20B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASKETBALL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2004
Kansan file photo
Students camp for hours, sometimes days, in Allen Fieldhouse to secure prime seats for men's basketball games. Campers pass the time by sleeping, studying or playing video games — all for that elusive front-row seat.
Camping continues
By JENNIFER SHER
jsher@kansan.com
KANSAN'S SPORTSWITHER
November isn't usually considered a prime camping month — except in Lawrence.
The basketball season kicks off Nov. 7, and that means the camping season is about to begin as well. Though it is not outdoor camping, there are sometimes tents. Camping in Allen Fieldhouse for prime seats at basketball games is a huge part of Kansas basketball tradition.
Jim Marchiony, associate athletic director, said he thought the tradition was very special one.
"It is a unique tradition that the students have created," he said. "It adds to the spirit of Allen Fieldhouse."
It does not matter who the opponent is, Marchiony said. There will always be campers.
"There are not but a handful of schools that will have students camping out for an exhibition game, especially when they already have a ticket with a guaranteed seat," Marchiony said.
But getting a good seat is not the only reason that students camp. The atmosphere of the fieldhouse hallways is part of the Kansas experience.
"It is a lot of fun to get a
group of people together and hang out for a week at the field-house," Jake Hills, Bonner Spring junior, said. "We bring food and tents and it is something we will remember for a long time. We usually get a lot of homework done as well."
Many times coaches or athletic personnel will surprise the dedicated campers with donuts or pizza. Big games draw more than 100 camping groups and plenty of media outlets.
Camping is student-run and begins at early 6 a.m. the morning after the previous home game or a week before the next home game. Groups named "Phog Phanatics" and "I like my SELF" are created. Students can bring up to 30 people to the early-morning lottery. As soon as a spot in line is secure, campers switch off in a rotation, making sure someone is there at all times to represent the group.
At any time, someone from one a group may call "roll call," where each group's name is read. If no one is there to represent a group, that group is disqualified and must sign up again at the bottom of the list.
Before the non-camping students are let into games, campers are lined up outside the fieldhouse in a line sometimes reaching and winding clear down Naismith Drive. Each
group is given a number indicating its camping rank, and they enter in that order.
Neil Spector, Buffalo Grove, Ill., junior, made sure his group, the "Nutheads," was always present because he knew he would get a great seat.
"We all had a great time camping. It is well worth the time when you get to sit behind the Kansas bench," Spector said. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is really hard to get those seats so I am glad we camped."
Spector said his group planned to camp again this year, especially with a reduction in student seats.
It is crucial for fans to camp for seats at big games, including contests against Texas and Missouri. For the most part, students are civil when camping, Marchiony said. He said he just wished the students would clean up after themselves a little better.
As long as basketball continues to be a tradition at Kansas, winter will be camping season in the fieldhouse. Whether it is the "Langford Lovers" or the "Bill's Boys" each group has one goal: to have the best seats in Allen Fieldhouse to cheer for one of the best basketball teams in the country.
Edited by Bill Cross
How far will the men's team go in the NCAA tournament?
"Kansas fans deserve nothing less than a National Championship."
Gary Shvartsman, Chicago senior
"I think they'll go all the way this year. Unless they face the Badgers."
— Corey Sielaff, Madison, Wis., freshman
"This is going to be their year. The seniors have the talent and the experience to win it."
B.J. Cheeks,
Phoenix sophomore
"I think they are going to win it." Lauren Topol Chicago freshman
How will new coach Bonnie Henrickson affect the women's basketball team this year?
"She's going to have to instill good defense, which is a Kansas tradition. She'll have to let the team know the past is in the past." — Jon Lentz
Tulsa, Okla., senior
"New leadership can bring in new ideas and a new spirit and boost moral." Entyll Mille
Emily Miller.
Wichita senior
"I think having a fresh start with a new coach will help the team through this season since Washington had to leave abruptly last year."
Cori Anderson, Wichita sophomore
"Gives a lot more publicity for team. Hopefully, we'll try a lot more harder and get more people to the games."
+ Tisha Warner,
Florence junior
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