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Volume 72, Issue 71,
Friday, December 1, 2006
News Game ignites school spirit C-USA championship contest will benefit all of UH, AD official says by KELSIE HAHN
UH spirit has been promoted all week in anticipation of UH's Conference USA championship game against Southern Miss at 7 p.m. tonight at Robertson Stadium. "I've definitely seen (school spirit) in students," Associate Athletics Director Chris Burkhalter said. "The lines over here (at the Athletic/Alumni Center) to get the tickets have been non-stop -- they've been all day." In honor of the game, the city of Houston issued a proclamation Tuesday declaring today UH Day, and the radio station KBME-AM 790 plans to broadcast its morning show live from 6 to 10 a.m. today at Hofheinz Pavilion. "They're encouraging all kinds of fans to come out," Burkhalter said. Burkhalter said that he's expecting a sold-out stadium for tonight's game. "I'm an optimist, so I think we're going to have a sell-out. The lines have been steady, the tickets have been steady," he said. "We're expecting a full house." "There is a lot more excitement for this game than I've seen all season. … It seems like the students are really excited about this one because it is for the championship, which makes it a bigger deal," Lee DeLeon, marketing director for the Athletics Department, said. Although DeLeon said student attendance may be hurt by the $10 student tickets, as opposed to the usual free admission for students, good attendance at tonight's game could be a preview of things to come. "I think the more students we get to the game, the more we will have in the future, because you're going to come and have a blast, and you are going to want to come back," he said. Tamara Moreland, a sports administration graduate student who was waiting in line at the Athletic/Alumni Center to purchase tickets, said she was excited about the championship game. "It might be a little cold outside, but it doesn't matter -- I'm excited," she said. "I would expect to see the seats filled, nothing but red and white. That would be awesome." Others said the team's success and popularity can only increase from here. "I think that with (the football team) being so successful this year … with students and everybody working really hard to get people pumped up, there is actually starting to be a life on campus for Cougar athletics, which is really exciting," corporate communication senior Phillip Daily said. "With our athletic program playing so well, I think it will absolutely draw a buzz … I would love to see in two or three years a sell-out at Robertson (Stadium) every day, and I think they are fully capable of it with our great program and great coaching staff," Daily said. Tickets will be available for sale on the first floor of the Athletic/Alumni Center until 5 p.m. and can be purchased online at www.uhcougars.com. In addition to jump-starting school spirit, Burkhalter said high-profile games unify fans and put the spotlight on UH's strong points. "I've always felt the University of Houston is a hidden jewel," he said. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the University of Houston, not just football and not just the Athletic Department, to showcase itself to the national audience. "(With) the limelight that is on this game, the potential positive feedback that's on this game, numbers and words and figures can't measure what this in the long run could do for the University of Houston." -- Additional reporting by Celena Flores.
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