Rocking Out at Pauley

by Nestor on Feb 5, 2007 5:06 AM PST in Basketball

Wanted to share with you some quick thoughts on Pauley. In terms of the topic of Pauley’s restoration, I will leave it up to M to give us the latest updates/perspective on that issue. I wanted to write something about another matter, which is the issue of noise generated by 12,000 Bruin fans inside the Cathedral of College Basketball. Couple of weeks ago after the Bruins throttled the Standard of Pac-10, Zach Landres-Shnur from AOL Sports Blog (who is also a colleague of ours from U Dub Dish) had this observation about Pauley:

While the Bruins were quite impressive today, they may as well played the game on a neutral court. Pauley Pavilion, seeing its biggest home game of the year, was just silent. Fans seemed to have a hard time getting in to the game, which begs the question, "If they can't get excited for Arizona, who the hell can they get up for?"

Well, where to begin? First of all, given how Arizona has turned out, can you really blame us for not getting all that excited over a team our guys have handled four times in a row? Can you really blame the crowd for not having a lot of respect or appreciation for a fading program which has nothing to show for itself except for playing glorified AAU ball?

Secondly, I am not sure if I buy the characterization of Pauley being sedate and quiet just going by the crappy 5th rate coverage of FSN (well, everything about the Fox network (except "Simpsons" and "24" is fifth rate)). Let me expand on this a bit.

The whole phenomenon of the Pauley crowd appearing quiet on television is nothing new. During my student days at Westwood, I only missed something like 5 or 6 games during my 4 2/3 years at UCLA. I was a regular in the bleacher section and part of the crowd that camped out for hoops game (okay, by our 3rd year we had freshman doing the camping out for us). But anyways, I remember there were many games during which Pauley was ABSOLUTELY ROCKING, and had noticeable impact on the visiting teams, especially when they were on offense. Yet, when we would come home to check out the highlights on SportsCenter, the Pauley crowd would appear nothing special.

In other words, time after time, the TV camera and acoustics did total injustice to the Pauley crowd and failed to provide an adequate sense of what was really going on inside the arena.

The latest example was this past week’s home games. From the accounts of some of my friends who were at both games last week, Pauley was electric. I have heard from multiple people how the arena was absolutely shaking right before the tip-off of the Oregon game. Here is some evidence from local video highlights:

The shot of the Den right before the tipoff is awesome. Again, from first hand accounts of folks who were at that game, the crowd was electric during the Oregon game.

And then Pauley was alive and kicking during the annihilation of Oregon State. Here is more video (from a fan who was sitting in the section facing the Den) to support that assertion:

Just listen to that crowd (even when the Bruins were up by almost 40 points) and take a look at the Den when OSU was on defense or AA was knocking down his bomb. People were standing and students were certainly not "still." So, to answer Zach’s question, it looks like Bruin fans at Pauley had no problem getting "up" for Oregon State, not to mention for Oregon, which to date was the "biggest home game" of the year (it was a matchup between 2 top-10 teams at that time).

Anyways, I expect Pauley to be rocking again on Wednesday night. I am sure our guys will have plenty of motivation and focus after reading all the crap about gap closing even after winning their first game at Pauley South. And the crowd is going to be fired up. I expect bedlam in the Bruin Den, which will be frothing at the chance of belching out:

JUST LIKE FOOTBALL

It’s just too bad FSN will predictably let us down by not giving us a true sense of the atmosphere when our Ben Ball warriors are dishing out their beat down of Timmeh’s special ed "student" athletes. Oh well.

We all know the Cathedral of College Basketball will be electric just like it has been during all key games this season.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

Camera Angles

The place would look MUCH more electric if the cameras were facing the student section. If you look at those seats, it's a frenzy. It looked like everyone else was watching "Redecorating Fun" on the HG channel. I suppose that such a switch of camera positions would be out of the question.

by Fox 71 on Feb 5, 2007 10:36 AM PST reply actions

FSN did actually focus on the student section...

During the Oregon game, they had cameras out there for the camp out, with some den members before the game, and cameras in and on the student section during the game. Don't know where they're using the footage.

by Bruinbown on Feb 5, 2007 11:37 AM PST reply actions

They didn't use it

There was a camera basically in front of me and my friends the whole time (there was even two in the second half) but nothing on the broadcast. Didn't even televise the frisbee.

by captain mightykite on Feb 5, 2007 4:54 PM PST up reply actions

OSU

The crowd was very into Saturday's game. I spent a majority of the game criticizing OSU for wasting my money. They didn't have a recognizable gameplan. Every possession in the first half was 'Throw it around the parimeter until a post entry oepns up'. Since OSU only ran one play all first half. By 10 minutes into the game Mata and Aboya were beating their men to the post entry so badly that it looked like a direct pass to them.

I've been to about 50-60 games at Pauley and this was by far the most pathetic display from a Pac-10 team I've ever seen. Usually an opposing player will abandon their gameplan and score 20-30 points individually but OSU couldn't even do that.

OSU made a very good case to be dropped from the Pac-10 on Saturday. I'm still a little miffed that they didn't put up more of a fight for $30 a ticket.

by alcor805 on Feb 5, 2007 11:38 AM PST reply actions

interior seating

Agree with Fox 71's comment; the main view of the action on TV looks to the alumni section and does not do justice to Pauley's atmosphere. As has been said many times before, the seating arrangements also make it harder to create a "wall of sound" around the court that really raises the intimidation factor. Those huge lanes behind the baskets seal you off from the action and the seating tends to veer out and away from the action, making the entire experience in Pauley less intimate. The analogy I use in trying to describe this problem is the LA Coliseum when we played USC and students would get shoved into that tiny little sliver near the peristyle end(don't know if they do to quite the same extent now that USC uses the sundeck or whatever they call it.) Students made a lot of noise, but the layout of the Coliseum made it hard to be heard, and I think Pauley suffers from the problem, although obviously not to the same degree.

I know that much of the renovation scuttlebut I have seen here and on other sites indicates that the walkways will be removed and the seating brought closer to the court in some fashion, so I hope that Pauley will become more intimidating. As it is now, and was when I was a student, it is somewhat intimidating but not very noisy and certainly not as intimidating as Macarthur Court or Maples. I don't see that as a function of crowd apathy so much as the layout of Pauley, and hopefully this will be dealt with when Pauley gets renovated.

by ucladj89 on Feb 5, 2007 11:43 AM PST reply actions

It's hard to remember

back (way back) to the Alcindor-Between-Walton years and all those banners. I don't remember the crowd being all that loud. I remember vividly when Wicks and Rowe would walk into Pauley during the freshman (Walton) game, and the packed arena (it was full to see Walton's freshman team) would go absolutely berserk. The crowd noise when those guys walked in (and I want to tell you they looked very cool and were very cool when they walked in) is the loudest I remember Pauley. I suppose there were louder times, but I'll never forget Wicks and Rowe coming into the arena.

Frankly, the crowd was unnecessary in those days. We had the teams (and the coach, of course) and that was intimidating all by itself.

by Fox 71 on Feb 5, 2007 1:43 PM PST up reply actions

He lies.

Pauley was rocking so loudly at the AZ game - the best crowd I'd seen personally, all year (before the Oregon rematch, that is). I don't know what the heck he's talking about. The crowd was on its feet - even the typically sedated sections were up and cheering. Pauley was absolutely electric, and I don't know how the guy can say it was quiet.

Proud to be a lifelong Bruin

by omnigeno on Feb 5, 2007 12:33 PM PST reply actions

I read that post

Doesn't sound like he was even at Pauley during Arizona game.

by bluestreet on Feb 5, 2007 12:37 PM PST up reply actions

No, he wasn't at the game

Which is why FSN deserves Nestor's criticism for failing to convey the atmosphere in their telecasts.

by insomniacslounge on Feb 5, 2007 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

To be fair

This is a problem not just from FSN but all networks that have covered UCLA hoops from Pauley. It goes back to the way camera/sound feed is set up at Pauley.

I just don't understand why the officials at UCLA can't put their heads together in coming up with a solution.

I know its not a big deal for people in Southern California or students/alums who are always going to the games. But it may matters to a national recruit who may be watching the game from other coast. Switching up the cameras and adjusting sound feed would create a different (national) impression of UCLA hoops for folks who are following the team only via TV.

by Nestor on Feb 5, 2007 6:26 PM PST up reply actions

The Alumni Are Pretty Quiet

Wasn't it just five years ago that a student was asked to leave Pauley for standing and cheering during a game? The alumni sitting behind the student had complained to security that he student would not take his seat.

Outrageous.

In my opinion, not nearly enough courtsides seats are set aside for the students. The university--first and foremost--is there to serve them.

by mcbruin on Feb 5, 2007 2:12 PM PST reply actions

Agree and Disagree..

Although I remember being at some loud games (1990-1995), I'm not sure I could say Pauley was ever a ROCKING arena. It's in LA after all. Sure, the students would fill the student section most of the time and make some noise/jump around for most o fte game, but let's be realistic here. The bulk of the tickets go to alumni. They show up late, generally sit around apathetically for 3 quarters and leave early to avoid traffic. Same thing goes for the Rose Bowl, which is one of the least intimidating stadiums to play in.

Granted, a lot of this is due to the configuration/spaciousness of Pauley Pavilion, and the unfavorable camera angles during broadcasts, but realistically, it's the "casual" UCLA fan base. Frankly, I've been a little disappointed at the support this team has been getting this year, coming off a National Champoinship game, and being ranked #1....

by norcalbruin95 on Feb 5, 2007 2:22 PM PST reply actions

I've been disappointed as well

Yes the configuration has something to do with it, but when was the last time there was an arena-wide chant? Not even a UC-LA! chant or Defense! I expect more of the crowd. Yes the students are loud, but more of them need to be by the court and they need to be more creative. Why doesn't the Den ever have people with their bodies painted or creative signs (I'm not sure if you're allowed to bring signs). It also also partly the Morgan Center's fault. Why don't they give out towels or pom poms or somethign to the students? Pauley should be louder than it is, but it is not the moruge people make it out to be.

I was contemplating this though. Instead of students alon the sideline and then in the upper deck, would it be better to give the students the bleachers and 2nd level behind both baskets? They would likely make about the same amount of money in ticket sales and I think it would make Pauley louder. They wouldn't be along the sidelines anymore, but more students would be closer. This is onviable once Pauley is renovated though and the baseline seats are closer, but just something to ponder.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 5, 2007 2:34 PM PST reply actions

There was

an arena-wide UC-LA chant at the AZ game but it was towards the end. Very loud though. Plus it was cool to go from that to dead quiet when one of our guys stepped up to the line.

And we're not allowed to bring in signs or really anything else.

by captain mightykite on Feb 5, 2007 4:51 PM PST up reply actions

How to fix it

Aside from the obvious renovations, I think it would help a lot if basically the area around each basket, starting at the free throw line, was for students only. Basically the court would be bracketed by students, with one small part of the bracket for the opponent's fans, and the section in the middle facing the camera should be for students only as well. I wonder, in terms of percentage of students attending the games, how well we are doing compared to other big universities...it would be nice to see that data, and how many of those seats are actually assigned to the student section...

by tasser10 on Feb 5, 2007 2:41 PM PST reply actions

Short term fix

I just don't understand what is so difficult about switching the cameras over the alumni side so that it is focused on the student section during game cast along with microphones placed more strategically that gives the viewers a true sense of the noise generated in that building.

You would think the UCLA PR department would be concerned about it.

by bluestreet on Feb 5, 2007 2:44 PM PST up reply actions

There is more to it

The press rows would have to be moved because the cameras would be blocked if actual people sat in the rows in front of them. Then the TV announcers would have to be moved because they have to see it from the same angle as TV. Then the benches would have to be moved to the other side along with the scorers table. This creates an issue because coaches have complained about having the student section behind the benches at Washington, including Howland. Then, how does Coach Wooden keep his seat behind the bench? He couldn't sit with students. SO as you see, just moving the cameras isn't the simple solution it seems.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 5, 2007 4:09 PM PST up reply actions

Going back...

Before the tipoff of the Oregon game, the camera guys in front of Physioc and Marques Johnson had a tough time getting off the court so they had to delay the tipoff for a little. But we students had already started yelling and jumping so we just kept getting louder as we were waiting. The bench players got into it and I actually saw some of the crowd get up for it too. If you watch the replay you can barely notice it because it's during the part when they talk about the lineups. If FSN at least filmed the students during times when we're amped up it would help a lot but they almost always ignore us.

by captain mightykite on Feb 5, 2007 5:06 PM PST reply actions

A small fix...

While the acoustics are not designed for loud intimidation and the camera angles don't show a lively crowd, one of the biggest problems I have seen as far as getting loud and lively is coordination. Small sections can be loud and on tempo, but the whole of Pauley has a serious problem with rythm. Even worse is when the Yell Crew goes out into the crowd and starts an 8-clap in one section while another section is doing a spellout. The lack of coordinated and on tempo cheering really kills alot of the potential the Pauley crowd has.

My thought, is possibly coordinating the yell crew through radios with a click track similar to how they coordinate symphonic performances in conjunction with movie images. That way if each section keeps time with their yell leader and all the yell crew is in sync(doing the same cheer), then everyone claps the 8-clap the same way and at the same time. Plus they are less likely to lose time with the band when they play Mighty Bruins.

With Pauley's set up and the type of fans we have, a little more effort has to be put in to coordination.

by isodore on Feb 5, 2007 5:47 PM PST reply actions

the little things.

okay, setting aside Pauley's layout and who sits where and who cheers loud and who doesn't.. yes there is a little that can be done as far as the sight, sound and television production.

sight. Just look at some of the basketball games on ESPN this week. look at what else is included in the shot besides the court. how much crowd is there at the top or bottom of the screen.
sound. directional microphone on the loudest part (the student section) can help get the loudness and some of the electricity across the screen. turn up that volume.
production.

3a. First the broadcast, when there's a big play, is there a cutaway of the crowd going crazy? how many times does it happen in the game? what about in and out of the commercials? is the crowd being shown?
3b. Second is is the broadcast crew. Look, the FSN play-by-play/color commentator crews just don't get hyped when a big play happens.
Imagine Bill Raftery or Dick Vitale or John Thompson doing the game when Luc Richard dunked on Brockman.

changes to these areas would help translate some of Pauley's gameday environment to the small screen.
However, changes to these areas is still not going to turn the current Pauley into one of the places people rave about. That has to happen in the new arena, and with the entire crowd.

by ursa on Feb 5, 2007 7:45 PM PST reply actions