For Immediate Release: Monday, October 8, 2001
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

MIDNIGHT MADNESS  TO BEGIN BASKETBALL PRACTICE FRIDAY NIGHT

EDINBURG-Contests, a tailgate party and a slam dunk exhibition will be among the highlights as the University of Texas-Pan American men’s and women’s basketball teams participate in Midnight Madness to mark the start of the 2001-2002 college basketball season this Friday evening, October 12^th.

The festivities will begin with a tailgate party outside the UTPA Fieldhouse. Contests and performances by the cheerleaders will begin inside the Fieldhouse at 11:00 p.m. with the teams to be introduced about ten minutes later, and take the court at the stroke of midnight.

The program was coordinated by UTPA’s Director of Campus Activities, Charlie Caceres and assistant basketball coaches Kate Galligan and Mark VanCuren.

“We’ll have tailgate parties outside the Fieldhouse, starting at 7:30, as well as a DJ, and campus organizations will be running their own activities in front of the Fieldhouse,” said Caceres, who also serves as the Cheer and Dance Coach for the Broncs and Lady Broncs. “We’ll have the burning of the letters at 10:30 in the parking lot, and, after that, we’re looking at ending the festivities and going inside. We’ll also have a cheer practice. Now is an opportune time to start establishing a tradition, and come up with cheers that the crowd can yell with us.”

VanCuren said that the program was designed to generate interest. “Basically, we’re just trying to create some excitement about the men’s and women’s programs,” said VanCuren. “It’s a chance for people to come out and see what kind of talent we’re going to have this year. We wanted to have an event that incorporated interaction between the UTPA student body and the student-athletes. We want them to get together and have a good time and have fun. The main thing is for the students to be involved, and, hopefully, it will carry over to involvement during the regular season.”

Galligan said that she, Caceres and VanCuren tried to improve on last year’s program. “We’ve added some things,” said Galligan. “We’re having a two-ball shootout like the NBA and the WNBA have with a player from either the men’s or women’s team paired up with a student from one of the student organizations. We’ll have a musical chairs contest, a three-point shooting contest, and a slam dunk contest including both the men’s and the women’s teams. 

Director of Athletics William J. Weidner thought it was a good way to start the season. “We are very excited about the future of Bronc and Lady Bronc basketball,” said Weidner. “There is much anticipation within the campus and throughout the community about the upcoming season. We encourage everyone to attend this very special event, which will not only showcase our men’s and women’s programs, but will also provide fun and entertainment for all who attend.”

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MIDNIGHT MADNESS

OCTOBER 12, 2001

10:00 – 10:45 P.M.     3 on 3 Semis & Finals                                                   Rec-Sports

10:45 – 10:55 P.M.     Welcome & sign up for student organizations                 Tony

11:00 – 11:01 P.M.     Moment of silence                                                        Tony

11:01 – 11:03 P.M.     National Anthem                                                           Men’s Choir

11:03 – 11:05 P.M.     Alma Mater                                                                  Men’s Choir

11:05 – 11:09 P.M.     Bronc Cheerleader Performance                                   Charlie 

                                   Cheer Practice                     

11:09 – 11:17 P.M.     Introduction of Lady Broncs & Broncs                         
                                   Player-alternate men’s and women’s players

                                    Introduction of Coach Nicholls                                      Tony

                                                -introduce her staff / say a few words

                                    Introduction of Coach Hoffman                                     Tony

                                                -introduce his staff / say a few words 

11:17 – 11:27 P.M.     2 Ball Shootout                                                              Tony

                                                -1 student and 1 player on each team

*student is from organization assigned to player

11:27 – 11:29 P.M.     Musical Chairs – General Public                                      Tony

11:29 – 11:34 P.M.     Bucky the Bronc Performance                                         Tony

11:34 – 11:36 P.M.     Loudest Fan Contest – Pizza Giveaway                           Tony/Cheer

11:36 – 11:46 P.M.     3 Point Shooting Contest                                                 Tony

                                                -Student organization assigned to a team

  11:46 – 11:48 P.M.     Blazer Dance Team Performance                                   Charlie

11:48 – 11:52 P.M.     Lady Bronc & Bronc Performance                                 Players

11:52 – 11:57 P.M.     Student Organization Dance Off                                     Tony/Charlie

11:57 – 12:00 A.M.    Bronc Cheerleader & Blazer Dance Team Demo            Charlie

12:00 – 12:05 A.M.    Lady Bronc & Bronc Teams run onto floor                     Tony

                                                -Team Warm-ups

  12:05 – 12:10 A.M.    Teams switch ends – Coaches’ Choice Drill

12:10 – 12:20 A.M.    Slam Dunk Contest                                                         Tony

                                                -Men on regular hoop, women on shorter hoop

                                                -Student organization assigned to a player

                                                -Random students judge w/ 2 players of opposite team

  12:20 A.M.                Student Organization Dance-Off (2^nd ½ of participants)   Tony

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