Armed with a folding chair, umbrella and noise-cancelling headphones, Theo Endrud arrived at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center nine hours early to wait in line for the last game of the season.
The 20-year-old UF economics sophomore arrived at 9 a.m., taking over for his friend who arrived at 3 a.m. Endrud said although camping out every week is not ideal, largely because of lack of sleep, it’s definitely worth the experience. His time camping out for the University of Georgia game prepared him for this last ride, and his group of friends planned days in advance to take shifts waiting in line, mentally preparing for the rain — and the boredom.
Endrud was motivated to sit outside in the cold and the rain for junior forward Sam Alexis. He finds joy in cheering for the forward, a tradition he and his friends concocted earlier in the season.
“He only gets a few minutes every game, so every time he scores, it’s special,” Endrud said.
On March 8 and many game days in the past, UF students crowded next to the streets of Stadium Road, decorating the sidewalks with tents and folding chairs. Among the most interesting items brought were fake plants, a blow-up couch that pulls out to make a bed and a full sized TV to watch other basketball games.
With the three star guards — Will Richard, Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin — leaving this season, students like Endrud crowded the stadium, wondering if the Florida Gators will ever be this good again. Endrud said he attended games to ensure he witnessed this season’s success, but even if the team is a little worse next year, he’d still be there.
On this particular gameday, Nick Urhausen, the event coordinator for the Rowdy Reptiles, UF’s club for sports fans, was proud of the turnout. At about 9:30 a.m., he said there were about 600 people in line, not to mention those who dragged tents out of their homes and arrived the previous day at 5 p.m. The 21-year-old UF information systems junior was a part of the decision to give away 10 seats to a knowledgeable UF basketball student, though he said it was all because of Tristan Bukow’s idea, a 21-year-old UF finance junior and the club’s treasurer.
Urhausen said he was appreciative to every single person who showed up not only for the last gameday, but every week. There are a lot of regulars that often camp out overnight, he said, spending 12 to 24 hours waiting in line and showing their passion for the game.
Although people camped out for hours before the doors opened, some students worked to bypass the crowds. Will Allen, a 20-year-old applied physiology and kinesiology sophomore at UF, slid into line just before the doors opened, a privilege he earned by winning a trivia competition the Rowdy Reptiles held.
The prize for the Gators basketball Kahoot was 10 front row seats, reserved without having to wait in line. Typically, the sophomore and his friends were camped out in front of the O’Connell Center with the rest of the basketball fans. But on this particular Saturday, they avoided the weather in the comfort of their homes.
“We know a lot about Gators basketball,” Allen said. “We’re big fans.”
Allen and his friends weren’t the only fans proud of their efforts to support the Gators. Wesley Wolfe, a 20-year-old UF finance sophomore, said every student should camp out for at least one game. It was a bucket list item for Wolfe to make the lower bowl, and his band ensured him a spot in the student section holding just 700 seats. Many students vie for a front row seat, but Wolfe said as long as he’s close enough to the court, he’s happy.
Like many other fans, Wolfe came to the game with one particular name in mind. Wolfe said junior guard Denzel Aberdeen “brings the fire.”
“I’ve seen him from the upper bowl, the nosebleeds, on TV — it’s just not the same,” Wolfe said. “I gotta see him in person.”
Wolfe said waiting in line is a must-do activity every student should complete at least once. He said arriving at 7 a.m. was worth it, because he will get to brag to his Ole Miss friends after they lose.
“They came down here for a football game,” he said. “We whooped them in that. We’re gonna whoop them in this, too.”
The Gators defeated Ole Miss 90-71.
Contact Rachel Mish at rmisch@alligator.org. Follow her on X @mish_rache62827.
Rachel Mish is a junior English and business major and the Fall 2024 Food Reporter for The Avenue. In her free time, she enjoys playing pick-up basketball or sewing a gameday outfit.
