Doesn't sound real serious to me, it involves 500 seats which will likely go to alumni who I bet will be happy.
I think it's basically a good rule, I see it in basketball more than football where people behind the visitors bench are just going nuts on the visitors. They deserve some cushion. I have to assume that is why the SEC made that rule that there were severe abuses by students/band sitting behind the visitors. Although I must say I can't ever remember a team complaining about the bench situation at Kyle. And I'm surprised that between the 30's the 1st 25 rows only contain 500 seats, that doesn't sound right.
gipper, this would not take away student seats, only relocate them, at least that's the way it was done at Florida. Sid, it is not a bad rule for the SEC. I think this is where we get into some cultural differences for different parts of the country. This is to give the visiting team a buffer between their team and the opposing teams students and band. Perhaps in the Midwest that doesn't matter, but I can assure you that in the SEC it does. Terry, it's not all of those rows, just the ones behind the opposing teams bench. I'm sure that the Aggies will adjust, their 12th man section will just be a little further from the team. After all I doubt that they will have to pull a player from the stands these days. I wish I could go to the Aggie game, but I am planning on going to the Missouri game.
So Bill, who's going to sit in the seats instead of students. Rational SEC football fans like the ahole who poisoned the trees at Auburn?
I don't care how you rationalize, it, it's a stupid rule. It doesn't matter whose rule it is. I'd feel the same if Notre Dame made that rule for teams it plays away from home. It tells me that SEC people are pretty thin-skinned.
Good point, Stu. In reality, no program is going to let students sit in the prime seats that they can reserve for the big contributors. Looks like TX A&M is the exception. Having said that, I'm sure it means more than very little to TX A&M, at least to the students. No doubt will help fuel the new rivalries with the SEC teams. In any event, I'm sure the students will be heard loud and clear. I wonder if the SEC has a rule that limits the decibels of crowd noise?
I guess this is just one of those things that will have to be worked out. It isn't some rule that the SEC passed to hurt A&M. It isn't some new tradition that A&M started just to stick their finger in the eye of the SEC. It is a rule that worked and everyone was happy with in the SEC. It is a tradition that has worked and stood the test of time at A&M. They will have to work it out...and they will...but it really isn't my place to get all opinionated about it.
SEC also has a rule about "rushing" the court in basketball and has penalized Kentucky (I believe) for it recently and I also believe that it's also against the rules to rush the field in football as well.
Damn, Stu! Your common sense is raining on Gip's and my parade! :lol: P.S. I am not anti-SEC and never have been. I just expressed my opinion. Because I'm retired, one could argue that I have too much time on my hands.
Wow sometimes some of you guys amaze me. The rule was passed quite a number of years ago because in a number of the SEC stadiums the students got very rowdy behind the opposing team bench and I am not sure about the band. The SEC passed this rule. At Florida it is the opposing team that gets those seats, what is done at the other SEC stadiums I have no idea. But the rule is based in reaction to things that have transpired in the past. Whether some of you think it's dumb or not it's reality in our stadiums and not something we even think about. Of course then there also has to be the conspiracy theory about the students being mistreated, which they are not.
Bill, see my post just above yours. As the day has worn on, I've found myself moved by the wisdom of Stu. :wink:
As usual Sid, once you see the wisdom or reasoning of others you are a most reasonable fella. And that is a compliment. It's a way of keeping things under control. I have no idea what will happen with the Aggies, whether the rule will be waved, enforced or a temporary reprieve. I really don't know.. I want our new members to be happy but in the end it won't be up to me. And I doubt I will have an issue with the decision either.
A little FYI on Kyle Field seating. About 90% of the east stands are for students. Unlike other schools, we don't limit the student section to a small number. And unlike a LOT of other schools (BigXII are NOTORIOUS for violating this one) our band DOES NOT blare constantly at the other team. They play during long timeouts. Our stands are a fair distance from the benches, not right on top of them. We'll follow the rules, but I think this one is a little silly when you consider the layout of our seating. Moving 500 students when 30,000 more are behind the visitor isn't going to make much of a difference.