"'Big time,' big money, big problems"
Jan. 29, 2015With barely recognizable opponents like Wheeling Jesuit and Montana State, it?s no surprise students aren?t turning out in droves to watch UB?s basketball team compete ? even though the Bulls have been winning. Because the excitement factor doesn?t seem sufficient, UB Athletics is upping its own game and offering financial incentives to students, but it won?t work. UB is raffling off not only GoPros and Beats headphones, but also ?tuition for the fall 2015 semester? in its latest attempt to lure students to athletic events ? particularly those broadcast by ESPN. It sounds a little like bribery, but even more so, this promotion reeks of desperation. Athletic director Danny White appears determined ? even desperate ? to revamp UB Athletics? image, to make the program a true ?big time? competitor. And to achieve that, UB needs to keep up with fellow Division-I schools like Ohio State and Duke, whose games are regularly broadcast on ESPN and feature shots of stands packed with screaming fans having the time of their lives. Although UB?s basketball team is doing well this season, boasting a 13-6 record, students just aren?t flocking to the games. That?s a problem, and Athletics is right to address it, but there are simpler ? and cheaper ? solutions than a master plan involving free tuition and expensive tech devices.
