 "Photo: Media Relations")
Last Thursday night, students celebrated Mardi Gras MTSU style at Murphy Center.
Blue Raider fans came out in full force to cheer on the men's and women's basketball teams. Only this time, they came wearing their traditional blue and white with purple, green and gold.
"It's my favorite game of the season," said Tina Stackens, senior animal science major. "I came last year and had a great time. It's fun catching beads and seeing people catching them."
The Lady Raiders took on Florida International and fans came out to show their support of their team. Sororities and fraternities like Delta Omicron and Gamma Beta Phi came out to show their school spirit and support for MTSU athletics.
"Girls games are great," said Lorelei Rackauskas, senior recording industry major and president of Gamma Beta Phi. "Krystle Horton is our girl."
Students also came out in homemade T-shirts with shakers and streamers ready to cheer on the men's team as well.
"The Mardi Gras theme adds to the [fun of] the game," said Crystal Griffey, senior communication disorder major and social chair for Gamma Beta Phi. "I wish the fraternities and sororities had dressed up more. I especially like the banners."
Stackens, Rachauskas and Griffey were dressed in purple and green masks, several strands of multi-colored beads and feather boas. They are regular supporters of the MTSU Lady Raiders.
"Last year we played Louisiana Lafayette in Louisiana during Mardi Gras, and it was like a big party," said Brad Smith, assistant director for MTSU marketing. "Everyone had a great time, and it was a huge success."
Smith said the Mardi Gras theme was chosen due to its previous success over the past several years, and last year's Mardi Gras night at the basketball game was one of the largest student turnouts for last season.
Even MTSU's own 'dancing man' came out to support his Blue Raiders by dancing his way through the crowd to conjure up school spirit for the Raiders.
A Mardi Gras parade was held during half-time of the MTSU men's basketball game. Several groups including delegates from Middle Tennessee Medical Center, Blue Raiders Athletic Association, the MTSU Lady Raiders basketball team, the MTSU cheerleaders, students showing their school spirit and the MTSU football team all participated. The grand marshal for the parade was Lightning. These groups threw out beads, candy and medallions to the crowd.
The only major problem for the evening was some students were upset that Mardi Gras night was not publicized more.
"Marketing for this night was not very good," Rachauskas said. "It could have been a lot better."
Griffey suggested that MTSU athletics should put on more competitions and give awards for student's efforts.
"I think they should reward [student] organizations based on how many members showed up to the game and participated," Griffey said.
Rachauskas, Griffey and Stackens all attended last year's game and remember a better student turnout.
"It seems like more people dressed up last year," Rachauskas said. "There are not a lot of activities before or during the girl's game. I wish there was more."
Students offered suggestions for themes which they would like to see during the basketball games such as western night, decades night or a beach party theme.
"There are over 100 student organizations on campus, and I would like to see more of them here at events like this," Rachauskas said. "Greeks always turn out, but these events are for everyone. [I think] more than Greeks need to be here."
By the end of the night, the Lady Raiders beat FIU 66-59, while the men's team suffered a close loss at 69-67.
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