Maryland Madness Live! Re-Airs 9 p.m. Monday On Comcast SportsNet
10/16/2004 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2004
By David Ginsburg
AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Gentlemen, and ladies... start your season.
The Maryland Terrapins formally began basketball practice Friday night with the annual Midnight Madness celebration at a packed Comcast Center. Men's coach Gary Williams put his stamp on the proceedings by driving onto the court in a NASCAR vehicle belonging to Donnie Neuenberger.
"I'm not nervous at all. I practiced a couple of times," Williams said about an hour before midnight. "It's driving a car. A little different car."
If all goes as planned, Williams will spend the next five months steering the Terrapins toward another Atlantic Coast Conference title. "I'd like to think we have as much of a shot to win it as anybody," he said.
Meanwhile, women's coach Brenda Frese introduced a new, young squad to the boisterous crowd of more than 15,000 screaming Terp fans. Frese's squad has been rated as high as 12th in the country by preseason media publications.
The Terps' Midnight Madness celebration was captured live on Comcast SportsNet. The program, "Maryland Madness Live!" will replay on Comcast on Monday, Oct. 18, at 9 p.m.
Early in the evening, Williams' players egged on generations of former Terrapins in the annual Alumni Game, which was won in the final seconds on a tie-breaking jumper by current associate head coach and Class of 1990 grad Dave Dickerson. Assistant coach Keith Booth, and former Terps Keith Gatlin, Johnny Rhodes, Derrick and Cedric Lewis put forth standout efforts. Class of 1970 graduate Harvey Sanders was clearly a fan favorite and drew "MVP" chants from the Maryland student body.
Between performances by the dance team, the competitive cheer squad and the Maryland Gymkana Troupe, Williams and the men's team participated as judges in the first-ever Gary Williams Look-Alike Contest. Five contestants stamped, crouched and roared in the direction of the players on the bench, drawing waves of laughter from the men's team and their real head coach.
When the clock struck Midnight, the men's and women's teams were introduced to a laser-light and music show. Frese and Williams offered comments about their upcoming seasons, both recognizing the Maryland crowd as "the best fans in the country."
On the men's side, the Terrapins return four starters and 11 letterwinners from a team that last season went 20-12 and won the ACC tournament for the first time since 1984.
 Williams and the Terps get a laugh from a Look-Alike contestant.  |
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"That's gigantic for the university," said former Terp Johnny Rhodes, who played in the alumni game. "You couldn't ask for anything better. The guys have done a lot over the last couple of years."
Maryland enters the 2004-05 season on a run of 11 straight NCAA tournament appearances. The Terrapins were pressed to extend that streak last season before a late surge enabled them to earn a No. 4 seed.
That team was comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores. Now it's filled with five sophomores, five juniors, one freshman, one walk-on and just one scholarship senior -- forward Mike Grinnon.
Grinnon is now considered to be the old man of the crew, but four years earlier at Midnight Madness he was a shaky-kneed freshman who never before performed in front of such a large crowd.
"The first one was definitely the most memorable," he said. "I've never been so nervous in my life. To actually be running out under the spotlight onto the court, that's something I'll never forget for the rest of my life. It's so special. It's a great way to start the season."
The players continue to love the Madness, and so do the fans. The arena was packed long before midnight, with most of the fans decked out in red.
 Williams emerges from the race car to give his signature fist pump. |
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David Weisgerber, 45, drove from Frederick with his fifth-grade son for their first Midnight Madness.
"We'd like to see the two new players, and I read an article that some of the boys are a little bigger and bulked up," Weisgerber said. "We'd like to see them."
The two newcomers to the men's team are junior college transfer Sterling Ledbetter, a 6-foot-4 guard, and freshman forward James Gist, who promised to give the fans something to remember him by.
"It's top secret, but I've got something planned," the dynamic Gist said moments before setting the bar high by opening the men's player intros with a tremendous two-handed slam. "I just go to have fun, not to show off. I love doing stuff for the crowd. It's my joy. Being able to play in an arena this big with fans cheering for you, it's great."
A few players later, 6-10, 280-pound sophomore teammate Hassan Fofana passed on the chance to dunk, opting instead to bank in a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. The crowd erupted in approval. Later Williams joked, "That's the last time you'll see that all season."
The men's team's first preseason exhibtion game will take place on Friday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. against Bryant. The women open in an exhibition against UMMC Ekaterinburg on Sunday, Nov. 14.
