Platform shoes, afro wigs, bell bottom pants and everything but disco balls were on display as the 70's-themed evening unfolded. Both the men's and women's teams were on hand to greet the crowd of fellow students and other fans. Each team, and Titan alumni as well, was introduced to the crowd by their coaches before scrimmaging on the first day of official practice for 2009-10.
There were plenty of raffles – with a Guitar Hero game and I-tunes, Target's and Dick's Sporting Goods gift cards as prizes – and contests for fans during the evening, too. Three students were selected for a half-court shot competition, with prizes sponsored by Qdoba.
During halftime of the men's scrimmage, the UDM lacrosse and track and field teams engaged in a spirited tug-of-war, to the delight of the crowd.
Each basketball squad held a three-point shooting contest, and the men's team helped cap off the evening with an exciting slam dunk contest. Curtis Eatmon, John Hoskins, Thomas Kennedy and Eulis Stephens all did their thing before Stephens was declared the winner by a judging panel of UDM students who all stood out for their very best 70's attire.
Men's basketball coach Ray McCallum and former UDM guard Bernie Fuhs, now a Titan Club Board member, addressed the crowd in the arena, and fans were invited into the Titan Club for a post-event social before the evening ended.
Earlier in the afternoon, President Gerard Stockhausen, S.J. held his regular Wine & Cheese get together in the Ed and Brooks Room as people from all over campus gathered with Titan fans for friendly discussion, and the Titan basketball teams held their annual media day. Newspaper, TV and radio reporters were all on hand along with a number of photographers as the Titans told their story right before their first practices of the new season.
Coach McCallum was front and center once again as he took on WXYZ-TV's Tom Leyden in a game of P-I-G. Just as last year, when the coach beat the reporter in a three-point shooting contest, McCallum prevailed once again against his friendly rival from Channel 7. A recap of their contest will be aired at 11:30 Sunday night on the station's Sunday Sports Update.
-Detroit Titans-
