Mizzou Links, 9-17-09

And hopefully generate some more discussion on students in sports venues. I had football season tickets for four of the seven years I was a student at Mizzou, and sat in the student section for each year. Like others, where my seats were changed every year. Two were low (5-10 row) and two high (five from the back). I can say the reason I quit getting tickets is the issues that were raised in the article. When ever I had seat lower in the section, the people…no, idiots, around me would call their friends and get them to come down. Or, try and use the convenient “someone else is in my seats, so instead of asking them to move, I’m going to take yours.” Which inevitably lead to the situation where people need to stand sideways so that we can all see (on the seats, mind you). As throttling someone wasn’t the wisest thing to do, I left the section, never to return (with the turn of the head and tear and all that). Now, the school as made the reason I left the norm, to the determent of the TSF fan. As the article pointed out, this is a situation that, with the upcoming Nebraska and Texas affairs, can only get worse.

In my mind, the school, by altering the required space for each person in the row, as really dropped the ball. I agree that making it general admission was a good idea, but should have left it at that. Yes, we want students there, in some capacity (sober, maybe?). But if they don’t get there tickets, well tough. Offer a discounted south endzone to those that want it. Or continue to use the GA on the Hill. But nothing should be done at the expense of other fans.

I’m sure there are current/former students in that section that read/post here and sat in the student section…I would like to hear what you have to say.

just letting more students in will not make the stadium any louder or seem more ‘festive’.

Plenty of us alumni actually stay only border line faded so that we can yell at the loudest decibel for the entire game when the opposition has the ball.

Too many times (I did this too, when I was younger) the football game just becomes a social event to meet up mooch free beers all day, and plan a huge party at night. Are they actually paying attention to the game? Maybe, but I doubt it.

Too many people pay a lot of money to get those tickets(consider travel, and vacation days and only be present one game a year) to have it Effed with by a drunk bunch of students who may or may not be taking their situation for granted.

I think having your friends at the stadium beside you is part of the fun, but it is almost just as fun to become high five buddies, with a complete stranger whom is rooting for the same team you are. Many times I have gone to games with separate tickets than my friends, there is no problem with that, and this should not be a point to haggle with the ushers. This does not detract from the game experience.

The human usher shield should do pretty good job and I commend the school for doing this, but really? You don’t have time to set up removable rope/chain barriers? Really? I only bring that up if later the school doesn’t keep using the human usher fence because it was too expensive and lets this crap go on any longer.

Oh, and the Huskers were actually good.