This year, there will be two Dam Jams; one for the men’s basketball team and one for the women’s team. Additionally, the events coincide with the games, as opposed to being held before the season like students are currently used to.
The first Dam Jam will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, in Sommer Center, when the men’s basketball team plays Heidelberg University. The doors will open at 2:30 p.m. and the game begins at 3 p.m.
Kevin White, assistant director of university event complex photo by Aubrey Bartel
“It’ll be a little bit different from it has in the past,” said Kevin White, assistant director of university event complex. “We’ve changed it up a little bit to try to get students actually going to games and trying to bolster our student section.”
The night will consist of smaller contests with door prizes during timeouts throughout the game, along with a bigger contest at halftime. The first 70 students to arrive will also get a free long-sleeved T-shirt.
“At half time we’ll have the big contest for the $100 gift card,” White said. “It’s a big tic tac toe game, something a lot of professional teams have done as well. The students will have to make layups to try to win the game of tic tac toe.”
While the timing of Dam Jam is different, White said overall, the event will look very similar.
“We’re still there to support the men’s basketball team, and then in the second semester we’ll do another Dam Jam similar to this for the women’s basketball team,” White said. “We’re splitting it up a little bit to try to get students to the actual game as opposed to a random Wednesday night.”
Additionally, the hope is hosting the event on Saturday will help with weekend programming on campus.
Aaron Rich, a junior captain of the men’s basketball team, photo by Aubrey Bartel
“I know students around here say there’s nothing going on during the weekend, so we figured we’d do it on the weekend to try to help out with that as well,” White said.
White said he is excited to show how effective a large student section can be during home games, something Aaron Rich, a junior captain of the men’s basketball team, agreed with.
“It gives us more energy during games when more people are there and being loud,” Rich said. “Fan support is always a key part in home games.”
According to White, Dam Jam has been around since 2011 or 2012. Before that, when White was a Bluffton student, it was called Midnight Madness and was more player-focused, particularly on the men’s basketball team.
“With doing two of them, I want to try to focus on men’s and women’s basketball,” White said. “It’s a great way to show what our basketball teams are about.”
Rich said his goal for this season is to make it back into the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament and win it all this time. With these expectations, White encourages students to come to support the team early in the season.
“I think it’s going to be a good time,” said White.” Our basketball team has a lot of hype surrounding them this year and with that recent success in the scrimmage, I think they’re going to put together a good year for us. I would encourage students to come out and support immediately.”
