On Friday morning, I got in line for the N.C. Central University basketball game at 7:20 a.m. There were only four people in line ahead of me at the time, but by the time Cameron opened, there were about 600.
I was the guy with the sign that said "I'M A CAMERON CRAZIE-I WAIT IN LINE AND I LIKE IT. FIX VALIDATION."
Validation seems to have worked as intended for today's New Mexico State game, but all the seats for the NCCU game were spoken for in less than 20 minutes.
I understand the reasons the validation system is here. I want a full student section as much as anyone. And I don't blame the line monitors-they did a great job getting people into Cameron on Friday, and it's not their fault there were only 700 validation spots instead of 1,200.
But when my friends ask me why Duke students wait in line for days or months for tickets, I always tell them, "Because your school doesn't, and that's what makes us Cameron Crazies."
Waiting in line used to be a tradition, and now it's an afterthought. Worst of all, hardcore fans that don't validate cannot get front-row seats no matter how dedicated they are.
Today's game shouldn't prove the system works-1,200 seats for Virginia or N.C. State will go at least as fast as 700 went for NCCU. Don't risk forcing hardcore fans to the back row or the Dillo-fix the validation system now.
If there are 1,200 spots available for a game, only put 1,100 online-reserve 100 for the walk-up line, and let those fans in first. For big games, the front row should be for the most devoted fans regardless of how fast they click a mouse.
At the Blue-White scrimmage, Coach K told us to Be Duke. The Cameron Crazies are Duke, and waiting in line is Duke. Let's keep our storied traditions alive. Let's Be Duke.
Brad Colbert
Trinity '10
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