Kevin Sparkman stakes out a spot near the gates at Apogee Stadium each Saturday during football season, searching for that little edge that might mean enjoying a better view at kickoff.
Once Apogees gates swing open, the North Texas senior races with the most enthusiastic of his fellow students to reach the best spots in the open-seating student section, just a few yards behind the visitors bench on the east side of the stadium.
Thats where Sparkman cheered for UNT during a key goal-line stand in a win over Rice last fall and felt like he had an impact on games all season.
Sparkman and his fellow students will have to cheer a bit louder to have that same feeling again this fall, when a change in seating policy will make their sprint to the student section shorter and the seats they claim a little farther from the prime spot near the 50-yard line.
Conference USA rules dictate that the seats behind the visitors bench be reserved for anyone other than students like Sparkman because they often create a hostile environment for opposing teams.
Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20140719-football-new-rules-same-atmosphere.ece