This Saturday, the UTM athletics department is hosting a whiteout game for one of the last doubleheaders of the season.
The move is one of the first major ones led by new athletics director Julio Freire.
On Feb. 22, the women’s basketball team (19-7, 12-1 OVC) will host conference foe Murray State with tipoff set for 2 p.m.
Following the women’s game, the men’s team (8-19, 3-9 OVC) will take on Southeast Missouri at 4 p.m.
Prior to the games, each player will be introduced to what is expected to be one of the largest crowds at the Elam Center this season. Each player will also invite a professor to be introduced to the crowd.
The first 500 students who swipe their Skyhawk card will receive an official Russell Athletic brand UTM basketball shirt. Also, all faculty and staff will receive two free reserved chairback tickets by swiping their Skyhawk cards.
Freire has invited students to come and decorate the student section the day, or morning, before the game in hopes of getting a student section together for not only this event, but the rest of the season.
In addition, Freire will be joined to Chancellor Tom Rakes in the student section during the second half of the men’s game.
All of this is being done as an effort to help forge a stronger bond, and working relationship, between the students of UTM and the athletics department, which has been one of Freire’s biggest goals since arriving at UTM.
This game will serve as a preview of what’s to come for students and [UTM] athletics in the future
In a recent presentation he made at a Student Organizations President’s Roundtable Meeting, Freire pointed out examples of some of the most prominent student sections in the country. He also pointed out several in the OVC and ended with what he envisioned UTM’s to be in the near future.
Sodexo, in an attempt to draw more students to the event, will close the University Center cafeteria and instead, offer dinner in the Elam Center. They will, however, still accept your Skyhawk card meal plans at the event.
As part of his initiative to get more student involvement with athletics, Freire went around to student organizations on campus and personally invited them to Saturday’s event.
During timeouts and the two halftimes, members of various organizations will provide entertainment to all in attendance.
“This game will serve as a preview of what’s to come for students and [UTM] athletics in the future,” said UTM Athletics in a press release. “So come on out and enjoy a meal, make some noise and cheer on your Skyhawks as they take on two of their biggest Ohio Valley Conference rivals.”
This will be the second time this season these teams have all met.
On Jan. 4, the women’s team edged passed Murray State 88-87 on the road. After that victory, the team would win eight straight games before SIU Edwardsville ended their winning streak at 10 games.
On Feb. 12, the men’s team defeated Southeast Missouri 79-70 to end a four-game losing streak. The victory was their third OVC win of the year.
