Students can name new student
section
By Doug Healey
Assistant Sports Editor
The new student section in Mackey Arena needs a
name.
Students can submit entries at any of the five
Follett's Bookstore locations in a contest that ends Oct. 1. A committee
will select the winning name and announce it on Oct. 6 at the Purdue
football game against Iowa in Ross-Ade Stadium. The person who submits
the winning name will be recognized during a timeout during the game
and receive a certificate for free books for the second semester.
 Only
Purdue students can enter the contest. If there is more than one person
who enters a particular name, one winner will be drawn from that group.
"We want the students to take ownership and have
creative freedom and fun, to create their own identity," said Lori Frost,
promotions director for Purdue athletics. "It's their student section.
We want to make them feel more a part of what's on the floor and encourage
more energy and effort."
The 3,000 student seats have been combined into
one block for the men's basketball games. The section will form a wedge
around the Boiler Brass pep band and extend behind the visiting team's
bench, enabling the students to be more visible.
"Students will be the first thing you see on TV,"
said Frost. "The seats are right behind the visitors' bench and the
cameras are across from that."
Frost said the new location for the student section
will create a more electric atmosphere and attempt to emulate those
of Duke and Michigan State.
"Before, if we were winning, the crowd was responsive,"
said Frost. "We want the players to react to the crowd and have a more
proactive environment so they are motivated to play on the floor. Everyone
is excited to get the atmosphere back to where it used to be."
"We want to spice it up some. It has grown stale
over the last couple of years and we want it to be more fan-friendly.
It's a top priority for Coach Keady and he has been very instrumental
in the process."
Several names have been mentioned, but Frost said
the most creative idea thus far is the Gene Pool.
"It's a great tribute to coach," she said. "Plus,
it makes it unique to the school."
Other names mentioned are the Mackey Wackies and
Mackey Mob. Whatever the name, Frost is looking forward to the new changes.
"We're excited to put a spark back in Mackey,"
she said.
|
