For the first time ever, the University's Athletic Department will limit the number of student and student guests admitted to a home football game Saturday.
The University will restrict the number of students and their guests to 13,000 for the sold-out contest against rival Virginia Tech, Athletic Director Terry Holland said.
Student and guests comprised 11,102 of the crowd at the Wake Forest game Sept. 18, which was the largest turnout of students ever, he said.
After the record-breaking crowd of over 50,000 last Saturday, Athletic Department officials are anticipating an even larger crowd for this weekend's game.
"We have never heard of anything like that in any university," Holland said. "We take it as a great response to our football program."
Nevertheless, the Athletic Department felt the need to inform students to arrive early for the game, he said.
"I would hate to have someone come to the game late and find out they can't get in and can't get back [home] in time to watch it on television," he added.
Asst. Sports Information Director Michael Colley said members of the Athletic Department, the University Police Department and other University administrators collectively decided to impose the restriction.
University Police Chief Mike Sheffield said he does not foresee any security problems if a large number of students arrive at the game.
"With a game of this size we are going to increase the number of policemen" anyway, Sheffield said. "I think students will handle it well" if they are denied entrance to the game because they have been warned they might not get in.
In previous years the Virginia Tech game has been scheduled around Thanksgiving Break, so overcrowding has not been a problem, Holland said.
This year the game is during the normal school year and could attract many more students, he said.
But those who have paid for student guest tickets likely will not be denied entrance, he added.
"Technically [the number of students and guests combined will be limited to 13,000], but student guests can come in any gate so we can't control it," Holland said.
Some students expressed dismay at the situation. Second-year Engineering student Adam Goobic said the University should have planned for an increase in student attendance.
"I would be enraged if I was denied a seat and it's absurd to deny any student entrance to the game," Goobic said.
Athletic Officials are planning ahead to prevent any problems with the large crowd anticipated for Saturday's game, Athletic Media Relations Director Richard Murray said.
"There will be three additional gates that will be open for Saturday's game to alleviate that situation," Murray said.
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