 "Photo: Sam Grenadier")
Welcome to Raiderville, a quaint little West Texas town that football built.
At 213 tents as of early Thursday morning, Raiderville's sprawl may be the most convincing evidence of the buzz surrounding Saturday's game against the University of Texas.
The village's founding residents began flocking to the sidewalks surrounding the stadium on Monday.
By the time I arrived Wednesday, the town was established. Before going to sleep early Thursday morning, I counted 213 tents in the line curling around the stadium from the student section entrance.
"This is awesome," said Zach Lewis, a sophomore business management major from Abilene who set up camp on Monday. "It's about the big game. Probably the biggest game in Tech history."
Kevin Pierson, the town's mayor and founding father, said he camped outside of the stadium for the first time after losing a bet in 2003.
He had no idea what that first pre-game campout would spark.
During the next several years, he said, word of his strategy got out and caught on.
"As you can see," the graduate student from Friendswood said, "it has turned into something totally different."
By the time I arrived at Jones AT&T Stadium around 11 p.m. Wednesday, the place was abuzz. Hip-hop and country music blared from speakers nestled in various tent clusters, echoing off the concrete stadium.
Hundreds of Raiderville denizens mingled under the glow of Christmas lights strung across trees. Many threw footballs. Some smoked hookahs. Most held red Dixie cups to quench their thirst.
Television screens glowed through dozens of the town's tents.
I cannot remember the last time I saw so many Nintendo 64 consoles in such proximity. No need to bring the PS3 or Xbox 360, campers probably figured, when old-school Mario Kart will do.
An endless tangle of extension cords and surge protectors lined the sidewalks. With only a few generators within earshot, I asked around about the power source for most campers.
Pierson later told me it came from the stadium.
In awe, I continued strolling around the "Jones" and making friends with the locals.
Not far from the student entrance was a makeshift placard taped to a tow-zone sign at the parking lot's University Avenue entrance.
"RAIDERVILLE: Population 1,200," it read.
About 750 probably would have been more accurate - an estimate that is no less staggering.
A piece of paper taped to the sign was titled, "The Raiderville Times," and was dated Oct. 29, 2008.
"The residents of Raiderville have recently passed a new alcohol ordinance permitting alcohol sales within the village," the issue's only story read. "The vote was a landslide in favor of the ordinance."
The story checked out. I noted a dumpster full of empty beer cases when I arrived.
The article went on to address the tough economic times that had fallen on the town.
But there was more bad news for Raidervilleians: The 100-year flood hit the town hard, according to the article, and there was talk of child-abducting pirates who had been stranded in the storm.
Groups gathered to read the sign and laugh.
"It's really about getting into the game," said Joe Skorich, a senior communications major from Fort Worth, "and the experience of being out here. I've never done anything like this since I've been (at Tech)."
Raiderville is a community of fans. New friends were made before my eyes. Neighboring campers befriended one another first, but so did those on opposite ends of the line.
"Let's go walk around," I heard campers say to each other on countless occasions. "Let's go over there."
Although it is not the quietest of towns, Raiderville had not caused much trouble.
Football throwers and hookah smokers in the street parted about every 30 minutes for a Tech Police Department cruiser as it made its rounds.
The officer, his arm resting out the window, looked more amused than alarmed.
Pierson said Raiderville is a peaceful town that has an understanding with its authorities: No trouble will come "as long as everything is under control."
He said he could not recall any instances of major police intervention during the town's six-year history.
When two University of Texas fans were discovered, an uproar of "Raider Power" ensued.
The UT fans quickly retreated to their pickup truck and drove away.
Residents complained of the lack of portable toilets. There were two in the southeast corner of the parking lot. Long lines and overuse had taken a toll on the facilities.
As the night progressed, Raiderville calmed. Residents zipped up their tents and went to bed, the music fading behind them.
By about 2 a.m., most - but certainly not all - of the town's campers slept.
Justin Rascher was up late, talking to a couple of his friends.
"Little old Lubbock has been struggling along," he said slowly, as if reciting poetry. "But this year we're coming together as one. The team and the fans are looking for a win. We're ready for UT, and..."
During the pause, Thomas Hunt, a sophomore mathematics major from Ralls, stuck his head out from a nearby tent and completed the rhyme.
"The BCS title, we're sure to win."
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