by Andrew J. Ferraro
Daily Cougar StaffSaturday night 11,501 Texas Terror fans saw a sloppily played football game, but still got their share of excitement.
Although the Terror lost 36-24 to the Minnesota Fighting Pike, there was plenty to cheer about in the high-scoring world of the Arena Football League.
Before the opening kickoff, Terror players were greeted with a display of fireworks and the loud boom of a cannon blast.
Frank (enstein), the Terror mascot, slammed the team with high-fives and many times throughout the evening got the fans going by running through the stands.
From the opening quarter, the Terror gave the Summit crowd nonstop action until the Pike put up a wall of defense and stopped the Terror, all but silencing the fans themselves.
"The fans were great," Terror quarterback Jimmy Klingler said. "They were into the game, and they did their part, but we just didn't do ours."
Unlike the National Football League, the arena game is played on a 50-yard-long field with eight-yard end zones. There are 80 feet separating the sidelines, and a player is not considered out of bounds until he is knocked into the wall.
One of the most fan-friendly rules in the game is that when a football leaves the playing field and ends up in the crowd, the fan may keep the ball as a souvenir.
However, the fans must return the football if it is lost during pre-game and half-time warm-ups.
"When I came here tonight, I wanted to sit in the cheap seats," said Adam Taylor, 18. "They told me (the upper promenade) was sold out.
"I guess I got lucky because with these seats, I may leave here with a football."
Many of the fans enjoyed the personal atmosphere and the idea that they could be a lot closer to the action, and others found arena football to be a good substitute for the NFL.
"I'm a huge football fan," said Trey White, from Houston. "I love the NFL, college football, and I've never gotten the chance to see an arena football game, so I thought I'd come out here and support our Texas Terror."
After the game, Terror coach John Paul Young said he was very pleased with the turnout and wishes the end result could have gone in Texas' favor.
"I loved (the big turnout), but it didn't surprise me," Young said. "I love these Houston fans, but we are going to have to play up to their level."
The Terror's next home game will be Friday, May 17, at the Summit, when they will try to avenge a loss to the Anaheim Piranhas suffered in their preseason game April 16.
Seats are still ava