Kentucky debuted a new line of jerseys in front of 23,000 fans. Kansas unveiled a new team and a championship banner to the delight of the 16,300 in attendance at Allen Field House. Junior guard Stephen Curry put on a show for the Davidson crowd, and first-year Indiana head coach Tom Crean boosted Hoosier players’ and fans’ morale during Hoosier Hysteria.
You might think I’m talking about opening day of the college basketball season, but that doesn’t take place until November. What I’m talking about could be even more fun than that. I’m talking about Midnight Madness and why Virginia should open the doors of John Paul Jones Arena for such an event next year.
Legendary coach Lefty Driesell started the tradition in 1971 on the football field at Maryland at midnight on the first day NCAA rules allowed basketball teams to practice. That night, there was merely a basketball practice, but now the idea has evolved into a massive event where fans pack the stands to watch their team practice and put on a show. And now, Midnight Madness doesn’t even have to start at midnight. You can start at 7 p.m., which is great for many members of the typical Virginia crowd, as they can show up late as usual and it will still be early in the evening.
Virginia started practice Oct. 17, like the other basketball programs across the nation, but there was no fanfare for the Cavaliers. This is unfortunate, because students would definitely show up for an event like Midnight Madness, because a) we don’t go to sleep until well after midnight anyway, b) many students are passionate about Virginia basketball and would love to see the players practicing, dunking and dancing, and c) it’s a great way for coaches and players to interact with students.
Coaches could introduce the freshmen, the team captains could speak to the fans who show their support throughout the season, and maybe one lucky fan could take a halfcourt shot for tuition, room and board and textbooks, like what happened in 1994 at Cincinnati (It was actually televised nationally on ESPN and Dick Vitale himself paid for the textbooks). The teams could have serious practice or play Horse and have 3-point contests, and it wouldn’t matter to the fans, who just want to show up and have a good time. I’m sure everyone involved with Virginia basketball would have a good time, as well.
Imagine what would have happened at JPJ if senior center Tunji Soroye delivered the following speech at Midnight Madness 2008: “Hello everyone. It’s great to be back for my senior year ... again.” (Everyone laughs.) “But really, I look forward to my second senior night, and this year I will be healthy and ready to play.” (Everyone cheers.) “And now...” (Freshmen centers John Brandenburg and Assane Sene, standing 6-foot-11” and 7-feet respectively, walk over and join the 6-foot-11 Tunji.) “... Welcome to the block party!” (At which point, the two freshmen and Tunji start dancing and swatting toy basketballs into the crowd, and everyone goes nuts.)
Tell me that would not have been fun to watch. Maybe I can’t script a good speech for Tunji, but I think many Virginia fans would have enjoyed seeing him crack jokes, throw down a few dunks and break out a few dance moves. After all, that’s the kind of madness that goes on at many campuses nationwide every year, especially at Maryland. The Terps, led by coach Gary Williams, have recently topped all others with their Midnight Madness events. They have choreographed dance routines in which the whole team participates, and Williams does funny things every year, like showing up in an armored truck and hosting a Gary Williams look-alike contest. How can Virginia continue to let itself be shown up by Maryland?
While we don’t necessarily need 50 Cent to show up like he did at Villanova in 2006 (as cool as that would be), we should have some Midnight Madness down here in Charlottesville. It’s too late to do it in 2008, but if someone in the athletic department would be so kind as to let me know how I can get the ball rolling for 2009, I’d appreciate it. JPJ holds almost 14,600 people for games, and I’m fairly positive Virginia students and other Cavaliers fans could fill most, if not all, of the arena for Midnight Madness 2009.
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