With all due respect, the students deserve the opportunity to go to the games over a bunch of others. The students pay mandatory fees in their tuition that offers them access to the game. Boosters and alumni voluntarily pay the money, students are forced. Plus, without students, you wouldn't have college football, period.
NOW, I am in total agreement with everyone that it is a disgrace that students aren't showing up while others are having to pay a premium to get in. Most of the time students are flipping the tickets for profit to younger students with less credit hours and friends of students that have to upgrade. Hell, I paid $900 for a ticket to the National Championship game from a student that paid $30, and I was a student that simply didn't have enough hours to overcome the demand from seniors and such. Look on Facebook, a slew of students did it for major profits while you had tons of other students like myself that died to get in, and I paid the price. I like the voucher idea, because it is first come/first serve in the student section. I was in a fraternity, so I loved the block seating offered to me during my tenure, but the university needs to start docking these people and organizations that don't show up and get too drunk tailgating to make it. I see all of those empty seats and wish I could take my daughter (three years old) every week, because she absolutely loves waiving her pom pom and listening to the band, but of course it's almost impossible to afford a premium every single week, especially for a little kid and a wife.
A simple Excel spreadsheet can document the student activity by their Action Card numbers. As of now they're given three strikes and they lose privilege for future seasons. I guess my post is a little more informative rather than a solution, but the voucher idea sounds very good. maybe not letting them in first, but sectioning off their section within the student section and allowing them to enjoy tailgating festivities and still getting a premium seat by simply showing up. Tailgating is what makes it all so special to us in the South, and I am not one to get into the stadium and sit on my thumb right when they open the gates. Vouchers or place a tiered level pricing system (remaining affordable by student standards!!!) and let those that really care to be there get the better seats.
