The Sinclair Athletic Department hopes to break their attendance record on Feb. 10 when the men and women’s basketball teams play a doubleheader against Edison Community College for White Out Wednesday, according to Athletic Director Jack Giambrone.
Giambrone said White Out Wednesday started three years ago as a celebration of students and as a way to bring the Sinclair family together.
“We wanted a real college atmosphere like you see on TV,” Giambrone said. “We want to share with everyone how great our athletics are.”
Admission to the event is free to all students, staff and faculty with a Tartan Card. Giambrone asks that everybody attending the event wear white shirts and said there will be special features at the games such as: a free slice of pizza and a drink for everybody at halftime, a performance by a local pep band, either from Central State or Wayne High School and free headbands.
“We want to set the Guinness World Record for most people wearing white headbands in one place,” Giambrone said.
In addition to the other features, Giambrone said he hopes to have a raffle for a month’s worth of free parking, but that has yet to be confirmed. What has been confirmed is everyone coming to the event will be eligible to win free books for next quarter.
Giambrone said everybody will receive a ticket upon entering the gym and at halftime five tickets will be drawn. Those students have one opportunity to make a half court shot to win free textbooks.
“Two people in three years have beaten all the odds and made the shot,” Giambrone said.
Sophomore forward British Alexander played in the White Out Wednesday event in 2008 and said it was a good environment to be a part of.
“There was a lot of people there, a lot of white shirts,” Alexander said. “The fans brought a lot of intensity to the game.”
Alexander said this year fans should expect a good exciting game against Edison and has advice for those students shooting half court shots for free textbooks.
“Aim for the middle of the backboard,” Alexander said. “Do like LeBron (James) does and just throw it up there and see what happens.”
Giambrone said the old attendance record is 800, set in the 1985-1986 season, when the women’s basketball team went undefeated.
“I think we can break the record easily,” Giambrone said. “We definitely have enough room.”
The women’s game starts at 5:30 p.m. and the men’s game starts at 7:30 p.m.