I’m writing this to voice my opinion on the recent debacle that has become student ticketing at N.C. State.  As a senior at NCSU, I have only missed three games since arriving in Raleigh.  Those three games I missed were the first three games of my freshman year.  I missed them due to a job I once worked off campus.  Since then I have not missed a single home football game at State.  This includes being here for Fall Break games as well as coming back to support the Pack over the Thanksgiving Break games. 

Now what is the point of having a “loyalty” point system if it doesn’t reward the kind of loyalty my fellow seniors and myself have shown over the years?  For the Cincinnati and now Virginia Tech games I have not been awarded a ticket.  However, I see and hear all over campus of freshman and others discussing how they received a ticket.  It’s also other students who are just now deciding to make it to the games when our team is on a winning streak that are receiving tickets before I do.  What kind of system rewards bandwagon fans before it does those who have cheered for our team through thick and thin?  I remember the lows of the past few years as well as the highs.  I have shared in the pains and joys of our football team, and come Saturday I’ll be watching the game from home instead of inside Carter Finley.

What kind of system has been put in place that denies hundreds of seniors a ticket and gives them to underclassmen who have yet paid their dues?  If the system isn’t going to reward loyalty, then do not call it by that name.  Why award myself and others loyalty points for arriving to games an hour before kickoff if those points amount to nothing but a chance to get a sticker or T-shirt at the end of the season?

Yes, this Saturday is Parents and Families Weekend.  More importantly, this weekend marks one of the most crucial games for Wolfpack football in recent years.  A win on Saturday will mean a 5-0 (2-0) start to our season.  In order to support our team we need those loyal and dedicated students in the student sections, not a bunch of parents who will make our student sections notably quieter.  I have complete faith that our team can beat the Hokies on Saturday, but I have lost all faith in NCSU’s ability to run programs using common sense.  It seems now that the University cares more about collecting money from the family and guest tickets than it does rewarding dedicated students. 

Well done student ticketing.