I haven't been to a game in College Station in 20 years. My boys didn't have sports and we weren't traveling for Spring Break so I brought them over to watch the Ags take on number one.

Here are my thoughts:

Atmosphere: (it was deceptively cold in the stands, so maybe I had an impact) I spent the trip over talking about the traditions in the stadium and having them read about what to expect at an Aggie baseball game. Outside of a few bubbles and a half-spirited ball count chant, nothing else was worth noting. It was boring and quiet…except for the lady behind me who complained nonstop to her friends about her job and her family's eating habits. I expected a lot more with LSU in town. The play reflected the mood in the stands. The announcer, music guy and sound effects guy all seemed like they wanted to be somewhere else. Not exciting or engaging. Haphazard at best.

Food and Beverages: meh. And overpriced meh. And every machine asked if you wanted to leave a tip.

Bathrooms: not enough. Plan on missing the beginning of each side of the inning if you decide to visit one.

Watching the actual baseball being played was the best part. Wish the Ags would have gotten the bats going. The umpire was very inconsistent though.

Conclusion: the Aggie baseball experience needs a total overhaul.

I was there as well and it was not the most energetic atmosphere. Factors.

- weather
- it's spring break (if you couldn't tell by the lack of traffic)
- day game
- LSU is dominate
- LSU fans travel 2x any other fan base

Overall, very large crowd given the above.

College kids are just coming back from spring break, likely significantly less there.

I don't think that many students go to the games, aside from the Raggies. That said, this series should have been scheduled to be played in late-April or early May.

Production quality has suffered this year. Music is bland. Funny sound effects are non-existent. Raggies (those who are there), except for the ball 5 chant, do little to intimidate opposing team/players. Go Tigers and there's no attempt to drown them out with banging on seats. The list could go on.

OP is right…it's bland….

Buford T. Justice said:

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I don't think that many students go to the games, aside from the Raggies. That said, this series should have been scheduled to be played in late-April or early May.

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I can't disagree more with the first sentence. popular game that had LSU, people in from out of town like OP that haven't been in twenty years, and locals filling the spots normally occupied by students.

Watching the baseball being played was the best part of attending the baseball game? Who knew?

The Olsen experience peaked in 1999 and has been in decline ever since, IMHO. 30 years ago, all of us looked-down on tu baseball because their crowd was so old. We talked about how pitiful it was that there were so few students in their crowd.

Now I look at our "student section" and see a bunch of middle-aged men repeating the same things we were chanting 25 years ago (albeit much faster). Nothing new has been added since before any of the current players were born. Stale is a bit of an understatement.

IMHO, the best thing that could happen at Olsen would be making the upper-deck students-only (+ their guests). It isn't workable at present, because there's no where for any of the folks to sit, but I'd like to see us filling Olsen with current students (in years to come).

Over heard a couple of l$u fans talking about the tame environment at Olsen yesterday. They had a point, but Olsen never needs the to be the acrid den that is The Box.

It's Spring Break. I seem to remember we had some series in Baton Rouge over their Spring Break the past few years that were noticeably muted.

I thought the coaches weren't into the sound effects and crowd interaction and that's why that got cut back.

The student section has had its location gradually shifted away from home plate and shrunk over the past decade. Personal opinion is that never should have happened and should be remedied, but people like money.

I've never ever missed more than an AB or 2 going to the bathroom.

Concessions overall suck because Levy. Just like at Kyle.

Cold weather, spring break, play on the field all contribute to noise level. Were you trying to increase that or just wanting to watch the show?

Where you sit in the stadium greatly affects how well you can hear 203.

Music and sound effects are no longer handled by the PA. I know Hollie is in charge of that but I have no idea who actually hits the buttons during the game. Some games it feels more like they are following a script.

Quote:

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The student section has had its location gradually shifted away from home plate and shrunk over the past decade. Personal opinion is that never should have happened and should be remedied, but people like money.

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It seems a dichotomy exists between student seating for football and all other sports. The sports exist FOR the students, therefore, access to the games, for them, would seem to take priority (as indeed they do/have for football). For some reason(s), they do not for all others. Seems reasonable to me that students should be afforded the same priority of opportunity to attend every sport; not just football.

It's never taken Mr trouble that long either even with having to take the kids.

I go 2 a couple of series per year now and sit near 203. Everything and I mean everything has to be choreographed. It's out of control. When Olsen was at its best it was non stop ragging by everyone. No chanting, no clapping, just yelling anything and everything that was in your head. I feel like so many people are afraid to challenge 203 they just don't do anything.

dabo man said:

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The Olsen experience peaked in 1999 and has been in decline ever since, IMHO. 30 years ago, all of us looked-down on tu baseball because their crowd was so old. We talked about how pitiful it was that there were so few students in their crowd.

Now I look at our "student section" and see a bunch of middle-aged men repeating the same things we were chanting 25 years ago (albeit much faster). Nothing new has been added since before any of the current players were born. Stale is a bit of an understatement.

IMHO, the best thing that could happen at Olsen would be making the upper-deck students-only (+ their guests). It isn't workable at present, because there's no where for any of the folks to sit, but I'd like to see us filling Olsen with current students (in years to come).

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Do you want me to show up to 203 and show them how to heckle players and fans?

jah003 said:

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I go 2 a couple of series per year now and sit near 203. Everything and I mean everything has to be choreographed. It's out of control. When Olsen was at its best it was non stop ragging by everyone. No chanting, no clapping, just yelling anything and everything that was in your head. I feel like so many people are afraid to challenge 203 they just don't do anything.

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It's because modern college students are conditioned to aquiesce to authority and 203 is seen as a defacto authority for student behavior.

Further, even on this board, being rowdy and ruffling feathers is "too negative" for the social order. I'm a pariah for saying what we all know. But as robert heinlein wrote "being correct too early is socially unacceptable."

To fix the atmosphere at Olsen you have to get loud and humorous and you can't GAF what everyone else thinks.

Why would anyone be intimidated by 203…

Leander - Ag said:

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Why would anyone be intimidated by 203…

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Did you go to Kyle and think you knew better than the yell leaders?

For an 18yo, if you've never been to Olsen, you take your cues for behavior from "the regulars."

They will get these issues addressed before your return in 2043.

Amen amen amen

Perfect that "come tell me to shut up" look and no one, I mean, no one ****s with you.

ASK ME HOW I KNOW

trouble said:

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Amen amen amen

Perfect that "come tell me to shut up" look and no one, I mean, no one ****s with you.

ASK ME HOW I KNOW

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HECUBUS said:

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Folks will get up and obstruct your view at any time. That wasn't allowed back in '89.

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BETWEEN INNINGS!

Your support of Aggie baseball over the past 20 years…meh

we were there too. I've never seen the campus, as a whole, that dead. the campus and entire town was like the post-apocalyptic empty. pretty crappy timing for a home series against #1. the SEC schedulers/Sankey knew exactly what they were doing.

The Debt said:

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jah003 said:

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I go 2 a couple of series per year now and sit near 203. Everything and I mean everything has to be choreographed. It's out of control. When Olsen was at its best it was non stop ragging by everyone. No chanting, no clapping, just yelling anything and everything that was in your head. I feel like so many people are afraid to challenge 203 they just don't do anything.

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It's because modern college students are conditioned to aquiesce to authority and 203 is seen as a defacto authority for student behavior.

Further, even on this board, being rowdy and ruffling feathers is "too negative" for the social order. I'm a pariah for saying what we all know. But as robert heinlein wrote "being correct too early is socially unacceptable."

To fix the atmosphere at Olsen you have to get loud and humorous and you can't GAF what everyone else thinks.

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Kids would get thrown out if they said the things we said back in the 80's. One innocuous 'ole when a player jumps over the baseline and it's a Hispanic player... you'll get in trouble today.

All I know is if there was a hail storm, the safest place would be under the corn dog's first base coach's stomach.