As the Alabama football team prepares for Saturday’s home opener against Kent State, so too is much of the student body, friends and family members.

However, the SGA has amended the student football ticket penalty system, which may affect the number of guests a student can bring to Bryant-Denny Stadium over the course of the season.

Students can now only upgrade their ticket twice before being penalized, said SGA Communications Director Seth Morrow.

“The change was made to ensure that UA students were being provided every opportunity to attend home football games,” he said. “Upgrading to student guest is not a bad thing. It should just be limited.”

Morrow said students who upgrade their tickets three or more times will not be eligible for postseason tickets, including the SEC Championship Game.

“After discussions with the Ticket Office and Student Affairs officials, we decided the changes would hopefully provide more chances for students to fill the seats in the student section,” Morrow said.

The penalty system also states that students will receive a full point penalty if they allow their ticket to go unused or a half point penalty if they donate their ticket after 5 p.m. on the day before the game.

“Just like last year, students who receive three or more penalty points throughout the season will not be eligible for postseason tickets or season tickets for the next year,” said David Wilson, SGA Vice President for Student Affairs, in a press release.

Morrow said students could opt out of receiving a ticket through the My Football Ticket tab to avoid receiving a penalty point for not using a donated ticket.

“If a student receives a ticket once the game begins, they are still responsible for using it or donating it,” he said.

Dylan Till, a sophomore majoring in pre-law, said the new ticket penalty system seemed fair.

“I don’t see anything wrong with the system,” Till said. “If you go to every game and don’t over-upgrade your ticket, you’ll be fine. A majority of those who upgrade their student ticket three or more times probably won’t be interested in attending postseason games anyway. I think this new system will help more students fill the student section.”

Students will be able to appeal ticket penalties through an online form located on the SGA’s website. Morrow said the SGA judicial board will hear appeals and decide on them in a timely manner.

UPGRADE FEES

Kent State » $50

North Texas » $50

Arkansas » $60

Vanderbilt » $60

Tennessee » $80

LSU » $80

Ga. Southern » $50