J.R. Giddens has attended Kansas University’s last two season-opening “Late Nights” as a fan.
He can hardly wait for tonight, when he finally finds out what it’s like to participate in “Late Night in the Phog” as a full-fledged member of the KU team.
“Magic … I think it’ll be pure magic,” said Giddens, a freshman guard from Oklahoma City, who along with fellow frosh David Padgett, Omar Wilkes, Jeremy Case and Nick Bahe will be introduced to the home fans for the first time tonight at “Late Night In the Phog.”
Doors will open at 7 p.m., with skits to start about 10 p.m., and a short scrimmage to take place at midnight in accordance with NCAA rules.
“I’m just ready to act the fool,” Giddens added. “Get out there, get to dance and clown around — see the fans smile, because I love to hear the fans. They’re the greatest.”
Journal-World File PhotoThe fans at this year’s Late Night will see a lot of changes, Giddens said.
“There’s a new coach (Bill Self), a big Jayhawk (on the court), players like Keith (Langford) and Dub (Wayne Simien). I think every player on the team can’t wait to get out there,” Giddens said.
Getting out there for the start of official workouts is what it’s all about. Midnight is the first time teams can practice under NCAA guidelines.
“There’s a lot of anticipation all day. You are anxious all day waiting for Late Night to start,” said Simien, KU’s junior forward from Leavenworth, who has been to two Late Nights as a player, many more as a fan.
“There’s a big buildup because you everybody knows the season is almost here, and you want to get it going. It’s an exciting day all around.”
Journal-World File PhotoIt’s been this way since 1985, the first year KU held a Midnight Madness celebration.
“Late Night at Kansas is always a’production,” said Milt Newton, a member of KU’s 1988 national championship team who tonight will be honored with other members of the title team. “My memories are not so much the wild things that happened in the (players) skits, but just the realization that the season is starting. Just the fact that the season is starting is a big deal at KU.”
Former KU standout guard Rex Walters, who tonight will kick off his first season as a college assistant at Valparaiso University, also will be wondering what’s happening here at KU.
“I absolutely loved Late Night for the scrimmage and the layups — to me that was the funnest part, as opposed to the skits,” said the shooting guard from San Jose, Calif., who played for the Jayhawks from 1991 to ’93.
“I remember my first Late Night. I was a transfer (from Northwestern) sitting out, but I got to play that night and show the people of Lawrence and Kansas what I can do.
“Late Night and Kansas basketball … it doesn’t get any better than that,” Walters added. “I always talk about it, even more so now that I’m away from it. The fans are such a big part of Kansas basketball. Not a day goes by I don’t see somebody who says, ‘Rock Chalk Jayhawk,’ or ‘How are the Jayhawks gonna do? How is coach Self gonna do?’
“Late Night is the start of everything, all the gossip, all the talk, all the action. Late Night is the start of it all.”
Former Jayhawk Nick Brad-ford, who played at KU from 1996 to 2000, said the fans make Late Night what it is.
“I think my first year was my favorite. I think it’s like that for a lot of guys,” recalled the Fayetteville, Ark., native. “It’s all new. I came out and couldn’t believe all the people and their reaction.
“With the season here, the crowd is excited, everybody on campus is excited. You feel the energy coming from the stands.”
Some Jayhawks like the basketball portion of Late Night more than the frivolity of the annual player skits.
This year’s Late Night will include recognizing all of KU’s sports teams and the 1988 men’s national championship team, plus a performance from the KC Marching Cobras drill team with perhaps some other surprises in store.
“Late Night … it was all right. I was never one who liked it a lot like some of the other guys,” former Jayhawk Nick Collison, now with Seattle of the NBA, said. “I wanted to play, to scrimmage and get out of there without doing a lot of crazy stuff.
“It was fun with all the fans there. Every time you are out there it’s fun, but a lot of guys really liked it. I liked the fact it was basketball season, and we were going to get to play at midnight.”
There will be a short midnight scrimmage tonight just as there have been at each of the Late Nights in the Larry Brown and Roy Williams eras.
Here are thumbnail capsules of each of the previous Late Nights:.
KU seniors Collison and Kirk Hinrich stole the “Mardi Gras”-themed show, Collison playing volatile Texas Tech coach Bob Knight in one skit and Hinrich portraying Mis-souri coach Quin Snyder in another.
“It was the most fun I had in my four years,” Collison said.
KU coach Roy Williams had a lot of fun, too, praising administrators for installing a new sound system, which improved acoustics in the fieldhouse.
Freshmen Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles, Michael Lee and Jeff Hawkins serenaded their mothers in a poignant song and dance. Late Night had a patriotic theme coming a month after the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Drew Gooden, who is now with the Orlando Magic, sat in a canoe with John Crider as the canoe was pulley-ed across the fieldhouse floor. Jeff Carey, who showed with a wavy head of hair instead of his crewcut, had teammates shave his head under the South goal.
Big men Eric Chenowith and Carey played electric guitar as Collison sang vocals for the Limp Bizkit song, “Faith.” They were joined by a drummer in the KU band.
The theme was “Night at the Naismiths” — an awards show in which guest judges rated acts and presented not an Oscar, but a “Naismith” to the winners. Ever-athletic Kenny Gregory rammed home several windmill dunks during a warmup drill.
A transfer from LSU, Lester Earl wore a black leather jacket in a spoof of 1950s music. Earl had some vicious dunks, as did Gregory and Paul Pierce in a pre-scrimmage dunk-athon. Also, Ryan Robertson had a big role in a skit as host of the game show, “The Price Is Right.”
Scot Pollard became the first basketball player in KU history to score 14 points, grab seven rebounds and block four shots while wearing bright red polish on all 10 fingernails.
“Revlon Vixen” was the eccentric player’s color of choice.
That’s the night Pollard, who is now with the Indiana Pacers, proposed to his girlfriend, Mindy Camp. She ac-cepted.
Fans showed early for the Saturday night event which started when former KU football coach Glen Mason took the court and yelled, “Live from Allen Fieldhouse, it’s Late Night With Roy Wil-liams.” Now at Minnesota, Mason has said one of his favorite moments at KU involved the reception he received at that Late Night. Earlier that day KU had won a football game during a 10-2 season.
Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett and golfing great Tom Watson joined ex-Royals’ center fielder Brian McRae and ex-Chief defensive back Deron Cherry as honorary coaches.
Fans dressed as their favorite TV sitcom characters before the scrimmage. The Lone Ran-ger, Silver, Tonto, Gilligan’s Ginger and Granny Clampett all were on hand. This Late Night marked the debut of freshmen Vaughn, Pollard, B.J. Williams and Nick Proud, as well as Cal transfer Jerod Haase.
Zany big man Greg Ostertag showed up in a Frankenstein’s monster outfit. Williams’ entrance was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new fieldhouse floor. The place was packed, even though Late Night was televised, but the TV show drew poor reviews.
Williams decided Late Night would be better suited on a Friday night, not Monday, the first day KU could practice in accordance with NCAA rules. The fans responded, packing the building. The announced attendance was 15,800. Pre-scrimmage hoopla was highlighted by freshman center Ostertag, who lip-synched a Garth Brooks tune while surrounded by the Crimson Girls.
More than 13,000 fans showed to see the Jayhawks dance and scrimmage after a long Sunday of pro football, including a Chiefs’ home game against Detroit. During the 1990 scrimmage, Walters scored 16 points and amazed the crowd with some violent dunks.
In ’89, a $5 admission fee was charged to pay for two bands, who performed on a massive sound stage. Mike Maddox, Rick Calloway, Freeman West and Jeff Gueldner stole the show on a massive stage performing Robert Palmer songs.
Williams’ first Late Night — it was called “Later With Roy Williams” — drew over 10,000 fans. Alonzo Jamison shattered the backboard. After the new goal was in place, Milt Newton led the Blue team to a 36-35 victory as he scored 16 points.
Danny Manning and Scooter Barry sang The Temptations’ song: “My Girl.” The normally reserved Manning was willing to grab center stage prior to his senior season.
“Late Night With Larry Brown” became a major happening in 1986, thanks in large part to its namesake, Late Night With David Letterman. One-time Letterman foil Larry Bud Melman visited Lawrence for the early Wednesday morning scrimmage, first signing autographs at 7 p.m. at the Burge Union.
KU’s inaugural “Late Night With Larry Brown” attracted 6,000 fans. Considering it was a first-time event, Brown was ecstatic.
“It was fabulous. I was thrilled with the students,” Brown said of the throng that showed at 12:01 on a Tuesday morning. “They made it all worthwhile and I know our kids enjoyed it.”
Many of the students wore T-shirts that read, “Late Night With Larry Brown. Starring the 1985-86 Kansas basketball team … all the way to Dallas.”
The shirts proved prophetic as the team advanced to the Final Four in Dallas. Current KU coach Bill Self was a grad assistant on that team.
Photo Gallery: Previous Late Nights