The Changes

Todd Goodale stepped into the newly finished offices in John Paul Jones Arena a man on a mission.  Over the summer, Goodale remained in close contact with Graham Tucker, then President of the 'Hoo Crew, and other members of its Executive Board.  Their task was to redesign the 'Hoo Crew in order to shy away from the notion that only first year students unfamiliar with its previous failures would fill its ranks.  Goodale's vision won the day, and many of the rules and stipulations for membership that were so lambasted previously were either changed or outright removed.
     Dave Weiss, the new President of 'Hoo Crew after Tucker recently stepped aside, noted the biggest changes.  “I think it's a two part change – the free membership, and no minimum game requirement,” Weiss said.  Previously, there had been a $20 membership fee, and students were only allowed to miss one game per semester. 
     In fact, the only real incentive to join last year seemed to be the seats reserved for 'Hoo Crew members.  In the old University Hall, this amounted to half of the allotted student seats in the lower bowl.  The seating arrangement was deplored by other students, and on several occasions students showed up to games with “Poo Crew” emblazoned on their chests. 
     As the new basketball season approached, however, rumor swirled that there were in fact actually no reserved seats for 'Hoo Crew members.  Members of TheSabre.com forum community, comprised mostly of UVa alumni, were directly told by the ticketing office that this was the case.  When asked whether or not there were still reserved seats for 'Hoo Crew members, Goodale responded that there is in fact no longer a separate section for the 'Hoo Crew.  Seating this year is based entirely on the timed entry principle.

When asked whether or not there were still reserved seats for 'Hoo Crew members, Goodale responded that there is in fact no longer a separate section for the 'Hoo Crew.  Seating this year is based entirely on the timed entry principle.

'Hoo Crew members receive a huge incentive for membership under this program, as they receive extra Sabre Points for attending other sports programs besides men's basketball.  Using the Orange Passport, up to seventeen more points were available to 'Hoo Crew members under the SHOTS system than average students before the Arizona game.  These points were for events such as men's and women's soccer, field hockey, and volleyball.  Members also receive points for attending women's basketball games.  See the sidebar for more information on how it works.
     More Orange Passport games are in the mix for 'Hoo Crew members as well.  Besides women's basketball, other sports to count in the spring semester will include swimming and wrestling, as well as any events which may occur early enough such as lacrosse or baseball exhibitions.
     These extra points give the 'Hoo Crew a decided advantage in getting the best seats as they will more than likely comprise the upper-tier Entry Groups for at least the better part of the season.  Just for joining the group students received one Sabre Point, and to date membership is well over 1,000. With each entry group numbered one through ten being composed of up to 290 students each, non-members would theoretically have had to wait more than thirty minutes than their 'Hoo Crew counterparts just to enter the arena, much less find a seat.
     “I think that once people realize those Sabre Points do directly translate to being able to get into [men's] basketball games earlier and being able to win prizes at the end of the year you'll see more people get into the program

“I think that once people realize those Sabre Points do directly translate to being able to get into [men's] basketball games earlier and being able to win prizes at the end of the year you'll see more people get into the program

    Detractors of the system have pointed out, and Goodale and Weiss have conceded, that there are some flaws with Timed Entry.  Primarily this has to do with the ability to save seats for friends that are forced to enter games later.  Under the new system, this is no longer allowed.  Students were indeed largely prevented from doing so during the first men's basketball game against Arizona by ushers, although some were eventually successful in reserving at least a handful of seats.
     Weiss was quick to point out a different aspect of the problem. “Say you're in [an earlier entry group,] then you can come in later with your friend.  It's not saying that you can't sit with your friends.  If he's really that good of a friend...he should come out to more games,” Weiss concluded.
     Despite such logic, students such as Thomas Duffy are still against Timed Entry.  “With Timed Entry friends will not be able to sit together and nobody will want to go.  The Sea of Orange at football games would be nothing if people could not feed off of the energy from their friends,” Duffy noted.
     Timed Entry also does not eliminate the scramble for seating endemic to the opening of the gates at most major sporting events.  Ironically, the 'Hoo Crew Executive Board fell plague to Duffy's scenario even despite being in the same entry group, and were spread across three separate rows during the November 12 game against Arizona.
     Even with such flaws and perhaps a modest decrease in attendance caused by them, don't expect any non-'Hoo Crew members to be parked front row at midcourt for big games.  Members of the group are clearly going to have a monopoly on the “good” seats so long as these rules remain in effect.

A Bright Future Ahead

“There's no reason not to join 'Hoo Crew.  There's no risk and it's all benefit,” according to Weiss.  “It's completely free, it gives you a chance to get into [men's] basketball games earlier, you get a free T-shirt, and you get a chance to win free things at the end of the year.  If there's something bad about that I haven't figured it out [or] I haven't heard it yet.”
     The Executive Board is also working to get members more involved.  A spirit committee will meet weekly, and monthly general interest meetings are also being planned.  The jury is still out as to how effective these initiatives will be.  As some remember, last year members got to nominate the official song and were asked to send in cheers for every game, but participation soon faltered as the season progressed.
     Early reviews, however, are solid.
     “We really need them, and we need everybody to come out and support us,” said Sean Singletary, Junior co-captain of the men's basketball team.  “With ['Hoo Crew] being behind the visitors' bench, it should really rattle them.”
     “It's big, especially when you have fans that come out and support you for every game.  We need that extra Sixth Man,” agreed Senior co-captain J.R. Reynolds.
     The men's basketball team even features at least one 'Hoo Crew member in Laurynas Mikalauskas, who is better known to fans and teammates as Lars.  “I signed up for 'Hoo Crew, but I didn't get the T-shirt!” Lars joked.  “Hopefully [with the changes] we can get more people to come out.  It's definitely going to be a lot louder than U-Hall was last year.”
     'Hoo Crew is off to a blazing start after the Cavaliers upset #10 Arizona on November 12 to a packed John Paul Jones Arena.  The fan group made itself heard, from “singing” goodbye to fouled out players to shouting encouragement to the highly touted recruits sitting courtside, encouraging them to come to Mr. Jefferson's University next fall.  Attendance was also higher than expected against Maryland-Eastern Shore on November 26.
     Will such an atmosphere persist against upcoming opponents such as Longwood?  If the past is an indicator, and without an attendance requirement, the 'Hoo Crew section may be all but bare.  Such games will be the truest test of the new 'Hoo Crew, for better or for worse.

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