Student section

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Group of audience at sporting events

title: "Student section" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["college-basketball-student-sections-in-the-united-states", "college-sports-culture-in-the-united-states"] description: "Group of audience at sporting events" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_section" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Group of audience at sporting events ::

A student section or student cheering section is a group of student fans that supports its school's athletic teams at sporting events; they are known for being one of the most visible and vocal sections of a sports crowd as well as for their occasionally raucous behavior. They are most often associated with NCAA basketball and football games, but can be found in several sports in both college and high school. A student section is an important part of a school's fanbase and a significant contributor to home advantage.

Function

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/20131203_Cameron_Crazies.jpg" caption="The [[Cameron Crazies]] at [[Duke University]]'s [[Cameron Indoor Stadium"] ::

A student section can vary in size from dozens to thousands of people, and comprises current students, the school's marching band or pep band, and in some cases, recent alumni. The students often arrive and fill their designated section in the stadium before the rest of the fans, sometimes hours before the beginning of the game, and will usually remain standing throughout. Before, during, and after the game, the section performs a number of different group actions, including chants, songs, gestures, dances, and the use of props. Some of these actions are passed down over generations, while others are completely spontaneous. The purpose is twofold: to energize the home team and crowd and to frustrate the visiting team.

As media exposure of college athletics has grown, some schools' students have come under fire for inappropriate behavior, including starting profane chants; harassment of visiting teams and fans; and throwing objects.

Basketball

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/UNC_student_section_(Jan_2024)_01.jpg" caption="UNC]]'s [[Dean Smith Center"] ::

Student sections are well known for their role in college basketball, where the more intimate and enclosed venue allows the students to be seen and heard more clearly than in football.

Several student sections have become an integral part of the game experience, and as such have earned nicknames for themselves. Duke University's Cameron Crazies synchronize their actions and make player-specific taunts outlined on distributed "cheer sheets."

The Orange Krush of The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign has donated more than a total of 2.5 million dollars to various charities via the Orange Krush Foundation. The Show at San Diego State University uses Big Heads as free throw distractions. Other named student sections include the Izzone, the Oakland Zoo, The Bench and the Hoo Crew.

At most schools, the student section will be on the end closer to the visiting team bench. As both NFHS and NCAA rules require teams to play at the basket towards their own bench during the second half, this placement allows free throw distractions to occur during crucial moments of the game.

Football

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Michigan_Stadium_student_section.jpg" caption="The Big House"] ::

Football student sections are similar to those in basketball, but can be considerably larger, sometimes consisting of several thousand people. They are often situated in one or both endzones to allow the crowd noise to distract the opposing team's offense while in the red zone or backed up against their own endzone. Many football programs directly involve the student section as a part of the gameday experience, where they are integrated into the team's pregame and postgame.

Penn State has one of the nation's most famous and intimidating student sections. In 2008, it was recognized as having the best student section in the country for the second consecutive year. In 2019, it was named student section of the year by a committee of ESPN broadcasters and writers.

Other sports

Student sections can also be found at other school sporting events - including soccer, ice hockey, and baseball games - for both men's and women's teams.

References

https://www.wralsportsfan.com/colleges/image/17377567/?ref_id=17377554

References

  1. Lambrecht, Gary. (9 February 2001). "Boozer's mother seeking damages". The Baltimore Sun.
  2. McGee, Ryan. "SONIC YOUTH: SONIC YOUTH Every fall Saturday, college students around the country make their house a living hell for the visitor.". ESPN The Magazine.
  3. "The University of Kansas Wins Naismith Student Section of the Year Award". The Collegiate Licensing Company.
  4. Andrews, Adena. (17 February 2013). "Maryland's student section is better than yours". CBS Sports.
  5. Schlabach, Mark. (12 February 2005). "Duke's Redick Is Fans' Obje ct Of Disaffection". The Washington Post.
  6. Associated Press. (2 February 2010). "WVU Warns Rowdy Student Section". ESPN.com.
  7. Rittenburg, Adam. "Name game: Big Ten student sections". ESPN.com.
  8. Keller, Tom. (22 February 2006). "Best Student Sections The top five, including the crowing of our No. 1". Sports Illustrated.
  9. "10 reasons why Duke is hated: The 'Cameron Crazies' (No. 2)". syracuse.com.
  10. "Illini Pride | Our Sports | the Orange Krush Foundation".
  11. Mottram, Chris. "Duke Totally BURRRNS Heels With Cheer Sheets".
  12. Stranger to the World. (10 February 2011). "The Quick 10: 10 Famous Student Sections in College Basketball".
  13. Rittenberg, Andy. (2 March 2010). "Big Ten game-day traditions: Wisconsin". ESPN.com.
  14. Callos, Alex. (6 June 2012). "Power Ranking the Top 50 College Football Student Sections". Bleacher Report.
  15. Connor, Joe. (27 August 2009). "This Top 25 Involves more than success on field". NBC Sports.
  16. Herbstreit, Kirk. (August 25, 2008). "The Nation's Best: Eighth Annual Herbie Awards". ESPN.
  17. "Live Más Student Section {{!}} Taco Bell®".
  18. "Mariucci Arena Student Section". gophershockeytickets.com.
  19. Pyzik, Zak. (21 September 2010). "The Ultras: The recent birth of the men's soccer student section and how it will live on". The Michigan Daily.
  20. "Ole Miss Baseball HOME RUN SHOWER".

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college-basketball-student-sections-in-the-united-statescollege-sports-culture-in-the-united-states