Students were lined up since before 10 a.m. CDT this morning to wait to enter the pit for College GameDay. However, at 6 p.m., staff members changed the entry point for the event, leading to students frantically relocating to avoid losing their spot in line. According to the Vanderbilt College GameDay hub, the pit opens at 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 25.  

Since camping is not allowed on campus, students could not bring tents or other shelters. But, since the line opened Friday, they were able to start waiting for the pit line to open almost 24 hours before the GameDay gates open. 

Without prior warning, the event staff announced at 6 p.m. that the line was open, and students quickly brought their belongings to the fenced-in line area. Students who had been waiting for a long time, where they thought they were supposed to wait, expressed disappointment over the line management. 

Sophomore Matthew Szymanski said that the lack of warning felt unfair since they had been waiting in a different location before being rushed into a different line.  

“I just think they rushed us because when we were over there, we were the 30th person, and we saw a crowd of people rush in and we had to get all our stuff, so now we’re in the back which sucks,” Szymanski said.  

The staff were also not clear with all students who were waiting in front of North House when they moved the line. Junior Leena Knepper said that she had to scramble to get to the new line area. 

“I wish they had told us when they were opening the line,” Knepper said. “Luckily, I got over here.” 

Even before the line had opened, students who asked event staff for guidance were given incorrect information, leading to confusion when the line eventually opened. Sophomore Claire Cabral said that she tried multiple times to verify where she was supposed to wait. 

“It was so poorly coordinated. We’ve been here since 2 p.m., We made sure we were in the right place. Every security guard told us and we double checked,” Cabral said. “Then, everyone rushed to the back.” 

Sophomore Madden Shelley said he was worried the line system may have taken away his chance to win a cash prize. 

“We were 15th in line, and now we’re worried we might not get a chance to kick,” Shelley said.  

An event staff member told students in the line that they would not be allowed to have any items that could not fit in their pocket after the pit opens at 5:30 a.m.. A GameDay security representative recommended that students could either bring back prohibited items before midnight or ask a friend to bring them back on their behalf before the gates open. Prohibited items include food, drinks including water, blankets, bags and “anything that does not fit in your pockets.” 

The line itself was cramped with people struggling to find space to sit down. Bright industrial lights illuminated the concrete sidewalk that students had to sit on to wait for a chance to enter the pit. Sophomore Matteo Rasher said that the system was creating problems for those who were waiting. 

“It’s getting very aggressive,” Rasher said. “They can’t sit down in the front so they were yelling at everyone in the back to stand up so they could sit down.” 

Many students watched the line from outside the fence to see their friends and expressed surprise at how many people were willing to sit outside overnight to get into the pit. Junior Georgia Appel said she was surprised that people were waiting despite the setbacks. 

“I can’t believe people are sitting in here at 6:30 for 14 hours before GameDay begins with their computers doing schoolwork,” Appel said. 

College GameDay starts at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 25, and Vanderbilt vs. Missouri kicks off at 2:30 p.m.