For live coverage of The Line, check out our sports blog, The Buzz
Senior guard Tyler Bernardini has a surprise for everyone who attends The Line tonight at the Palestra.
“I can’t reveal what I got up my sleeves. It will be a game-time decision,” he said.
Regardless of what unforeseen action Bernardini takes, it will be one of many features that will set this year’s installment of The Line — the traditional overnight stay in the Palestra and the only way to guarantee season tickets in the student section — apart from the past.
And unlike in past years, when Quakers fans had to swarm campus after the surprise “Line announcement” in order to secure men’s basketball season tickets, students can show up for the 9 p.m. kickoff event.
“Given the fact that we’re in a general admissions seating arrangement now, it didn’t make sense to have everybody rush to an announcement to get their spot in line,” said senior associate director of athletics Alanna Shanahan.
Previously, student season ticket holders picked a specific seat at the Palestra on a more first-come, first-serve basis, with seat choices being made according to one’s spot at The Line. This changed in the 2009-10 season, the first with general admission for students.
Under the new system, students have had the opportunity to register for The Line online or on Locust Walk.
It was one of many changes instituted by the athletic department after getting input from the Red and Blue Crew.
“We wanted to remove as many barriers to doing The Line as possible,” Red and Blue Crew leader Justin Chang said.
The group also focused on changing ticketing procedures for students who choose not to buy season tickets but still want to attend games.
Individual game tickets for students have been reduced to five dollars per game, and students will now be allowed to move down to the lower student section if it isn’t filled by season ticket holders at tip-off.
These policy changes, along with what Shanahan says will be an enhanced in-game atmosphere, have the team excited for the possibility of student participation.
The players and coaches took on an increased role at last year’s Line, and Chang expects even greater contributions tonight — especially from first-year head coach Jerome Allen.
“He’s a great ambassador for the basketball program on campus,” Chang said, recalling the coach’s offer to DJ during The Line and help out in any way he could.
While Allen is making an effort to connect with students, his players are just as dedicated to the success of the event and are reaching out to the campus community.
“I am hoping that we are all going to, as a team, take part, in terms of everybody sleeping over,” junior guard Zack Rosen said. “You are able to build a connection with people you might not necessarily meet.”
Bernardini said that the new ticketing format will allow for a larger support base, but he and co-captain Rosen both stressed that while The Line is an important part of raising student attendance, Allen has emphasized getting involved on campus as a way to bolster support for the team.
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