STEPHEN BUCKNER, Reveille Radio News Reporter:
Most LSU students likely received a recent email from the Athletics Ticket Office. For those who took the time to read the letter, they would have soon discovered the student section for men’s basketball has been moved.
Students will now sit behind the east basket in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center with 200 seats available in the arena’s 100 level. As before student seating is on the basis of general admission.
Some may be upset by the decision to move the students from mid-court to behind the goal but Vice President of the Maravich Maniacs and mass communications junior Taylor Martina says the move may help improve LSU’s home-court advantage.
TAYLOR MARTINA (Vice President of the Maravich Maniacs, mass communications junior): We’re now the minimum away from the visiting team’s bench and we are actually sitting right behind the goal they shoot at for the second half of the game. So we’ll be able to antagonize them a lot during free throws and things of that nature.
BUCKNER: Martina said the primary reason for moving the student section was to help unify all students in attendance.
MARTINA: Plus we’re more unified so hopefully we can get that noise pumping and get the entire stadium rockin’.
BUCKNER: The Maravich Maniacs also plan to unveil a new rewards program which will award students who attend games frequently this semester. Mass communications sophomore Matthew Smith says the new incentives should help raise student attendance.
MATTHEW SMITH (Mass communications sophomore): We key tags you sign up for. And you can scan at all the games, at all of our meetings here. And you can build up points towards different prizes and stuff from athletics.
BUCKNER: There will big expectations for the Tigers’ 2011-2012 season due to the extensive experience and the addition of several notable recruits, but after watching last week’s scrimmage, Smith says there is no need to wait until next year to be excited.
SMITH: Don’t expect next year to be the year. Come out this year. Help them get that atmosphere. Help them win those games, get that confidence built and I think you’ll be impressed.
BUCKNER: The Tigers tip off tonight against the Northwestern State Demons at 7 p.m. for their season debut.
This has been Stephen Buckner, Reveille Radio News.