Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Jennifer Downing
Senior News Editor
Stanley Burrell, coaches Sean Miller and Kevin McGuff and top recruit Amber Harris will be hitting the floor of Cintas Center in front of an audience of nearly 3,000 at Musketeer Madness on Saturday, the first public preview of the 2006 basketball teams.
“We want 40 minute fans – fans who stay from the opening tip to the final horn to support our teams. That’s our goal,” said Brian Hicks, Director of Marketing for the Department of Athletics.
Xavier is investing a lot in those 40 minute fans, starting the season with Musketeer Madness, a Xavier tradition since 1994 that requires several corporate sponsorships and monetary donations from various Xavier departments.
In continuing the momentum, Xavier will showcase the men’s basketball team at an open scrimmage exclusively for students at 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23 in Cintas Center to further encourage student support.
After all, “the teams look great,” said Hicks. “The women have three senior starters returning and a strong recruiting class ranked 10th in the nation, highlighted by Amber Harris.
“The men’s team has its top seven players returning from the A-10 Championship team – a solid nucleus – and an exciting crop offreshmen and newcomers,” said Hicks.
Though Hicks said that Musketeer Madness is a “celebration of Xavier basketball and its successes,” the elaborate event is also a celebration of the thousands of Xavier fans who give Xavier basketball its notorious home court advantage.
Party on the Plaza will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday outside Cintas Center, complete with a cookout, beer garden and a live performance by the band Marking Twain.
Arena doors open at 5 p.m., and the event begins at 6 p.m. with prizes. Two round trip vouchers from Delta will be given away, along with a flat screen TV, a Xavier branded cornhole set and other prizes.
If you go...
Musketeer Madness
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cintas Center
Party on the Plaza kicks off the festivities at 4. Gates open at 5 and player intorductions will begin at 6. The men’s and women’s teams will scrimmage, and select players will compete in a slam dunk contest.
Open Scrimmage
When: 5 p.m. Monday
Where: Cintas Center
Students will tour the locker room at 5, followed by a scrimmage and a Q&A with Coach Miller. Prizes will be awarded throughout the event. All students will receive a free Chipotle gift card.
The most anticipated portion of the evening will be when special effects, complete with a laser light show and smoke, are unleashed to introduce the men and women’s basketball teams. The players will participate in scrimmages, and a select group will participate in the “widely popular” slam dunk contest, said Hicks.
Other highlights of the evening include a highly acclaimed ball handling routine by Dave “Travlin” Davlin and performances by the pep band and dance team.The open gym on Monday is another effort by the Athletic Department and X-treme Fans to reach out to student fans.
Nick Madine, President of X-treme Fans, said, “It’s a chance for students to connect with the team on a more personal level.”
“Students will be treated to a behind the scenes tour of the men’s basketball locker room, and we will give students in attendance the first glimpse of the throwback jerseys that will be worn by our student-athletes for the game against Detroit on December 5,” said Hicks.
After the men’s team scrimmage, there will be a question and answer session with Coach Miller.
One student will win two courtside seats to a home game as well as two admissions to the Crosstown Shootout VIP party on Dec. 12.
All students present will receive a Chipotle gift card, and a select 13 students will win the new “X Shirt.”
All this is being done because “we want our student fans to interact with the basketball program. Our goal is to win every home game, and student support is critical to creating the environment necessary to giving Xavier the home court advantage,” said Hicks.
Jack Holland
Contributing Writer
Xavier University will host its annual Family Weekend this Friday, Oct. 20 – Saturday, Oct. 21. As with every Family Weekend, this year’s will strive to bring Xavier students and their families together to celebrate the spirit of our university. This weekend, however, will display Xavier’s spirit with several events that Family Weekend has never seen before.
After a long drive to campus, guests can start things off with a bite to eat at the pre-game cookout at O’Connor Sports Center. The food will be served from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The weekend activities will continue with the women’s soccer game vs. LaSalle at 7 p.m. at the Xavier Soccer Complex. The matchup should prove to be exciting as the women’s team has already battled through six overtimes and are currently undefeated on home turf.
Families who prefer to be indoors will also find plenty to do. Everyone is welcome to catch a good laugh at the Xavier Players presentation of Noises Off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night. Those who want to see both the soccer game and the play need not worry; Noises Off will be performed Saturday night at the same time.
This play is a hilarious comedy that follows the on and off stage antics of a hopeless acting troupe as they stumble from a bumbling dress rehearsal to a disastrous closing night.
In addition to the Xavier Players presentation, Trey Anastasio, former front man of the jam-band Phish, will perform at Cintas Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. Tickets can be purchased at discounted rates for both Xavier students and family.
Friday night will be wrapped up with late night Bingo between 10 p.m. and midnight at O’Connor Sports Center.
Saturday’s schedule is just as eventful as Friday’s, and begins with a new start for Xavier club sports.
See the
Family Weekend Schedule
in Campus News
Xavier has not seen its own football team since 1973, although at one time Xavier did hold a respectable football program that won the 1950 Salad Bowl; equivalent to the modern day Fiesta Bowl.
Now, after a 33 year drought, the beloved sport returns to the Xavier gridiron in the form of club football. At 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, the new Musketeers will play their inaugural game against the Golden Eagles of Marquette University.
Despite not having hit the field in over 30 years, the Muskies have put in grueling practices day in and day out, and face a Marquette team that has started off their season 0-5. The Musketeers are sure to come out packed with emotion, and the fans may make the difference in this one.
The game will take place at Shea Stadium in Norwood. The stadium is located just around the corner at 3001 Harris Ave. Directions will be available at the Family Weekend Welcome Table and the Welcome Desk at the Gallagher Student Center. Families new to the neighborhood can catch a ride from one of the two buses shuttling students and parents to the stadium from Bellarmine Chapel between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Buses will also be returning to campus after the game. Admission to the game is free, but donations will be accepted.
If you are unable to make the big game, be sure to take part in Xavier University’s remarkable 175th birthday party beginning at noon on the residential mall. The celebration will provide plenty for all to do. For the competitive bunch, there will be a scavenger hunt in the style of “The Amazing Race” at 12:30 p.m. Families will need to be on top of their Xavier trivia and know their way around campus.
Second place finish in the scavenger hunt not good enough? Come try your hand in the cornhole tournament starting at 2:00 p.m. on the greenspace. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories.
Just trying to relax? Xavier’s birthday bash will provide some fun for you, too. Tap into your artistic side and stroll up to the Cohen Center to take a look at the display in Xavier’s art gallery beginning at 1:00 p.m. or stay put and enjoy Xavier’s own gospel choir hitting the greenspace stage at 12:30 p.m. If it’s food you are looking for, Xavier’s party will provide free cake and ice cream to all.
Regardless of what events you enjoy, on Saturday, Fr. Graham invites all families to mass at 4:00 p.m. in the Duff Banquet Center located at the University’s Cintas Center.
After mass, there will be several evening dinners including one hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 5:00 p.m. Finally, after dinner, cap off Family Weekend by heading to Cintas Center’s main court for Musketeer Madness and catch a sneak preview of what looks to be a promising Xavier basketball season.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the Muskies will hit the floor by 7 p.m. As always, admission is free and open to all.
For more information regarding this year’s Family Weekend or to register, call 513-745-4250 or visit http://www.xavier.edu/family_weekend/.
Junior forward awaits appeal
Brian Bowsher
Editor-in-Chief
C.J. Anderson, a junior forward on the men’s basketball team, is facing expulsion after a recommendation by the Xavier University Discipline Board.
The board met for approximately nine hours on October 3 after a female student reported a complaint against the student-athlete.
The board’s rationale for dismissal is not yet clear.
According to sources, Anderson is appealing the recommendation, and a final decision should be made in the next few days.
Kelly Leon, Xavier University Director for Public Relations, issued the following statement on behalf of the university:
“Xavier University takes all charges filed by students very seriously and has a board in place to address such grievances. Because of the confidential process of the Xavier University Discipline Board, and to protect the privacy rights of our students, no information about the charges or the findings of the board may be released by the university.”
Anderson transferred to Xavier from Manhattan University in July.
Brian Bowsher 
Editor-in-Chief
Jennifer Downing
Senior News Editor
The Xavier Newswire
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