Entertainment at half of basketball games needs change
Every so often comes a time for change. Well, it’s time for some new halftime entertainment at Aggie basketball games. No more Aggiettes or cheerleaders. I’ve never understood why they do what they do. No offense to those two groups, but the Spectrum needs something new. These men and women dancing to music nobody can or would want to understand is a poor product for people who have paid good money to come watch the basketball team.
The only things I recall really liking are the amazing jump rope team from Idaho and the acrobats that can jump really high on a trampoline.
The following are ideas that should at least be given consideration by the athletic department:
1. Play an episode of “Frasier” or “Seinfeld.” With 20 minutes of halftime, an episode without commercials would fit the time slot almost perfectly. The episode that receives the loudest roar from the fans would be the one that gets watched. Other TV classics, such as “MASH” or “Saved By The Bell,” are also possibilities. During one of the usually dead Christmas break game nights, a “Kids Night” could be done with “SpongeBob” played at the half.
2. Put ESPNEWS on the JumboTron to update fans on what else is going on in the sports world. I assume most of the people in attendance at the basketball games are spending valuable time in the Spectrum because they like sports. Keep ’em updated.
3. This builds slightly on idea No. 2. If there is a big game going on somewhere else, put that up on the big screen. This will be important when college football bowl games begin. The Aggies have games on Dec. 20, 21, 29 and Jan. 3. A bowl game is going each of those nights-including the FedEx Orange Bowl Jan. 3 between Virginia Tech and Kansas. This idea would be especially effective during the latter part of the USU football season when it shares game days and times with the basketball team.
4. A stand-up comic could give the thousands in attendance a few laughs. This is a good idea only if he or she keeps it clean. In this way, USU could reintroduce the lost art of clean humor.
5. Let a certain number of fans come on the court and shoot. Doing this, they can get a sense of respect for what it’s like to shoot a basketball with 9,000 other people watching them. Haven’t you ever wanted to know how certain players can make a free throw with all the fans behind the basket yelling and waving all sorts of stuff? It’s a lot harder than it looks. Or, it could be expanded to a few pickup games between the best Junior Jazz or Super League teams in Logan.
6. An update-preferably in video form-of what the other athletics teams are up to. With so many Aggie fans in the Spectrum, this is a prime time to do it. Back in September, the athletic department held a “State of the Athletic Department” night, but there were only about 30 people (90 percent of them by my estimation athletic department employees) in attendance. It would be very informative to let fans know more about the recruiting the football team is doing and where exactly they are doing it. I recall head gymnastics coach Ray Corn expressing to me afterward how he wanted more people there so they will know what is going on with the less visible campus sports, which includes everything besides football and men’s basketball.
7. If Brigham Young University or Utah’s basketball team is playing at the same time, put their game on so fans can have something to let their rage out on someone besides officials. Even better, put together a blooper reel of Ute and Cougar lowlights.
Sammy Hislop is a junior majoring in public relations. Send him your ideas of halftime entertainment at Aggie basketball games at samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu.