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By: LONNY DEMAREE
As it relates to fan expectations the BBN was less than satisfied at the outcome of the football season. The opening of the newly renovation to Commonwealth Stadium got a tremendous face-lift. There was the presentation of a recruiting room that none across the country rival. And there were eight home games on the schedule, the most of anytime in recent memory. A three year collection of a supposed talent update. All of these factors in total equated to a fan base that is very much miffed and sometimes disgruntled. Having the feel of the pulse of the BBN we determine there are no less than three factions harbor varying emotions. Just as in a boxing match, we have the Blue corner and the White corner and Mitch Barnhart is the referee. The judges are not looking for a winner but desirous of a draw and a rematch. The arbitrator is Coach Mark Stoops by coming up with a plan to convince the fans he will put a better product on the field. Lets explore them in no particular order.
Big K-Fund Investors
These are the fans that for the most part can't be driven away. Every Development Department drive put on for the k-fund these are the people that are asked to participate. The participation allows them to accrue points that ultimately contributes to positioning for choice tickets at various off campus events that the Wildcats compete in. A large number of this group of fans buy varying size blocks of tickets to the football games. As previously alluded to these fans are not going away but are exasperated over the lack of wins on the gridiron. This is further exacerbated bad decisions made on the field.
The Sense of Entitlement Fans
These are the block of fans that feel they are entitled to special treatment because they for years have been loyal fans through the ups and the downs, bowl years, lean years, and years when C. M. Newton told them if they don't like what he was doing, find themselves another team. “I don't like what Mitch Barnhart did to me and strongly considered giving up my tickets,” said Terry Haggin who jammed me up at the golf course after a hot round of golf. I informed him that everything changes and he and or they must adjust to them. “But I have had tickets for forty year and I should be paid more respect than this taking my red-lot parking pass.” A lot of the unrest comes in the form of high priced parking passes as well as ticket and K-Fund prices. When talking to the ticket scalpers a higher premium was put on parking passes that what the profit margin was for tickets to the games. In years past you could re-wind the tape and gleaned the same grips but there's a question as to whether there is another period such as the Joker Phillips era on the horizon.
The Eternal Optimist Fans
This group of fans come in two forms - 1) of the hardcore variety with a passive attitude toward Kentucky football; 2) the deeply invested gala fans. The first group are the Big Blue Line radio callers. 'Coach we think you are doing a great job. Coach we love you because your kids are for the most part good citizens. Coach we like it because your kids are getting their degrees. Coach, you stay the course because we know you will get the program turned around.' The second group are the people that look forward to the tailgate parties before and after the games. In lots ways tailgating resembles a game of who came put on the best tailgate party. To do this the innovation is limitless. This get in the area money spent and time in preparation.
So at the end of the day what does Mitch Barnhart do to head off the possible slippage? Maybe he hires the best publicity firm available. Maybe he comes up with a slick marketing campaign. Or maybe contracts the services of the political strategist James Carville who help elect a Kentucky governor in the past...Smiles.
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