In complying with MAAC tournament policy, Siena students will not be granted access to floor seating at the Times Union Center throughout the tournament. This includes the areas behind the baskets that normally holds the school’s well known Dog Pound sections filled with yellow-shirted students of the college. The floor sections will now be reserved for members of the media, pep band, and other spirit groups.

The e-mails informing the students at Siena of this new rule doesn’t state the MAAC’s reasons for it, but that hasn’t stopped the students from coming up with their own hypotheses:

The MAAC doesn’t want Siena to get an overwhelming home court advantage. It’s one thing to have the tournament in Albany, but another to have Saints fans hanging over the barriers on the sidelines.

It also could be a method to try to prevent Siena students from storming the court if they happen to win the championship, which is exactly what has happened the past two years.

While the students don’t know for certain the MAAC’s rationale, it is clear the MAAC officials are purposely pushing the students away from the court. How is this policy going over with students on campus? Senior Rory Goulding’s comment seems to effectively reiterate the attitudes of the Siena student body:

I’m still screaming every game, all game. I’m going to make sure they hear me. And if we win it all I’m storming the court. I don’t care where they put me. There’s no way they’re stopping me from being down there.