I immediately awake as the alarm blares in my ear. Leaning over, I see that it is only 5:30 in the morning. I struggle to get out of bed, as I hear my roommate’s alarm sending out similar well wishes. We make our way down to Allen Fieldhouse in the cold, blustering December wind. Upon arrival, we stand outside the doors, surrounded by many other Zombie-like fans who are mostly asleep or hung over (admittedly, it was often tough to tell the difference). Judging by the aroma, it is clear that some haven’t even gone to bed from the night before. Finally, a Fieldhouse employee sympathizes with our condition and opens a door. We walk through the tunnel and seek refuge in our familiar seats behind the bench and goals. It is an eclectic mix of people, from the fraternity and sorority groups to the freshmen dorm kids to the graduate students. However, we are all bound by one common love – Kansas basketball.
I went through these motions before every home basketball game during my tenure at the University of Kansas. If you are unfamiliar with the student seating process for basketball games, basically know that there are two stages – the lottery and the camping. First, the most loyal student fans participate in a weekly lottery the morning after the last home game to establish a list of groups that have first choice of seats. Next, the groups camp inside the Fieldhouse throughout the week to maintain their rank on the list. Though at the time I always felt that those morning lotteries and camping sessions were burdensome, I would give anything to go back.
My name is Kevin Mechtley, and I am a 24-year old law student from Topeka, KS. I am a die-hard Kansas sports fan (read: addict), and have attended hundreds of games over the past two decades. My early childhood heroes included Mark Randall, Kevin Pritchard, Rex Walters, Alonzo Jamison, June Henley, and Dana Stubblefield. I cheered through the Glen Mason era and labored through the Terry Allen era. When I attended KU, I authored a blog that offered my humble opinion on a host of topics surrounding the university. Thanks to CJOnline, I am excited to start writing about KU once again.
Some topics I plan to cover in the coming weeks include the quest to sustain the newfound growth of the football team, the overall atmosphere changes in Allen Fieldhouse, student traditions, evolving rivalries, the new football facilities, player profiles, the Arrowhead match-up, recruitment, and the BCS. In addition, with the basketball season getting under way and the football team continuing to reach new heights, many new topics will undoubtedly arise.
It is an exciting time to be a fan of the Jayhawks. Though I will be the first to admit that I have an opinion on just about everything, it is not my intention for this blog to be a vehicle to espouse my own rhetoric. Instead, it is my hope that it will be a source of entertainment, a forum for conflicting views to be expressed, and an opportunity for all of us to discuss a multitude of topics affecting athletics at the University of Kansas.
I look forward to writing for you, and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or ideas you might have for possible entries. Rock Chalk!
No comments:
Post a Comment