Students camp out for two nights to witness the rivalry
About 1,200 USU students flocked to the Spectrum Nov. 9, leaving behind heated apartments to brave below-freezing temperatures, endure questionable sleeping conditions and brave a line of 4,000 antsy basketball fans to watch the USU men’s basketball team play BYU Friday night.
Tents occupied the northwest end of the HPER Field, and a grass patch directly in front of the Spectrum. Along with tents, a group of four students slept in hammocks strung between trees — these students were the first in line.
Zach Bradshaw, a senior majoring in statistics, said, “When I got there at 4:30 (p.m.), the line stretched from the Spectrum all the way along the fence, where they’re doing construction, and wrapped back around behind the same green construction fence back toward the HPER — I honestly don’t know where the line ended.”
What was the driving force behind this spectacle of Aggie pride?
William Fulton, a sophomore studying conservation and restoration ecology, said students participate for the camaraderie.
“It’s a good way to meet students. It’s just really exciting,” he said. “We might be freezing our tails off, but there’s just so much random stuff we can do. I’ve met so many cool people in the last few days.”
For some, the social experience and opportunity to have fun kept them in the cold, but for others, the reason for staying was simple.
“I just really don’t like BYU. For me, it’s being there in the arena, feeling the intensity of the game,” said Carey Larson, a senior studying speech communication.
Larson, along with Trevor Mahoney, a senior majoring in exercise science, Greg Spewt, a junior majoring in accounting, and Brian Cunningham, a senior majoring in civil engineering, tried camping in front of the Spectrum the Sunday prior to the USU vs. BYU game but ended up getting kicked out.
The four returned at the crack of dawn Tuesday, reclaiming first in line. When asked “Why?” the four agreed that standing in line would be worth the wait.
Students were organized into groups and given wrist bands with a letter and number. Every member was required to sleep over each night during the two-night camping period, and failure to do this would result in disqualification.
Three distinct check-in times were established every day. Each participating individual was to check in once per day, during one of the three check-in times established. This allowed students to still be able to attend classes. Students engaged in a variety of activities to pass the time, from playing Xbox or pingpong, to lacrosse or card games.
A few students took a different approach, wrapped in blankets and scarves, they basked in the glow of their laptops while studying class lecture slides. For some international students, the pregame camp out was a new and exciting experience.
“Very few Japanese go camping,” said Masako Tanaka, a senior majoring in psychology. “I first thought the students at USU were crazy.”
Tanaka slept on the HPER Field with the other fans both nights to earn herself a seat at Friday’s game. She said the USU vs. BYU game was the first basketball game she’d ever been to.
Tanaka grinned and said, “I would do it again.”
In the end, many students reaped the payoffs of camping out. USU fans packed the stands and applauded the men’s basketball team on to a 69-62 victory over the in-state rival the Cougars.
– kyle.pett@aggiemail.usu.edu