Coliseum needs restructuring

"Middle section, start a cheer, you're at Cameron Indoor Stadium!" The middle had not started a cheer for a long time, maybe even an entire minute, and the vocal leader of the section to the left was ready for the volume to kick up a notch.

Last Saturday, I found myself separated from the Cameron Crazies, the most publicized basketball fans in America, by the back of a chair, literally. The Crazies are loud, but they are also clever; they often seem to find a way into opponents' heads before the game even begins and give Duke one of the greatest home court advantages in all of sports.

This year I've had the chance to see some of the greatest venues and crowds that college basketball has to offer. I started off the season with a trip to Indiana University for "Midnight Madness," the first practice of the year.

After reading that I went to Indiana for a basketball practice, you may think I'm crazy, which is probably true. But just to clarify, the first practice of the season was not the primary reason for my adventure.

But I digress. I showed up at this first practice and found Assembly Hall completely filled, with a majority of the population stemming from the student body.

And they weren't just sitting around because there's nothing better to do on a Friday night in Indiana (well, there's not, but this is not my point); they were informed about their Hoosiers and also loud. This is for a team that lost more games than it won last season.

In addition to visiting Cameron Indoor Stadium and Assembly Hall, I also ventured to Allen Fieldhouse to watch the Jackets take on Kansas on New Year's Day.

A lot has been said about Duke's fans, and they may have the best student section in America, but when it comes to judging an entire crowd, I could not imagine a group better than the Jayhawk faithful.

It isn't just the massive student section that gets into the game, it's everyone in the building. Just imagine a high school gym with old wooden bleachers. That's pretty much the setup, but there are enough bleachers to fit 17,000 fans that stand and scream when anything happens.

You're probably curious about what exactly this has to do with Tech. Well, I've been to a few Tech home games this year as well, and the Jackets' fans do give the team a great advantage at home. But they also have a chance to take Tech's basketball program to the next level.

When a list of adjectives is produced to describe the fans at Indiana, Kansas or Duke, the word "fair-weather" is not included. Unfortunately, Tech fans still have to deal with this description.

It takes time to build a great atmosphere because consistency is at the top of the list of what it takes to be a great crowd. With the recent success and enthusiasm that Tech hoops has produced, now is the time to start building the foundation.

The biggest question is, "How does Tech reach that level?" I'm not sure if I have the answer. When I look at the schools I've visited this year, Tech has the most in common with Duke.

Tech does not have enough students on campus or a large enough arena to be overwhelming in volume like Kansas, but Cameron Indoor Stadium has roughly the same capacity as Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

The difference is that Duke uses its capacity quite differently. The Devils' students are front and center, lining the court and constantly assaulting opponents with clever rhetoric. Duke has recognized that college basketball is about the students, not the revenue.

By creating such an incredible atmosphere, nearly every Duke game finds its way to a large television audience, and a steady stream of All-Americans keeps finding their way to Durham.

With these attributes, Duke is a competitor on the national scene nearly every year and has little problem recovering from a downturn. So in a way, the revenue takes care of itself.

Tech has been receptive to getting students closer and more involved in the past. The presence of the Swarm directly behind the basket is an example, but putting all of the students closer to the game would be a great way to make Tech basketball even better, if the students are willing to hold their end of the deal and dispose of the "fair-weather" moniker.

The alumni and other supporters lining the court are terrific supporters of Tech, but students are the heart and soul of the Institute. They deserve the best seats in the house and the chance to turn what is often a very good basketball environment into a consistently great place to play.