EagleOutsider.com

Joe Trapani isn’t going to argue. Ask him if he thinks Boston College has the weakest home-court advantage in the ACC, and the Eagles forward has no choice but to agree.

“It’s fair to say,” Trapani said. “It’s pretty obvious at times.”

Moderate success under former coach Al Skinner seemed to energize a student body that usually puts up a decent showing at football games but never got behind the basketball team.

“It is tough, not having the same visual support that other (ACC) teams have,” Trapani said. “At the end of the day, it makes us a better road team. One of the newer things we’re going to try to do is the Ice Jam (later this month), where the hockey and basketball team will practice at the same time, with the floor half ice and half court.”

The cooperation between the two programs is an indication that even the hockey team doesn’t always get the support one might expect of arguably the top program in the country -- Trapani said there was no jealousy there on the part of the basketball team.

“And that’s for a national championship team,” Trapani said. “It’s obviously a pro town, Boston.”

The lack of buzz was one reason why the laid-back Skinner was dismissed despite an admirable won-loss record and replaced with Cornell’s Steve Donahue. There’s no question there’s some work to be done, and Donahue said he’s willing to work the dorms and dining halls to increase student support.

As for Boston, he thinks his team’s style will prove itself attractive to fans accustomed to watching the Celtics, especially if he can achieve some level of success.

“Granted this is a pro town … but it’s also a winner’s town,” Donahue said. “I think Boston fans appreciate teams that play a certain way, like the Celtics -- hard-nosed basketball, unselfish, do it the right way. People will come see us if we win the ACC and we play the way I say.”

commavegarage {l Wrote}:I never said it was the factor. I said it was a factor. Much larger factors include: the team sucks, the team played a very boring brand and it cost $10 to watch the team suck.

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

Were you planning on kissing him?

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

Were you planning on kissing him?

Not after he pulled that stunt, that's for sure.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

Were you planning on kissing him?

Not after he pulled that stunt, that's for sure.

Nothing wrong with dipping. You'd be shocked how many people do it. Especially professionals, since they can do it in their office.

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

Were you planning on kissing him?

Not after he pulled that stunt, that's for sure.

Nothing wrong with dipping. You'd be shocked how many people do it. Especially professionals, since they can do it in their office.

I don't really care if people do or don't. I played hockey so I've been around it plenty but it never really appealed to me for whatever reason. It's just the way he asked for it and did the douchy hand motion. Usually people who do that are douches. It's science.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

Were you planning on kissing him?

Not after he pulled that stunt, that's for sure.

Nothing wrong with dipping. You'd be shocked how many people do it. Especially professionals, since they can do it in their office.

I don't really care if people do or don't. I played hockey so I've been around it plenty but it never really appealed to me for whatever reason. It's just the way he asked for it and did the douchy hand motion. Usually people who do that are douches. It's science.

People that do are predominantly former jocks, former prep school kids, rednecks, or some combination of the three. As far as the motion goes, it is necessary to pack the tin; however, doing it to indicate that you want one is definitely douchy.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

Were you planning on kissing him?

Not after he pulled that stunt, that's for sure.

Nothing wrong with dipping. You'd be shocked how many people do it. Especially professionals, since they can do it in their office.

I don't really care if people do or don't. I played hockey so I've been around it plenty but it never really appealed to me for whatever reason. It's just the way he asked for it and did the douchy hand motion. Usually people who do that are douches. It's science.

People that do are predominantly former jocks, former prep school kids, rednecks, or some combination of the three. As far as the motion goes, it is necessary to pack the tin; however, doing it to indicate that you want one is definitely douchy.

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

BCEagles25 {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:I met Trap a few times. Seemed like a douche. Also asked if anyone had a tin and proceeded to do that motion that people that dip do with their hands that sounds like a snapping sound. That didn't appeal to me.

Yeah, that sounds douchey to me. I can picture tools in my high school doing it. What other times have you met him?

MattTheEagle {l Wrote}:Here are the reasons for lack of student support at basketball games, some of which are correctable:
1) No Success and Bad Strategy: This is undoubtedly number-one. Even with Skinner's lackluster approach to games he still got more of a crowd to games win BC was winning. Boring offense, and a coach that did not seem to have any variety in his style of play just isn't going to make students go crazy about BC basketball. It was frustrating to see him stubbornly not take time outs or not go to plays or players that have shown to work well for the team.
2) Expensive Tickets: Boston College has some of the highest-priced student tickets for college basketball games. 10 dollars a tickets when purchasing season tickets is a lot. Also, several schools package their tickets with football and charge a very reasonable rate like 150 or something for both season football tickets AND season basketball tickets to encourage students to go to both.
3) Small School: Granted, BC has a nice community feel, but being a small school in a major conference makes it harder to fill the seats. BC is one of the smaller schools in a major conference and arguably the best conference in college basketball (ok maybe the Big East #1 but I think we are at least #2). We simply do not have the student body to fill out the seats like a big public school can or at least cannot fill out the seats with the same proportion of attendance as bigger school. Don't quote me on this, but I believe we are the second-smallest school in the ACC (Wake Forest being the smallest).
4) Poor Player-Student Relations: The biggest fans of the game do not know the players outside of the basketball court. After talking with someone working in public relations for basketball who has worked at BC for quite some time, the BC basketball players are great people but there is definitely a disconnect with the fans. I think the problem is the players do not go out of the way to try to meet the other students by the same token the other students do not go out of their way to meet the players. One of my biggest regrets was not trying to meet the team, I have heard that Paris, Elmore and Southern for example are really approachable and cool people to talk to. I had season-tickets last year and consider myself a huge BC basketball fan, yet the only BC basketball player I had ever met was Tyler Roche, and that was after the season had already ended. I think BC needs to have events or pre-game or post-game meet the player gatherings. Something like this may help the fans get behind the team.
5) Coach was a Shadow on Campus: I really like what Donahue is doing to try to connect with the students to spark interest in BC basketball again. This is a minor thing but I really think it will help if Donahue goes around and promotes BC basketball directly to the students (although, this should take a back seat to practicing and recruiting). I also REALLY like the IceJam, although do not know what category that fits into but it is an excellent idea of getting fan support.
6) Academic school: This isn't a huge factor but it certainly plays some role. The students at BC care about school and many work hard in their classes. Many BC basketball games are on weekdays and attending games can be difficult (topped with watching a weak program, it just isn't worth it).

That being said, there are still several die-hard hoops fans who go to all the games, and you see some pretty cool fan support signs. Heck a couple students went to all the games and dressed up calling themselves Reggie's Veggies which I thought was kinda cool (I wonder if Reggie Jackson has a comment on that). Nonetheless, there should be a lot more student support and hopefully Donahue can spark interest again.

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Yeah the hand thing got big when Da Ali G show started getting bigger on HBO.

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Yeah the hand thing got big when Da Ali G show started getting bigger on HBO.

I'd say it's more likely given your age that Ali G came out around the time people were dipping regularly and making that sound. It's always been a redneck/jock staple going back before Sasha Baron Coen.

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Yeah the hand thing got big when Da Ali G show started getting bigger on HBO.

I'd say it's more likely given your age that Ali G came out around the time people were dipping regularly and making that sound. It's always been a redneck/jock staple going back before Sasha Baron Coen.

People saw it and started doing it more frequently. Even people that didn't dip started doing it. Those that did dip did it all the time because now it was cool and it helped their packing form. Basically it was a vicous cycle.

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Yeah the hand thing got big when Da Ali G show started getting bigger on HBO.

I'd say it's more likely given your age that Ali G came out around the time people were dipping regularly and making that sound. It's always been a redneck/jock staple going back before Sasha Baron Coen.

People saw it and started doing it more frequently. Even people that didn't dip started doing it. Those that did dip did it all the time because now it was cool and it helped their packing form. Basically it was a vicous cycle.

That all happened when I was in middle school/high school long before Ali G. I think it would've happened anywhere. It's a staple.

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Yeah the hand thing got big when Da Ali G show started getting bigger on HBO.

I'd say it's more likely given your age that Ali G came out around the time people were dipping regularly and making that sound. It's always been a redneck/jock staple going back before Sasha Baron Coen.

People saw it and started doing it more frequently. Even people that didn't dip started doing it. Those that did dip did it all the time because now it was cool and it helped their packing form. Basically it was a vicous cycle.

That all happened when I was in middle school/high school long before Ali G. I think it would've happened anywhere. It's a staple.

In all fairness, redneck trends hit upstate NY long before they hit Boston...

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Yeah the hand thing got big when Da Ali G show started getting bigger on HBO.

I'd say it's more likely given your age that Ali G came out around the time people were dipping regularly and making that sound. It's always been a redneck/jock staple going back before Sasha Baron Coen.

People saw it and started doing it more frequently. Even people that didn't dip started doing it. Those that did dip did it all the time because now it was cool and it helped their packing form. Basically it was a vicous cycle.

That all happened when I was in middle school/high school long before Ali G. I think it would've happened anywhere. It's a staple.

In all fairness, redneck trends hit upstate NY long before they hit Boston...

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs.

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:

b0mberMan {l Wrote}:

flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Yeah the hand thing got big when Da Ali G show started getting bigger on HBO.

I'd say it's more likely given your age that Ali G came out around the time people were dipping regularly and making that sound. It's always been a redneck/jock staple going back before Sasha Baron Coen.

People saw it and started doing it more frequently. Even people that didn't dip started doing it. Those that did dip did it all the time because now it was cool and it helped their packing form. Basically it was a vicous cycle.

That all happened when I was in middle school/high school long before Ali G. I think it would've happened anywhere. It's a staple.

In all fairness, redneck trends hit upstate NY long before they hit Boston...

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs.

There, too.

pick6pedro {l Wrote}:I had plenty of interaction with Uka, Troy, X, Duds, KWalls, Nate D, Nick Dunn, Beerbohm, Harley, Watson, DeMong and Ekweozar - all positive (OK maybe not with Beerbohm - I wasn't a big fan of him personally due to some shenanigans on the intramural football field). But none of that had anything to do with me being in the front row of every game. I would have been there even if they had given me swirly birds between classes and stolen my eagle card to buy rock.