Ready to get back in the Hall
By Daniel Stern
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Athletic support at the University is never-dying. As the spirit of Cavaliers' football fell in the midst of Saturday's embarrassing defeat to Florida State, the excitement of Cavalier basketball was already under way.
Friday evening from 10:30 p.m. until 2 a.m., "Hoos in the Hall" saw University and Charlottesville community members ascend on U-Hall for the commencement to this year's basketball season. Presented by the Biltmore Grill and O'Neill's Irish Pub, the first 500 fans entering the stadium were awarded with a bright orange, "Hoos in the Hall" T-shirt, to be worn at all home games.
Fans sat along the perimeter of the court as well as in the stands to watch performances and contests.
At midnight, the smoke began to rise from beneath the stadium. With the stadium pitch black and lights flying around from wall to wall, the members of the 2001-2002 men's and women's basketball teams took the first steps toward great seasons.
Along with the player introductions, fans were treated to slam dunk exhibitions and video clips of the best plays from last season.
Interspersed among the teams' acrobatic displays, fans interacted in several games that awarded prizes to the winners.
One of the events, the "Biltmore Grill Thumbs and Toes eating contest" had participants vowing for the esteemed title of Charlottesville's hungriest wings eater. Prizes for this event and others included dinner for two at the Boars Head Inn, one airline ticket to anywhere in the continental United States, an autographed team basketball and a weekend for four at the Wintergreen ski resort.
For most, however, the best part of the evening occurred during the dance contest, when both men's coach Pete Gillen and women's coach Debbie Ryan got their groove on.
"Getting to see Coach Gillen dance like that made it all worth going," first-year College student Carlton Wilson said.
Although the focus is inevitably on the athletes, all involved realized the evening is all for the fans.
"The greatest part was seeing the coaches interact with the fans and their teams like a family," second-year College student Melissa Del Sol said. "The atmosphere that they create is really conducive to great basketball and a great season"
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