Midnight Madness returns to JMU

Men's, women's basketball teams to host night of fun for student body

Midnight Madness is back. After a two-year absence at JMU, the event that signifies and celebrates the official date that college basketball teams can start practicing returns to the Convocation Center Friday night. The doors open at 10:30 p.m. and festivities kick off at 11:15 p.m.

Among the activities are a student 3-point contest and a student slam-dunk competition. Students can enter by signing up at UREC by Thursday. The winners of each event will receive free books for a semester, valued at $200.

Students also can sign up for a chance to win free tuition for a year, valued at $10,000. One contestant will be chosen to attempt to make a layup, free throw, 3-pointer and a half-court shot in 24 seconds for the prize.

"I think we've put a lot into making sure that it could be a fun experience for not only our players, but for the fans, the students and the folks in the community," men's basketball coach Sherman Dillard said.

Women's basketball coach Bud Childers said, "I think the real thrill of Midnight Madness is more of a celebration for the student body and the team together that basketball season is going to be upon us very soon."

After the 3-point contest and the slam-dunk competition, as well as performances from the Dukettes and the cheerleaders, there will be highlight videos and a count down to 12:01 a.m. Then both the women's and men's teams will be introduced, and each team will take the floor for a 10-minute scrimmage. Following the scrimmages, the student who is chosen will attempt to win free tuition for a year.

Student Duke Club President Mark Hoskins said he is glad that a Midnight Madness event has returned to JMU.

"We are very excited about Midnight Madness returning to JMU," Hoskins said. "Many students aren't aware of the tradition our basketball program has. This kind of event was part of that tradition and something that the students looked forward to every year. It's great to see it coming back and hopefully catch on for years to come."

Both Dillard and Childers are happy to see the event return as well.

"I'm looking forward to having it this year," Dillard said. "I think three years ago was the last time we had one. I really appreciated the turnout by the students and the folks in the community. And for some reason or another, we let two years slip by without having one. There were circumstances with timing and which weekend it fell on and things like that that precluded us from having it, but we're excited about having it this year. I know, as the consensus of my team, they are all looking forward to this opportunity."

Childers said, "I was disappointed to see it go away. I've been a part of Midnight Madness at different places for a long time and I thought the one we had here [three years ago] was a lot of fun. We didn't have it the last couple of years … but I think the players have always been in favor of doing it. I just think it's long overdue coming back and I hope we can make it an annual, traditional thing beginning in the future."

Both teams, as well as the Student Duke Club and the marketing department for JMU athletics, hope to receive a large turnout for the event. The marketing department has placed posters across campus and the Student Duke Club will be handing out flyers Thursday on the commons to get students, as well as the community, interested in the event.

Dillard said, "I've been approached by a number of folks on campus, the supermarket and the community, and the response I've gotten from folks, because we're having Midnight Madness, has been very positive and I think that's a sign perhaps it's going to be a good night for us."

Don Sawyer, director of marketing for JMU athletics said, "It's a unique way to kick off the year … and it's an exciting way to introduce your basketball programs to your student body and to your public as well. It's just a neat, festive thing to do to create awareness and excitement about your program and making this as the official start of basketball season."