For Immediate Release: Wednesday, October 9, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

MIDNIGHT MADNESS SET FOR FRIDAY AT UTPA FIELDHOUSE

EDINBURG, TX-A slam dunk contest, a three-point shootout and a contest in which someone in attendance at Midnight Madness at The University of Texas-Pan American will have an opportunity to win $10,000 will be among the highlights as the UTPA men's and women's basketball teams mark the start of the 2001-2002 college basketball season this Friday evening, October 11th.

The festivities will begin with a tailgate party outside the UTPA Fieldhouse. Activities inside the fieldhouse will begin with the three-on-three intramural basketball championships at 10:00 p.m.
The Broncs and Lady Broncs will be introduced just before the teams take the floor. At midnight, the teams will take the court. The program is being coordinated by UTPA's Director of Campus Activities, Charlie Caceres and Coordinator of Athletic Marketing Craig Pintens.

"We'll start at 7:00, with a fajita cook-off competition, which is something brand new," said Caceres, who also serves as the Cheer and Dance Coach for the Broncs and Lady Broncs. "There will also be traditional tailgating events, including a pizza eating contest and a DJ providing music, which will all take place in the parking lot. At about 9:45, we'll be doing the traditional burning of the letters, and the whole middle of the HPE I lot will be reserved for that. Our cheerleaders will be practicing, and we'll be doing some things that we'll be working on to help us qualify for nationals. I'm hoping that we can make the fajita cook-off one of our bigger traditions. At 10:30, we'll start bringing in everybody to the fieldhouse."

"Midnight madness is fun for everyone, it's the kickoff of the basketball season, and it gives the fans an opportunity to have fun and get their first peek at this year's teams," said Pintens. "We'll have 12 student organizations dancing, a three-point contest and a slam dunk contest featuring our teams, but the highlight of the night will be the $10,000 Buzzer Beater Contest. People will fill out an entry blank when they come to Midnight Madness, and one contestant will be selected. The contestant will have 24 seconds to make a lay-up, a free throw, a three-pointer and a half-court shot. If they make all of the shots, they will walk away with $10,000."


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