Fans Cheer Firing of University of Tulsa Basketball Coach Doug Wojcik

The University of Tulsa is looking for a new basketball coach after TU fired Doug Wojcik Sunday after his seventh season in charge.

3/11/12 Related Story: Tulsa Fires Head Men's Basketball Coach Doug Wojcik

Why did TU make the change?

Seven seasons and NO trips to the NCAA Tournament. That's what it comes down to.

College basketball is a business and without trips to the NCAA Tournament, fan interest starts to fade.

Tulsa athletic director Ross Parmley says the numbers didn't add up to keep Wojcik another season.

Parmley says season ticket sales have dropped 35 percent since 2005, leading to a 43 percent cut in revenue.

"Our fans spoke wildly over the past years with the... growing apathy," Parmley said.

While Wojcik's teams won consistently, the Golden Hurricane always seemed to stub its toe when it was time to get to that next level.

Which led to a growing sense of frustration across the fan base.

With Doug Wojcik on the sidelines, TU fans say the atmosphere at the Reynolds Center took a timeout.

"Emtpy seats, definitely, compared to a few years ago," TU graduate Bridgette Gonzalez said.

TU student Kylie Martineau agrees.

"I've lived in Tulsa my whole life and I remember we used to go to the games all the time and they would be packed."

The fans are frustrated by missed shots and last-minute heartbreaks, and "especially not making it to the NCAA Tournament," student Keith Montag said.

Those heartbreaks stung.

"[TU] couldn't clinch it," Gonzalez said. "I think fundamentals win games and there were times where the little things, just little mistakes, kept us from going all the way."

Win or lose -- fans say it's not just a game, and parting ways with Wojcik was the smart business decision.

"That's the way they operate. That's the way all colleges operate," TU graduate Jerry Lee said. If there's not enough support and they don't win enough, they get rid of the coaches."

But fans admit, they play a crucial role on the court -- and if their apathy led to Wojcik's firing, they should change their attitudes.

"I think the students could help out a lot more" Martineau said. "We could go to the games more. We could get the crowd more revved up."

They're hoping a new coach and louder fans will turn game time into showtime.