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Missouri Football: Athletic Department proposes moving student section

By Eric Quackenbush

Oct 22, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers students show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness during the second half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Faurot Field. Middle Tennessee won 51-45. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers students show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness during the second half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Faurot Field. Middle Tennessee won 51-45. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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At the request of head football coach Barry Odom, the student section might be in danger of relocation.

While many students are up-in-arms over recent news that the Missouri Athletic Department is considering the relocation of the student section, which would occur, in part, due to the SEC’s rules that student sections may not be located within the first 25 rows of the opposing team’s bench.

The biggest voice stating a claim for its concern is Tigers’ Lair, which for the last millennia, has been situated behind the Tigers’ bench.

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The reason behind Coach Odom’s relocation of the home team’s bench from the east side of the stadium to the west side, is that the student section can be more of an “11th man” factor in the ears of opposing teams.

While the student section would have to be relocated in the event that this change occurs, most other sections will be unaffected by the change.

The student section would be split into two segments, but would occupy the first 25 rows between the 30-yard line and goal line on either side of the visiting bench.

Fans of the visiting team would be relocated to the area formerly occupied by Tigers’ Lair, behind the visiting team’s bench.

"According to a diagram provided by MU Athletics, the proposed changes include:• Home and visiting teams would switch sidelines.• The first 11 rows behind the visiting team on the east sideline would go to visiting fans.• Rows 12-17 would go to “young alumni” who graduated from MU within the last three to five years.• The section for guests of MU players would remain unchanged."

There is a lot of discontent behind the propsed change, which is understandable on multiple fronts. Fans want to be behind their team – in this case, literally – for moral support.

On the other hand, fans also enjoy the idea of being an X-factor against an opposing team’s ability to communicate with each other, but the SEC has long-standing regulations to stymie that plan.

As an alum of a “power-five” conference school, I was dismayed when the student section was relocated from its place near the home bench, and to the endzone.

Students desire to feel as much a part of a team’s success as they also want to be there for the team in its hour of need. Nothing gives students a greater feeling, than knowing that they played a part in the team’s victory, and the Missouri student section is regarded as the loudest in the SEC.

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