Going Mad at Midnight

Last Friday was Midnight Madness, a free pep rally that's open to the general public to introduce the stars of the basketball season. If you don't know much about SU basketball, here's all you need to know:

Wendy's panoramic of the Dome! 

• The Orange rocks at basketball.
• The sport is a sacred thing on campus. 
• Coach Jim Boheim was an assistant coach for Team USA at the London Olympics 2012 and won a gold medal. 
• Our players are beastly. 
• Their fans are loyal. 
• The band is loud. 
• Basketball is in our blood. 

This was my first pep band performance! There were about 50 of us playing that night and it was fantastic. The only thing that irked me was that we were right next to a gargantuan sound system that produced such a strong bass my internal organs rearranged. Thank goodness for headphones.

SU's school spirit is uplifting. Every time I'm in the Dome I get goosebumps because of all the cheering. I love the sound inside the Dome. It resonates to the soul. (Wooo, deep.)

Midnight Madness, which is grossly misnamed since it starts at 7PM, is sincerely mad. It was hosted by a recent basketball star alum, Scoop Jardine, and his girlfriend (and Michael Jordan's daughter, no biggie) Jasmine Jordan. I was freaking out when the announcer introduced the  men's basketball team. My fellow trombonists knew ALL of the players and I just cheered along like I knew what I was doing.

We are Sour Sitrus. We are ready. (Photo cred: Wendy)

When a player was announced, a bunch of fog machines would go off, the lights would dim, and a spotlight would shine on a white tent that was illuminated orange. The player would emerge from the tent and the number on their jersey would reflect the light from the spotlight so it glowed like Iron Man. Oh man, it was intense.

Each player also ran out to the court to a song of their choice. One of the guys ran out to "Circle of Life" from "The Lion King." 


The only downside of being in band during these gigs is that you don't get any free merch. I looked around for free posters afterward, but they were all gone. Well, I always have other games to try and score some swag.

Jim Boheim entered the Dome in a camouflage tank car surrounded by marines. 

(Photo from Syracuse.com)

I cannot wait until basketball season! We're shooting for national championship this year. Always.