Best student sections for college sports
While some incoming college students choose their school based on its program offerings and quality of student life, others choose them based on the sports atmosphere. In the United States, student sections in different sporting events, mainly football and basketball, are unmatched. From Louisiana State University’s Death Valley to Arizona’s ZonaZoo, here are eight of the best student sections in the country.
Penn State football
The Pennsylvania State University is historically known not only for its highly competitive engineering and business programs, but also for its student section, particularly during college football season. In a typical football game, its student section can pack around 21,000 students at Beaver Stadium, one of the biggest stadiums in the country. Students are known to camp outside the stadium for days for highly anticipated games, while its White Out games have, for decades, provided an intimidating atmosphere for opponents.
Duke basketball
With a prestigious reputation, Duke University’s basketball program has racked up five National Championships and has produced numerous NBA talents. However, having a distinguished college program also means having a well-established student section. Known as the Cameron Crazies, the school’s student section typically fits 1,200 students in the Cameron Indoor Stadium.
By packing a thousand students right on the floor where the game is, hostility and intimidation are common occurrences when playing against Duke. The stadium can fit almost 10,000 fans — and with games being played in a closed area, it has been said the stadium’s decibel level is almost as loud as a jet engine.
Alabama football
During a rivalry game, the phrase “Roll Tide” echoes around Bryant-Denny Stadium, the University of Alabama’s football stadium. With the second-most National Championships in college football history, Alabama’s student section is full of rich traditions dating back decades. Alabama’s student section is known to always maintain a loud atmosphere until the final whistle and it’s “Rammer Jammer” cheer, where the student section literally jeers the phrase “We’re gonna’ beat the hell out of you!” Though the phrase was almost banned for unsportsmanlike behavior, the chant is now only used at the end of a game. If you’re looking for hostile, Alabama’s student section has no mercy.
Illinois basketball
To test the loyalty of an Illinois fan, ask them if they’re part of the Orange Krush, the University of Illinois’s student section. Established in 1998, the student section is highly competitive to join. With only 1,200 spots available (with a student population of around 59,000), the Orange Krush allows fans not just the top seats at State Farm Stadium and an opportunity to sneak inside an opponent’s arena, but also to raise millions of dollars for charitable organizations.
Students typically arrive three hours before a game starts, hold up newspapers with cheeky messages against their opponents and have well-known chants throughout the game, like shouting “boom” every time an Illini player sinks a three-pointer.
Texas A&M football
If your student section is known as the 12th Man, that shows your dedication to the school. Texas A&M’s 12th Man origins date back to January 1922, when the school’s football team suffered so many injuries that coaches thought they would run out of players. That was when E. King Gill, a student up in the press box, was called down as an A&M football player in case he had to come on. Though Gill never strapped on his boots, the spirit of selflessness has endured to this day. Today, A&M’s student section is known to be the 12th man on the football field.
Aside from its powerful history, A&M’s football stadium, Kyle Stadium, can host 102,000 fans, about 35,000 reserved for its student section. As one of the largest student sections in the country, the 12th Man is known to stand throughout the entirety of the game and with a unique architecture that traps sound, Kyle Stadium is constantly buzzing, especially during its Aggie War Hymn, where the crowd locks arms and sways, led by a Yell Leader rather than traditional cheerleaders.
Arizona basketball
Aptly named the ZonaZoo, the University of Arizona’s student section is known for being dramatic and for having highly distracting banter. At the McKale Center, the ZonaZoo typically creates such a loud atmosphere that it’s impossible to have a conversation (if you’re trying to talk during an Arizona game, you’re probably at the wrong place) and features long-standing traditions. The ZonaZoo would stand with their backs to the court when the opposing team is being introduced and sarcastically yell “nice shot buddy!” every time an opponent misses a free throw. As one of the most dominant teams in the country, ZonaZoo would be one of the biggest obstacles opponents have to face.
LSU football
While some may recognize Louisiana State University’s football stadium as Tiger Stadium, most people will know it as Death Valley, and there’s a good reason why. Upon entering Death Valley, visitors are immediately greeted with the electric environment in a sea of purple and gold. With 25 sections dedicated to just students, LSU students are constantly buzzing throughout every second of the game, especially into the night. LSU’s Death Valley can get extremely loud to the point where famed college football coach Nick Saban said his team recorded four false starts because his team couldn’t hear each other nor the whistle.
Purdue basketball
Consistently ranked as one of the rowdiest student sections in the country, Purdue University’s Paint Crew will always show up for their team. With 2,800 students in the Paint Crew, the student section has been known to create an intimidating environment with its sheer volume. With a capacity of almost 15,000, Mackey Arena features a bowl-shaped architecture that traps noise all throughout games, reaching an impressive 124-decibel record. And with the student section seated right next to the court, that hostility is amplified. The Paint Crew is also known to camp out days at a time for the best seats in the house and perform synchronized chants.
Wrap Up
These schools have built a reputation for being unfriendly towards their opponents while being extremely loyal towards their own school. For football, schools like the University of Tennessee, Clemson University and the University of South Carolina are also known for their hostile environment, while the University of Kansas and Michigan State’s student section for basketball games are unmatched. If your school is facing any of these schools, be warned: you will be welcomed with a ruthless embrace.
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