The student sections are crazy as ever with die-hard fans who stand for the whole game, yelling on defense and jingling their keys. Just this past weekend, Western Kentucky had to call a time out because Lane Stadium was so loud. The players on the field acknowledged our help, and two guys in front of me high-fived that their efforts helped out our team. For many students here, being an enthusiastic sports fan is one of the best traditions of college. Many of us gladly pay money to have the opportunity of that guaranteed football ticket every game after freshman year.
But contrary to popular belief, football is not the only sport at Tech for which students crave tickets. Registration for season tickets to men's basketball was up this past week. The Hokies have had growing success (and popularity) under coach Seth Greenberg, who has frequently commended the students for their attendance and support of his team.
However, with Hokie basketball's growing popularity comes growing scarcity of tickets. This year season tickets are to be randomly distributed -- you have to sign up for a lottery just for the opportunity to buy them. I understand that more people want to attend games and the fact that there is limited seating in Cassell. My complaint is the "random" part that comes with the lottery.
Last week, a friend of mine wrote a letter to the Collegiate Times complaining of this very problem. This guy is a senior at Tech, and has had season tickets for the last two years. He is one of the loudest and most intense fans I know -- the "paint-your-chest-lose-your-voice-for-two-days" type. In the current system, he has the same chance of getting season tickets as some sophomore girl who only wants them to impress her boyfriend. If she gets the tickets, she will probably only go to the big games, and maybe even leave at halftime because she just doesn't really care. Meanwhile, he has to sit at home and watch it on TV. Other big name basketball schools distribute student tickets with more stipulations: loyalty, seniority or even intensity. Duke and UNC fans have to camp out to get basketball tickets. This may seem a little too crazy, but the fans who end up getting in are the ones who want the tickets the most, so much so that they will take shifts with their friends for up to six weeks holding a spot in line.
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