Some UA students will have to 'stand' instead of 'sit' at game - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

    Hundreds of angry University of Alabama students found out Monday morning, they'll have to stand instead of sit at Bama's season football opener against Michigan Saturday.

    The ticket office sent out an email last Thursday -- saying 800 seats would be given on a first come, first serve basis beginning at 8 am Monday.  The email said after those seats are gone only 'standing' tickets called 'spirit passes' would be available for about 800 additional students. 

     Students paid for the chance to get seats back in April.  Many thought the email was simply notifying them to pick up their tickets for a seat and say it was the first time they heard about standing tickets or first come-first serve in that regards.

    "I paid $60 back in April for a seat, " said a very angry Alabama senior, Eric Haines.  "...And then because I went to class a 400-level class I don't get a seat and a freshman who skipped his [class] got a seat in the stadium and I've got to standup in the End Zone."

    University officials say they always do the first come, first save lottery with students.  However since the game against Michigan is being held at a neutral site in Dallas,TX at Cowboy Stadium, the school was not given its usual allotment which is typically around 1600 student seats.

    In a statement, this afternoon -- the campus ticket office says it then secured the standing positions in the spirit plaza section of the stadium.

   However, students say Thursday's email was extremely confusing because they thought it meant students who did not opt in to buy a ticket earlier this summer could go grab a student standing ticket or spirit pass.  Others though who paid in April thought they had a seating ticket secured.

   Many who got the standing tickets say -- they've made costly preparations to travel to Dallas so they still plan to attend the game.