Moby Madness

As the clock strikes midnight on Friday night, fans and students

can be a part of the beginning of what promises to be a very

exciting season of Colorado State Basketball as both the men’s and

women’s teams take the court for their first public appearance of

the season during Moby Madness.

This marks the first year in which the Rams will hold an event

like Moby Madness, which has been a yearly tradition for many of

the top college basketball schools for years.

This year’s event will be put together by both the CSU athletic

department and the Associated Students of CSU Leadership

Development group, headed by Kristen Reed.

“We are playing off of the Midnight Madness theme used around

other campuses,” Reed said. “The athletic department came to us and

asked us to plan something.”

Saturday marks the first day that the NCAA allows teams to

practice, so this year the Rams will take advantage of that with a

short shoot-around at midnight after many exciting events aimed at

the fans of both the men’s and women’s teams. The real practices,

however, begin Saturday morning.

“Friday, the guys are just going to rebound for the contests,

and things like that,” head coach Dale Layer said. “We are going to

start practice Saturday morning. Hopefully this will impact the

fans.”

If CSU fans did not get to do enough tailgating at the football

game Thursday night, then they will be happy to know that starting

at 8:30 p.m. and running until 10:15 p.m., there will be a tailgate

party in front of Moby Arena that will include free Pizza Hut pizza

and many different games and music. Players from both teams will be

outside Moby during the tailgating session to talk with

students.

The doors of Moby will open at 10:15 p.m. Once inside, fans are

encouraged to sign up for numerous competitions being held, such as

a dash for cash, a half court shot for $10,000, and an

around-the-world contest for students.

Other contests such as an obstacle course and a three-point

contest will be held, but the participants for these events will be

picked from the crowd.

A dunk contest will also be held between different members of

the Greek houses on campus.

Prizes for the different contests include airline tickets, CSU

Bookstore merchandise, Steamboat lift tickets and 500

For-Ever-Green T-Shirts.

Before the contests kick-off, the team and coaches will be

announced and introduced to the fans. Both men’s coach Dale Layer

and women’s coach Chris Denker are expected to ride onto the floor

on Harley’s, but according to Layer the Harley’s have not been

found yet.

The athletic department, along with the Leadership Development

group, is expecting a good crowd of about 2,000-3,000 fans and they

recommend students to come early to get a good seat for the

action.

“We are tying to reach out to the students,” Layer said. “We

want to have a night that is fun for everybody.”