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{{Short description|Annual American college basketball event}} |
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'''Midnight Madness''' is an annual event celebrating the upcoming [[college basketball]] [[season (sports)|season]] in which a team opens its first official practice to the public, often combining it with a pep rally and other fan |
'''Midnight Madness''' is an annual event celebrating the upcoming [[college basketball]] [[season (sports)|season]] in which a team opens its first official practice to the public, often combining it with a pep rally and other fan-friendly activities. The tradition originated from teams holding public practices at midnight on the earliest day that the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) would allow a practice to be held. In 2013, a new NCAA rule established some flexibility around the opening of a team's practice sessions. As a result, the dates on which teams celebrate Midnight Madness can vary, but most stick with the traditional date of a Friday night closest to October 15. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Lefty Driesell.jpg|thumb|left|Maryland coach Lefty Driesell held the first "Midnight Madness" session in 1971.]] |
[[File:Lefty Driesell "V-sign".jpg|thumb|left|Maryland coach Lefty Driesell held the first "Midnight Madness" session in 1971.]] |
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Prior to the [[2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season]] men's and women's basketball teams were not permitted to practice prior to the Friday closest to October 15. [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland Terrapins]] head coach [[Lefty Driesell]] began the Midnight Madness tradition at 12:03 a.m. on October 15, 1971 by inviting the public to a 1.5 mile team run.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gRkIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o0QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4649,3131962&dq=driesell+basketball+practice&hl=en Sports Whirl], ''The Virgin Islands Daily News'', October 16, 1970.</ref> The early practice session was attended by 3,000 fans at the track surrounding [[Maryland Stadium|Byrd Stadium]] on the [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]] campus.<ref name=NMMfUUbt/> Driesell continued the annual midnight practice session throughout his tenure at Maryland, and brought the tradition with him when he became head coach at [[Georgia State Panthers men's basketball|Georgia State University]]. In 2008, that school delayed the event until sunrise for the first time since Driesell established the tradition.<ref name=LmrsatM>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/s/2000/1011/812806.html |
Prior to the [[2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season]] men's and women's basketball teams were not permitted to practice prior to the Friday closest to October 15. [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland Terrapins]] head coach [[Lefty Driesell]] began the Midnight Madness tradition at 12:03 a.m. on October 15, 1971 by inviting the public to a 1.5 [[mile]] team [[Running|run]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gRkIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o0QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4649,3131962&dq=driesell+basketball+practice&hl=en Sports Whirl], ''The Virgin Islands Daily News'', October 16, 1970.</ref> The early practice session was attended by 3,000 fans at the [[All-weather running track|track]] surrounding [[Maryland Stadium|Byrd Stadium]] on the [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]] campus.<ref name=NMMfUUbt/> Driesell continued the annual midnight practice session throughout his tenure at Maryland, and brought the tradition with him when he became [[head coach]] at [[Georgia State Panthers men's basketball|Georgia State University]]. In 2008, that school delayed the event until sunrise for the first time since Driesell established the tradition.<ref name=LmrsatM>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/s/2000/1011/812806.html|title=Lefty's midnight run started all the Madness|access-date=November 30, 2008|date=October 13, 2007|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|work=[[ESPN.com]]|author=Rovell, Darren|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326190934/http://espn.go.com/ncb/s/2000/1011/812806.html|archive-date=March 26, 2008}}</ref> |
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[[File:Big Blue Madness.jpeg|thumb|Big Blue Madness in 2015, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.]] |
[[File:Big Blue Madness.jpeg|thumb|Big Blue Madness in 2015, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.]] |
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In 1982, coach [[Joe B. Hall]] and the [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball]] team began to officially promote a celebration dubbed "Midnight Madness" as a school event with formal entertainment acts and an invited student audience. This event was held in [[Memorial Coliseum (University of Kentucky)|Memorial Coliseum]] and held 8,500 people in the then-12,500 seat gym.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/news/sports_m-baskbl_spec-rel_101101aaa_html|title=Midnight Special - Celebrating 20 Years of Big Blue Madness| |
In 1982, coach [[Joe B. Hall]] and the [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball]] team began to officially promote a celebration dubbed "Midnight Madness" as a school event with formal entertainment acts and an invited student audience. This event was held in [[Memorial Coliseum (University of Kentucky)|Memorial Coliseum]] and held 8,500 people in the then-12,500 seat gym.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/news/sports_m-baskbl_spec-rel_101101aaa_html|title=Midnight Special - Celebrating 20 Years of Big Blue Madness|access-date=November 30, 2015|date=October 11, 2001|publisher=[[Kentucky Wildcats|UKAthletics.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074327/http://www.ukathletics.com/news/sports_m-baskbl_spec-rel_101101aaa_html|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><!--The capacity of Memorial Coliseum is now 8,500, but it was 12,500 in 1982.--> Big Blue Madness is now televised and hosts celebrities including [[Drake (musician)|Drake]], who performed in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2014/10/17/big-blue-madness-big-show-great-expectations/17468477|title=Big Blue Madness: big show, great expectations|access-date=November 30, 2015|date=October 18, 2014|newspaper=[[The Courier-Journal]]|author=Jones, Steve}}</ref> Another of the more famous events is "Late Night in the [[Allen Fieldhouse|Phog]]" at Kansas, which was started in 1985 by [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]] and is now broadcast in live [[streaming video]] via the [[Internet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/101508aaa.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019032555/http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/101508aaa.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2008|title=Kansas Fans Can Witness|access-date=December 3, 2008|date=October 15, 2008|publisher=[[CBS]] Interactive|work=Official Athletics Website of the University of Kansas}}</ref> The event has caught on on most campuses; various programs have given away T-shirts and allowed players do stunt [[Slam dunk|dunk]]s and [[Half-court shot|half court]] shots.<ref name="NMMfUUbt"/> Some schools schedule intrasquad scrimmages, [[Three-point field goal|three-point]] shooting contests and/or slam dunk contests. The event is often a co-ed event, in which both the men's and women's teams participate in the celebration, especially at schools like the [[University of Connecticut]], where the men's and women's teams have a combined 15 championships.<ref name="CtcfMM">{{cite web|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/15255167|title=Champs take court for Midnight Madness: Florida enjoyed last year's title, but has turned all focus to this season|access-date=November 30, 2008|date=October 13, 2006|publisher=NBC Universal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223135954/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/15255167/|archive-date=February 23, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Scout.com]]'' estimated that in 2007, approximately 160 of the top [[blue chip (sports)|blue chip]] high school basketball recruits in the country were attending a Midnight Madness event during the weekend that opens the basketball season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=2&c=689891&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fscouthoops.scout.com%2f2%2f689891.html|title=On Campus: Midnight Madness|access-date=December 1, 2008|date=October 12, 2007|publisher=ScoutHoops.com and Scout.com|author=Telep, Dave and Evan Daniels}}</ref> |
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In 2013, the NCAA ruled that men's practices could begin two weeks earlier than the traditional date, so long as teams held no more than 30 days of practice in the six weeks prior to the first regular-season game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9240169/ncaa-oks-rule-move-start-practice|title=Midnight Madness to start earlier| |
In 2013, the NCAA ruled that men's practices could begin two weeks earlier than the traditional date, so long as teams held no more than 30 days of practice in the six weeks prior to the first regular-season game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9240169/ncaa-oks-rule-move-start-practice|title=Midnight Madness to start earlier|access-date=May 9, 2013|date=May 3, 2013|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> This change was made to provide more flexible scheduling that accommodated off days in the preseason practice schedule. However, the women's programs rejected moving the date forward so as not to conflict with recruiting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2013/april/calendar+moves+forward+for+midnight+madness|title=Calendar moves forward for Midnight Madness|access-date=September 27, 2013|date=May 3, 2013|publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]|author=Hosick, Michelle Brutlag|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003135152/https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2013/april/calendar+moves+forward+for+midnight+madness|archive-date=October 3, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/84230/earlier-practice-date-approved-for-fall|title=Earlier practice date approved for fall|access-date=September 27, 2013|date=May 3, 2013|publisher=[[ESPN]]|first=Eamonn|last=Brennan}}</ref> As a result of practices beginning so early, several teams opted to celebrate Midnight Madness later in the six-week practice window.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2013/08/michigan_states_midnight_madne.html|title=Michigan State's Midnight Madness event remains in October after NCAA allows earlier practices|access-date=September 27, 2013|date=August 6, 2013|publisher=[[MLive.com]]|author=Leung, Diamond}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/24/maryland-to-host-their-2013-midnight-madness-at-cole-field-house|title=Maryland to host their 2013 Midnight Madness at Cole Field House|access-date=September 27, 2013|date=September 24, 2013|publisher=[[NBC Sports]]|author=Dauster, Rob}}</ref> |
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==Details== |
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In the 21st century, most basketball programs from large [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] schools have planned a [[pep rally]] with MCs, music, dancing and other festivities to encourage support of the program. |
In the 21st century, most basketball programs from large [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] schools have planned a [[pep rally]] with MCs, [[music]], [[dancing]] and other festivities to encourage support of the program. [[Celebrity]] guests and alumni participate in entertaining the students. Often, there is significant publicity surrounding the event, which may include televised broadcasts, published [[press release]]s and various [[new media]] exposure.<ref name=MMp>{{cite web|url=http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=594522|title=Midnight Madness preview|access-date=November 30, 2008|publisher=[[Rivals.com]]|first=Andrew|last=Skwara}}</ref> |
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[[Image:20061013 Kyle Macy at March Madness.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kyle Macy]] was among the celebrity participants at the 2006 [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball]] opening night celebration]] |
[[Image:20061013 Kyle Macy at March Madness.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kyle Macy]] was among the celebrity participants at the 2006 [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball]] opening night celebration]] |
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Some of the more outlandish occurrences during such events included coach participation, such as [[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball]] coach [[Tom Izzo]] riding a [[Harley-Davidson]] [[motorcycle]] onto the court and [[Florida Gators men's basketball]] coach [[Billy Donovan]] rising out of a coffin.<ref name=NMMfUUbt/> |
Some of the more outlandish occurrences during such events included coach participation, such as [[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball]] coach [[Tom Izzo]] riding a [[Harley-Davidson]] [[motorcycle]] onto the court and [[Florida Gators men's basketball]] coach [[Billy Donovan]] rising out of a coffin.<ref name=NMMfUUbt/> Although signing week, when top recruits sign [[National Letter of Intent|letters of intent]] that commit them to specific schools, does not occur until November,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/nli/NLI/Signing+Dates|title=Signing Dates: For Prospective Student-Athletes Enrolling in the 2011-2012 Academic Year|access-date=September 8, 2010|publisher=NCAA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922110046/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/nli/NLI/Signing%2BDates|archive-date=September 22, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> blue chip [[high school]] recruits are sometimes welcomed at these events even in their junior years.<ref name=MMp/> Usually a prescribed number of fans (such as the first 1,000) receive a gifts such as [[t-shirt]]s, [[poster]]s, autographs, [[road (sports)|road]] game vacation packages, and other free [[paraphernalia]].<ref name=MMp/> At many such events, a student is chosen for a half-court shot giveaway.<ref name=MMp/> Sometimes the events are televised live by sports networks such as the [[Big Ten Network]], and other times highlights are shown on highlight shows such as [[ESPN]]'s ''[[SportsCenter]]''.<ref name=NMMfUUbt>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-madness17-2008oct17,0,3319514.story|title=No 'Midnight Madness' for UCLA, USC basketball teams|access-date=November 30, 2008|date=October 17, 2008|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|author=Pucin, Diane}}</ref> [[ESPNU]] has begun extensive yearly coverage of midnight madness events and in 2008 televised events at [[Davidson Wildcats men's basketball|Davidson College]], the [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|University of Kansas]], [[Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball|Georgetown University]], [[Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball|Gonzaga University]] and [[Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball|Indiana University]].<ref name=NMMfUUbt/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gozags.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100808aaa.html|title=Midnight Madness On ESPNU Coming To Gonzaga: Bulldogs one of five schools featured in Oct. 17 program|access-date=December 3, 2008|date=October 8, 2008|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=The Official Athletic Site of the Gonzaga Bulldogs|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020212247/http://gozags.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100808aaa.html|archive-date=October 20, 2008}}</ref> The events have been reported for years in print media such as newspapers, magazines and the internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/1998/midnight/news/1998/10/16/kentucky_midnight/index.html|title='Let's get ready to repeat': Kentucky treats crowd to crazy sneak preview|access-date=November 30, 2008|date=October 19, 1998|publisher=[[CNN/SI]]}}</ref> Although Midnight Madness has become a prime time event for many premier basketball programs, some schools have continued the tradition of having their first practice at 12:00 on the first day regular practice is allowed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newhaven.edu/athletics/news/11469|title=University of New Haven Midnight Madness 2007-08 On Sunday, October 14|access-date=December 5, 2008|date=October 5, 2007|publisher=University of New Haven, Athletic Media Relations|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118101250/http://www.newhaven.edu/athletics/news/11469|archive-date=January 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ovu.edu/base.cfm?page_id=4526|title=OVU Midnight Madness Basketball Set for Oct. 14|access-date=December 5, 2008|publisher=Ohio Valley University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716111843/http://www.ovu.edu/base.cfm?page_id=4526|archive-date=July 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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As of 2006, the [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|University of Kentucky]] held the record for attendance at this type of sports rally with an attendance of 23,312 at [[Rupp Arena]].<ref name=CtcfMM/> |
As of 2006, the [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|University of Kentucky]] held the record for attendance at this type of sports rally with an attendance of 23,312 at [[Rupp Arena]].<ref name=CtcfMM/> Kentucky has sold out Rupp Arena multiple times for what they call "Big Blue Madness" and in the [[2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball season]] fans had to camp out in lines for days in advance to obtain tickets.<ref name=KMcinbd>{{cite web|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27104421|title=Kentucky's Madness change is no big deal: Coaches board acting ridiculous to get all up in arms about Gillispie's move|access-date=December 1, 2008|date=October 9, 2008|publisher=[[NBC]] Universal|author=DeCourcy, Mike|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210045321/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27104421/|archive-date=December 10, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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One celebratory function of the evening is often to raise [[NCAA Division I |
One celebratory function of the evening is often to raise [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]] or Final Four banners to the rafters in an official ceremony. In 2008, both [[2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament]] finalists, the [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball]] and [[Memphis Tigers men's basketball]] teams, did so during their respective Midnight Madness event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/18/tigers-raise-banner-memphis-madness|title=Tigers raise banner at Memphis Madness|access-date=December 1, 2008|date=October 18, 2008|publisher=[[The E.W. Scripps Co.]]|work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=20196915&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554330&rfi=6|title=Catching up with Harrison Barnes|access-date=December 1, 2008|date=October 18, 2008|publisher=Iowa Newspapers, Inc.|work=[[Ames Tribune]]|author=Stell, Jeff|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714091417/http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=20196915&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554330&rfi=6|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> The October 16, 2009 celebrations occurred on many campuses and a sampling were aired on the [[ESPN]] family of networks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnmediazone.com/press_releases/2009_10_oct/20091008_ESPNUGoingMadforMidnightMadnessNineSchoolstobeFeaturedinFour-HourSpecial.htm|title=ESPNU Going Mad for Midnight Madness; Nine Schools to be Featured in Four-Hour Special|access-date=October 16, 2009|date=October 8, 2009|publisher=ESPN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019111446/http://www.espnmediazone.com/press_releases/2009_10_oct/20091008_ESPNUGoingMadforMidnightMadnessNineSchoolstobeFeaturedinFour-HourSpecial.htm|archive-date=October 19, 2009}}</ref> Five [[Big Ten Conference]] schools celebrated Midnight Madness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigtennetwork.com/sports/mbasketball/story.asp?list_id=47&story_id=3371914|title=Five teams host Midnight Madness on Friday|access-date=October 16, 2009|date=October 14, 2009|publisher=[[Big Ten Network]]}} {{dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> |
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| caption1 = A mini-[[trampoline]]-aided [[slam dunk|dunk]] was part of the 2006 [[University of South Carolina Upstate]] festivities. |
| caption1 = A mini-[[trampoline]]-aided [[slam dunk|dunk]] was part of the 2006 [[USC Upstate Spartans men's basketball|University of South Carolina Upstate]] festivities. |
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| caption2 = [[University of North Carolina at Wilmington]] [[mascot]] Sammy C. Hawk celebrates in 2008 at [[Trask Coliseum]] |
| caption2 = [[UNC Wilmington Seahawks|University of North Carolina at Wilmington]] [[mascot]] Sammy C. Hawk celebrates in 2008 at [[Trask Coliseum]] |
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In 2008, some teams attempted to host Midnight Madness in association with special early restricted practices instead of the first day of regular practices. |
In 2008, some teams attempted to host Midnight Madness in association with special early restricted practices instead of the first day of regular practices. These universities felt that since their football teams had [[home (sports)|home]] games the week before the opening date of formal practices, which had become the traditional Midnight Madness date, they would be better off holding Midnight Madness on the weekend before. In 2008, teams were allowed to practice two hours per week between September 15 and October 17 under what is known as the "Offseason Workout Rule,"<ref name=KMcinbd/> and at least four notable public "practice" sessions (by Illinois, Kentucky, Marshall and West Virginia) were held during these weekly practices before daily practices were permitted.<ref name=UcMMawe>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3577794&name=katz_andy|title=UK celebrates Midnight Madness a week early|access-date=December 1, 2008|date=September 9, 2008|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|author=Katz, Andy}}</ref> At the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign|University of Illinois]], the [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball]] and [[Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball|women's]] basketball teams hosted scrimmages at [[Memorial Stadium (Champaign)|Memorial Stadium]] after an October 11 game between the [[Illinois Fighting Illini football]] team and the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football]] team.<ref name=Ihlohp>{{cite web|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27136216|title=Illini hosts largest outdoor hoops practice: Men's, women's teams play on a portable court at football stadium|access-date=December 1, 2008|date=October 11, 2008|publisher=NBC Universal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016044552/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27136216/|archive-date=October 16, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since the attendance for the football game was 62,870,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=282850356|title=Minnesota 27, Illinois 20|access-date=December 1, 2008|date=October 11, 2008|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}}</ref> this event was described as the "World's Largest Basketball Practice". Charlie Zegers reports that the practice session events occurred both at halftime and after the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://collegebasketball.about.com/od/teamsandconferences/ig/World-s-Biggest-Practice|title=The World's Biggest Basketball Practice|access-date=December 1, 2008|work=[[About.com]]|author=Zegers, Charlie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022131242/http://collegebasketball.about.com/od/teamsandconferences/ig/World-s-Biggest-Practice/|archive-date=October 22, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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Kentucky was one of the schools that held their public practice event a week early in part because they could lure more recruiting prospects during a week when most other programs were not hosting similar events.<ref name=KMcinbd/> |
Kentucky was one of the schools that held their public practice event a week early in part because they could lure more recruiting prospects during a week when most other programs were not hosting similar events.<ref name=KMcinbd/> The [[National Association of Basketball Coaches]] asked the [[Southeastern Conference]] to force Kentucky to adhere to the traditionally scheduled practice to no avail.<ref name=KMcinbd/> They then belatedly petitioned the NCAA to legislate conformity unsuccessfully.<ref name=KMcinbd/> Kentucky coach [[Billy Gillispie]] had contacted the Kentucky's compliance office, the SEC and the NCAA to ensure that no rules were being violated.<ref name=KMcinbd/> |
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Illinois head coach [[Bruce Weber (basketball)|Bruce Weber]] had also received permission for the early practice festivities from the NCAA.<ref name=Ihlohp/> He had proposed having a September 13 session in association with a home football game against [[Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football|Louisiana–Lafayette]]. The date with the Ragin' Cajuns would have in all likelihood been a more favorable day in terms of the [[climate]], but this date preceded even the Offseason Workout Rule dates.<ref name=UcMMawe/> It is anticipated that in the future, public basketball practices linked to the Offseason Workout Rule will be banned.<ref name=Ihlohp/> Illinois claimed that their date change was not intended to give it a recruiting advantage in terms of scheduling conflicts.<ref name=Ihlohp/> |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5690298 ESPN 2010 Midnight Madness highlight video] |
*[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5690298 ESPN 2010 Midnight Madness highlight video] |
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*[https://archive. |
*[https://archive.today/20121212054039/http://knowledgenetwork.alumni.msu.edu/msuaa/michigan-state-basketball.html Midnight Madness and the Michigan State University Men's Basketball Team] |
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{{good article}} |
{{good article}} |
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{{Maryland Terrapins men's basketball navbox}} |
{{Maryland Terrapins men's basketball navbox}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Midnight Madness (Basketball)}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Midnight Madness (Basketball)}} |
Midnight Madness (and variations) | |
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![]()
Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball fans wait to attend Late Night in the Phog.
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Genre | Athletic exhibition and celebration |
Dates | Friday near October 15 |
Location(s) | Individual schools |
Years active | 1970 to 71–present |
Midnight Madness is an annual event celebrating the upcoming college basketball season in which a team opens its first official practice to the public, often combining it with a pep rally and other fan-friendly activities. The tradition originated from teams holding public practices at midnight on the earliest day that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) would allow a practice to be held. In 2013, a new NCAA rule established some flexibility around the opening of a team's practice sessions. As a result, the dates on which teams celebrate Midnight Madness can vary, but most stick with the traditional date of a Friday night closest to October 15.
Prior to the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season men's and women's basketball teams were not permitted to practice prior to the Friday closest to October 15. Maryland Terrapins head coach Lefty Driesell began the Midnight Madness tradition at 12:03 a.m. on October 15, 1971 by inviting the public to a 1.5 mile team run.[1] The early practice session was attended by 3,000 fans at the track surrounding Byrd Stadium on the University of Maryland campus.[2] Driesell continued the annual midnight practice session throughout his tenure at Maryland, and brought the tradition with him when he became head coachatGeorgia State University. In 2008, that school delayed the event until sunrise for the first time since Driesell established the tradition.[3]
In 1982, coach Joe B. Hall and the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team began to officially promote a celebration dubbed "Midnight Madness" as a school event with formal entertainment acts and an invited student audience. This event was held in Memorial Coliseum and held 8,500 people in the then-12,500 seat gym.[4] Big Blue Madness is now televised and hosts celebrities including Drake, who performed in 2014.[5] Another of the more famous events is "Late Night in the Phog" at Kansas, which was started in 1985 by Larry Brown and is now broadcast in live streaming video via the Internet.[6] The event has caught on on most campuses; various programs have given away T-shirts and allowed players do stunt dunks and half court shots.[2] Some schools schedule intrasquad scrimmages, three-point shooting contests and/or slam dunk contests. The event is often a co-ed event, in which both the men's and women's teams participate in the celebration, especially at schools like the University of Connecticut, where the men's and women's teams have a combined 15 championships.[7] Scout.com estimated that in 2007, approximately 160 of the top blue chip high school basketball recruits in the country were attending a Midnight Madness event during the weekend that opens the basketball season.[8]
In 2013, the NCAA ruled that men's practices could begin two weeks earlier than the traditional date, so long as teams held no more than 30 days of practice in the six weeks prior to the first regular-season game.[9] This change was made to provide more flexible scheduling that accommodated off days in the preseason practice schedule. However, the women's programs rejected moving the date forward so as not to conflict with recruiting.[10][11] As a result of practices beginning so early, several teams opted to celebrate Midnight Madness later in the six-week practice window.[12][13]
In the 21st century, most basketball programs from large Division I schools have planned a pep rally with MCs, music, dancing and other festivities to encourage support of the program. Celebrity guests and alumni participate in entertaining the students. Often, there is significant publicity surrounding the event, which may include televised broadcasts, published press releases and various new media exposure.[14]
Some of the more outlandish occurrences during such events included coach participation, such as Michigan State Spartans men's basketball coach Tom Izzo riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle onto the court and Florida Gators men's basketball coach Billy Donovan rising out of a coffin.[2] Although signing week, when top recruits sign letters of intent that commit them to specific schools, does not occur until November,[15] blue chip high school recruits are sometimes welcomed at these events even in their junior years.[14] Usually a prescribed number of fans (such as the first 1,000) receive a gifts such as t-shirts, posters, autographs, road game vacation packages, and other free paraphernalia.[14] At many such events, a student is chosen for a half-court shot giveaway.[14] Sometimes the events are televised live by sports networks such as the Big Ten Network, and other times highlights are shown on highlight shows such as ESPN's SportsCenter.[2] ESPNU has begun extensive yearly coverage of midnight madness events and in 2008 televised events at Davidson College, the University of Kansas, Georgetown University, Gonzaga University and Indiana University.[2][16] The events have been reported for years in print media such as newspapers, magazines and the internet.[17] Although Midnight Madness has become a prime time event for many premier basketball programs, some schools have continued the tradition of having their first practice at 12:00 on the first day regular practice is allowed.[18][19]
As of 2006, the University of Kentucky held the record for attendance at this type of sports rally with an attendance of 23,312 at Rupp Arena.[7] Kentucky has sold out Rupp Arena multiple times for what they call "Big Blue Madness" and in the 2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball season fans had to camp out in lines for days in advance to obtain tickets.[20]
One celebratory function of the evening is often to raise NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament or Final Four banners to the rafters in an official ceremony. In 2008, both 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament finalists, the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball and Memphis Tigers men's basketball teams, did so during their respective Midnight Madness event.[21][22] The October 16, 2009 celebrations occurred on many campuses and a sampling were aired on the ESPN family of networks.[23] Five Big Ten Conference schools celebrated Midnight Madness.[24]
In 2008, some teams attempted to host Midnight Madness in association with special early restricted practices instead of the first day of regular practices. These universities felt that since their football teams had home games the week before the opening date of formal practices, which had become the traditional Midnight Madness date, they would be better off holding Midnight Madness on the weekend before. In 2008, teams were allowed to practice two hours per week between September 15 and October 17 under what is known as the "Offseason Workout Rule,"[20] and at least four notable public "practice" sessions (by Illinois, Kentucky, Marshall and West Virginia) were held during these weekly practices before daily practices were permitted.[25] At the University of Illinois, the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball and women's basketball teams hosted scrimmages at Memorial Stadium after an October 11 game between the Illinois Fighting Illini football team and the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.[26] Since the attendance for the football game was 62,870,[27] this event was described as the "World's Largest Basketball Practice". Charlie Zegers reports that the practice session events occurred both at halftime and after the game.[28]
Kentucky was one of the schools that held their public practice event a week early in part because they could lure more recruiting prospects during a week when most other programs were not hosting similar events.[20] The National Association of Basketball Coaches asked the Southeastern Conference to force Kentucky to adhere to the traditionally scheduled practice to no avail.[20] They then belatedly petitioned the NCAA to legislate conformity unsuccessfully.[20] Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie had contacted the Kentucky's compliance office, the SEC and the NCAA to ensure that no rules were being violated.[20]
Illinois head coach Bruce Weber had also received permission for the early practice festivities from the NCAA.[26] He had proposed having a September 13 session in association with a home football game against Louisiana–Lafayette. The date with the Ragin' Cajuns would have in all likelihood been a more favorable day in terms of the climate, but this date preceded even the Offseason Workout Rule dates.[25] It is anticipated that in the future, public basketball practices linked to the Offseason Workout Rule will be banned.[26] Illinois claimed that their date change was not intended to give it a recruiting advantage in terms of scheduling conflicts.[26]