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FGCU works to stir up 'Eagle Energy' on campus

With Division I games on the horizon, school hopes to increase attendance

By KEVIN JOHNSON (Contact)

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

When Scott Stryker walks the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University, a few too many Miami, UF and FSU hats and T-shirts catch his eye.

The senior from New Jersey wants that to change.

Stryker, the director of programming for student government at FGCU, is overseeing an effort called Eagle Energy that is designed to increase student attendance at athletic events and generate more enthusiasm and pride in the school's athletics.

The timing couldn't be better, considering FGCU will become a Division I program as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference starting in the 2007-08 season.

Stryker believes big time athletics deserve big time crowds.

"It's not cool going Division I and having 300 people at the games," said Stryker.

Eagle Energy, which is under the umbrella of student government, hosted a tailgate party outside Alico Arena prior to the volleyball team's opener against Northern Kentucky on Aug. 24. Hundreds of students were treated to free food, T-shirts and music before they watched the Eagles sweep NKU.

Perhaps as important as the final score was the attendance figure: an Eagle volleyball record 1,429. That far surpassed a pair of A-Sun schools who hosted big name teams in the first week of the season. Two-hundred and sixty-seven fans in Macon, Ga. watched host Mercer lose to Florida State while 467 witnessed Kennesaw State's first-ever home volleyball match, a 3-0 loss against Auburn.

The key for FGCU officials is to get those students who attended the opener — and others — to return.

Though satisfied with overall attendance figures during FGCU's days in Division II, director of athletics Carl McAloose admits student turnout for games has been weak. Students have been supportive in other ways, according to McAloose, but they just haven't shown up at games in strong numbers.

"Financially, it's been unbelievable. Every time we've asked them for something, they've come through," said McAloose. "But we've failed within the department to do a better job to get them out. We have to get them out to games."

Recognizable opponents should be a step in the right direction.

"Right now we don't have rivals. We're bringing Puerto Rico-Bayamon in, it doesn't excite people," said McAloose.

But perhaps Notre Dame and Harvard, for starters, will. Next year couldn't be a better fit when the Fighting Irish's baseball team plays at FGCU on St. Patrick's Day. The Crimson are also on the home slate.

And then there's the three Florida schools in the A-Sun (Jacksonville, North Florida and Stetson) that will be visiting Alico on a regular basis, and the potential for other D-I programs in the state to be scheduled.

"We need to educate students and faculty members on what Division I means, what the Atlantic Sun Conference means to the university, to the athletic program," said Roger Wilson, the athletic department's new director of marketing. "When they start seeing bigger name schools, it will start to register. Clearly, scheduling will be a huge part of it."

Graduating into the A-Sun should breed familiarity for the Eagles and their fans, facing common opponents each year instead of the scheduling potpourri that FGCU has endured during its conferenceless tenure in Division II.

"We're going to see one kid for four years and that kid may upset somebody during one of the games and (fans) will come back to see that kid or he may score 35 points and we want to see him play," said McAloose. "That's going to help us so much."

McAloose also points out that FGCU's basketball programs tend to have few home games in the second half of their seasons because they're not in a conference. Moving into the A-Sun will eradicate that problem. At some home basketball games last season, there appeared to be 30 or fewer students in attendance, though winter breaks tend to hinder numbers.

As part of the Eagle Energy program, a bus trip is being planned for FGCU's volleyball game at Barry in October. Stryker said he would like to see two buses filled with students for the trek across Alligator Alley. More activities are planned during the season, including a luau when Barry visits Alico in the final regular season match.

"We're trying to get the awareness out there," said Stryker.

Attempts to attract more students for athletic events is joining a push to increase the presence of Eagle athletics in Southwest Florida, which, in turn, should also help fill seats. One of those plans is to bring the Eagles into the community.

"We're going to take the basketball teams and try to promote them outside of the university," said Wilson. "Go down to the mall, for instance, and put together a day session where they can tutor kids and work with young athletes, whether it's Naples, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, Cape Coral. Those are the things a school like this — in my belief — has to do. We've got to attract people to come here."

Wilson, a former producer at ESPN and CBS Sports, is also turning to television to promote FGCU athletics.

"One of the things I'm looking to do this year is to produce a magazine-type show that shows a little bit about what the program is about and talks about the future and what people can look forward to. We've talked to Sun Sports and we've talked to CSS," said Wilson.

Now that FGCU is making the leap into Division I, it's just a matter of getting more fans to come along for the ride.

"I think Division I has spurred people on for this year," said McAloose, "and I think it will certainly spur people on for next year."