After a three-year break, NSU Athletics will welcome Midnight Madness back to campus on Oct. 14, celebrating the start of basketball season with a variety of exciting activites in the Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
This annual event was created on college campuses to celebrate the first day that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allows formal practices for the college basketball season. The goal of the event is to introduce the basketball teams and hopefully, get students excited for the upcoming season.
NSU Athletics decided to restart Midnight Madness because they feel that it’s important for the student body to have a sense of Shark Pride.
Kim Carbo, manager of marketing and special events for NSU athletics, said, “This is a great opportunity to unite the student body and get excited for college basketball season.”
Doors will open in the arena at 8 p.m. with free food and music, but the actual event will begin at 9 p.m. The first 300 people in attendance will receive free Midnight Madness t-shirts. In addition to introducing the men’s and women’s teams, there will be several contests to win prizes, including NSU Athletics gift packs, Nike gear, a $500 gift card to the NSU bookstore, and Discover Orange Bowl tickets. Also scheduled are performances by the NSU cheerleaders and the NSU dance team, the Sharkettes.
Carbo said, “We are hoping to for a packed house! We would love to see all student groups, organizations, fraternities, sororities and Sharks athletic teams in attendance.”
Not only has NSU Athletics been planning the event along with the basketball coaches, but they have also been collaborating with different student organizations, mainly Finatics, the official spirit group of NSU and Shark Patrol, the Finatics’ energy team.
Women’s basketball Head Coach LeAnn Freeland said, “We have been working with the Finatics to ensure that Midnight Madness is a success and that the students really enjoy it.”
Not only is Midnight Madness a way for students to celebrate the start of the NCAA basketball season, but it is also a campus-wide social event where students, student-athletes and other student organizations will have the opportunity to interact with one another.
Freeland said, “I think that the students will really enjoy the activities and that this is a great way for the school to showcase athletics, as well as other student organizations.”
This year’s Midnight Madness falls on the first weekend after midterm week. NSU Athletics believes the event will get people excited for the upcoming season and show off their school spirit, but it will also help students unwind from the stress of midterms. NSU Athletics hopes that this year’s Midnight Madness will be successful and they plan to make it a permanent tradition.
