With multiple sporting events Saturday, parking and cleanup will be problematic on campus.
With volleyball at 3 p.m., the men’s basketball team’s annual Green and White game at 4 p.m. and the football team squaring off against Wisconsin at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, MSU’s Grounds Maintenance Department will be busy.
“It’s going to be a full day,” Athletic Grounds Supervisor Bill Ratliff said. “We’ll probably be out starting at around 8 a.m., setting up and be working until about 1 a.m. Sunday morning.”
Although all three events take place about the same time, one has taken precedence over the other two.
Officials say Saturday parking has been designated for football. Fans can begin parking at 7 a.m. and parking will be open all day.
Parking for the football game will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Volleyball and basketball fans do not have a designated parking area.
Parking officials also said it was an unfortunate situation that all three events occur at the same time of day.
“For me, it’s never a problem,” said interior design junior Danielle Brown, who lives in Wonders Hall. “I always just walk.
“But it does get annoying when you cut across a tailgate or barbeque and the people look at you like you’re not supposed to be here.”
Brown said she always is tempted to share choice words with tailgaters.
“I want to just be like, ‘You’re tailgating in front of my home, have some respect,’” she said.
Brown said people parking near her dorm arrive at early hours of the day and she thinks it’s very disruptive.
“It gets extremely loud at ungodly hours,” she said. “That’s really discouraging. The older people and alumni need to be more courteous.”
But Brown also said being a fan makes all the inconveniences worthwhile.
“It’s not too bad when you’re into sports,” she said. “There’s nothing like waking up to the sounds of the Spartan Marching Band.”
Ratliff said from a cleanup perspective, he doesn’t think there will be much more work to do than on any other game day.
He also thinks the weather will play a role in the turnout.
“With it getting cooler, crowds slow down a bit,” he said.
