WRAL Sports Fan

Duke

Alabama fans roll into Durham

• Traffic, parking guidelines for Saturday's game
• Tide fans roll into Durham
• Duke and Alabama share a common heritage
• Duke makes plans to accommodate traveling Tide fans
• Extended Interview: David Cutcliffe
• Cutcliffe aims for a win over Alabama, not just a close game

Sep 17, 2010

Durham, N.C. — A steady stream of RVs decked in red pulled into a parking lot at University Marketplace Friday. Fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide – the defending national champions and No. 1-ranked college football team – rolled north to Durham to see their team take on the Blue Devils.

The tailgate party started for Alabama fans about 24 hours before the scheduled 3:30 p.m. Saturday kickoff with cheers of "Roll Tide roll."

Duke University added 4,000 seats to Wallace Wade Stadium in anticipation of a crowd approaching 40,000 – the largest there in years.

Mike Sobb, of the university athletic department, said about 600 Duke season tickets were sold in Alabama this year. Some of those purchases may have been made by Tide fans who planned to only attend this game.

"It's ridiculous," Duke student Greg Thawley said. "We need students to show up and really fill the stadium up. I'm very excited and I hope we really turn it out tomorrow."

Parking lots for Iron Duke booster club members will open at 7 a.m. Saturday. Parking for the general public, in the Circuit and Chemistry General lots will open at 9 a.m.

Traffic, parking guidelines for Saturday's game

Art Chase, of Duke's sports information office, said the Blue Devils expect to see as many as 100 RVs with Alabama plates in town for the game.

• Reporter: Ken Smith
• Photographer: Tom Normanly
• Web Editor: Jodi Leese Glusco