Springboard to a Storm – Alestle 6/23/10

Like Head Coach Lennox Forrester and the rest of SIUE's men's basketball coaching staff, Assistant Athletic Director for marketing Jason Coomer and Red Storm President Felix Burkart have been doing some recruiting of their own during the offseason at Springboard to Success.

Forrester's task, trying to find hidden talent across the country to position SIUE for success on the court may be more of a challenge than what the Red Storm is facing. Its task however is not being taken lightly in year three of SIUE's transition to NCAA Division I.

As many coaches have referred to the state of SIUE athletics as being on the "ground level", Coomer and Burkart seek to build a stronger foundation in the stands ­- bringing together school spirit, a true university experience and new traditions. These aspects are just as vital to the Red Storm as they are to other student sections across America.

Because of this, Coomer said timing could not be better for students to start out their time at SIUE.

"We are helping freshmen realize they are here at a great time," Coomer said. "This is the largest class in the history of SIUE and they are at the ground floor of this transition. They will be the first class to see firsthand the opportunity for postseason play and the excitement that brings."

Burkart said the Springboard presentation, which includes a guest appearance by the giant sphere used for the "human hamster jam" at halftime has spurred some interest in the organization which became officially recognized by SIUE Student Government in February.

"We are trying to get people excited about it," Burkart said.

Burkart took over the Red Storm last year, and felt obligated to step up and save a student section without a leader.

"Brock Elmore graduated and I assumed there was no one else to take over it," Burkart said. "I talked to [Coomer] and said I was really interested and thought it was a perfect opportunity."

Coomer saw Springboard as a platform to generate interest in SIUE athletics, particularly men's basketball, because the orientation program is something every new student has to go through.

"It was not only an opportunity, but something we needed to do for the student body," Coomer said. "We try and make them aware of what SIUE is all about, where we are going, how we are going to get there."

Before coming to SIUE in 2008, Coomer was the adviser for the Blue Crew at DePaul and a graduate assistant in event management and ticketing at Ohio State. Under his direction, SIUE has seen its attendance numbers rise steadily. In its last season as a Division II program, SIUE averaged 980 fans. In 2008-2009, it rose to 1,052. Last season, SIUE drew 1,593 fans per contest. Five of last year's home games, including one against Ohio Valley Conference champion Murray State, were played during holiday breaks without students on campus.

While these factors point to a steady increase in fan support, Coomer said the job isn't quite finished.

"There is always room for growth and we don't rest just because our numbers are up," Coomer said. "We want to be the leader in the OVC and keep moving forward. We stress at springboard that we want great student fans. When you turn on ESPN and see great student fans, we want to be those fans."

The current leader in the OVC is Murray State, averaging 4,020 fans per game, roughly the capacity of the Vadalabene Center.

At the first nine Springboard sessions of the summer, Coomer said incoming students have had numerous questions about the OVC, the NCAA's transition process and tickets - which many did not realize are a free perk issued for paying the mandatory Athletic fee along with tuition.

"When I walk out I want to get across a solid understanding that tickets are free to students," Coomer said. "We get a lot of questions about opponents and one thing we find is they are asking about which institutions are a part of the OVC and about 70 percent of those students know people at these other schools and so there is a natural rivalry with our fanbase."

Traveling to some of those other schools for games is also a new possibility for the Red Storm next basketball season, with a schedule filled with regional and OVC opponents, and the newfound possibility of funded trips through Student Government.

"Since we are officially a club SG can get us money to travel more through the Red Storm," Burkart said.

Other new plans Burkart has for next season include "theme games," but don't expect World Cup style Vuvuzela horns because the NCAA has a ban on artificial noisemakers.

"There are going to be things like afro night," Burkart said. "We are going to try and bring a party to the game."

Athletics are a big part of what Coomer and Burkart had to say to SIUE's incoming class, but there is more to it.

"Whether it is going to an event, joining a club team or whatever at least do something," Coomer said. "There is a strong correlation between students active on campus and the level of satisfaction with collegiate experience and retention."

Coomer said the worst mistake a freshman can make is to skip a game they would like to attend because a friend would not.

"There is going to be a time when you want to do something and a roommate says they are not interested," Coomer said. "You do not let your friends determine what your collegiate experience is going to be like. You are going to meet more people."

Mens basketball is not the only sport the Red Storm supports. Last season, the organization was active at womens basketball, softball, baseball and men's and women's soccer contests, something the Red Storm will continue to do this year and in the future.

"In the past the focus has been mainly on basketball, but we support every other sport possible," Burkart said.

Winning is something Coomer said is on the minds of most incoming students when considering whether or not to support SIUE athletics. Coomer said to consider something different.

"Everybody wants to win and I understand that way of thinking," Coomer said. "Nobody wants it more than our coaches and athletes and its hard sometimes to step back and realize it takes time to build a program. We are moving in that direction."

---

Posted in: Archives