The Whitworthian

Issue date: 11/20/07 Last Updated: 11/24/07

Media Credit: Thomas Robinson Whitworth's mascot drives to the hoop for a layup during Midnight Madness last Wednesday, Nov. 14. [Click to enlarge]

As Whitworth's Fieldhouse Fanatics filled the Fieldhouse, music from hip-hop superstars T.I. and Kanye West came blaring through the speakers.

Sports Events Coordinator Obe Quarless walked through the door, put four $50 bills on the ground and said four people in the crowd would walk out the door with a bill in their pocket. To Quarless, though, the event was really about meshing basketball with the community through a variety of events.

"Whether it's people making shirts, people helping me run the event, people in the event, just there's a lot of communication getting as many people on campus and the community involved to get excited for the basketball season coming up," Quarless said.

Hundreds of fans turned out for the late evening event, which does not actually take place at midnight. The event kicked off at 8 p.m. with an intrasquad scrimmage for the men's team. The real buzz started, though, when Quarless unveiled the prizes.

"Once the prizes started rolling out I saw people's eyes light up," Quarless said.

Four even luckier fans won the previously advertised $50 bill. Fans were called out onto the court to compete in games involving who could make the most free throws, three-pointers and layups within a minute. Another game invoved a battle of the sexes element, as two women tried to shoot more free throws than another man shooting threes in a one minute window.

First, Quarless honored the seasons of men's and women's soccer and football. Next, basketball musical chairs, a game of "Bump," shooting drills and two-on-two basketball took over the court, allowing fans a chance to battle for gift certificates to Target, Best Buy, Applebee's and Bruchi's.

Then, the highlight reel started rolling. Senior forward Ryan Symes, senior forward Colin Willemsen and sophomore post Nate Montgomery electrified the crowd with some rim-rattling dunks.

"Actually, I think I should have did a little more [rounds]," Quarless said. "Those guys were throwing down."

The night ended with free "Fieldhouse Fanatics" T-shirts and ice cream for everyone. Fans trickled out of the gym with full stomachs and smiles. Quarless said people who didn't attend Midnight Madness were the only ones who lost on such a competitive night.

"They missed out, this is definitely one event you don't want to miss," Quarless said. "For people who chose to do something else, I hope it was real nice, because we had fun tonight."

Maybe those people won't miss out the next time the Pirates shake up the fans in the Fieldhouse.

For photos of Midnight Madness, click here.

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