SB Nation User Blog: Sideout11

OSU, Not UCLA, To Play TCU in Arlington

Sideout11 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:18:50 -0000

OSU, Not UCLA, To Play TCU in Arlington

It's not official yet, but it looks like our non-conference schedule will not reach DEFCON 1 after all.

Student Ticket Transfer System

Sideout11 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:50:18 -0000

Bumped. This post/thread is a great starting point to think about solutions to some of the issues we have been discussing re. attendance. GO BRUINS. -N

So here it is. There is one painfully simple way to make sure the student sections of Pauley are filled every game, and that is to implement a ticket transfer system. First though, a quick description of the student ticket process for those of you who aren't familiar.

Every year students who want tickets enter a lottery, because the demand for basketball tickets far exceeds the supply. The packages available are the blue package, the gold package, and for those lucky enough a full package (both blue and gold). Each package contains tickets to all home football games, all non-conference basketball games, and half of the team's Pac-10 games. For the 2 biggest games of the year, $C and whichever marquee non-conference opponent we play (i.e. Kansas), one game is a part of the blue package and the other is a part of the gold. The reason they split the games up into 2 packages is so that more students are afforded the opportunity to attend, and of course to make more money.

Now here comes the problem. The tickets that students receive aren't paper tickets. Our tickets are electronically placed onto our BruinCards, so the only person that can use them is the person whose face is on the card. This system would work beautifully if everyone showed up, but that is completely unrealistic. In fact, the university is counting on that fact that only about half of the ticket holders will show up to non-conference games, otherwise they would have to divide those between the 2 packages as well.

As of right now no system is in place that allows students to transfer or sell their electronic ticket to fellow, less fortunate students. I know for a fact that such a system exists for regular season ticket holders. If one of them can't make it or has an extra ticket, they can call CTO and let them know. CTO will then place their ticket up for sale online and at the ticket office. My opinion? CTO is completely money driven, so of course they would set up a system to transfer $80 dollar tickets while completely ignoring the $5 dollar student tickets.

Now, I am as diehard as they come, and even I have had to miss a basketball game or 2. My freshman year I did not have any tickets and was only able to see the great KL and RW twice (both times Gen Admission, both times over winter break). Last year I had the Gold package, but had to miss the U$C game because I was in the hospital earlier that week. This year I can go to every game, but missed Humboldt State (pre-season) due to work. My point is stuff like this, unexpected or not, happens.

Now I have been on both sides of the ball. I have given my ID up to someone else before, and I have also used someone else's (at great risk I might add-the ticket lady was nice enough to overlook the mis-matched picture). This proves that there is a large student market out there for basketball tickets, but currently we can't do anything about it. Every student knows there should be a transfer system, and every student has complained to Game Staff, CTO, and USAC alike about there being no such system. There may be students who only want to go to a game or 2, and that is fine. There are also students like me who would go to every game, but don't receive tickets. Not everyone can make every game, but together we can fill them all if only the university would let us.

This brings me to my final point, and that is that we students need your alumni's help. We have complained over and over, but our cries have fallen on deaf ears. We even elected student representative Thach Nguyen (email: GenRep3@gmail.com) who promised to work towards a transfer system. Of course, that is the same Thach Nguyen who organized the Bruin Bear Security Force, so I'm not holding out much hope there. I plead to you alumni, let the money speak. Our student tickets are so cheap that the CTO doesn't care what we have to say. It's clear, however, that they care about their season ticket holders, about the people paying $100/night and making exorbitant donations to fund the Pauley renovation. We need you to go to bat for us.

I know that there must be some alumni reading this site who have connections in Athletics, USAC, or CTO. If so, WE NEED YOU. We're tired of seeing Pauley half full and you're tired of seeing Pauley half full, so let's tighten the screws and turn up the pressure on the university. I honestly have no idea who would be "the" guy or girl to talk to about this, but CTO would be a good start. Just make sure you don't start yelling at the first person to answer the phone. Ask for a manager, because CTO is mostly student employed. Their contact info is below.

Website: www.tickets.ucla.edu

Phone: (310) 825-2101

Email: cto@tickets.ucla.edu

Thank you in advance for you help, and Go Bruins!

Team Chemistry

Sideout11 — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:26:45 -0000

Obviously it has been noted here before, and any fan will currently admit, that this year's struggles seem much graver than years past. The simple explanations I have heard is that we seem to be we are getting worse not better, or we are too inconsistent, or we are not playing to our potential. These are all true, but I think this season's issues go deeper. What concerns me is that the team chemistry and identity is falling apart.

"It hurts. I'm just lost right now. I'm confused." -Brian Price

"Three losses in a row is something that you're definitely not expecting with the talent that you have on this team." -Alterraun Verner

(OC Register and LA Times)

Quotes like these, in combination with things like the Randall Carroll twitter fiasco, have me wondering if our team still thinks that they are one team. Last year, we heard a lot of "there is no offense or defense, there is just team." Not so much this year. I for one do not know what is going on. I don't know if it's a rift between the young guns and the upperclassmen, or between the offense and defense, or between the coaches and the players. Frankly, the thought of any of those scares the crap out of me, because these are problems that no UCLA team in recent memory has had to face. All I know that if team unity is coming unraveled, that would certainly explain the lack of progress, lack of identity, and questionable coaching calls.

As an example, I will use Sheldon Price. I sort of ignored all of the criticism towards him up until now. Not that I thought he should be playing, but I always trusted that the coaches were making the right football decision. However, after watching today's game and seeing Sheldon get driven into the ground over and over again on runs to his side, I can't help but think that the decision to play him was more that an Xs and Os move. There is just no way that Courtney Viney or a converted Tony Dye get taken out of every play the way Price does. Maybe the coaches are using him to send a message or punish some (ie Viney). Again, I don't know, but playing Sheldon because he is our best option doesn't seem true.

I know that all of this may seem like a conspiracy theory, but it could also be entirely possible and I think it is worth debating. If you ask me, everything began falling apart with the suspensions after Tennessee. I'd like to hear everyone else's take on this, because it could have some serious consequences for the program's direction.

Nice Profile On Reggie Carter

Sideout11 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:37:28 -0000

Nice Profile On Reggie Carter

Barkely to start $C opener

Sideout11 — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:44:52 -0000

Barkely to start $C opener

I for one am overjoyed that they are burning his redshirt.

Rice Sr in the House

Sideout11 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:46:07 -0000

Rice Sr in the House

Jerry Rice Sr. was at practice this morning to watch his son play. Pretty cool.

Lakers Returning To The Forum

Sideout11 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:38:17 -0000

Lakers Returning To The Forum

The Lakers will return to the Great Western Forum to play the Golden State Warriors in a preseason game on October 9th. Tickets go on sale at 10:00 am on August 12th.

Farmar Takes On The Boss

Sideout11 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:31:06 -0000

Farmar Takes On The Boss

9th place at the WSOP? Not bad. He might even get two rings this summer.

Ariza Honors Commitment To Rockets

Sideout11 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:00:49 -0000

Ariza Honors Commitment To Rockets

Despite getting what appears to be a bad deal from his "agent" and going from championship contender to lottery team, Ariza showed the commitment and proper prioritizing we have come to expect from former Bruins by both honoring his agreement to Houston and choosing to stay closer to his family.

Happy 4th of July Lakers Fans!!!

Sideout11 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:00:50 -0000

via whinesisters.com

It's been a hectic and exciting couple of days here in Lakerland with the news of Artest, Ariza, and Phil. However, today is a day of rest and festivities as we celebrate America's 233rd birthday.

Feel free to share your plans for today in the comments section, or do so on Monday for those of you taking a true vacation. As for me, I will just be barbecuing and watching fireworks, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Go Purple & Gold!