Midnight Madness

The Spectrum sports staff went on a field trip last week. We packed up are bags, piled in the Buick and drove to the infamous BSA. Now when I say infamous BSA, I really mean that large white shed that may or may not be haunted by ghosts of the Bison athletic past.

It’s a bit of an eyesore in the shadows of the Fargodome, but it’s just as vital to Bison athletics. Both basketball teams and wrestling team call it home and it also holds the weight room where our massive 300-pound linemen throw the iron around after practice.

So why does it have a bad wrap around campus? It may be due to the fact that it resembles a dark creepy old dungeon on the inside. When you walk in you get the eerie feeling that someone is watching you from the rafters preparing to swoop down a steal your soul.

This is why the University has decided to renovate and give the good ol’ BSA a much-needed face-lift. Well, eventually. The rumor is the deal is close to being sealed. Word around Fargo is they are only one million away from making this thing happen.

As much as a drag it was to go to the BSA to watch a game, Sam, Colton and I sucked it up as both Bison men’s and women’s basketball teams played their first exhibition game of the season. Admittedly, this was only my third or fourth time ever stepping foot into the BSA and the first time to watch Bison basketball up-close. Around halftime of the girl’s game I noticed a lack of student attendance. I wasn’t totally taken off guard at the notion that not a lot of students on a Thursday night are going to go out of their way to come watch women’s basketball, especially after their below average season before. But more fans did slowly trickle in before the men’s game. Due to a complete obliteration of Concordia by the Bison, it was back to being nearly empty halfway through the second half.

The one question bothering me all night was, “How does NDSU get more fans to come to the official tip-off of the Bison basketball season?
My answer? Midnight Madness.

If you watch Sportscenter enough, you will see the big schools like the Kentucky’s and Dukes of the college world throw a big party for both basketball teams at midnight before the season starts. I believe it’s the perfect time to start incorporating this tradition at NDSU.

Not only would it be a great way to introduce everyone to the renovated BSA (assuming it will be done this time next season), it would be a creative way to get everyone excited about our basketball teams.

What are two things people like here at NDSU? Watching athletes do incredible things we wish we could do and partying. In kicking-off the basketball season with Midnight Madness, you get both.

Food and drink vouchers would be sold, fans could play games and enter raffles, and maybe we could even incorporate meet-and-greets with athletes of any Bison sport. Fans in the bleachers could be entertained with freshman trying desperately to make a half-court shot while the basketball team shows off their crazy skills with a slam-dunk and a three point shooting contest.

Midnight Madness could be the answer we are looking for in getting fans excited about our winter sport teams and the BSA, even if we still think it’s the ugliest thing on campus.