Players on the Tennessee men’s basketball team are taking a page out of their head coach’s play book when it comes to promoting their own program.
UT senior center Wayne Chism sent out a mass e-mail Wednesday night with help of the Vols’ marketing department, encouraging his fellow students to show up for tonight’s 7 p.m. game against Auburn in Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee, ranked ninth in the nation and 12-2 coming off a win over previously No.1-ranked Kansas, has seen its attendance drop to its lowest level since Bruce Pearl’s first season with the program in 2005-06.
UT has dropped its ticket prices for upper-deck seats to $15 for its remaining home games, with the exception of the Kentucky game which has been sold out.
The Vols are averaging 18,106 per home game – still in the top 10 in the nation -- but the crowd of 17,023 for the game with Charlotte on Jan. 6 was the smallest for a men’s home game since a 2006 game against Murray State.
Scotty Hopson, a McDonald’s All-American in high school before coming to UT, didn’t use mass e-mail to get his message out. Hopson instead used his Twitter account to invite fans out to change the downward attendance trend, which the Vols football team also suffered this season.
“Who’s gonna be in Thompson-Boling tonight at 7 for Auburn game on ESPN2,’’ Hopson tweeted. “We need all the fans we can get. Y’all are a big part of our success.’’
Here’s the letter Chism sent out to his fellow UT Students:
“What’s up my fellow Vols? Man, it’s been a very interesting week here on Rocky Top if I do say so myself!
“You all were great last Sunday during the Kansas game. We couldn’t have pulled off the win without all of you yelling and screaming and keeping our energy up the entire game.
“It was great to see UT getting some major love in the national media after the Kansas win, but how about last night?? smh
“Our thoughts go out to all our brothers on the football team. But tomorrow night at 7 is our chance to show a national audience on ESPN2 that the University of Tennessee is as strong as ever. Rece Davis and Hubert Davis will be in the house at Thompson-Boling Arena for our game against Auburn, and it will be a great stage to show the world that WE ARE TENNESSEE, THIS IS BIG ORANGE COUNTRY, AND YOU CAN EITHER ROLL WITH THE VOLS OR GET ROLLED OVER!!!
“I want to see you there tomorrow night. Get your tickets at BigOrangeTix.utk.edu, wear your orange and let’s make a statement!”
Weezy
(Wayne Chism)
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 36
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Will be there...in spirit! Texas is a long ways away.
Vol_In_Ohio writes:
Bruce Pearl, back to showing his great marketing skills! I'm two states away but you might be able to hear me yelling down there.
VOLinNYC writes:
I'd be shocked if the student section wasn't as rowdy or more so after what happened on Sunday and then Tuesday's Horror (I'm expecting creative signs).
I'd go to every game that I could, but I'll be watching.
Go VOLS!
jzt writes:
Lets burn some mattresses.
riverosa writes:
Proud of our B-Ball teams.
Alphafemale writes:
I'll be watching from Atlanta, but I don't think you'll have any problem getting the community there to support UT atheletes this week. So thankful for the team and for Coach Pearl.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Be there if I could... I'll be watching, though.
JohnnyVol writes:
I'm with you in spirit from Middle Georgia.
Myrsaad writes:
I'd looove to be there.. but mid-week is tough. So I did a "one-better". I got floor tickets to the Ole Miss game yesterday. But I'll be yelling and cheering at my TV tonight on ESPN2 pulling like hell for you guys. Also, it's great to see this kind of motivation from one of our team leaders. I love the team that came out the other side of the New Years Day mess.
Go Vols!! See ya Saturday.. :)
cdonsbach writes:
I'll be there tonight and every other home game this year.
DooleyNoted writes:
GBO!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...
I know you guys that live in the area actually have seen this, but this is for the out-of-towners.
vol88 writes:
Okay you fellow oldsters (anyone over about 25 I guess). smh means shaking my head.
I may be an old phart, but I can google the urban dictionary.
LEXKYVOLS writes:
One day, yes one day we will not have to send out mass emails to have our fans come to TBA to watch a game!
dirtmerchant writes:
Okay you sleuthless people, regardless of age, think of the context of the quote and the letters after the quote. While I may be "shaking my head" at you, I think smh in this case means "Scotty M Hopson."
huntined#565710 writes:
They sure were LOUD against K.U.
mciahf#240671 writes:
Thank you for that! And, GBO!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Thanks for the link! THAT is priceless! I'll show that to my wife tonight. She is sure to laugh her head off; I know I did! Nothing like a little humor in the midst of despair. GBO!!! TCB!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Lots of comments on here from the Vol Diaspora--look it up--but I surely hope you lucky locals turn out in force. Support the guys who are putting it all on the line for us, the biggest spirit-raisers we have right now. GBO!!! TCB!!!
vol88 writes:
Yeah dude, I AM thinking about the context and I'm pretty sure Chism was left "shaking his head" following Tuesday night's events, especially since he alluded to the football players. Nice try, though.
Bulldogs writes:
Go MSU Bulldogs!! Dont forget! You win big games in March not January!
crappieking writes:
What? We had over 22k at TBO Sunday. The place was electric. WC just trying the keep the momentum going. Cheers! GBO
give_him_6 writes:
Word is we just hired Coach Cut to comes back. Durham TV saying....
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
GO VOLS....BEAT AUBURN! BTW, the Lady Vols will be playing @ exact same time, so set your DVR's. In case some of you are not aware, Directv is offering ESPN full court free this week and the Lady Vols will be on channel 720...if it is not blacked out that is! They are playing the Gators!
VOLS and LADY VOLS....TCB...KOKO....GBO!!!!!!!!!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Sure makes me proud Hopson and Chism have taken adversity with 4 losers and put this team on their back, both ON and OFF the court!
HallowedHill writes:
I wish there was a better way to say "THANK YOU" to the recruits sticking with us. In the history of Tennessee football, CLK may be a mere footnote, but he did know one thing and that is - we need you, our team needs you. No matter who UT gets as coach, I'll be cheering as loud as I can for you Sept 4th.
GO VOLS!
utvolz#637682 writes:
Weazy,
Can't be there tonight, but I got your back Saturday afternoon vs. Ole Miss. GO BIG ORANGE!
leevol writes:
I thought this was about football because I'm sure as H3LL not going to anymore football games until we get rid of Hammy the Clown.
schymtz writes:
Horrid start! Go Vols!!!
NWFlVOL writes:
watching this in pcola fl wtf? where are the guys at? they gettin stomped
schymtz writes:
Where is everybody???
TNVOL4LIFE09 writes:
Bobby Maze! That alley oop to Hall...freakin awesome!
schymtz writes:
This was a dangerous game for UT coupled with a slow start. Second half was filled with A-MAZING MAZE emerging as the point guard UT has been missing and Fantastic D especially by Chism.
tloutn writes:
These kids are just great! I'm proud of their hearts and that they are wearing the orange!
NWFlVOL writes:
awesome finish I was worried at the beginning. way to hustle guys!
huntined#565710 writes:
wow LADY VOLS just won a close one...FLA missed their last shot Tenn won by 2
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