Interviewees:
Anders Campbell (Junior)
Victoria Castells (Junior)
Maddie Burke (Freshman)
Barry Wright (Junior)
BP: How does it feel to be the first out for tenting?
Anders: With the weather being so nice, it feels pretty good.
Maddie: This is my first time doing this so I am kind of nervous about it. My friend got me into it and being the second tent is pretty cool.
Barry: I have been out here for eight days in a row and it has been beautiful so I am pretty happy.
BP: The upperclassmen, have you tented before?
Anders: I was Tent 15 my freshman year and Tent 8 last year.
Victoria: I was Tent 13 freshman year and Tent 3 last year.
Barry: I didn’t tent my freshman year and I was Tent 34 last year.
BP: Today it is December 13th… 86 days away… Do you plan on being here every day or can you make it home for the holidays?
Anders: I will be home for Christmas. I live in Vermont so I am not close enough to stay here for break.
Victoria: I am going home next week because I live in Miami, but I will come back a little early for pre-tenting… Probably the fourth.
Maddie: I am from Chattanooga, TN so I am going home for the holidays and I’ll be back on the fifth.
Barry: I am from Maryland and I am also going home and coming back the fifth.
BP: Since it is so early, how do the regulations work right now?
Anders: Right now, it is pretty much an honor system. We stay out here from 8 to 5 with two people from each group. We don’t try to cheat it. We like being out here so it works out.
Barry: We are just kind of following the rules as they are stated, doing it ourselves.
Victoria: Barry does a good job. He emails us when we need someone there. We just sign up for a spot and get over here.
BP: So each group is pretty organized?
Barry: Tent 1 is far more organized, I am just going to put that out there.
Anders: I don’t know what your organization is, but ours is set up pretty well.
Maddie: You can study though. If you want to be outside, you bring your books, you bring your laptop…
Anders: The library is actually very packed this week (exam week) so it is easier to study out here.
Victoria: It is quiet, the ambience is good.
BP: Since you are tenting for the UNC game, do you get first spot for all the other games as well?
Anders: No, that is a separate line but I do my best to get first spot for those games as well.
Victoria: Yeah, I plan to be front row every game next semester.
Maddie: We are here anyway, we live here. It is not really that far to step onto the concrete [in line in front of Cameron].
Barry: Yeah, same idea.
BP: Have you been in the front row for all of the games this season?
Anders: Front row, every game, every year.
Victoria: I’ve missed games because I forgot to validate. Last semester I was front row every game but my streak has been broken.
Maddie: Second row? I am a freshman, I am still learning.
Barry: I had to TA a class until game time once so that game I was not in the front row but most of the other times, yeah.
BP: What are your thoughts on being members of Tent 1 and Tent 2?
Anders: Being Tent 1 is pretty awesome. It is a little ridiculous how early we started, we know that. We like doing it, so it is great. I love it.
Victoria: I feel like it’s a natural progression. I was Tent 3 last year, I don’t want to peak at sophomore year. You have to get better.
Maddie: I was really nervous because I am a freshman and I don’t know how to do this, but every time I get nervous about the 86 days/nights thing, I think about myself being in the front row painted completely blue on ESPN for the game most people would kill to get into. My parents, my friends at home, they are like “No way, I can’t believe you are going to be there.” If you are going to be there, go big or go home.
Barry: It is all about being front row and giving our guys as much support as we can.
BP: Have you had any contact with the players at all yet?
Anders: They walk by everyday and wave and say a few words. Coach K goes by every day going to Wilson [Recreation Center] so we talk to him a little bit. Nothing too out of the ordinary…
BP: How do your roommates feel?
Anders: Probably enjoying having a single…
Victoria: I have the same roommate since freshman year so she’s used to it by now.
Maddie: My roommate is going to be here too!
Barry: My roommate is going abroad so my room is going to empty for awhile.
BP: How many people are in each tent group?
Barry: 12
Maddie: I think there’s going to be a sign-in because a lot of people are going to be here in K-Ville. There are so many people. It is not like you are sitting outside by yourself. It is part of the Duke experience. You have to do it before you graduate. It is a famous thing, it is tradition, it is what Duke does.
BP: Any predictions for the rest of the season?
Anders: I don’t want to jinx anything right now.
Victoria: We can go far, you never know how far. It can happen.
Maddie: One step at a time…
Barry: We will be there.
