It’s that time of year again.
The one with blue body paint, sleepovers in Krzyzewskiville and any and everything else a Cameron Crazie has been deprived of since March 7, 2020.
The 2020-21 school year consisted of no fans at any sporting events, and the Cameron Crazies were left without Cameron Indoor Stadium to hoot and holler in. But all that will end Oct. 15, with Duke men’s basketball’s Countdown to Craziness marking the first time fans will be back inside Cameron Indoor Stadium for basketball this year.
“Just dive in. This is a huge part of our campus culture and one thing that really sets Duke apart from other schools and so just start coming to stuff and seeing if you like it and giving it a shot,” co-head line monitor Cameron Jarnot said. “There’s some early mornings and stuff like that but in the end it’s all worth it.”
With all the excitement of a new year comes a flurry of logistical issues in Krzyzewskiville that have not always gone so smoothly. Three years ago, the line to get tickets to Countdown to Craziness resulted in a clutter of cutting and ticket-less students. The 2019 Countdown to Craziness (the most recent one) went much smoother with the introduction of barricades, Jarnot said, and the barricades will continue this year along with a plan to move students from K-Ville over to the ticket-issuing area earlier.
Tickets will be handed out in K-Ville Monday morning at 6 a.m., but if you wait until then to get in line you’re likely going to be left without a ticket. Line monitors and security guards will monitor the line starting at 4 a.m and begin escorting students over to Tribull Plaza. Students are welcome to line up earlier, but are expected to regulate themselves in line and line up on the walkway by Wilson Gym.
When 6 a.m. hits, tickets will be distributed to those in line. Each student gets one ticket for free with their Duke ID and can purchase up to two additional guest tickets for $20 each. The tickets are for general admission in Section 17.
On the day of Countdown to Craziness, every ticket holder and their guests need to line up in K-Ville by 5:30 p.m. Students are welcome to get in line as early as they’d like, and entry into the stadium will be based on place in line. Any person with a ticket from Oct. 11 is guaranteed entry.
Those that don’t get a ticket Oct. 11 can wait in the walk-up line on the day of Countdown to Craziness starting at 7 a.m., though they are not guaranteed entry.
“This is Coach K’s last year. Why not get involved in the best tradition that Duke has to offer,” co-head line monitor Caroline Bower said.
Clarification note: This process is only for undergraduate students.
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Jake Piazza is a Trinity senior and was sports editor of The Chronicle's 117th volume.