Oct. 9, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Midnight Madness comes to College Park again this Friday evening as the 2001-02 college basketball season arrives, in anticipation of the men's and women's basketball teams' first official workouts.

The October ritual of Midnight Madness is special to the University of Maryland, in particular. (Click here to review last season's article written in The Sporting News.)

It was former coach Lefty Driesell, in College Park on Oct. 15, 1971, who is given credit for originating the Midnight Madness spectacle with his then-called Midnight Run. Thirty years later, Gary Williams will introduce his team to a filled arena at historic Cole Field House, donning its Terrapin uniforms for the first time since Maryland's appearance at last year's Final Four in Minneapolis.

The 2001-02 season tips off with Midnight Madness festivities planned for Friday evening, Oct. 12. Doors at Cole Field House open at 9:00 p.m. with all fans receiving FREE T-shirts upon their entrance. Admission is free for 12,000 Terp fans. Fans are also encouraged to bring canned food items as a donation to the Capital Area Food Bank. Drop locations will be situated outside the Cole Field House entrances. The canned food drive is sponsored by Maryland's Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

The activities actually begin at 10:30 p.m. with an annual alumni game followed by performances from the Maryland Gymkana Troupe, the highly-acclaimed High Impact Squad slam dunk team and the Maryland band and cheerleaders. At approximately 11:20, members of last season's Final Four men's basketball team will be honored by a special jersey presentation to commemorate their historic run through last season's NCAA Tournament.

Student contests and prizes will be conducted throughout the hour-and-a-half program leading up to introductions of both the Maryland basketball teams, who each return from NCAA Tournament appearances last year. Contests are sponsored by DC101 FM, Papa John's and Hershey's. And making an appearance alongside Maryland announcers Mac Barrett and Johnny Holliday will be Elliot from the DC101 Morning Show.