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It's 'Your Team' and your fine
Posted August 13, 2007
The CU campus parking police were out in force Monday morning at the lower practice fields issuing parking citations to anyone who doesn't have a pass for the lot there.
No, I didn't get one because the athletic department issues reporters parking passes. I was one of the lucky.
When it comes to the fan base, however, I guess it's only "Your Team" if you have a parking pass or you're willing to hike from other locations to come watch practice.
This is just another example of an area where the university remains clueless about building relationships to benefit its athletic department. Universities are generally run more like government operations, but athletic departments have to be run like businesses, which includes embracing the concept of customer service.
What business invites people to come check out its product and then tickets customers when they arrive?
So beware if you plan to come watch the Buffs over the next two weeks. Park in the dusty, pothole filled lot at your own risk.
...
Tight end Riar Geer, safety Daniel Dykes and linebacker B.J. Beatty all sat out the morning practie today with minor injuries suffered in Sunday's scrimmage. They should return soon.
Tight end Tyson Devree and defensive tackle Brandon Nicolas were back on the field after missing the scrimmage with minor injuries.
Looks like coaches might have found a candidate for kickoffs. Freshman walk-on Tyler Cope, from Portland, Ore., was consistently reaching the 5-yard line and even the end zone with his kickoffs.
Senior Kevin Eberhart will be the place-kicer this season, but coaches have mentioned the possibility of finding someone else to handle the kickoffs because Eberhart's kickoffs are pretty short.
...Coach Dan Hawkins said a depth chart won't be released until after the second scrimmage on Saturday. Even then, Hawkins doesn't like to refer to players as first- and second-string. He goes with contributors.
...And finally. We're going to begin a new feature here where you can e-mail me questions about the Buffs and I'll answer them here on the blog at least once or twice a week. Please e-mail me your questions at ringok@dailycamera.com. I'll respond to each question regardless of whether I use it in the mailbag.
Thanks for reading.
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Posted by rnorthro14 on August 13, 2007 at 3:33 p.m.
Just a note - The university parking services operates as a completely independent silo from the university and especially the athletic department. I guarantee that the athletic department isn't too happy about the "parking services" either. In fact coaches and players also often succumb to the ticket writing antics of the parking patrols.
Posted by KyleRingo on August 13, 2007 at 3:44 p.m.
True, but there are ways the university and athletic department could address this issue so that fans don't end up coming away from practice owing money. There really is no excuse for this.
Posted by buffalo_flyer on August 14, 2007 at 9:22 a.m.
It doesn't stop there, I attended a game in the suites in 2004. I ordered a hotdog only to have some trainer "rip" it out of my hand and berate the girl who gave it to me. My black wrist band only entitled me to a lower tier dog, not the deluxe version. So there are four club level season tickets that weren't renewed becasue of a 15 cent hotdog. Figure it out CU
Posted by buffalo_flyer on August 14, 2007 at 9:44 a.m.
edit - the club level, not the suites
Posted by william.nicholas on August 14, 2007 at 10:46 a.m.
in my many years as a season ticket holder I can't begin to recount the times the University has totally ignored football fans ..it's a time honored pastime ..any real football school would be embarrassed by the incredibly blase attitude taken by CU..and there have been times when the Athletic Dept was leading the parade..
Posted by RWE on August 14, 2007 at 8:57 p.m.
Yes, I agree. I've only been attending games since I graduated in '99, but I've already had a few experiences that left me with a very bad taste (bad enough that it won't take much more before I stop attending games - which would be a real shame because I don't want the players to think they don't have my support through every season, up or down). And every year I've shown up to the ticket office, there were people who had been coming to games four or five times longer than I have who've just been red in the face about something or other the Athletic Dept. has done. To send those longtime, loyal fans off the deep end like that seemed to me to be indicative of a complete lack of respect for them and lack of concern about retaining them as fans and supporters.
Posted by jaetee_40 on August 15, 2007 at 9:33 p.m.
I went to the ticket office today and purchased two tickets for the NU game. The staff member who tended to my purchase was nothing short of outstanding. My season tickets were delivered several weeks ago, and my parking permit for the season, as well as the CSU game at Mile High, were accurate. The level of service I've experienced from the athletic department has been outstanding, leap years ahead of where they were last year.
In-so-far as getting a parking ticket at practice, I checked the parking lot and made some enquiries. I observed that the lot is well marked with signs. The reason it is a dirt lot is because the city has asked CU not to pave it as it lies in the flood plain. Also, parking is self-funded at CU, hence they have to sell parking spaces to make ends meet. (No tax/tuition dollars are used for parking lots.) The number of parking spaces on campus has decreased significantly over the past several years due to building projects, yet the demand has increased. The majority of complaints that parking staff receive are from people complaining about violators parking in lots without permits, as opposed to those who receive tickets. The parking tickets are not issued by police, but unsworn parking staff who monitor the lots. It would be nice to have public parking for those attending practice. What field should they pave to do so, Kyle?
Go Buffs!