VIENNA, WV – The Ohio Valley University Fighting Scots will tip-off their 2008-09 men’s and women’s basketball season with an OVU-style Midnight Madness celebration October 14 at the Snyder Activity Center. Local and regional OVU sports fans, media, friends of the university and the general public, are invited to attend.
According to OVU Interim Athletic Director Larry Lyons 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 start the season, thank our fans for their support, and give the local community a chance to meet the teams and see them in action.”
Dixie Sporting Goods, Pepsi, Chick-fil-A, Cold Stone Creamery & Papa Johns are the official event sponsors. OVU Midnight Madness attendees are asked to bring one canned food item as the price for admission. Items collected will be donated to the Old Man Rivers Food Bank. Concessions will also be provided throughout the evening.
OVU student Chris Murray will serve as MC for the event and will introduce Mandy Strom, Student Athlete Advisory Committee President and David Ray, Student Government Association President, who have both helped coordinate the event.
"I am excited for Midnight Madness because every year we try to make this event bigger and better for our Basketball Teams and Student Body and this year we definitely accomplished this goal," said Strom.
Around midnight the 2008-09 OVU Fighting Scots men’s and women’s basketball teams will be officially introduced and the intra-squad scrimmage games will begin. The event is open to the public and they are encouraged to attend the evening events to support the OVU student athletes and take part in the fun.
"Anyone who likes high flying action, explosive dunks, food and fun should come out and support Ohio Valley University athletes in the start of their season," said Ray. Ohio Valley University is a proud member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the largest NCAA Division II conference in the country.
For more information about OVU’s Midnight Madness celebration, or to get involved in Ohio Valley University athletics, call 304-865-6000.
OVU Midnight Madness Schedule
7:00 -9:00 p.m. – OVU Home Volleyball Match & Concession Stand Open
9:00-9:15 p.m. – Chick-fil-A Cow & Sponsored Games
9:15-9:30 p.m. – Devotional Speakers (Alan Carroll and Mike Snell)
9:30-10:00 p.m. – Basketball Games (crowd): Knockout, 3 Point, Free Throw, Lay Up
11:30 p.m.-12:00 a.m. – OVU Basketball Coaches & Teams Introduced; Dunk Contest & 3 Point Contest 12:00 a.m. – OVU Team Scrimmages: Women’s and Men’s
To learn more about OVU visit www.ovu.edu .
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