Best UC Website? How can we improve?

[Thegreatone]

Guys we are rapidly growing and that is great news. We are always looking to improve Bearcattalk.com, Here are some questions I have for our members.

How are we as moderators doing? I know other places have struggled with too much moderation or not enough. I feel we are all fairly relaxed. The one thing I think all of us pride ourselves on is our consistency.

What do other UC sites have or do that you would like to see here?

I feel that we have done a good job providing free recruiting information and have had interviews with coaches, broadcasters and recruits (including a interview with the #2 over all recruit in the 2011 class). You cant get that information free too many other places.

Here is what I think about other websites:

Bearcattalk.com - The best UC website around. You can talk about Basketball and Football with other educated UC fans. Rarely do topics get hijacked. We provide great information on the recruiting side for FREE! I also like that we have a lot more personalities over here. We have numerous people on that talk about a wide range of things but mainly it stays related to sports and 90 percent of the time it is about UC.

Bearcatnews.com - I love BCN and am a frequent poster there. However, they are destroying themselves. That entire website has been hijacked by 10 or so posters. I also think the moderators tend to over use their power. Lastly, they provide almost no information on recruits.

Bearcatreport - Laughable that people pay for that. Im sorry but that is a joke.

Bearcatlair.com - Strong information. Great football coverage. A serious lack of traffic though. You have to pay for nearly the same information you get here for free. They know they are trying to play catch up and that is why they have been trolling here and attempting to take our main recruiting guys. Basketball coverage is weak.

Any others really arent worth mentioning IMO.

So lets hear it guys. What can we do to make ourselves better? What do others do that we could try and do? What do you want to see?

 

[swg]

I do want to say that I respect the guys who run BCN. The site isn't a reflection of who they are as people, and BCN has been a great source of info for those unwilling to commit monetarily.

BearcatReport: I believe that the guys who ran rivals now own BCL? Sounds like one guy, maybe two over at the new rivals location. I'm guessing that once the contacts are formed, it might be formidable. But who knows.

BCL: I'm sure it's a great site. I can't say I care much for Todd, or as I call him...The snake. I like Chad, though.

BCT: We're getting better every day. Feel free to (as Greatone) suggested, offer ideas upon how/what we can do better.

 

[adrock]

How are we as moderators doing? I know other places have struggled with too much moderation or not enough. I feel we are all fairly relaxed. The one thing I think all of us pride ourselves on is our consistency.

Excellent question Greatone. We're trying to do our best to make this site enjoyable for all the visitors, yet until this point we've never asked them directly how they think we're doing. I'm looking forward to hearing some feedback on this.

NOTE: You will not be banned for giving negative feedback. That's not how we roll here.

 

[InnTheWood]

Saying you pay for the same info at BCL is a bit questionable. No one has the access to the football program that Tim Adams does.

 

[JasonS]

Saying you pay for the same info at BCL is a bit questionable. No one has the access to the football program that Tim Adams does.

The GreatOne did give quite a bit of praise for the football coverage of BCL and said "nearly the same info." I don't think anyone here questions the football coverage of BCL.

To answer the question about what the moderators could do differently, I really don't know at this time. I have been very pleased with the site since I joined but I appreciate the question being asked.

 

[Thegreatone]

Tim Adams does a good job reporting on what is happening with the actually team and practice.

Our football recruiting page is just about as good. And it is free.

 

[cincycpaw]

The free recruiting info and the setup on this site is terrific. Thank you.

 

[swg]

Saying you pay for the same info at BCL is a bit questionable. No one has the access to the football program that Tim Adams does.

This site wasn't meant to compete directly with BCL. However, if UC fans like us, then great. Todd obviously thought what we do here is pretty good or he wouldn't have been such a snake. That said, BCL does a good job (and I'm sure with solid premium info), I just choose not to go there.

This wasn't about us vs them, at least in our minds.

 

[Thegreatone]

This site wasn't meant to compete directly with BCL. However, if UC fans like us, then great. Todd obviously thought what we do here is pretty good or he wouldn't have been such a snake. That said, BCL does a good job (and I'm sure with solid premium info), I just choose not to go there.

This wasn't about us vs them, at least in our minds.

Thank you and well said. I wasn't trying to say we both cant co-exist. We will be fine. They make members pay for essentially for the same stuff.

You can say they have some things we dont but we have things they dont. (Interview with Marquis Teague and others....)

I personally think of BearcatTalk.com as the hybrid of Bearcatnews and Bearcatlair

 

[swg]

There's a thread on BCN called Should BCN Shut Down.

Just wanted to say that I did not/would not start that, nor would any people who contribute here. I wouldn't put it past Todd at BCL, though. Just sayin.

 

[InnTheWood]

They make members pay for essentially for the same stuff.

You can say they have some things we dont but we have things they dont. (Interview with Marquis Teague and others....)

But the thing is that it isn't the same stuff. They make you pay for the access you get with Tim Adams and Scott Springer. Tim also has much better access to football recruits. Then you have them sending Chad and Rick on the road to AAU events. That is what you are paying for, and it isn't stuff that can be offered for free anywhere else.

 

[swg]

BCL isn't exactly a favorite topic for me right now. Just as much say let them do their thing, and us do ours. Nuff said.

 

[CDS86]

This site tops them all in my opinion. Keep the trash off the forums (like BCN can't do apparently) but please don't ever start closing threads like they do over there. That used to drive me nuts.

Great format and quality of information here, and traffic will grow as word continues to spread.

 

[Thegreatone]

I think other sites try WAAAY too hard to keep certain topics to one thread. I like multiple threads even if they are close in subject because it helps keep things organized.

If people dont comment on that thread it will just go away.

 

[Lobot]

With 30 threads running at a time you won't like it anymore

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I like Bearcat Banter the best for overall news, however this site is slowly becoming my favorite. BCL is a joke, and BCN is heading that way......

 

[swg]

I can only do so much. Members could certainly step up and help with posting info at times. I spend so much time searching, and not enough time analyzing.

 

[Kingsley Court]

SWG, we love you for it too! Trust me, all this work will pay off soon. I know that your not trying to compete with BCN, but you are gaining other posters. This sight is awesome, and I'm sure within the next 6 months you will feel good that you created this place.

I'm not trying to bash BCN here, because apparently they are good people. I for one, have never posted there. I have seen a few threads that seem like good topics, derailed by posters. I feel bad for those that started BCN, because they have good intentions. I think the only way that BCT doesn't become like BCN is if we the senior posters (like how I inlcuded myself?" step up and stop the nonsense that will come. Ive been a part of other boards that I will not name, and the key to stopping trolls is either deleting them, or everyone picking their posts apart. Trust me, it will work. This place will be postitive.

The only time I am ok with people being banned, is if they try and overtake threads consistantly. NO offense against BCN here, but they could have controlled the onslot that was, if they would have banned/deleted threads to their members. It's a tough time, but a select few should not ruin it for someone who has put so much work into making a bearcat forum.

As for Moderators, the only suggestion I would make is making ME, Kingsley Court, A moderator. Other then that, no offense to Moderators, I haven't seen much action. I think that really is a compliment to you all though. The way I look at it is, if you don't notice moderators at work, its a good thing. Thats why I cant really say if your doing a good job or not, because I haven't seen anyone act up enought to get moderatated. It's a great sight and I love posting here.

 

[Kingsley Court]

My only other problem, is I haven't been repped enough. Cant someone rep me?

 

[swg]

Duly noted. Thanx.