Late in the evening, when very few students are roaming the halls of the academic and athletic buildings, a select group of students can be found in the depths of Alumni Arena, jumping and yelling as if their lives depend upon it.
On any given weeknight any number of the approximately 8,000 intramural sports registrants, playing any of the 12 intramural sports offered by the Department of Recreation and Intramural Services.
Abe Robinson, senior psychology and communication major said he looks forward to his Thursday night basketball games.
"It gives students something to do away from class," he said. "It's a way to meet people and you get a chance to get acquainted with new sports or to get better at a sport you like."
According to Ed Wright, assistant professor and intramural sports coordinator, basketball is just one of the eight major sports that the Department of Recreation and Intramural Services offers undergraduate and graduate students who can foot the registration fee of about $40 and who have medical insurance. The other seven are volleyball, indoor soccer, roller hockey, flag football, floor hockey, softball and outdoor soccer.
Wright said that the two most popular sports are basketball and volleyball; with volleyball taking the lead as the most popular sport for students with 81 teams registered this semester, while basketball has about 76 teams registered.
Faculty members were written off the list of those eligible to participate in intramurals about two years ago. According to Wright, there were some instances where faculty members would recruit outside team members who brought an intense level of competitiveness that wasn't in keeping with the intramural sports rules of engagement.
"We are not highly competitive, we're all about fun and safe play," he said. "It's a place for our students to get away from competing- competing in classes and competing for team spots."
According to the Intramurals and Sports Clubs brochure, the department hopes that in playing these sports, participants will develop a positive and healthy attitude and a sense of sportsmanship and fair play while having a good time and getting a break from the often grueling demands of academic study.
For some students, it's the grueling demands of academic study that keep them away from the late evening games.
Lynette Golson, junior public relations major, said maybe she would have considered participating during her freshman year, but not these days.
"As you go higher up in college you have more work to do," she said. "As you get farther up into your major you don't have time to go running around the court."
Alexsis Levens, a sophomore nursing major, said she too has to divide her limited time among her top priorities.
"My major requires that I spend a lot of time studying and when I'm done studying I'd rather go chill with my friends," she said.
According to Wright, the intramural sports system is created especially for those students who don't have time to be absolutely dedicated to extra-curricular activities. Wright said it's always difficult to find students who can coordinate their schedule with their friends every week.
" I think the key to what we do is the convenience of scheduling," he said of how each team and individual knows when they are scheduled to play and have enough time to coordinate their schedules.
Golson said besides her studies she has another reason for keeping her distance from the courts.
" I don't like to sweat, " she said. "I'm a prissy girl. The 'don't break my nail' type."
While UB has more than its share of girlie girls, Wright said he has seen a rise in the number of UB ladies who participate in intramurals.
"It seems to me that we have more individuals coming in, particularly females who have some kind of athletic backgrounds and want to participate in intramurals," he said.
There certainly is no lack of interest in intramural sports and the department is in the process of adding dodgeball to the list of intramural sports from which students can choose. According to Wright if enough students express an interest in a sport the department would consider adding it to the roster.
"Right now we have a crunch on space," he said. "Alumni Arena is booked solid, Clark Hall is booked. We're bursting at the seams."
Some students still find reasons to shy away from intramural sports.
Junior undecided major Brandon Dominkewicz said he enjoyed his time playing intramural floor hockey the previous semester, but says that intramural sports have their drawbacks.
"The refs never seemed to care, and since they aren't getting paid very much to show up late at night, I probably wouldn't care either," said Dominkewicz. "But when it starts costing you games it's no fun, so I will not play again."
Dominkewicz said he feels that perhaps the easy-going atmosphere permeating the department was a little too easy-going when it came to officiating games.
While some were irked by the laid-back quality permeating intramural sports, others said it was the highlight of their experience.
Sophomore exercise science major, Lindsey Straub, said she has played intramural volleyball since she started at UB last year. Straub said she chose to join intramural volleyball because she felt she lacked the time for the practicing and travel of the intercollegiate team, and has found a compromise in intramurals.
"I can still play my sport, get my exercise in, and have fun in a relaxing atmosphere," she said. "The staff and fellow players make the sport enjoyable, especially with all the random but hilarious comments."
Wright said that he has received much positive feedback from those who have long left UB behind and still remember the camaraderie from their weeknights spent in Alumni.
"Some of their most memorable experiences at UB are from their time spent playing intramural sports."
