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“Midnight Madness”

Activity Details

Submitted By: Ron Pavan

Position: Director of Athletics

Phone Number: 304-865-6041

Email Address: ron.pavan@ovu.edu

Name of School: Ohio Valley University

Conference: West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Type of Event:
- Indoor

Description of Activity

Activities for Midnight Madness begin at 9:00 PM with a tail gate party and three on three basketball tournaments that feature both the men’s and women’s basketball team.  At 10:30 PM the coaching staff enters with any special guests that are attending the evening festivities.  At 11:00 PM there are a variety of student activities taking place ranging from pie eating contests, games, prize drawings, giveaways, and hot shot contests.  The evening also includes introduction of players, SAAC, and the Student Government President.  At midnight both men’s and women’s basketball teams are introduced and there is a three point shoot out, slam dunk contests, and intra squad scrimmage. 
 
The entire evening is sponsored by Pepsi, Papa Johns, and Burger King. Attendees get in free with one canned food item and those items are donated to charity.  It has been a great way to showcase the student-athletes to the community and also show how the general student government is integrated with the student-athlete population.  Our president is also very supportive of the event and in the past has road a Harley into the gym.  There is also a video of individuals on 4-wheelers chasing around the “king” from Burger King as part of the sponsorship with students following them which provides additional entertainment during the evening.  Everyone is extremely supportive of the event.

Associated Costs

How much (in dollars) this cost to plan, prepare and run:
The program cost the athletic department $0 do to the partnership with Papa Johns and Pepsi.  Pizza and drinks were provided to everyone and the booster club aided with expenses for giveaway items.

Individuals Involved

Number of volunteers it took to execute:
SAAC and Student Government Association (Approx. 30-40 volunteers)

The target audience:
- Grade school children
- Middle school children
- High school children
- Parents & grandparents
- Extended community groups
- Senior citizens
- Alumni
- Donors & supporters
- Specific schools, districts or parts of districts
- Honoring fire, police, medical, & military etc.
- Local business leaders / potential & current sponsors
- Sports organizations
- Local Teachers
- Community/civic organization
- Non-athlete students / other campus groups
- Prospective students
- Local media
- Other

Planning Process

Days of planning from the first day of planning until the last day of execution:
4 months.  The athletic department uses the summer time to plan for the event.

How was it marketed:
Website and PA Announcements

How many times this was ran in a given year:
One Time Per Year

Conference-wide initiative:
Not currently

Reactions

Community reactions:
Very positive.  Has truly helped the community become aware of Ohio Valley athletics.

Student-athletes reactions:
Extremely Positive and help run the event.

Coaches reactions:
Very positive of a way to integrate the students and community in kicking off the basketball season.

The overall value for generating community interest or spirit: (1 - 5, 5=most valuable)
5

Additional Comments:

Web Release

OVU Midnight Madness Celebration Starts 2006-07 Basketball Season
VIENNA, WV – Ohio Valley University Fighting Scots will kick-off their 2006-07 men’s and women’s basketball season with an OVU-style midnight madness celebration October 16 at 9:00 p.m. in the Snyder Activity Center.

Local and regional OVU sports fans, media, friends of the university and the general public, are invited to attend. The price of admission is one canned food item. According to OVU Athletic Director Ron Pavan this event signals the official start of the season for the Fighting Scots basketball teams.

“The NCAA determines when basketball teams can officially begin practicing for an upcoming season,” he explained. “Each year we hold a special event to kick-off the season, thank our fans for their support, and give the local community a chance to meet the teams and see them in action.”

The Pepsi Cola Company, Papa John’s Pizza and Burger King are the official event sponsors. The evening’s activities will begin at 9:00 p.m. with a tailgate party and a three-on-three basketball tournament featuring both a men’s and women’s division teams. At 10:30 p.m. OVU basketball coaches will make a grand entrance with a special guest.

The evening will continue with student activities beginning at 11 p.m. featuring a pie eating contest, games, prize drawings, giveaways and various basketball related competitions, including dribble knockout and hot shot contests. Attendees are asked to bring one canned food item as the price for admission. Items collected will be donated to a charity.

The Fighting Scots Athletic Club, OVU’s fundraising club for athletics, will provide concessions throughout the evening. Kevin Lombard, will host the event and formally introduce head men’s basketball coach Bill McGee and head women’s basketball coach Shane Brown. He will also introduce Zach Carte, student-athlete advisory committee president and Megan Harper, student government representative, who have both helped coordinated the event.

At approximately midnight the 2006-07 OVU Fighting Scots men’s and women’s basketball teams will be officially introduced. Special three-point shoot out and slam dunk contests will follow the team introductions. Following those contests, the men’s and women’s team will hold intra-squad scrimmage games.

Ohio Valley University is a proud member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the NCAA Division II. For more information about OVU’s midnight madness celebration, or to get involved in Ohio Valley University athletics, contact Ron Pavan, athletic director at 304-865-6041 or email ron.pavan@ovu.edu.

OVU Midnight Madness Schedule
9:00 pm  - Kickoff Tailgate Party, 3-on-3 Tournament Starts, Monday Night Football
10:00 pm  - 3-on-3 Tournament Continues, Monday Night Football
10:30 pm - OVU Coach McGee, Coach Brown and a special guest arrive
11:00 pm - Pie Eating Contest (Social Clubs), Hot Shot Contest, Dribble Knock Out Contest, Devotional 12:00 am - 3-Point Shoot Out Dunk Contest, Women’s Scrimmage, Men’s Scrimmage

Located in Vienna, West Virginia, Ohio Valley University is a residential, regional, faith-proclaiming, liberal arts campus with a mission to transform the lives of students in a Christ-centered academic community. Consistently recognized as one of the nation’s top comprehensive baccalaureate institutions in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges Guide, the university offers a variety of degree programs and endorsements through its college of undergraduate studies, college of professional studies and college of graduate studies.

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