Spring Break
The Daily OrangeCamping for court side: Otto's Army, Orange fans, wait days for prize seats at last home game
By Evan Weiss
Posted: 2/26/07, 10:33 PM EST Section: News
Zach Siegal-Eisman, a freshman sport management major, was at the Dome on Monday morning to avoid sleeping there Sunday night. It would have gotten in the way of classes, he said.
"If I didn't have class today maybe I would have done it, but school comes first," Siegal-Eisman said.
Not all students share the enthusiasm of those who began waiting outside the Dome days in advance. Steven Spector, a junior history major, said he'd get to the Dome at around 5:30 p.m. Monday, and that he wouldn't even think of showing up any earlier.
"It's ridiculous to show up on Saturday," Spector said. "I'll go two hours before the game starts and get seats on the lower level just off to the right. That's good enough for me."
The 1992 alumnus who ordered the pizzas never could have experienced exactly what went on this week at the Carrier Dome. While this isn't the first time students have lined up early for a game, it is the first year Syracuse University has officially recognized Otto's Army.
The group's official status has helped the process of getting into the games greatly, Minutillo said.
"This year has been amazingly smooth," Minutillo said.
Otto's Army has been nothing but a positive, Campbell said.
"We've been very happy with the way things have gone this year. From football, to basketball, and even into lacrosse," he said.
It is not just the Carrier Dome staff or even unknown alumni taking notice of the student's dedication. Otto the Orange also paid a visit over the weekend. Otto delivered hot chocolate to the fans braving temperatures that dipped down to 11 degrees on Saturday.
From the visits, to the surprise deliveries, to the eventual payoff of front-row seats, most of the students there said they wouldn't trade any of it for even one night in their own bed.
"I wouldn't trade all that for the world," Shafer said.
"If I didn't have class today maybe I would have done it, but school comes first," Siegal-Eisman said.
Not all students share the enthusiasm of those who began waiting outside the Dome days in advance. Steven Spector, a junior history major, said he'd get to the Dome at around 5:30 p.m. Monday, and that he wouldn't even think of showing up any earlier.
"It's ridiculous to show up on Saturday," Spector said. "I'll go two hours before the game starts and get seats on the lower level just off to the right. That's good enough for me."
The 1992 alumnus who ordered the pizzas never could have experienced exactly what went on this week at the Carrier Dome. While this isn't the first time students have lined up early for a game, it is the first year Syracuse University has officially recognized Otto's Army.
The group's official status has helped the process of getting into the games greatly, Minutillo said.
"This year has been amazingly smooth," Minutillo said.
Otto's Army has been nothing but a positive, Campbell said.
"We've been very happy with the way things have gone this year. From football, to basketball, and even into lacrosse," he said.
It is not just the Carrier Dome staff or even unknown alumni taking notice of the student's dedication. Otto the Orange also paid a visit over the weekend. Otto delivered hot chocolate to the fans braving temperatures that dipped down to 11 degrees on Saturday.
From the visits, to the surprise deliveries, to the eventual payoff of front-row seats, most of the students there said they wouldn't trade any of it for even one night in their own bed.
"I wouldn't trade all that for the world," Shafer said.
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