May 19, 2015
Traditions: Simply mad about our Friars
Are you going to the Madness?”
The answer, almost always, is “yes.” Since 1985, when Rick Pitino — then PC’s new basketball coach — introduced Midnight Madness to 300 fans in Alumni Hall, one Friday night each October is reserved to celebrate the start of the basketball season. Part pep rally, part dance competition, part basketball practice, and part concert, Late Night Madness always unites Friars fans in a frenzy of anticipation and school spirit.
Over the course of three decades, Madness has become increasingly student-centered. It now begins in late afternoon with a two-hour pre-Madness tailgate sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs on the Slavin Center lawn. Once the doors open to Mullaney Gym, Madness kicks off with competitions among student dance groups, performances by the Pep Band and cheerleaders, and T-shirt giveaways.
Following the introduction of coaches and players for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the athletes take center stage with three-point competitions, slam dunk contests, and mixed scrimmages. When they’re done, the concert begins. In 2014, hip-hop artist Big Sean was the entertainer, accompanied by sports analyst Jalen Rose, son of the late Friar All-American Jimmy Walker ’67. In 2013, the featured star was DJ Nick Cannon.
More recently, Madness has featured:
- 2018: rapper 2 Chainz
- 2017: hip-hop artist Lil Uzi Vert
- 2016: DJ Diesel, also known as Shaquille O’Neal
- 2015: hip-hop artist Ludacris
As Erin Wholey ’14 wrote: “School spirit is such a big part of the PC experience, participating in things like Madness are key to understanding what Friartown is really all about. It is a way to celebrate your love for PC as a school and the athletes that make winter weekends so much fun
at the Dunk.”
So if you’re a PC student, the answer is almost always yes — you’re going to the Madness.
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