Football Ticket Frustrations

Keri S.

October 25, 2009 - 6:30 PM

When I was a freshman (way back when), I remember waking up at 6:00 on Monday morning to go stand in line at the EMU in order to secure my football ticket for the big game that weekend. It became something that you scheduled your classes around-fall term classes could start no earlier than 10:00 or else you wouldn't be able to get your ticket at 9:00 when the ticket office opened. I remember pitching a tent with friends during my sophomore year before the Civil War game and spending the night outside Autzen stadium. There was a strong sense of pride you got every time after receiving your ticket-being able to hold it in your hand and admire it. You did it!

 

However, starting my junior year, all student tickets are now distributed online. You simply log onto the goducks.com website, insert your student ID number, and then get your ID card scanned on game day to gain admittance. The system is completely electronic, and you never receive a physical ticket.

 

This move has frustrated many students. Personally, I will miss the traditions that came with the old system, but enjoy the new system. Hours spent in line in the pouring rain trying to get a ticket can now be spent doing other things. You can now get your ticket in your PJs while you are doing your homework. I have never had a problem with the online ticket distribution until today.
To fill you in, all student tickets become available at 6:00 in the evening. Tickets have sold out in as quickly as 15 minutes, so logging into the website early is a necessity. As you sit at your computer, refreshing the page every 30 seconds until the tickets become available, you start to freak out and play the "what if" game: "What if my internet connection gets lost right at 6:00?" "What if I don't get a ticket?" "What if I get a ticket but ALL my friends can't get a ticket?" (I think you get the picture).

 

I went through my normal steps this evening. I was starting my homework that I had procrastinated all weekend, and around 5:30 logged onto the website. However, this time I got a new message saying the server was busy. Since I had always logged into the website early, I had never experienced this message before. I became a little scared, but realized I still had some time to spare.

 

5:55 PM rolled around, and I began to panic as my situation did not change. This is when the "what if's" set in. I was convinced that I the system was down, until I logged onto Facebook. All of my friends' status updates were dedicated to their current football ticket standing. One friend said "just got a USC ticket!! and was able to log in for 3 of her friends and get them one. HAHAHA". Another said "I hate this f---ing ticket system!!!!!!!!" The comments flooded my Facebook homepage over the next twenty minutes, including people giving tips "if u are having troubles with a ticket, click home, click student tickets and go through it all, it just worked for my roommate in like 30 seconds" and people giving a sigh of relief "don't worry---I was able to get a ticket! USC baby!!"

 

Although I stressed and sweated for 15 minutes, I was finally able to get into the system and secure my ticket! I then, of course, got back onto Facebook to brag about my victory.

 

This weekend's game will be full of excitement. For starters, it is the Pac-10 game of the season! ESPN College Game day will be filming their show here! USC is ranked number 5 and Oregon is ranked number 10 in the nation! The game is on Halloween night (night games are my favorite at Autzen!) The game is also the classic "Blackout" game where everyone wears their black and dark Oregon gear.

 

I am proud of my ducks so far this year. Although you started the season off rough with a loss to Boise State, you have showed that we don't give up easy here in Eugene. Keep playing hard and kick some butt next weekend against USC-it's your game baby!

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...all in a day's work

Keri S.

October 22, 2009 - 10:53 PM

As I find myself on campus with about an hour to kill, I thought now would be the perfect opportunity to update you all on my life. I got off work a few minutes ago, and decided to mosey my way over to the Lillis computer lab. This week is popular for mid-term projects, so the lab is pretty busy with groups putting the last minute details on their Power Point presentations-minutes before they present to their professors. Just yesterday, I was in the computer lab for a couple of hours with my friend Tonya working on a project for my sports business class. When it comes to week 8, you won't even be able to find a computer in the lab-which is crazy considering there are 5 separate labs and about 70 computers in all dedicated to business students only. It is one of the most popular resources in Lillis, and one I think everyone uses at least every once in a while. You even get $10 of free printing if you are a business major! Score!

 

Earlier this week, my sports business class had two guest speakers who were UO alum and currently work at Adidas. It was so cool learning about the company and their jobs within Adidas. We talked a lot about retail marketing, and how a large apparel company like Adidas manages different distribution channels. For example, they sell through Adidas direct stores, online, and through sporting goods stores such as Sports Authority and Dick's. So far in my marketing and sports business classes, I haven't learned a lot about the retail side of companies. We mostly focus on national ad campaigns and the overall picture. With a company like Adidas, they have to balance national campaigns and local campaigns partnering with their retail outlets. How do they take a national campaign featuring David Beckham and make that a part of the customer's buying experience that goes to their local Sport's Authority? This is something they work on every day in order to meet company objectives and partner objectives. Hearing about this side of the business first hand from people who are currently working in the industry was so interesting.

 

This week I also had a guest speaker in my J 399 social media class. Although he focused on Podcasts, he specializes in all types of social media and currently has a few websites where he uses social media to drive traffic, including www.ducksportsnews.com. Although I occasionally watch YouTube videos, I have never subscribed to a Podcast series or followed one particular producer. It was interesting to hear how individuals can use Podcasts to market themselves and also how companies can use them too. Will I personally start making Podcasts? Probably not. Will I look for some of my favorite companies on iTunes or YouTube? Probably yes.

 

Overall, this week has been interesting. Although I like all of my professors this term, it is always nice to hear from guest speakers and get another person's perspective on a topic they specialize in. I also like hearing from people who are currently in the work force and can talk about specific things their company is implementing right now. After 4 hours of class today, I will officially be on my weekend! (Thank Goodness I don't have class on Fridays!!) Besides watching the football game (we travel to Washington this week), I will also be going to an alumni event with Alpha Kappa Psi to Willamette Vineyards in Salem for a wine tasting event. It will be a day full of friends, networking, and wine! Can't wait!!

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Go Blazers! My tour inside the Blazer’s locker rooms

Keri S.

October 16, 2009 - 7:45 PM

After a rough week of lock-down due to being sick, I was so excited to get out of the house today. I joined 12 Alpha Kappa Psi brothers and went on a site tour of the Rose Garden in Portland (home of the Blazers). As a Sports Business major, I was so excited to go to the Rose Garden and learn the ins and outs of the NBA world in Portland.

The tour started with a question and answer session with six employees of the Blazers, including the Director of Marketing, Director of Events, Senior Financial Analyst, Director of Interactive Marketing and Media. All of these people had great stories and great advice. Dan, the Director of Interactive Marketing and Media, talked about how Google is the new resume. Whenever he gets a new application, he always looks to see what the potential hire's "digital footprint" is. He encouraged us all to get a "digital footprint" beyond Facebook-Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, and more. Lucky for me, I am learning all about these different social media in my Journalism class, and how I can use these tools to market myself and help me to find a job. All of the panel members talked about personal branding and how you need to present yourself in order to get a job.

After this, we went on a site tour and learned all about the Rose Garden and Memorial Coliseum. Part of our tour included a tour of the locker rooms and training facilities for the Blazers! It was so much fun to see where the Blazers have press conferences, team meetings, workouts, and showers (oh la la!). As an up and coming Blazer fan (I have only been following the team for about a year now), I was star struck when we walked into the locker room-it was all so glamorous! Looking in all of lockers was so cool-seeing who was motivated by different things. For example, some of the locker rooms included pictures and drawings from little children. That was the cutest thing for me to see! I stood in the middle of the locker room, listening to all my friends "ooh" and "ahh" over the athlete's lockers and personal possessions, and closed my eyes. I imagined it was half time of the biggest game of the season for the Blazers, and everyone gathered around in the locker room for the half time talk. I was so star struck realizing I was standing where Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden would stand in just a few days for the next game. It was like a dream!

This site tour was so inspiring. Although most of the panel members said that you will work 80 hour weeks for under $30,000 for your first job, hard work and determination will quickly get you into your dream job. I came back to campus ready to work hard and finish off my senior year with a bang. Although I still get the "what am I doing with my life" freak outs, I now feel I can breathe a little easier. I realize that I am doing things now that are making me more marketable for jobs in the future.

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Keri and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Keri S.

October 13, 2009 - 6:30 PM

Not to over exaggerate, but today will go down in history as Keri's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I started the day at 8:00 am, which for me, would be equivalent to a normal person's 3:00 am (I don't do mornings very well). At 8 am, I got to experience getting my first cavity filled-and it was a 2 for 1 bonus! Because of the Novocain, this lead to an entire day of face numbness, drooling, cheek biting and strange looks from people as I walked around with half my face numb and the other half normal. Since the appointment was with my regular dentist in Salem, I now had an hour drive ahead of me.

 

When I returned to Eugene, I decided I should probably get my "little cough" checked out. Luckily, I was able to get an appointment at the campus Health Center within 24 hours. It turned out that my "little cough" was pneumonia. The doctor gave me clearance to attend class, but told me to "take it easy" for the next week. Strange as it sounds, having to "take it easy" was worse to hear then the pneumonia diagnosis. Does she not understand that "taking it easy" is impossible for a college student? I felt obligated to cut out all social activities for the rest of the week and spend my spare time in isolation and hibernation mode.

 

Since the doctor so kindly gave me clearance to go to class, I left the Health Center and proceeded to sit through four hours of class and then a group meeting. Though this time, I proceeded to bite my lip trying to eat lunch, spill coffee on my white shirt, forget a homework assignment in my printer at home, and trip walking up the stairs (scattering all the contents of my purse on the floor). It was one of those days where everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.

 

On a positive note, I stood in line next to campus celebrity Nate Costa (an Oregon quarterback) at Subway. I debated talking to him, even something simple like "great game this weekend". I then realized half my face was still numb and that I was drooling a little bit. I quickly changed my mind.
On a normal Tuesday, I would end my day with my 2 hour Alpha Kappa Psi weekly meeting. I decided to head home instead (I justified it was Doctor's orders). After microwaved leftovers for dinner, I did 20 minutes of homework before calling it a night.

 

Was this the worst day of my life? No. But was it a "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"? I would say so!

 

...Now if you will excuse me, I have a cup of hot cocoa, an old movie and my warm bed calling my name.

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RUSH ALPHA KAPPA PSI

Keri S.

October 11, 2009 - 11:14 PM

This week has been absolutely crazy with Alpha Kappa Psi activities. As a fraternity, we only recruit twice a year, so the motto is "go big or go home." Rush this year entailed presentations for classes, information tables in the lobby, bulletin boards, information sessions, a big "Meet the Members" event - all crammed into one week! This year, we got 24 applications, which is a huge amount for our 60 person organization. I got an opportunity to meet many of the potential pledges at the "Meet the Members" event, and they all seemed like they would be a great addition to our organization. It was so exciting, and I can already tell it is going to be a great year for Alpha Kappa Psi!!

I love Alpha Kappa Psi for many reasons-some silly and some life changing. Here are my top 5 favorite things about Alpha Kappa Psi.

 

My brothers and I at a business professional event.

 

1. I have met 60 fellow business students. I can coordinate my schedule with my brothers, and know a lot of people in all my classes. This means group projects with people you actually know, giant study groups, and complaining about professors together.
2. It is something I can put on my resume and brag about.
3. Whenever I have 20 minutes to kill between classes, I can usually find an Alpha Kappa Psi "brother" to grab coffee with. We always congregate in Lillis, and it is not uncommon to suddenly find yourself talking to 10 or 15 brothers unexpectedly.
4. I have heard from some amazing guest speakers and alumni about their careers and lives after college. Being the type of person who is freaking out about joining the "real world," it is nice to hear some success stories. Unlike other fraternities, Alpha Kappa Psi is a professional fraternity, and something that contributes to and compliments my education.
5. Though this organization, I have met some people who will be life-long friends. I have 60 brothers who I can depend on in any sort of situation. Need help with my calculus homework? I have a brother for that. Having a mega-life crisis? I have a brother for that too. We are brothers outside of school. We go camping together, we grab dollar beers at Taylors together, we play intramural sports together (and unfortunately, we usually lose together), we get dressed up in our finest 80s gear and go roller skating together, and we attend football games together. Being a member of Alpha Kappa Psi has allowed me to be a part of a group of amazing people who I will know for the rest of my life!

So if you are currently a student at the University or planning on becoming one, I definitely encourage you to check out Alpha Kappa Psi. Joining was the best decision I have made in my college career-hands down!

 

 

 My pledge class going roller skating in our finest 80s gear.

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