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What True Student Fans Look Like & Nunes Pre-Game Social

Before my trip down memory lane...

This is THE game. No, not the toughest game of the year, or full of the most hate like Gtown...rather this is the game everyone has been looking forward to since the schedule came out.

Many of us from across the fruited plain will be there.

Felonious Phunk and I are trying something new: We will be at Acropolis on MARSHALL ST when they open at 11am tomorrow. We'll get a solid hour of bad food and good drink in us before forging through the predicted uber-cold temps [the way it should be]. Feel free to join us!

--------

On a larger level, there's a nifty little reunion going on as well. From 2002-04 we were part of a group of fans collectively known as "The Craig Nasties". The name will make sense if you think about it long enough...

Some of us haven't even seen each other since 04-05. We're looking forward to it. We pride ourselves on being the ORIGINAL Front Row...waiting for hours in the freezing cold starting the year the student section finally went general admission (the Championship year, as it was). After us, the torch got passed to guys like Menotti & Bobby, and then slowly Otto's Army grew into what it is today...a group of sadists sleeping on 15 degree concrete for 7 days.

For this trip down memory lane, here's some pictures detailing what a REAL Front Row should look like.

I'm looking so forward to this weekend, hope it's good for all. God, I love the 'Cuse.

GO ORANGEMENS!

This is what Gottlieb means by 'vile'. You should be proud to wear that label:

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Star-divide

Bill G. The Usher of Pain. I hope he's still down there, can any current students speak to this?

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Our foil, former Director of Dome Operations Mr Campbell.

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Before DOC and his 17 cell phones...there was Smokin' Jake.

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This is Paul. He still mans Gate E. If you are a member of Otto's Army, you should find this man, shake his hand, and thank him for his service. Without him, we might have torn each other to pieces and been forced back to assigned seats. Also, he once helped me sneak my mother into the front row for a Homecoming football game.

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Our chancellor...might I add NONE of us were invited to this pre-game reception...a true crash.

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Whereas we stand eye to eye with AG, Jimmy is much shorter and thinner than you'd expect...

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In spite of silencing the 'Hey' song, I'm glad they still permit these signs. If a member of the squad offers you the chance to run the signs, don't turn it down. It's a rare, special treat.

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Does Tully the Turtle still exist? To think, I was almost 'MascotHatGuy'

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To think...I was almost 'BucketHatGuy'...

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Our namesake...

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Thank you for indulging me. If you see a bunch of people who look 30, but are funneling pitchers at Chucks like they're 22, that's us...

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Student section nowadays is soft.

We had to freeze our asses off back in the day. Now they get to wait inside. Pansies.

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Feb 10, 2012 10:02 AM EST reply actions  

We haven’t been inside once this year

by Dan Lyons on Feb 10, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions  

It's also been 40 all winter

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Feb 10, 2012 1:17 PM EST up reply actions  

True, but they only move us in on occasion, if there’s like 50+ groups and it’s under 10 degrees or so. It’s not a common thing.

by Dan Lyons on Feb 10, 2012 1:32 PM EST up reply actions  

True story

Feb 14, 2003. ND @ Syracuse. Noon tip, so we had to get there at like 6AM to be at the head of the line. 10 degrees. 5 hours outside gate E. On a Sunday.

I’m not trying to play the, “I hiked to the Dome in 8 feet of snow, uphill both ways” card. But people like me and StrawHat are the General Admission pioneers. We laid the foundation. Any ticket camping comforts and conveniences you may have are built on the backs of our countless hours of waiting in the cold.

/self righteous rant.

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Feb 10, 2012 1:40 PM EST up reply actions  

And we appreciate that.

However at noon against ND you would now have to get there three days ahead of time and you would only be let inside if it was 10 degrees overnight (which, too my knowledge, happens pretty rarely). Waiting outside for 6 hours is no longer what we think of as hard core.

The going inside idea was proposed by Pat Campbell when the dome decided that they didn’t want to be liable if anyone froze to death. So they let the students inside when it is really cold or when they think there will be so many campers that they won’t fit outside (Villanova 2010, there were hundreds of groups and they stopped letting people in the night before).

Going inside has it’s own challenges. It’s really cool and it definitely means you are warmer. But if you ever want to here about a long week, ask me for my story of the Villanova game. And I have many, many front row photos. ;)

And the recognition that Otto’s Army gets hasn’t been handed to us. A few years ago a bunch of us made a really concentrated effort to take charge of the organization and make it a nationally known name. We worked to have it mentioned on college game day and things like that.

And I do know you are kidding around. But still, the student section now is more hard core than it has ever been.

'Cuse 2010, Michigan 2012

by Orange22 on Feb 10, 2012 10:46 PM EST up reply actions  

I was thouroughly impressed with the student section yesterday.

I think Phunk is doing obligatory ‘Imma old guy and you whipper-snappers don’t know tough’…

The 'Cuse is in tha house, oh my God oh my God.

by StrawHatGuy on Feb 13, 2012 12:04 AM EST up reply actions  

Don't mean to call you a liar...

but in 03 cuse didn’t play ND at noon or on a Sunday

by cuse 04 on Feb 11, 2012 9:51 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes they did. GMac hit a 3 to win the game.

It was the first one where 50+ buses from Scranton came up with the McNamara’s Band shirts.

It was also the coldest freaking day of my entire Cuse existence.

The 'Cuse is in tha house, oh my God oh my God.

by StrawHatGuy on Feb 13, 2012 12:03 AM EST up reply actions  

TURTLE FIGHT!

The 'Cuse is in tha house, oh my God oh my God.

by StrawHatGuy on Feb 10, 2012 10:13 AM EST up reply actions  

I haven't seen him this season

:(

It's the most bullshit thing I've seen in thirty years.

by Girardi Party on Feb 10, 2012 11:39 AM EST up reply actions  

Awesome awesome awesome.

I’ll be at work, damn I wish I could make it.

Born in '87, Orange fan since '86

by StealthTurkey on Feb 10, 2012 10:19 AM EST reply actions  

Call in "sick"

With the Orange fever.

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Feb 10, 2012 10:30 AM EST up reply actions  

Thousands of years ago

You should have gotten a snack

Without Gerry McNamara we wouldn't have won 10 f-- games, not 10

by PoetryInMoten on Feb 10, 2012 11:08 AM EST up reply actions  

Seriously it was hell getting the Georgetown game off.

Had a wedding last week, and another on the 18th. I’m pushing my luck as it is.

Wish I could go soooooo bad. But for Georgetown I got to take my friend Eric, who has been in Afghanistan for the past 2 years almost.

Cheer for me!

Born in '87, Orange fan since '86

by StealthTurkey on Feb 10, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions  

wish I could have hung out longer at Lucys

but I was pushing my upper limits with the drink and the working the next day

The hair looks good man….almost…professional? ;-)

by Pinker on Feb 10, 2012 12:26 PM EST up reply actions  

Hhahahahaha that's what my boss said!!!

Yeah I felt good, until I got home. Rufied? I blacked out when I hit the coach. Woke up at 5am really confused. I remember the game, the walk, the bar, the cab ride, going upstairs, and nothing else. REALLY WEIRD. But fun.

Born in '87, Orange fan since '86

by StealthTurkey on Feb 10, 2012 1:18 PM EST up reply actions  

HOLY SHIT

YOU HIT THE COACH?

Why would you do that? Boeheim has won 880 games for this university! He is a giant among men! You are a horrible person! ;)

'Cuse 2010, Michigan 2012

by Orange22 on Feb 10, 2012 10:48 PM EST up reply actions  

do it for "russian hat guy"

…even though he’s watched roughly 10 ’cuse games since graduation.

by temolloy on Feb 10, 2012 12:47 PM EST reply actions  

Bill got moved because he was encouraging us to cheer too much or some such BS. We’ve been really upset about it, but we’ve been unsuccessful in getting Bill back. #FreeBill

by Dan Lyons on Feb 10, 2012 1:04 PM EST reply actions  

Dude. What?

I assume that security guard who kept yelling at us for cheering during Field Hockey had something to do with this!

'Cuse 2010, Michigan 2012

by Orange22 on Feb 10, 2012 10:49 PM EST up reply actions  

Paul is seriously one of the best dudes

He is a family friend and it’s hilarious to see him on here. I’m going to make sure he sees the page!

by ensgdt on Feb 10, 2012 1:18 PM EST reply actions  

Paul and JD and company are awesome.

by Dan Lyons on Feb 10, 2012 1:33 PM EST up reply actions  

Haha

I remember you guys well. I’ll be up there this weekend too…good times.

follow me @buffaloexplorer

by riverssyr on Feb 10, 2012 1:44 PM EST reply actions  

Good News - Bad News

Good news! They do let the band play the hey song again! Bad news, no more tully the turtle :(

by szklany87 on Feb 10, 2012 4:37 PM EST reply actions  

All they need to do is bring back 44

and I would have officially gone to SU during the Dark Ages of SU Sports (05-09).

http://www.syracuserugby.com/

by 'CuseRugby on Feb 11, 2012 12:17 AM EST up reply actions  

If you'd been a lacrosse fan

You’d have enjoyed those two years more!

'Cuse 2010, Michigan 2012

by Orange22 on Feb 11, 2012 12:47 AM EST up reply actions  

That Cornell game

was awesome, I admit.

http://www.syracuserugby.com/

by 'CuseRugby on Feb 12, 2012 11:31 AM EST up reply actions  

Also

I had won the ticket lottery for the SU student season ticket holders to go to Detroit for the final four. So disappointing…

http://www.syracuserugby.com/

by 'CuseRugby on Feb 13, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions  

Holy shit kinling and all the rest… I feel so fucking old. Miss the front row 03-07

by JulieBoeheim on Feb 10, 2012 9:29 PM EST reply actions  

Old man here

But when did the student section go general admission, or does everyone simply ignore their assigned seats?

Back in my day (88-92, Coleman, Thompson, Douglas, Johnson, McRae), freshmen sat in the upper deck behind the basket, sophomores lower deck, and juniors/seniors on the side.

Great post and awesome to think of the next generation drinking pitchers at Chucks

by SF Cuse on Feb 10, 2012 10:07 PM EST reply actions  

I'm with you. 87-92. (5 year plan, engineering)

Can’t imagine general admission. Our status would increase would increase earning better seats Started in 300 level as freshman, moved to behind the basket, and then ultimately to pull out section. Just about center court, ~10 rows up. Was there for final 2 years. Loved it.

by RockLloyd on Feb 12, 2012 6:08 PM EST up reply actions  

Phunk and I were there for games on both sides the change.

What was happening was lazy upperclassmen weren’t showing up, even in the blue seats, until well into the first half. I remember it even being frowned upon as ‘dorky’ or ‘uncool’ to show up for warm-ups and such.

Just not cool. After the 01-02 debacle everything needed to be changed up.

The 'Cuse is in tha house, oh my God oh my God.

by StrawHatGuy on Feb 12, 2012 11:59 PM EST up reply actions  

Wow, things must gave become pretty bad

The change now makes sense to me. Those who truly want to be there get rewarded.

by RockLloyd on Feb 13, 2012 7:24 AM EST up reply actions  

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