Rarely has University of Memphis basketball played second fiddle to their padded and more physical counterparts, but Memphians realize Tiger football has dominated the department of school spirit.
The Student Government Association is trying to change that, one banner at a time.
Student Organization banners hung from FedExForum will only be a small part of The University of Memphis' first basketball Homecoming on Feb. 12 when the Tigers take on the Tulane Green Wave.
The Homecoming festivities, themed "True Blue Through and Through," will start Feb. 11 with a lunch on the lawn at 1 p.m. in the Alumni Mall area in front of The University Center. Organizers are planning food and possible visits from the basketball team and cheer squads.
"We thought it would be a fun thing to do to support basketball," said Taylor Sargent, SGA cabinet member and director of student athletic services. "We give a lot of support to football every year, and basketball doesn't get a whole lot of recognition. It's been the 'other' sport these past couple years since football really took off."
An idea they've thought of for almost half a year, SGA President Sally Gates and Sargent said they believe this is the perfect time for Homecoming to start and get students excited about Memphis basketball.
"We have this awesome new Forum that we fought really hard to have good seats for students," said Gates. "We want to make sure they use them and we want to see a lot of our fans there to support the team. I think it's a great way to start a new tradition."
Students will receive free T-shirts at the game along with a chance for Memphis' craziest fan to sit courtside for the game.
A Homecoming king and queen will also be announced at the game and will win season tickets to every Memphis sporting event in the 2005-2006 athletic season.
Anson Bryant, graduate student in the field of computer science, is familiar with basketball Homecoming, even if most students at The U of M are not.
His former school, Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss., doesn't have a football team so basketball Homecoming is popular.
"If you didn't make it to the first quarter of the girl's game you don't have a seat," he said. At Rust, the girls played immediately before the men's team, according to Bryant.
Similar to the football Homecoming, organizations will have a chance to score points based on different activities and philanthropic goals.Student groups will be judged on their banners hung at the Forum, pledge amounts based on 3-point shots to be donated to the tsunami relief efforts made by the Tigers and attendance at the game.
"Football gets a lot of attention, and basketball has made a pretty big name for itself," said Justin Strain freshman computer science major.
