By Gavin Lapaille
For the first time this season, most fans of the University of Louisville football team will not be watching the Cards live from the stands this week.
So where will most be watching the game against North Carolina State University from this weekend? Most students said they get together with a group of friends and watch the game at either a dorm room or another friend’s house.
One of the most popular destinations among students is going to a local sports bar to watch the Cards. With long lines and crowded atmospheres, this can sometimes be difficult.
“Me and my buddies will usually go up to a sports bar, BW3’s or Hooters, a little before game time and try to stake a place out early,” senior math major Kyle Harrison said.
“Nothing is better with football than beer and wings, but if it becomes particularly crowded or we can’t get a seat then we just go back to someone’s house and order pizza.”
The student pep-group L-Raisers also usually get together at a restaurant to watch away games.
“It is just fun to have everyone together,” L-Raisers Public Relations officer Chynna Hibbitts said. “For many of my friends it’s like the atmosphere of watching the Super Bowl on TV.”
Fellow student athletes get in the mix as well. Sophomore justice administrative major Chris Brautzsch, a member of the track team, said his teammates usually meet up to watch the games.
“I will usually go to one of my teammates’ apartments with some of the other track runners and watch the games,” Brautzsch said.
Other students, however, said they have a difficult time watching away games due to working over weekends.
“I go to all the home games, but it is sometimes hard to catch the away games,” senior exercise major William Wheatley said. “If it is a big game I’ll try to ask off, but otherwise I just try to watch it at work.”
There will be some Cardinal red spread across the stands this week in Raleigh, N.C.
Sophomore business major Erica Fritsch has friends and family in Raleigh and plans on attending the U of L – N.C. State match-up.
“It will be a completely different atmosphere rooting for the Cards when everyone is rooting against them,” Fritsch said. “I’ll wear my red and black proudly and can’t wait to witness Louisville beating N.C. State in North Carolina.”
