Midnight Madness

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — October 11th, 2002

__________________________________________________________________________________

Midnight Madness

The Bison basketball season does not start until November 22. Both teams open their season on the road; the men in Pennsylvania against St. Francis and the women at George Washington. That has no bearing on the events scheduled for tonight, October 11, the date that marks the fourth annual basketball entertainment gala, Midnight Madness. 

 

Started at Howard in 1998, the goal of Midnight Madness was to introduce the students to the Bison basketball teams. That goal has not changed. 

 

Nwaji Jilunoh, assistant to the vice provost for student affairs, organizes the activities of Midnight Madness giving the students a taste of the Showtime Marching Band, the cheerleaders, and the Bisonettes. It also includes several contests and giveaways with a DJ responsible for keeping the crowd crunk. 

 

Players and coaches alike praise the efforts of Midnight Madness for promoting the teams and getting students involved. It encourages school spirit and provides a free evening of partying. 

 

The teams are not allowed out of the locker rooms until a few minutes after midnight. Once the teams hit the floor, students are given the opportunity to be introduced to the new and returning players. Following the introduction, the teams engage in a friendly scrimmage. 

 

"Midnight Madness gets the support of students, athletes, and administration," said Men's Basketball Coach, Frankie Allen.

 

Women's Basketball 

 

Last season, the Lady Bison finished the regular season in first place with an overall record of 17-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They won the MEAC Tournament the 2000-2001 season and hoped to win it all again, however they came up short in the semi-finals to Hampton, 66-60, and finished in third.

 

Head Coach Cathy Parson and her team agree they were underachievers last season and feel as though this season will be different because they have a unified passion to excel further than they did last year. 

 

Parson views last season as a coming of age for her team.

 

"They have matured. Their gifts and talents have always been there, all they need to do is incorporate their knowledge and motivation," Parson said. "I am an optimist. There is no reason why we should not be successful. 

 

"I look forward to seeing students at GW," Parson said. "Though it's an away game, it is close to home." 

 

It's a new season with familiar faces and a few new ones as well. The Lady Bison lost a key player in center Andrea Gardner, who completed her first season in the WNBA as a member of the Utah Starzz in August. In her career as a Lady Bison, Gardner was named MEAC player of the year both her junior and senior years. Her senior season she led the MEAC with 325 rebounds and was second in blocked shots with 35, behind teammate Courtney Kirk who finished with 39. 

 

"A presence like [Andrea Gardner] is definitely missed," Parson said. 

 

She is counting on forwards Shauna Ruglass and Courtney Kirk, senior guard and three-point threat Asia Petty, and the team klepto, junior guard Simone Agee, who Parson looks to lead the team in steals. 

 

Agee ended the season fourth in steals in the conference with 39, only four behind the MEAC leader. 

 

With the Lady Bison's offensive weapon Essence Coggins down with a week-to-week injury, Parson will look for contribution from freshmen guards Shari Johnson and Brittany James. 

 

Men's Basketball

 

Coach Allen's main goal is to continue his success at Howard. When he began coaching, the men's basketball team was 1-27 in the previous year. In the 2000-2001 season, the presence of Allen was immediately felt. He took the once 1-27 Bison and accomplished what no coach before him had done: win 10 games. 

 

His inaugural season was surpassed last year when he led his team to a winning record of 18-13 and ended the regular season third place in the MEAC. They advanced to the MEAC Finals where they lost to Hampton 80-62.

 

Captains Ron Williamson and Kyle Williams both agree their main goal is to win. They said they have never been at that level so they want to go back to the MEAC Finals and win.

 

Allen's feelings coincide with his two playmakers.

 

"We want to continue to be at the championship level," Allen said. "We have a good nucleus of players and team chemistry." 

 

The Bison lost two key players in forward and perimeter player Darren Kennedy, and center, double figure scorer Aki Thomas. Filling the position of center will be difficult but the Bison have three players available for the position: red-shirt freshman Daniel Wright, junior Ronald Miller, and transfer from Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y., Qadir Habeeb. 

 

With a big recruiting class, Allen hopes to add depth to his team. In addition to Habeeb, the team welcomes freshmen point guard and offensive playmaker Lou Ford out of Bridgeton Prep and junior small forward, shooter and scorer Bilal Russell, a transfer from Fresno City Community College. 

 

According to Allen, Williamson and Williams will most likely be contenders for the pre-season All-Conference team and Williams could be a possible candidate for Player of the Year.

 

Training

 

Coach Parson and Coach Allen have another voice to push their players to that next level thanks to the hiring of the first ever Strength and Conditioning coach at Howard, Keith Comeforo, or Coach 'K'.

 

Coach K has been training the players for a little over a month and has noticed their improvement thus far.

 

"I wasn't able to start them with strength and weight training because it's too late in the season," Comeforo said. "I want to get them in shape first, start them with a strong base and then work from there."

 

Allen has already received positive feedback from Williamson.

 

"Ron told me that this is the best pre-season shape he has been in his whole career," Allen said.

 

Coach K's number one goal this season is to cut down on injuries. 

"They're learning a new work ethic. They have never been exposed to this level of training before," Comeforo said. "It gives us another voice and added help. Our players are more motivated now."