Since my days as a student living in Village A W-203 I have looked forward to the month of October. I love the autumn weather with the chill in the air, football games, the World Series, and best of all the start of the college basketball season. Midnight Madness was started by Lefty Driesell at the University of Maryland in 1970 and is now a major event at most major college basketball programs. For most of the career of John Thompson, Jr. the Hoyas did not participate in all of the hype. GTown simply had our players show up to their first practice on a Saturday morning to closed doors. Like many of my gym rat basketball friends, I have spent many an evening playing pick-up games at Yates or in the courts in front of McDonough Gymnasium. We often had to be chased out of Yates as Greg Spriggs wanted to close down the gym. We dreamt of hearing the roar of the crowd, and serving up the alley-oop to Patrick Ewing.
Georgetown Midnight Madness has evolved into another one of those unique Hoya experiences. The students led by Hoya Blue lead the cheers, and enjoy burgers from the GU Grilling Society. It is often the showcase for the new college basketball video games. As the doors prepare to open, students line up in front of the giant inflatable Jack the Bulldog. It is a magical evening as the mobile phones and cameras light up the gym to the roar of the crowd. Students, and potential recruits watch with delight as the men's and women's basketball teams, cheerleaders, stepping teams, etc. show put on a show. Coach JT III leads his team in the cheer: "We are Georgetown!" For one day, one evening the world is simple again. We are all looking to see the first college glimpse of the next Georgetown superstar in the tradition of Ewing, Mourning, and Mutombo. Yet we all know at Georgetown it is about the team first! We should be all proud to see our team as they travel around the country well dressed in suits and ties unlike many other programs. After all we are all proud to wear the Blue & Gray! We are Georgetown!
Our Hoya Hoop Club Communication team will be working hard all evening to post information on Midnight Madness in our HHC Blog, Facebook Fan Page and on Twitter (@hoyahoopclub). So whether you are in McDonough, watching on campus, or on ESPNU, if you look and listen you can probably see the flashing lights and the roar of the crowd. Hoya Saxa! Let the year begin!
Dr. Thomas A. Wong
Proud Member of Generation Ewing
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