Student Football Tickets

We have problems with our student football tickets, and I think we can all agree that something should be done.

(I guess I should mention that I have no need for tickets since I'm in the MDB, but that I am still a student and I have friends that deal with this problem.)

I came across a link to Tommy Deas's blog suggesting a semi-plausible solution that should be discussed. (I was surprised to read of the same solution in the CW today, but because Deas elaborates a lot, I couldn't help but break it down.)

In a nutshell, Deas suggests that students be awarded points for each sporting event (other than football) that they attend. This would mean a drastic increase in attendance for volleyball, tennis, soccer, and many other attention-deserving sports. In theory, I really love this idea, but in reality, it needs work.

Firstly, there's a big issue with time-management in college to begin with. If someone really wants those tickets, they'll skip their night class, study sessions, and extra-curriculars to swipe their act card for extra points. If they don't, students will send a Freshman to skip their night class, study sessions, and extra-curriculars to swipe an upper-classman's act card. Some people will naturally attend every event possible to ensure that they receive the most points. Students with more difficult schedules won't be able to keep up.

Secondly, attendance will be an issue. If there is a volleyball match coming up against Auburn, surely the point-desiring students would rather attend that event than a hockey match against Alaska! Can the Cave hold those kinds of crowds? When people are turned away, will they receive points?

Also, there are plenty of students who buy football tickets simply to sell them for triple face value... that's not good for the students who couldn't get a whole package and want to buy from a fellow student.

Finally, students will swipe-and-go. Obviously, students will swipe their card, take a seat, and leave as soon as possible. In the end, this is probably the least worrisome downfall to Deas's idea, but still something to consider.


Some solutions? A slightly more complex, but hopefully better procedure.

Three Events.
Give students who have swiped their ACT cards at THREE events some points. Going to four events doesn't help, and going to two doesn't accomplish anything. Students will space out their attendance throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, and overall, attendance will rise. It takes the pressure off of a student who can't keep up with truly motivated people and avid fans. Also, skipping classes won't really be required.

Selling Consequences.
So, for those students who sell their season football tickets, points should be deducted from their total, hindering their ability to buy tickets the next season. (What if a student can't attend a football game? They can donate their tickets to that fantastic ticket program the SGA has worked hard to set up and they will be eligible for a prize. For a donation, there should be no consequences.)

Dean's List Points.
Offer points to first-time Dean's Listers! If a student who has never made it to the list before, we could encourage better grades with extra points. (Okay, for repeat Dean's List offenders, give a few points, too, but don't go weighting the point totals for a genius majoring in underwater basket weaving.)

Three-Tiered Confusion.
Confuse things up a little more by giving out tickets by level. Sell tickets by the point-range in which students fall. People with lots of points buy on day 1, and the tickets are distributed on first-come, first-serve terms. People with many points on day 2, same first-come, first-serve basis. Everyone else on day 3... the truly motivated will wake up and be online before 7 (you snooze, you lose).

Other Things:
Expand the student section. Please?
High point totals + seniority = SECCG and Bowl tickets. Not that hard.
Perhaps initiate a way to reward volunteering with points?



Honestly, looking at what I just typed, my head hurts. It's pretty complex, but something should change, and saying "have at the tickets" won't work. My brother missed buying tickets last year. He made it to one or two games by paying way more than the usual student ticket value. He's not alone. My roommate didn't go to a single game because a single ticket would have cost her more than an entire package of student tickets. Amazing things could happen in the next few years, and it saddens me that some students won't get to see it in person.

My dad attended Alabama for law school. He was here for three years, and in that time Alabama won TWO National Championships. Hearing him talk about those years and the games that he went to really makes me excited for my time here.

We're living football history... let's share it with the other students who are paying tuition.