Public shows support for Pack
Nearly 500 fans were in attendance as children in costumes, from princesses to monsters, covered the Lawlor Events Center Friday afternoon to go trick-or-treating with the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the cheerleaders at the fourth annual Hoops and Treats.
Throughout the afternoon, all of Nevada’s basketball players seemed as though they were a part of a presidential election – signing autographs and taking hundreds of pictures with newborn babies in their arms.
“I think it’s the players’ responsibility to share with kids,” men’s coach Mark Fox said. “If it can bring a smile to some kid’s face, then it’s worth it.”
Hoops and Treats was initially an idea that was generated by Assistant Athletics Director Cindy Fox. After working at larger schools with little public access to the sports teams, she threw out the idea of having an event for kids, she said.
Holly Aycock, director of promotions, took on the idea and said it has continued to grow every year since its inception.
“It’s really the only time that the men’s team signs autographs,” Aycock said. “The kids get to stand right next to them and say ‘Wow, you really are that tall.’”
After the crowd watched the men’s team practice for a half hour, both teams were introduced and a costume contest was held. Each player on the women’s team gave their favorite costume a gift certificate to BJ’s Brewery.
The rest of the day was open to the public to get autographs and pictures from the players and for the children to go trick-or-treating from player to player.
As sophomore Matt LaGrone bent down to give a little girl a piece of candy, she sheepishly backed away into her father’s arms.
And while some of the younger children in attendance were intimidated by the size of the players, others jumped from line to line just to get a picture taken that compared their size to that of one of the players.
Amy Horning, a mother at the event, brought her son Baylor, 6, and her daughter Boston, 2, to the event dressed as evil Spider-Man and a princess, respectively.
“My kids were excited to meet all of the players,” Horning said. “Anytime kids can get out and see the players in a positive light it is a positive thing.”
Even high school age kids came to the event, mostly because they had previously attended camps held by the teams.
Jill Dupre, a 14-year-old freshman at Virginia City High School, said that after the positive experiences she had at the camp, she had to come back to see the players again.
“The camps showed me how a team works and the players set such an example for me,” Dupre said. “They showed me that it is so much more than just a sport, and this event just reinforces that.”
With the upcoming season rapidly approaching, the event was also used as a way to attract people to the university and its sporting events.
Cindy Fox said that the teams are obligated to embrace their community if they want to see a good turnout throughout the season.
“It’s another place to load up,” Cindy Fox said. “The kids can come to the game and be like ‘Hi JaVale, hi Dellena’ and have some relation to the games and the players. It’s really a win-win situation for both parties.”
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on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 1:12 am and is filed under Men's Basketball, Sports.
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