The Waiting
February 27, 2006 02:31 PM | General
February 27, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Rocker Tom Petty once sang about the waiting being the hardest part. Well for about 100 West Virginia University students, the wait for tonight’s Backyard Brawl hasn’t been that bad.
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| Caleb Hamric, far left, hangs out at the Gold Gate with some of his friends Monday afternoon before West Virginia's basketball game against Pitt.
WVU Sports Communications |
All of them have come early to get lower-level seats in the student section for West Virginia’s game against the Pittsburgh Panthers that will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Caleb Hamric, a Wildlife Sciences major from Braxton County, arrived Sunday night around 10 o’clock with his older sister Jessica, now a graduate student.
“He’s just a pup,” says Jessica of her younger brother’s first Coliseum sleepover. “I’ve done this about four or five times now – ever since Coach Beilein took over there’s been a little more excitement around here.”
“It was kind of neat although my back didn’t like it too well,” Caleb remarked. “This concrete is really hard.”
About 10 students in all camped out inside the Gold Gate last evening, watching DVDs, playing their X-Boxes and just hanging out. The athletic department assigns security to keep an eye on them and make sure they’re OK. Students are allowed inside to use the bath room and stay warm.
“It’s a different world around here today,” remarked one usher.
Last weekend for the Connecticut game, an estimated 400 students camped out inside the Gold Gate in an effort to get the best seats. More than 3,800 students came through the turnstiles to see West Virginia battle the nation’s No. 1-ranked team.
Because it’s a weekday, the number camping out for tonight's game is much smaller due to classes.
Coy Belknep, also from Braxton County, plans on getting a seat close to the floor so he can get on television. He says he missed three classes today to do so.
“I wouldn’t have done this if I’m not going to get a front-row seat,” he said. “I hope it’s worth it.”
“It’s something to look forward to: just hanging out with your friends waiting for the game,” added Jessica.
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| Students are sprawled out inside the Gold Gate before Monday night's game against Pitt at the WVU Coliseum.
WVU Sports Communications |
Amanda Hess, a Pittsburgh native, says getting a front row seat has special meaning for her.
“It’s the last game and I’m real excited about it being on ESPN,” she said. “I want to be real close to the floor instead of being up real high.”
Almost all of Amanda’s family supports the Panthers.
“Basically my dad’s side of the family roots for Pitt so I really want to beat them so I can rub it in their faces,” she said.
All 10 say they would have slept better last night in their own beds.
“I slept about two hours,” said Jessica. “There was really too much going on to get any sleep, although no one was snoring.”
The students say Coach Beilein has been known to order pizzas for some of thpse waiting in line outside. “I heard he did that for the UConn game last weekend but I don’t know that for sure,” Jessica said.
Amanda, who admits some of her friends thinks she’s nuts for sleeping over to get courtside seats, says the wait will be well worth it if West Virginia can beat the Panthers tonight.
