From UAB Athletics:
The
UAB men's basketball team will tip off the 2012-13 season in grand
fashion when it invites the City of Birmingham to "Hoops On The
`Haase'-phalt" which is set to take place on Friday on the UAB
campus.
The
event is a first of its kind in the state of Alabama, as the city will
close down 14th Street South to erect an outdoor basketball court near
Heritage Hall, which will showcase the members of this year's Blazer
squad.
"I think this is going to be a big-time event and will be good in many ways," UAB head coach Jerod Haase said.
"Most important is that our players are genuinely excited about the
season and want to start the year off in the right way. It's also a
great opportunity for the fans to see the new players and the new look
of UAB basketball."
Hoops
on the `Haase'-phalt will be a night of activities for families of all
ages. Pre-event festivities will begin at 6 p.m. at the UAB mini-park,
which will include music and inflatables for children, while food
vendors will be on site to sell food to the public.
Fans
will be encouraged to take their seats in the specially-constructed
bleachers, which will surround the basketball court, and enjoy a youth
basketball scrimmage that will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The
main event will begin promptly at 7 p.m. and include Golden Girls, the
UAB Band and Spirit Squads, a three-point competition, a dunk contest
and conclude with a scrimmage followed by remarks by the first-year head
coach.
Among
the exciting promotions planned for the night will be a free iPad
giveaway to one lucky UAB student, while another will have a chance to
hit a half court shot to win a $5,000 prize toward spring semester. In
addition, UAB basketball will provide free food to the first 500
students in attendance with a valid ID, courtesy Full Moon BBQ plate.
Former UAB men's basketball players who are in attendance will also be recognized prior to the on-court entertainment.
Admission
is free and open to the public and fans are invited to watch the
assembly of the full-sized, regulation court, which will begin on the
morning of the event.
This
is the first time since the 2005-06 season the team will host a
preseason tip-off event, which Haase hopes will ignite the Blazer fan
base for the upcoming campaign.
"I
think the excitement around the program is tangible," Haase said. "It's
important for us that fans are involved, so we really want to have a
great turnout. This is something very unique and we think it will be
something people talk about for years to come."
