Sports Whit

As many of us, I’m sure, have been consumed these last couple weeks with piles of end-of-the-semester work to do, it’s the time of year for procrastination. And nothing serves as a better tool for procrastination for me than Griz basketball.
Walking into the first exhibition game of this season, I went to sit down underneath the south basket, my usual seat for the last three years. As I sat down in the front row with my perfect view of the court, an usher kindly informed me that this section was no longer student seating and that I would have to leave.
At first this confused and angered me. Why was I getting kicked out of what I thought was my section?
Turns out things are a little different for students from previous seasons. Students used to occupy both the north and the south sections underneath each basket. This year, UM Athletics decided to move the entire student section to the north end. 

But, to make up for those lost seats, students now have access to the seats on both the northeast and northwest corners of the arena, as well as the general admission bleachers on the second level.
Jim O’Day, UM director of athletics, said the decision for this move was to unite the student section and help create a rowdier, more enthusiastic atmosphere in Dahlberg Arena. And in addition to the musical chairs the students are playing, both the dance team and the cheer squad now stand on the north end right in front of the students to help add to the desired atmosphere.
Last season, UM Athletics challenged the students to increase their numbers at basketball games. O’Day had said if student attendance averaged close to 700, then they would relocate the students to the eastside bleachers, which are currently for season ticket holders.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t a big enough incentive to light a fire under students’ butts; attendance remained low and students were not rewarded the eastside bleachers.
But O’Day is optimistic after the attendance at Monday’s non-conference men’s game against Montana-Western. O’Day said students seemed to really get into the game and participate in ways they didn’t seem to last year. He said if attendance continues to grow and students continue to show up, they will consider expanding student seating.
“We’ll continue to monitor it,” O’Day said.
I have to applaud UM Athletics for their continued efforts in creating a great atmosphere in Dahlberg Arena. Each year they try different tactics and gimmicks, anything to get kids in the seats. And when that doesn’t work, they try something new. But throughout, they make sure students aren’t getting the shaft.
“We’re not going to turn students down,” O’Day said.
I only hope that their efforts, coupled with two great basketball teams, can bring us back to our basketball glory days.
whitney.bermes@umontana.edu