Duke Basketball

Duke Basketball! If you're not a bball fan when you come to this school... it won't take long for you to become one. Let me say, it is quite an experience. John and I have been to the blue and white scrimage (which surprisingly enough, was just as big as a game against a team from a different school), the Wisconsin game, NC State, and St. Johns. I have never seen fans as intense as they are here. First of all, fans stand THE WHOLE TIME. Second, they are cheering at least an hour before the game starts (the players aren't even on the court yet). And third, every chant is yelled with 110% enthusiasm, energy, and excitment. Sadly, we don't have any more tickets for this season, but we are looking forward to next year! I just thought we'd share a few pictures of what it's like inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. Enjoy!

Players in action... this was a SWEET 3 point shot made by Nolan Smith.
Cameron Indoor Stadium, home of the Cameron Crazies!

Our HOT date to the B-ball game (kids aren't allowed to go. At first I wondered why, but then I went to a game... lets just say it's a lot too rough for little ones. All the yelling, dancing, standing, jumping... it's crazy in there.) Although we come home with a raspy voice and tired legs, we had a great time! I love spending time with my hubby!
The coaching staff: Head Coach K in the middle, Steve Wojciechowski on his right, and Johnny Dawkins on his left.
This guy wearing the b-ball on his head throws out candy to all the fans before the game starts. Everyone goes crazy and yells really loud.

Every game there are a group of people wearing chef hats... it took me a long time to realize why!In honor of our head coach, Coach Krzyzewski (pronounces "sha-shef-skee). Hence, they are all "chefs"! Pretty funny.

Welcome to Krzyzewskiville

I went to campus to watch John play an intermural bball game and saw all these tents just sitting on campus right in front of the stadium. "What are all those tents doing there? Surely these people aren't really camping out on campus!" I thought. Wikipedia helped me out!--

WHAT IT IS:

"Krzyzewskiville, or K-ville for short, is a phenomenon that occurs before major men's basketball games at Duke University. In simplest terms, it is the line for students wishing to gain access to the designated tenting games. It is often mistakingly referred to as a ticket line. However, there are no student tickets; students are admitted from the line one and a half hours before each game."

K-VILLE RULES:

"From the beginning of tenting in early January (although the first tents usually appear between Christmas and New Year's) until one week before the game, tents generally must have 1 person in the tent during the day and 8 people each night. For the week before the game, only two people must be in the tent each night. The two weekend nights prior to the game are personal check nights, during which each of the twelve tent members must be at the tent for 3 of 5 personal checks spread over the two nights. If a tent misses a tent check twice, it gets moved to the end of the line (assuming availability). If K-ville is at full capacity (100 tents) and a waitlist exists at the time of the second miss, the tent gets removed completely. Tenters that lose their spot or non-tenters can, however, take their chances at the walk-up line, which forms 48 hours before tipoff. The walk-up line consists of couples, one member of each of which must be in line at all times. People in the walk-up line are not guaranteed to get into the game, and often some people who have waited more than 24 hours do not get in."

Well, there you have it! Never underestimate the desire of the fans here at Duke! They aren't called "Cameron Crazies" for nothing!

GO Blue Devils GO!

The other picture that I didn't get was on this darling old man that plays his trumpet. (You know that cheer thats at most baseball games that goes... da da da do dee do,CHARGE! Ya well he plays his little trumpet and we all yell "CHARGE") It doesn't take much to get this crowd excited.

During a TV time out, our fearless blue devil hops on his surf board and surfs the band... literally!

(The next game the mascott did this, he spranged his knee. Poor guy!)

"Crazy Towel Guy" has held season tickets for Duke basketball games since 1980. Not missing a single home game during the 1991 and 1992 seasons, he has also seen 2 national championship games. He sits across from the student section, (hence the great video) and the crowd chants "Crazy towel guy (clap, clap, clap clap clap)" over and over again until he stands up, waves his white towel around his head, and pumps his fists.
How cool is he? Who else do you know in this bball world of fans that has their own cheer? I didn't get my camera out in time for the call of the Crazy Towel Guy (prior to his standing up) but, I got the most important part... The famous waving of the towel! The crowd goes wild.

Hope you've enjoyed a little taste of Duke Basketball. We're looking forward to March Madness (and I never thought I'd say that!)