12 great pics, Tweets and Instas from the Niners’ first night game
Chances are if you were on the UNC Charlotte campus on Saturday, between the Charlotte Invitational track meet and the softball, baseball and spring football games, there were no shortage of sights and sounds to take in.
The day was optimal for tailgating — day drinking, grilling and playing cornhole — while country and rap reverberated across campus.
Loud, alcohol-fueled coeds donning sundresses and visors playing drinking games were mere parking lots away from parents reliving their college glory days while passively monitoring their children playing pigskin.
Saturday provided a snapshot of fall in the South and the beautiful spectacle of college football in the Queen City.
Happy spring game tailgate UNC Charlotte #49ers
A photo posted by Lauren Ericksen (@laurentericksen) on Apr 18, 2015 at 3:29pm PDT
Alumni Connection The UNC Charlotte Alumni Association pregame tailgate outside the Union Deck was the place to be: two open bars and multiple buffets complete with Carolina barbeque. This fall, the event will move to a 700-person capacity pavilion currently being built on the corner of Cameron and Craver roads.
Millennials, take note: Your future employer or well-established connection could very well be in this tent, so tread cautiously around the open bar.
$10?
Some fans weren’t happy with the $10 ticket price, since notable FBS schools in the Carolinas — Appalachian State, Clemson, East Carolina, North Carolina, N.C. State and South Carolina – do not charge admission to their spring game.
UNC Charlotte’s spring game is ten dollars a person… Ok — Erin Dennis (@eri_denni) April 18, 2015
UNC Charlotte is charging $10 for their spring game admission. Y’all must be out your damn minds. Charging for a spring game… wtf is that
— Jared Robert Stoltz (@jaredstoltzsays) April 18, 2015
Charlotte is charging $10 for their Spring Game. Alabama’s? Oh it’s free. — Carl Hairston (@GeeCeeJR) April 13, 2015
The game
Despite sprinkles of raindrops throughout the game, an engaged crowd of 11,649 filled Jerry Richardson Stadium. That’s bigger than both the Wesley College (10,704) and Morehead State (10,826) games during the 2014 regular season.
A photo posted by ryanbennett10 (@ryanbennett10) on Apr 18, 2015 at 4:45pm PDT
# A photo posted by Patrick Bogans (@pbogans) on Apr 18, 2015 at 4:46pm PDT
Green won, 16-3, even if it was a bit anticlimactic.
*Insert joke about betting that the @charlotte49ers will win the football scrimmage ourselves today.* #StateOfCharlotte #UnderTheLights
— Megan Hennings (@Megan_Hennings) April 18, 2015
I think there is a ref tryout tonight at the Charlotte Spring Game. pic.twitter.com/nqvCpHpjDo — Megan Elissa (@TheMeganElissa) April 18, 2015
Cue the lights
The evening’s peak came around 7 p.m. when the stadium’s lights were turned on for the first time:
The lights are on inside Jerry Richardson Stadium! pic.twitter.com/NQ7VwN54ue
— Russell Burton (@russellLburton) April 18, 2015
Let there be LIGHT! pic.twitter.com/CHZX5FiDt4 — Darin Spease (@ninergolf) April 18, 2015
Lovin these lights so much! @Charlotte49ers #underthelights #stateofcharlotte pic.twitter.com/wCiZEb3e9q
— Angela (@AngCoke) April 19, 2015
//><!--After the game, fans were granted 30-minute access to the field where they could seek autographs from players, run a few drills or set up for pictures. All under the lights. Fall, hurry up.//--><!
One more because I can and just wow #uncc #Charlotte49ers #SpringGame15 A photo posted by Alyssa Fronk (@alyssafronk) on Apr 18, 2015 at 6:29pm PDT
This story was originally published April 19, 2015 at 4:13 PM with the headline "12 great pics, Tweets and Instas from the Niners’ first night game."