...the last few weeks, clips from various Midnight Madness sessions at schools from around the country have been popping up on YouTube. Storied programs such as North Carolina, Georgetown, Kentucky, and Indiana had rocking events. Not to be left out, even schools such as Yale, Kansas State, Tarleton State, and NDSU held similar events.
Watching these clips provided a double punch to the stomach. First, they serve as a reminder than Texas doesn't put on a similar event. Second, they reminded me of the disastrous "Roundball Roundup" event from last year, which put the final nail in the coffin over never getting to see a "Midnight Madness" style event during my eventual seven years at Texas.
Much more after the jump...
***Please note that Roundball Roundup was LAST YEAR. Texas didn't have a basketball kick-off event for this season, at least, not that I could tell****
Through receiving an e-mail as a "student leader", I heard about the RoundBall RoundUp event three weeks beforehand. I knew the event was on life-support after I attended the event's "Information Session" and was one of five students in attendance. In case you missed it--which pretty much everyone did--here was the event description:
You are invited to the first annual Texas Basketball RoundBall RoundUp on Friday, October 26 at 7 pm at Gregory Gym!!! This event is the Texas version of Midnight Madness. The Texas Basketball RoundBall RoundUp will tip-off the Longhorns Men’s and Women’s Basketball seasons for 2007-2008. Both the men’s and women’s teams as well as the coaches will participate in this student-geared event. There will be many opportunities for students to win great prizes. There will also be contests between players and students. Details on Stampede and Ozone tickets will be explained during the event to make sure you know how gain access to Texas Basketball games this season with the purchase of your Longhorn All Sports Package (LASP). Texas-EX DJ Kurupt will keep the beat going on throughout the night. So come out and support your Texas Basketball teams as we begin this new tradition.
My first thought in reading this description was that there was *no actual basketball* involved. I wanted to reserve judgment until after the event, but I was concerned about low turnout, especially after the Information Session. Regardless of any concerns, I went with my sister and a few friends to the event--it was an unmitigated disaster. The low turnout, silly contests, and excessively long explanation of ticket system provided for a very boring evening. The contests involved a student attempting to drive against DJ Augustin (EPIC FAIL), and Rick Barnes and Gail Goestenkors looking at baby pictures of the players.
While the Spring Football game drew a litany of comments, only two BON readers commented on the event. They weren't very positive:
Goingforthecorner wrote:
What a joke. I got there late but there weren't many people there at all. My friend played drum-set for the band, and he was telling me how stupid it was. Didn't help that they decided to do this on a Friday, where everyone's out partying.The show itself was kinda corny too. There was one game where Gail and Barnes had to look at baby pictures of players and guess who they were. And I swear to God, if I hear that "Crank That Soulja Boy" song one more time, I'm going to kill a kitten.
This was just the first one though. Hopefully it'll get better and better each year. It was worth it though. They were handing out some big posters and the mens' poster was nice. Included the schedule too.
BigTexBD added his thoughts:
A joke, I agreeBarnes, Coach G, and the teams must have been pretty discouraged at the attendance. The whole thing dragged incredibly. I had to leave early (at 8), and am pretty sure I didn't miss a damn thing. But it was cool to see the athletes up close, and to see how they were hangin out.
I'm already a Coach G fan for life. She's full of energy and the girls love her. You can tell its the start of something special. Before the event began, the DJ was playing some remixed swing music, and she grabbed Barnes and made him dance with her. Pretty entertaining.
I'd like to add a few thoughts to their comments, which provide the foundation behind this post.
1) While I also enjoyed watching Coach G grabbing Rick Barnes for a dance to liven up the crowd, there was one person who wasn't amused--Rick Barnes himself. As soon as they broke away from their brief twirling routine, I told my sister that we were attending the first and last edition of the Roundball Roundup. Rick Barnes has too much pride in himself and his program to dance around in front of 300+ fans in an attempt to sell more tickets. When I went up to Barnes after the event, he looked embarassed for his team. As he signed my poster, I imagine he was already planning the evisceration of whoever made him attend the event.
2) Unfortunately for goingforthecorner, there wasn't a chance for the event "to get better and better every year." After shelving the Midnight Madness concept for several years, UT Athletics tried to bring it back in the different format of Roundball Roundup. I was happy for the attempt, but its failure appears to resulted in a more permanent exodus for an official basketball kick-off event. The margin-for-error with UT Basketball was far too small, and the three weeks of promotion were woefully inadequate to build up a base of support.
3) The unanimous consensus for the event was "Man, that sucked, but I'm glad I got the autograph of the entire team on this sweet poster." To date, my sister and I still have these posters proudly displayed in our rooms. Many of my friends were happy to have skipped the event, but they have all said they wish they could have gotten the poster. Regardless of getting autographs, not being able to meet the players this year was really disappointing...
In summary, it was really painful to watch all the Youtube clips of the various Midnight Madness sessions. While even Tarleton State can get their fans fired up for their team, the Texas fanbase--and their top 10 team--is limping into the season opener on Friday. It's just depressing...
0 recs | 24 comments
Athletic dept. marketing
UT has some very bright minds in the marketing school., professors and students. You would think they could pool this talent and come up with some extraordinary, unique event that would trump any midnight madness.
dimecoverage - November 10, 2008
Ill never understand
how UT fans cant get excited about basketball. Its inexplicable. In a state where high school basketball is extremely popular, it just hasnt translated to the University level, despite having a top 10 program.
Do people just invest so much emotionally in the football team that they feel like they cant get excited to transition to basketball?
i agree. its one of the greatest travesties of our athletic department. And you would think that you would see a renewed committment to breaking down those barriers, rather than throwing in the towel and giving up. Just crazy.
6th street - November 10, 2008
I think it used to be more than
what it is now. I remember way back with Tom Penders/Judy Conradt and “the runnin horns” it was a real big deal. I think athletics has dropped the ball since then..
Longhorny - November 11, 2008
Texas basketball should key off football, not compete with it.
I still haven’t found out about the second mens scrimmage, just not listed anywhere.
They should take advantage of a Horns’ football day game with a followiing party at the Drum, with men’s and women’s teams both scrimmaging outside opponents, great music (at the least, bring in the UT Jazz band but get some local rock’n’roll, too), get some real Texas food (can that concession crap for this) and go after every fan they can attract. Free admission, of course. Dance contests. Use that damn sign outside on 35 to make it interactive; promo it at the football game as well as well before in all media. Just walk down from the stadium and walk in the door. Anyone.
I agree that they could create an extravaganza and that it is almost criminal that they haven’t. There’s just no reason that national level teams like Rick’s and Coach G’s should go begging for attention. No way.
whills - November 10, 2008
I like the idea
The problem is timing. To plan an event, as such, it would need to be planned months in advance and marketed heavily. Rarely are football game kick-off times set more than a few weeks out. This would basically lead to the same problem as last year with last minute notification of the event and poor turn out.
I do like the idea though. Maybe tweak it and do it on an away game weekend and make it into a football watching party. That way the basketball teams are combining their interests with those of most UT sports fans.
afaeguy - November 10, 2008
Cooperation between the programs could smooth the way.
Pick a game in the scrimmage date zone and hope it’s against a weaker team so that the school can dictate the time – and plan this a year out. Create a coordinating group with elements of both but apart from both programs and event staff, with their mission being this type of event. {this lets both football and basketball get on with their own business. Usually there is an event group that pulls off such things.)
You know, there is daily info from football practice, even days when fans can attend, but this year there was zero info out of basketball practice until media day and the standard pre-basketball season media speculation. Here we get some much football info that we can refine and distill it, revel in the myriad possibilities, cuss and discuss options galore, but I see nothing comparable for basketball in the preseason at this time. AW brings us what’s out there. The best has been someone at practice. This flow can be greatly improved – and I don’t mean more hype (although I can understand coming from an institution, that’s not always avoidable.).
If you’re going to have an event, you must have some knowledge of those teams (girls and guys) and where they’re headed. I understand Coach G and Rick may not even have that clear an idea of just how their teams will be or how they’ll fair. But they can still deal in generalities and what hard info they can reveal.
whills - November 10, 2008
Ah...how they'll fare. nt
whills - November 10, 2008
Baseball has done well with this
Putting the fall events either the same day or early the next day during home football weekends helps attendance greatly imo.
ryanlionrah - November 10, 2008
My understanding on these scrimmages is that the schools are not allowed to announce the results or discuss anything about them. In addition, they can only be attended by the immediate team and staff. That’s why you haven’t heard anything about the second scrimmage (although I did see somewhere that Gonzaga “won” by 5).
SL Horn - November 11, 2008
Hmmm...that would be a policy change from prior years.
Wonder if that is because of the schools involved or some other consideration.
whills - November 11, 2008
If football wasn't an out of body experience
then University and local fans would be looking for any sport to get there rah-rah on. Our top-10 program would be rocking the fanhood.
Instead, you’ve got a near religious following for football in the fall. Add in 85 degree days and it just does not feel like basketball.
Agree on everyone’s thoughts about PR/Marketing but, IMO, there are many variables at play here working against coach Barnes at The University.
TXStampede - November 10, 2008
Bring back the Madness
I was hoping to see a hoops post today with the season starting, you know, Friday.
Thanks for the post, twister. You did a great job breaking down the Roundball Rodeo. The sad thing is that we discontinued Midnight Madness to begin with. Wasn’t that Rick’s doing? I remember some great Midnight Madness’ under Penders – and we sucked then.
So basically I am asking for some info, investigative journalism, institutional knowledge into the demise of Midnight Madness. What happened?
jimmer - November 10, 2008
The story I heard...
…is that they just weren’t getting enough people to attend, so Barnes shut it down.
If anyone knows a more detailed explanation, please feel free to post it…
txtwstr7 - November 11, 2008
Hmm..
Well, no say. I was thinking that it ended with Barnes arrival, as in, he didn’t even give it a chance.
jimmer - November 12, 2008
Epic Fail
“The contests involved a student attempting to drive against DJ Augustin (EPIC FAIL)”
Haha that was me. I told DJ I was going to dunk on him as I dribbled up. He laughed a little at that and then I proceeded to brick a three point shot. But who else here can say they went 1-on-1 with DJ?
Char610 - November 10, 2008
That's a great memory. Better luck next time. nt
whills - November 10, 2008
That is pretty awesome...
…I do remember DJ laughing, then deciding he just wasn’t going to let anything happen.
The “dunk” line is hysterical…
txtwstr7 - November 11, 2008
I believe it also hurts
that unless you live in the Jester area, walking to the Drum is much more difficult than walking to DKR, especially coming from north or west campus. Combine that with the fact that half the games are on Monday or Tuesday nights, when there’s a litany of studying or student organizations going on…
I know, excuses, excuses…
jc25 - November 11, 2008
West Campus shuttle to San Jacinto....nt
vy til i die - November 11, 2008
What the hell? I wouldve gone if i had KNOWN about it? I always am up to date about this kinda stuff
MJY6087 - November 11, 2008
Stetson
Is this Friday’s matchup an exhibition, or a real game?
FWIW I recall a quote from Barnes that essentially said he didn’t like the Midnight Madness deal because it counted as a practice and the NCAA limits the number of practices they can have… and he didn’t feel like they would get anything accomplished.
SelimSivad - November 11, 2008
I'm sure
if he genuinely thought it would generate the type of excitement about basketball that it does at some other schools, that he’d change his position.
littlevisigoth - November 11, 2008
Bah... that's too bad
Guess it doesn’t matter for me that they discontinued it since I graduated last year, but getting everyone’s autograph was still pretty neat.
Nobody’s going to show up to the early games anyway except for maybe UCLA… MAYBE.
goingforthecorner - November 11, 2008
by the by
Anyone keep thinking of this every time they see the title of this post?
Just me? Ok.
jc25 - November 11, 2008
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