Please Duke fans...

[GP3NY]

So, I don't post on this board very much, but I do read it daily and love the conversations that go on here.

I am writing as a lifelong Duke fan and current Duke graduate student. I just got back from the games today and am going tomorrow. I just wanted to make a plea to the Duke fans on this board, especially the Iron Dukes!

I 100% respect the Iron Dukes and love their financial support for our team, but MAN where are you at the tournament? I see you in your amazing courtside seats, but why can't we hear you cheering! (This is a generalized statement because there are some great fans in the Iron Dukes and us students LOVE you!). The Krzyzewski daughters cheer from across the court, and yell for the Iron Dukes to stand up - - - we get loud for one possession then sit down again. Today at the games the students were begging the fans to STAND UP and GET LOUD. I mean really, aren't we the best fans in the college basektball!? An undergrad actually had to run around with her dry erase board that said "Duke fans Get Hungry" to get a rise out a few Iron Dukes.

I hate Maryland and their fans with all of my heart, but one of the ONLY good things I will say about them is that they FILLED their section yesterday and they were LOUD during their game. The fans that were in the first rows of their section were standing, cheering, singing, and having fun. When you watch our section during our games it is nothing compared to that! So what is the deal?

I know I may be preaching to the choir here on this board because I know a lot of you don't live in North Carolina. I also know that as a fan in NY a few years ago, many of you, like myself, would practically DIE to have floor seats to ANY Duke game. So, I guess my plea for any of the Iron Dukes that may read this is to please cheer! Respect those seats, your fan base, and the people that would give $10,000 a year if they had it to sit where you do! You are a Duke blue devil and we are supposed to be the best in college basketball!

I had a few Iron Dukes come up to me and thank us for cheering so loud today.

Come on guys! We are Duke! We are playing for an ACC championship and #1 seed tomorrow! Can we get a little more excited??????

[DukeGirl4ever]

Watching from PA, I would have liked to see the crowd get a little involved, and NOT just after K got teed up.

I agree with you, where's the noise?

[GODUKEGO]

As hard as this is to admit, I agree with you. I have posted similar threads referring to the same thing. I am not saying everyone has to lose their voice after a game like I do but cheer loudly. I see people sitting in the highest demanded seats probably in sports sitting on their hands in CIS. Not all but way way to many. In the quarterfinals, VA had a fifth of the fans that we did and it is terrible to say but were as loud if not louder than the best sports fans in the world. Sneak in some lemon and honey tea for your vocal cords and yell. You will feel better!!! Miles should not have to go over to the crowd and motion for them to get up and cheer.

[jv001]

Sorry I can't be there but sure wish I could. Pretty bad that Coach K had to ask the Duke crowd to get loud. Go Duke!

[Franzez]

Theres no noise, the ACC Tournament is a joke of what it once was 10+ years ago.

You have 8 mediocre teams that change spots yearly, 2 second tier schools in GA Tech and Maryland, and the Elite schools in Duke and UNC.

The addition of VA Tech, BC & Miami along with the continued mediocrity of schools like UVA, NC State, Wake Forest, FSU, and Clemson has drained away the competitiveness of the conference.

[GODUKEGO]

Theres no noise, the ACC Tournament is a joke of what it once was 10+ years ago.

You have 8 mediocre teams that change spots yearly, 2 second tier schools in GA Tech and Maryland, and the Elite schools in Duke and UNC.

The addition of VA Tech, BC & Miami along with the continued mediocrity of schools like UVA, NC State, Wake Forest, FSU, and Clemson has drained away the competitiveness of the conference.

and what does this have to do with cheering loudly, we are cheering for the #4 team in the country and a spot for the championship of our tournament. The current RPI rankings for conferences:
Men's Basketball - Atlantic Coast (2009-2010)

Conf. RPI Rank: 3 Conf. SOS Rank: 3

[cbnaylor]

I concur that it probably didn't seem as loud today, but it actually was. We were just out numbered due to other fans in the building cheering against Duke. I'm still recovering from yelling so loud today at the one-sided calls during the first half! Go Duke.

[Franzez]

and what does this have to do with cheering loudly, we are cheering for the #4 team in the country and a spot for the championship of our tournament. The current RPI rankings for conferences:
Men's Basketball - Atlantic Coast (2009-2010)

Conf. RPI Rank: 3 Conf. SOS Rank: 3

Its because the ACC Tournament is as important in terms of bragging rights as it once was. There are no "great teams" battling it out like it once was, there are some mediocre teams just looking to get off the bubble and then there is Duke.

Of course our fans will be cheering once the NCAA Tournament arrives, but at this point what is the reason to cheer for Duke to beat a mediocre Miami squad coached by a Muppet?

Winning the ACC just doesn't mean as much as it would years ago.

[RockyMtDevil]

Franzen,
I've never seen you post before, and the two posts about the ACC show that you don't have a clue what you are talking about. The ACC has produced 4 National Champions since 2001, more than any other conference. To say that the ACC and the ACC Tourny don't mean anything just confirms that you may want to cease posting, because you aren't adding anything of value to the conversation.

[GP3NY]

I concur that it probably didn't seem as loud today, but it actually was. We were just out numbered due to other fans in the building cheering against Duke. I'm still recovering from yelling so loud today at the one-sided calls during the first half! Go Duke.

That is absolutely NOT true! I agree that there were "times" where it was loud - - like when K got a tech, or when the game was over. However, we had a good amount of fans there... and a decent amount of NCSU fans were cheering for us - which accounts for 75% of the people there. The rest were GT and Miami, and a few leftover Maryland and Tar Heel fans.

And, I too have NO voice left - - which of course I am in the student section and we are trying to constantly compensate for the people who are down on the floor not cheering. I probably made such a lengthy post because I haven't been talking since I left the game... trying to preserve whatever I have left for tomorrow!

[GP3NY]

I also, don't agree that the ACC tournaments don't mean anything. I absolutely do not think it means any less to any player on any team. Usually the people who say they don't care about the tournament or that it doesn't matter are those who lost early.

We, as fans, can make this change. An ACC tournament championship is AWESOME! No, it's not the same as a NCAA championship... but look at this tournament! It is an amazing accomplishment to win it! It means A LOT to the players, coaching staff, and real fans!

[GODUKEGO]

That is absolutely NOT true! I agree that there were "times" where it was loud - - like when K got a tech, or when the game was over. However, we had a good amount of fans there... and a decent amount of NCSU fans were cheering for us - which accounts for 75% of the people there. The rest were GT and Miami, and a few leftover Maryland and Tar Heel fans.

And, I too have NO voice left - - which of course I am in the student section and we are trying to constantly compensate for the people who are down on the floor not cheering. I probably made such a lengthy post because I haven't been talking since I left the game... trying to preserve whatever I have left for tomorrow!

It works, warm lemon and honey tea, do it we need you tomorrow!!!

[doctorhook]

Franzen,
I've never seen you post before, and the two posts about the ACC show that you don't have a clue what you are talking about. The ACC has produced 4 National Champions since 2001, more than any other conference. To say that the ACC and the ACC Tourny don't mean anything just confirms that you may want to cease posting, because you aren't adding anything of value to the conversation.

RockyMtDevil,

I think your comments are a little harsh. I love the tournament as much as anybody, been going pretty regularly for fifty years. Unfortunately, the tourney has lost a good deal of its excitement and luster. As you point out, 4 NCAA champions since 2001, but only one of those teams ( Duke 2001 ) won the ACC tourney in one of the great finals ever. UNC (twice) and MD both had early exits and went on to win the big dance.

[cbnaylor]

That is absolutely NOT true! I agree that there were "times" where it was loud - - like when K got a tech, or when the game was over. However, we had a good amount of fans there... and a decent amount of NCSU fans were cheering for us - which accounts for 75% of the people there. The rest were GT and Miami, and a few leftover Maryland and Tar Heel fans.

And, I too have NO voice left - - which of course I am in the student section and we are trying to constantly compensate for the people who are down on the floor not cheering. I probably made such a lengthy post because I haven't been talking since I left the game... trying to preserve whatever I have left for tomorrow!

I would agree that there wasn't a lot of chants but the overall crowd was good. If I saw you correctly which I probably did, you were jumping up and down right before tip off but to the defense of others who were at the game, Duke fans did a good job cheering. Could it be better? Yes...I wish that the atmosphere could be more like Cameron but there's always room for improvement.

[1999ballboy]

That is absolutely NOT true! I agree that there were "times" where it was loud - - like when K got a tech, or when the game was over. However, we had a good amount of fans there... and a decent amount of NCSU fans were cheering for us - which accounts for 75% of the people there. The rest were GT and Miami, and a few leftover Maryland and Tar Heel fans.

And, I too have NO voice left - - which of course I am in the student section and we are trying to constantly compensate for the people who are down on the floor not cheering. I probably made such a lengthy post because I haven't been talking since I left the game... trying to preserve whatever I have left for tomorrow!

Our fans could definitely stand to get louder, but I pretty much disagree with everything else here. Perhaps you had to be in the upper deck to see the whole picture. But there were almost no Miami fans. If you look online at ticket-selling sites, almost ALL of the available tickets are either in the UNC or Miami section. I just don't think many Miami people made the trip. And I also didn't see a single State fan rooting for Duke. I'm not suggesting you're making that up, just that if there were indeed State fans cheering for Duke, they were too outnumbered to matter. Weren't very many Tech fans that I saw, and the ones I did see were quiet. Otherwise, I saw a lot of Maryland, Virginia, and Clemson fans sticking around, and the Maryland fans and State fans probably accounted for most of the anti-Duke cheering that I heard.

Oh, and it wasn't just when K got the T that Duke fans got loud. There were "Defense" chants until the very end of the game. "Let's go Duke" chants were audible too, and the upper deck definitely joined in for both. The only "Let's go Canes" chant was from the Miami band, joined by no one else as far as I could tell. Tomorrow I fully expect an improvement in the relative crowd noises due to the elimination of NC State. There was a whole lot of red in the building today. As I am to understand, this is the story of every ACC Tournament in NC ever... except usually there's a lot more powder blue mixed in.

[Franzez]

RockyMtDevil,

I think your comments are a little harsh. I love the tournament as much as anybody, been going pretty regularly for fifty years. Unfortunately, the tourney has lost a good deal of its excitement and luster. As you point out, 4 NCAA champions since 2001, but only one of those teams ( Duke 2001 ) won the ACC tourney in one of the great finals ever. UNC (twice) and MD both had early exits and went on to win the big dance.

I concur.

Im just pointing out the lack of "great teams" in this era of ACC basketball. The mediocrity below the Duke & UNC levels is just disgusting currently and just shows where the conference is at as a whole.

Maybe I am just being too harsh comparing the current ACC tournament to basically one of the Golden Era's in ACC basketball. RockyMtDevil, I am willing to bet you $500 that there wont be an ACC team other than UNC or Duke win a NC in the next 10 years. The ACC Tournament used to be the premier conference tournament in the country based on the competition level, now its currently the Big East but even that doesn't compare to the ACC in its hay day.

[YourLandlord]

The Big East championship game right now is insanely loud. Tons of Georgetown fans going nuts, many WVU fans, and the impartials have picked a side and are cheering.

Both these teams are in the tournament. It's a great atmosphere. Very much unlike tomorrows atmosphere will be in Greensboro. Sad, really.

[GP3NY]

You are probably right in the fact that there may have been less Duke fans than I had estimated. After I posted that I thought that I probably overestimated. However, we had a decent section, and I do agree that it did get loud at times.

I know that I am super spoiled from going to so many games at Cameron for the last 3 years, and (unfortunately) I know that tournament arenas will never be like that... however I just feel like us as fans can do SOOOOOOOO much better!

How about we start tomorrow!!??

[GODUKEGO]

RockyMtDevil,

I think your comments are a little harsh. I love the tournament as much as anybody, been going pretty regularly for fifty years. Unfortunately, the tourney has lost a good deal of its excitement and luster. As you point out, 4 NCAA champions since 2001, but only one of those teams ( Duke 2001 ) won the ACC tourney in one of the great finals ever. UNC (twice) and MD both had early exits and went on to win the big dance.

But this proves the point the conference has been strong over the last 10 years. If Carolina twice and Maryland lose early in the ACC Tournament but went on to win the National Championship what does that say about the other teams in the ACC. Again the RPI and SOS has the ACC #3. We all can thank the Heels for bringing the conference down to three this year. This thread started by GP3NY was about the crowd noise or lack of , lets keep this thread on that subject. There is another one on the ACC Tournament. Remember we are all on the same team and are CRAZIE!!!

[weezie]

Well, ok, I'll be there yelling loudly with a the tried and true, but face the obvious facts, Duke has fewer grads and less of a "common" touch with the locals. You all know this, people.
And most of the IDs who qualify for tix are older than boosters in the other schools. Either through having the $$ to give serious cash, or having bought tix for years and years, there are many older folks in the Duke section. No knock on them at all, I love them, they're the finest people on planet earth but they don't know they should jump up and down when "Touch" gets played.
Gboro was well represented by the royal blue today...there were just too many other cretins from all the other schools who delighted in cheering against us. Including when the Duke lady got hit in the head with an errant pass during the state-gt game...some hole jerk said it was no biggie since a Duke fan was hit.
Forget support from the rest of the ACC: they hate us because we are better and their tiny brains just can't accept that fact.
Period.