It is a sad day for Georgetown and for Georgetown basketball fans when almost every college basketball team in the country holds Midnight Madness except us. That day came last Friday night/early Saturday morning for the Hoyas, as most other NCAA Division I teams kicked off their seasons in celebration, bringing fans, ex-players and coaches together to show off their talents and get geared up for an exciting year of college hoops. In Kentucky, players dressed up as professional wrestlers; in Connecticut players came out to fireworks; in Georgetown, well, players sat at home.
Georgetown will hold its Midnight Madness this Friday and I understand that Columbus Day weekend took a lot of kids off campus, making it realistic to push the date back. It is still sad that Georgetown could not do Midnight Madness the way that it is supposed to be done, on the Friday prior to Oct. 15 when NCAA rules allow teams to start officially practicing. By this Friday, while the Hoyas will only be a few days into the year, the point of Midnight Madness will be somewhat lost. Does it really matter that they have started practicing? Most will say, “Who cares? The season hasn’t started yet.” But it’s the principle in this case that counts. Midnight Madness is supposed to be the first time the public, the media and the coaches see the team in an all-out scrimmage. While that rule is probably violated by half the teams in the NCAA, there is still an aura of excitement that comes with the unveiling of a new team and the team’s new players. In that respect, the postponement of Midnight Madness, for whatever reason, is a disappointment and makes it Midnight Mildness at best.
Without the efforts of a few dedicated people on Hoya Blue, Midnight Madness might not even be happening at all this year. It is rumored that some within the University administration didn’t even want to hold the event. After last year’s rejection of an NIT bid, ending Georgetown’s streak of 27 consecutive postseasons, I think it is an insult for the University to take a relaxed stance to such an important event. While homecoming, a similar event, might have been a disappointment for some because the majority of Hoya fans chose to drink rather then attend the game, Midnight Madness has always been well attended and involves no alcohol. Therefore, it is a perfect event for the University to sponsor and to advertise on campus. Even if the University is helping to plan Midnight Madness, its involvement has been minimal. This fact is not normally a problem, as Hoya Blue has done a great job organizing the event in the past. However, Friday’s Midnight Madness is rapidly approaching and I have neither seen anything on campus, nor have there been any e-mails from the University promoting the event. This lack of promotion demonstrates its lack of commitment to the event.
I understand that some University staff has been involved in the planning of Midnight Madness and to those who have put in time and hard work, I apologize. This article is not geared toward you. I think that it is sad, however, when students are buying expensive tickets for games that are not even on campus and seeing a team that turns down the post season, for our University as an entire community not to be involved. Midnight Madness will be held this Friday night in McDonough, it will be well attended and it will be a blast for all who come out to root on the team. However, lingering in the background will be the unsettling picture of a school that seems to have forgotten that its name and stature is indelibly linked to its basketball tradition. Wake up, Georgetown! Come out to Midnight Madness and celebrate the beginning of what is sure to be a fantastic season for the Hoyas, even if it’s starting a few days too late.
