The Real Duke Experience

There is only one thing which really challenges academics for students' undivided attention at Duke. It is the reason that students camp out from the first day back from winter break (and in some cases, come back early from winter break) until March. The man in charge in this case is more revered and revered by more students than the "man upstairs" himself. Need another clue? It starts with B and ends with asketball. You guessed it...Duke Basketball.

This morning marked the beginning of what is sure to be a stream of memories by the time I graduate. It marked my beginning of what is surely a most memorable experience of any Duke alum. So, at 4:40 am when my alarm went off I grabbed my backpack for the day, donned my best Duke sweatshirt, wiped the sleep from my eyes and joined the ranks of Cameron Crazies. See, this morning tickets went on "sale" for the exhibition game. Yes, you read that correctly. All of this for an exhibition game. A game which will mean nothing to the selection committee come March, to any AP Poll voter, to our ACC standings and which will not garner us bragging rights in the face of any Tar Heel. All of this for tickets to the exhibition game against Virginia Union. Just who is Virginia Union? Don't ask me. I've never heard of them. All I know is that we will be playing them on October 25th and that I will be at the game with my Dad who will be in town for Parent's and Family Weekend.

So, lets recap...what was all of this madness this morning that got me out of bed at 4:40 am and took me across campus to sit in line for two hours?

Duke Basketball.
'Nough said.









Caption: "Is that the basketball team?" you might be asking yourself. Afterall, they're all wearing matching "warm ups". In fact, that is not the basketball team. Those are our line monitors. It is safe to say that basketball ticketing at Duke is a serious serious business. Something we do not take lightly...and yes, my newest Duke dream is to be a line monitor!