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cm-life.com
Friday, Sept. 7, 2012
STUDENTS WORKING
FOOTBALL
Football game means some students must put in extra hours » PAGE 3A
Senior quarterback Ryan Radcliff gets one last shot at beating the Spartans » PAGE 1B
Remaining MSU tickets to be given away today By Matt Thompson Senior Reporter
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ZACK WITTMAN /STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
More than a GAME CMU and MSU students team up for a friendly rivalry By Katelyn Sweet | Staff Reporter
The mash up of maroon and gold versus green and white has proven to be a rivalry that many students look forward to each fall in hopes that it will bring together friends near and far. “A few friends from my high school that go to Michigan State are coming up, and we have been talking about it for about a year now ever since it was announced,” Holt junior Travis Lueder said.
Grand Ledge senior Kate Barnes has also been planning festivities to celebrate the excitement of the football game and to show her brother, a Michigan State University alum, all that Mount Pleasant has to offer. “My brother and sisterin-law and about 20 of their friends are taking a party bus from East Lansing to come up and tailgate,” Barnes said. “I’m excited to show them around here and hang out with them.” The match-up taking place at Kelly/Shorts Stadium will go down as a first in Chippewa history and will create a new scenery of memories among fans of both universities. “It’s not an intense rival like the Western game, so it’s more fun to show
them the bars and have them here. It’s more of a friendly competition to see who’s more rowdy at tailgates and who can actually last the whole day partying,” Barnes said. Charlotte senior Anna Sloan also agreed that this football game holds a lot more potential for a fun bonding experience with friends compared to other games. “When we go tailgating, they may get picked on, but it’s mainly a fun rival; because, even though it’s a competition, it is a good way to bond since we can all go to the game together,” Sloan said. Due to the history between the two teams, the competition aspect might be less stressed. Although many statistics prove that MSU has a better football team, that won’t stop
CMU fans from showing their pride. “We aren’t predicted to win, but that’s OK, because it’s a fun time and if we win, it makes it even better,” Lueder said, “Plus, I’d like to rub it in my friends’ faces.” The CMU victory against MSU in 2009 has students hopeful for a repeat of history, but, even if that doesn’t happen, students won’t be discouraged from trying to spend time with friends that come in from out of town. “I look forward to seeing all my friends from down state, because when I’m at school I don’t see them much, and it is cool that for once this game is on our turf,” Barnes said. studentlife@cm-life.com
For Central Michigan students who still have not picked up a ticket to the Michigan State game Saturday, there is one more opportunity today from noon to 3 p.m. at the Student Activity Center. After the first two CMU events built to disperse MSU tickets to students did not give away all the tickets, there are still 829 student tickets available. From noon to 1:30 p.m, students who don’t have a ticket can receive one, with the remaining time at the SAC, students can get two free tickets on top of that until 3 p.m. Both the giveaways will run as long as supplies last – on a first come, first serve basis. Another 50 student tickets will be given away during Tailgate Central 11 a.m. Saturday – located in front of the CMU Events Center. “Our goal all along has been for every student who wants to attend the game to have that opportunity,” Athletics Director Dave Heeke said. “The students’ plan worked. I am thrilled that more than 40 percent of our student body will be in the stadium Saturday to create a great atmosphere.” To pick up your ticket today, lines will be forming at the east entrance of the SAC. Students have been allotted 10,000 seats – an additional 2,500 seats added by bleachers from the usual 7,550 student seating. Approximately 5,500 of an alloted 6,000 tickets were distributed at MAINstage on Aug. 26, while 3,500 were dispersed prior to the football team’s home opener against Southeast Missouri State on Aug. 30. That left about 1,000 remaining, and less than 200 were redeemed prior to Tuesday’s volleyball home opener at McGuirk Arena. On Aug. 24, CMU athletics announced that a limited number of tickets were available to faculty and staff after approximately 800 tickets were returned from an unnamed group. Those tickets have since sold out. CMU announced a sellout of 32,885 on Aug. 17. A TICKETS| 2A
Local businesses prep for MSU weekend By Elizabeth Benson Staff Reporter
Many local businesses are making preparations to cope with the excess of customers who will make the trek to Mount Pleasant this weekend. Plenty of Central Michigan University and Michigan State University football fans will be making the pilgrimage for the big weekend, which is expected to draw thousands of extra consumers. As a result, businesses want to be in top shape for the attention it will bring. The Cabin, 930 W. Broomfield St., will be stocked with ice in preparation for the game. Manager Craig Stage said the local business had its hands full finding extra staffers to work the busy weekend in addition to coming up with
“I’m going to have extra employees on duty.” Lois Breidenstein, The Bird Bar and Grill owner a solution to the problem of extra parking. “It’s the small stuff to make sure we get the product out there,” Stage said. Max and Emily’s, 125 E. Broadway St., will be providing meals to all the staff and press during the game, including the ESPN employees who will cover the action of the game. Employee Marssella Lavender said preparation started last week for Saturday’s game. Making that many meals takes a lot of effort and early planning, not to mention a lot of groceries, the Manistee senior said.
The staff will be busy this week, not only preparing meals but also catering on gameday and getting ready for hungry fans. Other businesses are taking different approaches. When asked what the restaurant might be stocking up on in preparation for the big weekend, Lois Breidenstein, owner of The Bird Bar and Grill, 223 S. Main St., started to laugh. “Employees,” she said. “I’m going to have extra employees on duty.” metro@cm-life.com
ANDREW KUHN /STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mount Pleasant resident and Mid Michigan Community College senior Kat Johnson makes sandwiches Tuesday morning at Max at Emily’s, 125 E. Broadway St. Johnson will work for Max and Emily’s Saturday catering the Chippewa Club when Central Michigan University plays Michigan State University in football at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
THE CHIPPEWAS VARSITY SHOP IS
NOW OPEN! (located inside Kelly/Shorts Stadium)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 CMU vs. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
www.cmubookstore.com
Gameday Hours - Open 2pm until one hour after game ends Main Store Hours: 9am - 5pm