We applaud the university for opening an additional 2,000 seats to us, even if we're not sure athletics would offer the tickets if the department knew the tickets would sell to season ticket holders.
These additional 2,000 seats in the upper deck will more or less act as an overflow of the student section.
Sure, you'd rather be in row 11, right up against the gridiron that many of us practically worship, but be happy that at the very least you'll be able to truthfully say "I was there."
That's not to say we're completely satisfied. These 2,000 upper deck seats aren't students only. They're interspersed with "normal" ticket holders in between student seats. Yes, this means that there could be an elderly couple between you and your football guru friend. Take this as fair warning that jumping up and down, screaming at the opponent or acting in a belligerent manner may not be as appreciated up high as it is down low in the student section.
In addition, upper deck tickets aren't general admission. Each has a section, row, and seat number that must be followed.
So while you may hope for your freshman hall to all sit together in the upper deck, chances are that won't be possible.
While we wish this weren't the case, beggars can't be choosers, and we'll take what we can get.
Nevertheless, those that ride it out in the upper deck are sure in for a show.
We still can't think of anything more surreal than Williams-Brice as the Gamecocks take the field to 2001.