Best seats for the worst fans

Friday morning, following our normal routine of reading the front page of the Wildcat on the way to class, we were APPALLED upon reading the news that the UA was taking measures to more strictly enforce the seating policy at a Saturday football game.

Of course, this bewilderment was only temporary because reason would dictate that any effort to force all of the fans in the student section to sit in their ticketed seat would be futile. Honestly, how many of us sit in our correct seat? All those guilty say "aye." (Disturbing silence).

Unfortunately, the reason that would seem so logical fails us. At the Saturday game, after celebrating the Wildcats' first touchdown, in the tradition that has been cultivated with our group of friends (moshing), a fan of lesser enthusiasm (and consequent caliber) rather than joining us in celebration, found it more fit to complain to a nearby police officer and security staff about our exuberant display.

Upon hearing this complaint, they elected to approach us and check our ticket stubs to make certain we were seated in the correct section. This resulted in the removal of two of the most energetic fans from the section nearest to the fifty-yard line, banished to a section somewhere near China.

Mind you, Tucson is full of fair-weather fans and there was a definite lack of competition. Thus, our section, along with the entire stadium, was practically empty - definitely not a situation where seating is an issue.

At this point we could not help but reflect upon the impact of the attempt to enforce seating policy at this game and the entire ticketing procedures in general here at the UA. To address the first issue we can simply list the repercussions that followed our confrontation. One, two die-hard, vocal fans were sent to B.F.E. where they could not be as helpful to the team; two, those of us who were allowed to remain had spirits dampened, both by the loss of friends and fear of getting removed for spirited behavior (note: we in no way harmed other spectators).

Now to address the larger issue of ticketing for the most watched sports at UA (football and basketball): who are these people who called in to complain? We'll tell you who it was. It's the same annoying S.O.B.'s who show up with two minutes off the game clock and expect to have their seat on the fifty yard line, four rows back, waiting for them; it's the same people who leave early; and it's the same ones who fill up McKale with white hair! What's the solution? It is a better student seating situation. Here's what we can do to improve it for our two favorite sports. Football: create a general admission student section, for students only. This way the REAL fans (those that get there an hour early, stay till the bitter end, and make the most noise) get the good seats, friends can sit together and those fogies who somehow make their way into the student section will have to find a new place where their stub will match their seat.

Ian Vasquez
Management information systems sophomore