Commentary: Midnight Madness shouldn't be missed

Midnight Madness is set to bring down the house in 1998. With fantastic giveaways and head coach Tom Abatemarco's all-new squad set to be introduced, the annual event looks to be a surefire winner.

The doors of the Hornet gym will open up at 10 p.m. on Oct. 16, welcoming all students and the entire Sacramento community.

"This event is for the students as well as the community," said Abatemarco. "This is the way for the basketball program to reach out to the student body and let them know that they have a quality team."

Indeed, with one of the top 50 recruiting classes in the nation, the team is ready to turn some heads. In only his second year as head coach, Coach "T," as he is affectionately called by his peers, has brought in nine new players, changing the entire outlook of the team.

The team will be on hand at midnight to display their skills and showcase their talents in both the slam dunk and three point competitions. And, with the new members joining the team, the event looks to be as exciting as ever.

In addition to the team arrival, the evening also features an appearance by "Slam-Son," the Sacramento Kings' mascot, and the infamous "Burrito Bomber." For those who haven't seen him perform, he's definitely worth going to see.

The women's basketball team will also be introduced, and the CSUS dance team and the Hornet band will also be in attendance.

This year, the evening will include a local guest DJ, a spectacular light show, and a bunch of activities to get the students involved.

And, throughout the event, close to 500 T-shirts will be distributed by Coach "T" himself.

"We want to see the students get involved and become active in their basketball team," said Abatemarco.

The event is free to the entire CSUS community. The only thing you'll need is your best yelling voice to get ready for this mad(ness) event.