Coaching Controversy + Denverjhawk good for RCT

by labbadabba on Dec 17, 2009 12:15 PM CST

Well ladies and jellyspoons, it's been an interesting month. It was a strange way to close out a year, it ended in a way I think very few of us could have ever imagined.

I won't rehash all of the arguments that have been made but I can point one thing out that I'm sure some of the regulars around here may have noticed. (with the exception of RC and KC...LOL, sorry guys) But, look at all the new folks! Some people I recognize from other Jayhawks message boards, others have been long-time lurkers, a few are nubes (we've all been there), and some have stumbled upon RCT because there is such a wealth of content here that it is always at the top of any google search.

I think the work Denver has done here, especially this past month has been remarkable. Its clear that he loves what he does otherwise he wouldn't put so much into it, but jeez, it's pretty impressive. This coaching controversy has really given Denver a chance to shine. KU was being discussed almost daily on the sports wires so there was a buzz around the program. Unfortunately, the major local media outlets provided little in the way of effective breakdowns. Sure there was some speculation and there were a few articles defending Mangino or defending Perkins or condemning them both, but very little of what was offered in the media stoked quality discussion much less thought.

For those who sought more, RCT was here. Everyday RCT was here with something or someone new to talk about. Not just a blurb, a full write-up; and for the most part there was very little opinion offered (just the facts ma'am) in the mainpage articles but they were thought-provoking enough to promote the varying schools of thought here at RCT to have at it. Because of these types of discussions, we are better and more knowledgeable KU fans.

The combination of having this resource and having it at a time when people were clamoring for quality information and a proper forum on which to discuss the newest revelations (thank you SB Nation) made for a good 5 weeks at RCT. Not only has RCT registered a few score new users but traffic overall has skyrocketed.

Don't believe me? Numbers don't lie my friends.

via i691.photobucket.com

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Comments

Wow.

That’s a ridiculous increase in page views.

I concur in the shout out to Denver. His dedication and time spent has been remarkable indeed, and we’re all the better KU fans for it.

Nice write-up, Labba. Well done.

Operation 40-0 is a go. Proceed to target.

by Bensa on Dec 17, 2009 12:21 PM CST reply actions

had a few errors in it...just cleaned it up.

Me likey Skip Holtz

by labbadabba on Dec 17, 2009 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

Do you have info

on the number of registered users, Labba?

Operation 40-0 is a go. Proceed to target.

by Bensa on Dec 17, 2009 12:22 PM CST reply actions

that info's not avail

on Siteminder but Denver or RC should have the hard numbers. My basis is purely anecdotal.

Me likey Skip Holtz

by labbadabba on Dec 17, 2009 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

Hear, hear

And damn, talk about exponential growth.

I don't know, I like to think that things started out initially with good intentions, but then we just loused it up. Kind of like intelligence. We have this glorious thing that allowed us to survive for millenia and now we use it to write porn film plots involving pterodactyls. Talk about wasting the gift.

by tequilaprophet on Dec 17, 2009 12:26 PM CST reply actions

Wish my stock charts looked like that!

Thanks for the info labbadabb….

There simply is no substitute for experience.

by Rivethead on Dec 17, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

1,300 to 2,600

page views a day is pretty good. Maybe we should fire Gill now just to keep it going….

Me likey Skip Holtz

by labbadabba on Dec 17, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

The inverse of that graph

Charts my productivity at the office the last 30 days.

Definite correlation.

See, I’m known for my negativity, so I had to keep it going………….

There simply is no substitute for experience.

by Rivethead on Dec 17, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

same for me

but replace office with school

I have my last final in an hour and I’m playing Modern Warfare. Screw it.

by fetch9 on Dec 17, 2009 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

mine productivity graph at work flatlined a long time ago

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen on Dec 17, 2009 1:53 PM CST up reply actions

you and me both

It’s 6am, Pacific time, where I am right now. Flew to the West Coast (took all day yesterday), went to bed, now I’ve been up for an hour and a half, reading RCT before getting ready to head back to the airport. Here’s to not having my flight into DC canceled because of the foot of snow we’re getting tonight!

by PDXJayhawk on Dec 18, 2009 8:09 AM CST up reply actions

nice write-up labba

that is a ridonkulous increase. I’m glad other people are as obsessed with this place as I am.

by fetch9 on Dec 17, 2009 12:51 PM CST reply actions

Nice thing about the coaching controversy

is it divides people in terms of their opinions. Everyone can agree that we are all Jayhawks fans but when it comes to who should lead our team everyone has different and STRONG opinions. As a result, it pulled a lot of lurkers out of the woodwork. I really has been amazing to see all the new faces around here.

What will keep these people on board will be some rockin’ Open Game Threads (OGTs). I haven’t been doing my part on the OGTs lately because I’m always catching the games on DVR but hopefully my schedule will lighten up in the Spring.

Me likey Skip Holtz

by labbadabba on Dec 17, 2009 1:01 PM CST reply actions

Labba....

appreciate the kind words and no doubt the last few weeks have been a tremendous time for people to weigh in with varying opinions. I’m glad you all found my efforts worth a read and more importantly it’s been great to see all the increased contributions in fanshots, fanposts and comments.

More and more I go to post a topic or article and someone already has so I just get to bump it to the front page, which is perfect. Means you all are finding great discussion topics and keep this thing going even more.

You all asked about hard registration numbers and I don’t know how to get those personally, definitely seems up though.

Another item of note as we are now in the 17th DAY OF THE MONTH. We will likely eclipse the most site visits in a month either TODAY OR TOMORROW with plenty of month left to go(last December, 8000 visits. This December 26k and counting). Pretty neat stuff to see all the new faces, the differing opinions and we’re really just ramping up for bball.

Also last week Rivet asked about/suggested the “Meet the Coaching Staff” series. I had planned to do it, but if anyone else has suggestions as he did, please throw them out there. Hell, run with it yourself if you like. Warden did a Big 12 non-con breakdown for basketball which was a good primer for those of us who are really just now getting into bball.

Thanks again for the props and I’m trying to crank out the playoff power rankings as we speak.

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen on Dec 17, 2009 1:23 PM CST reply actions

South version should be up tomorrow afternoon :)

Have another topic in my head, going to have to see how the weekend works out and whether or not it’s relevant after I start researching it some more.

I used to work with an old man that told me- Son, every workplace has a dumbass. If you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Dec 17, 2009 7:10 PM CST up reply actions

glad to hear...

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen on Dec 17, 2009 7:34 PM CST up reply actions

Definitely agree labba

Denver you’ve done an awesome job recently and always even with a newborn around the house.

Really enjoyed seeing all the new people around too, it’s great to have a lot of different opinions and Jayhawk fans. Keep it up!

by I need more Esteban on Dec 17, 2009 3:55 PM CST reply actions

Love the growth

I’ve been hanging around here for a while now, and I’ve loved the growth, both in OGT’s, and especially the interesting user-content that people have put together- I always enjoy the opportunity to look at sports from different angles, or to question long-held beliefs and assumptions people have about the Jayhawks.

I hope that trend continues. But as we get larger, unfortunately, we’re probably going to have to be a little better about enforcing commenting rules. I’d really hate for this to become a place full of personal attacks and/or trolling.

In that spirit, Rivethead, I’d like to extend the olive branch. We obviously had very different opinions on the entire end of the Mangino era, but now hopefully we can move past that and look to the future of the football program.

I’m working on an idea that might take advantage of our larger user-base as we move into basketball season full-throttle now. I should (hopefully) be posting it in a day or two, so check that out if you’re interested.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

"Here are our top priorities: recruit, beat Missouri, recruit, win the North, recruit, win the Big 12, and in most cases if you win the Big 12 then you're playing for a National Championship. And then we're going to recruit."

by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Dec 17, 2009 4:40 PM CST reply actions

lookin forward to seeing what you’ve got up your sleeve KG

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen on Dec 17, 2009 5:52 PM CST up reply actions

Olive branch > Mistletoe branch so I'm good

I don’t take anything personal and I hope you don’t either.

There simply is no substitute for experience.

by Rivethead on Dec 18, 2009 7:44 AM CST up reply actions

Add me to the list of new people.

I first commented in a basketball link but I found out about the blog while I was looking for KU Football coach news. I have been in the SB Nation for a while, many at RoyalsReview. Nice to have a place to talk about and read about my first love, KU Basketball!!!

by Chyladin on Dec 17, 2009 5:05 PM CST reply actions

Agree with mad props to Denver "Machine" Jayhawk

Dude puts out more info than a printing press.

Would also like to take some credit for the increased pageviews and future growth as I go home to Illinois for the holidays and thus will be on here 24/7

by Andrew Clark on Dec 17, 2009 5:19 PM CST reply actions

but won't that reduce the number of other people who want to read what you write?

kidding, kidding. maybe.

by PDXJayhawk on Dec 18, 2009 8:13 AM CST up reply actions

I'm going to strike while you sleep

by Andrew Clark on Dec 18, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions

I'm sure jellyspoons is a compliment,

so thank you Labbadabba! On a more believable note, I second your praise for Denver, who’s done a wonderful job with the website lately and deserves much credit. This has been a rough go lately, and it’s great to have a thoughtful moderator like Denver to give us information without bending it towards a pre-conceived agenda. Long may he post.

by hunter s. royal on Dec 17, 2009 6:57 PM CST reply actions