the Whole Post", in this case, you'll want to focus on the line that begins "In addition..." That said, your premise is both correct and incorrect. Sports is the straw that stirs the drink. |
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Post by longtimebooster on May 19, 2015 8:01:00 GMT -8
sports play a HUGE part in school spirit. True. But when you're at graduation, you're not thinking about the basketball team or football team. It's about you, your family, your personal pride and your huge accomplishment. |
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Post by sdcoug on May 19, 2015 8:06:50 GMT -8
There's definitely a direct correlation between athletic success (e.g. March Madness/Bowl games, etc.) & college applications. It's been proven at many schools. We've been successful for so long now it's harder to measure or identify at this point, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to that the successes are transferring over to school pride & spirit via clothing & other bling.
Good to hear.
I'd be curious to see a sales chart of logo-related items over the past 8-9 years.
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Post by rednblk on May 19, 2015 8:27:03 GMT -8
I graduated ten years ago. Absolutely no appearance of school spirit back then. I am definitely jealous of the kids attending today.
Go Aztecs!
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Post by aztecsiggy on May 19, 2015 8:34:08 GMT -8
When I graduated in the 80's we blinged the crap out of our graduation gear. Trust me, it had nothing to do with the recent success at Petersen gym. It was a very "spirited" day. JD and coke led our spirit squad!
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Post by sdsudevil on May 19, 2015 8:55:55 GMT -8
sports play a HUGE part in school spirit. True. But when you're at graduation, you're not thinking about the basketball team or football team. It's about you, your family, your personal pride and your huge accomplishment. I don't think he means that at that moment, you are thinking sports. However, over the course of our time, you make memories on campus, and if you can celebrate a successful sports program, it builds lasting memories of good times around your friends, centered around Alma Mater. Successful sports helps make a vibrant campus, and the memories intensify. I was a 2012 grad, so I saw firsthand what success did to the pride on campus from Sept 2009 to May 2012. Major difference. |
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Post by sleepy on May 19, 2015 9:02:16 GMT -8
There's definitely a direct correlation between athletic success (e.g. March Madness/Bowl games, etc.) & college applications. It's been proven at many schools. We've been successful for so long now it's harder to measure or identify at this point, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to that the successes are transferring over to school pride & spirit via clothing & other bling. Good to hear. I'd be curious to see a sales chart of logo-related items over the past 8-9 years. I've wondered about that over and again since 2011. I think we might have to file this wish under "Things we'd like to see but will never be privy to", though there's probably some publication out there that tracks these things. |
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Post by HighNTight on May 19, 2015 9:16:00 GMT -8
In 2011, I attended my niece's grad ceremony at Viejas Arena. 2 months had passed since DJ, Kawhi, Billy, et al had forged new territory and lofted the school to Sweet 16 status. There was a mention of it in one of the speeches and the students let out a decent cheer. But other than that, most of the graduates didn't display an overt amount of "SDSU Love", for lack of a better way of putting it. This Saturday, I went to my wife's graduation. Different story! SDSU bling all over the place on the graduates -- especially on the caps -- some of it really nicely done. My guess on the difference is that these students were brought through during a time when a successful sports program was much more front and center, winning championships and taking the stage nationally -- while the Class of 2011 was more like the "transition year" from ambivalence (my graduating niece, e.g., hadn't been to a game since her freshman year) to interest and enthusiasm. In addition, I get the sense that participation in on-campus activities in general is way up. ( Let's face it, SDSU is a much nicer "hang" than it was when I was there in the late 80's.) It'll be interesting to see, with each successive graduating class, if things like donation levels and SDSU "gear" sales, go up as the university continues to be both a success on the field and in the overall look and feel of the campus. Overall SDSU has more students living on or near campus these days and in much better accommodations. There are now, more activities on or near campus including sports. Both SDSU (academically) and the Aztecs (athletically) have grown as a brand and increased school pride is a direct result. For these and many other reasons ... the term Aztec for Life just means more than it used to! |
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Post by aztech on May 19, 2015 15:47:00 GMT -8
<eye roll> Sports are not the only thing that bring enthusiasm and interest. Perhaps graduates are genuinely proud of the great education they just received? 35,000 students. 3,000 go to basketball games. There are a lot of people who do not care about sports (I know, blasphemy on this board). SDSU is a much better institution now than it has ever been -- ever. Perhaps the recent graduates recognize that and are proud of the opportunities they have been given. I recall that Hirshman said we're closer to 30K and wants to maintain that number. The faculty to student ratio is important when it comes to the quality of education. |
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 16:15:50 GMT -8
<eye roll> Sports are not the only thing that bring enthusiasm and interest. Perhaps graduates are genuinely proud of the great education they just received? 35,000 students. 3,000 go to basketball games. There are a lot of people who do not care about sports (I know, blasphemy on this board). SDSU is a much better institution now than it has ever been -- ever. Perhaps the recent graduates recognize that and are proud of the opportunities they have been given. Hi. How ya doin'? Have we met? I'm called "Read the Whole Post", in this case, you'll want to focus on the line that begins "In addition..." That said, your premise is both correct and incorrect. Sports is the straw that stirs the drink. Chug it! |
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Post by adammclane on May 19, 2015 19:59:52 GMT -8
I see this all the time. When we arrived in the College area in 2008 it was rare to see a student walking around campus in Aztec gear. You saw lots of sports gear... but more like Lakers, Chargers, Padres... and even high school gear. Now when I walk around/by/near campus it feels like half of students are wearing something with the logo.
There's a lot to be proud of. And IMO there's a direct correlation between success in fb/bball and quality of student we're attracting to attend.
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Post by aztecbb on May 19, 2015 21:04:53 GMT -8
Adamclane you are so right , as is op.
I have always been a believer that sports is the marketing window for any university. Also an Aztec for Life having arrived on the mesa in 1980.
THe success of our sports teams has elevated Aztec pride on and off campus to a level its never been before.
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Post by adammclane on May 20, 2015 22:13:58 GMT -8
Adamclane you are so right , as is op. I have always been a believer that sports is the marketing window for any university. Also an Aztec for Life having arrived on the mesa in 1980. THe success of our sports teams has elevated Aztec pride on and off campus to a level its never been before. The other day I spent some time with an Aztec alumni from the early 1990s. We were talking about him coming to FB games or being proud of what his alma mater is all about... frankly, he didn't have a ton of pride for where he went to school, he mostly partied and all that. It didn't click why he should care about investing/participating in making the fb/bb programs doing better until I told I laid it all out: The more exposure football and basketball bring to the school + the more people who want to apply + the higher standards become to become an Aztec + the better overall reputation of SDSU = that degree earned in the Marshall Faulk days is worth more today in the marketplace because more people see State as a legit place instead of a commuter school with a party reputation. Literally, no one loses and thousands of Aztec alumni benefit. |
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Post by uncledougy on May 21, 2015 4:08:33 GMT -8
The OP makes a great point. If students have memorable moments while attending, they are most certainly going to attend games long after graduation. That is evident with the blue-bloods of college sports. All of those programs had periods of sustained success and fans remember those times. Hell, I am still motivated to attend SDSU football because I was lucky enough to attend during the Marshall years! (Not that I wouldn't attend otherwise, but I carry those memories with me every time I walk through the turnstiles)
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