They offered events like dodgeball, capture the flag and even inner tube water polo.
Fenger said it’s important to plan events based on what the students will enjoy.
“We just know that students love sports nights,” she said. “We try to do what the students want of us because we’re the programming board on campus, so we want to make sure our students are out here having fun.”
Other activities for the students included racing through an inflatable obstacle course, playing volleyball with three-foot inflatable balls and basketball contests.
Cathy Fitzpatrick , interim manager at UAB, said these events are “huge” in how they help students grow as individuals.
It’s both a social outlet for students and a chance to stay active, she said.
“It’s the mission of the university,” Fitzpatrick said. “It falls in line with President (Lou Anna K.) Simon’s mission Bolder by Design. It’s all about student engagement and making a connection with their community.”
UAB was able to put together prizes for many giveaways during the night. Some of the prizes included a mini football helmet signed by quarterback Connor Cook, a basketball signed by 2013-14 MSU basketball team and a Tom Izzo cut-out. They also offered an MSU tank top to the first 200 people who came.
The prizes were a big reason some students came out.
Mechanical engineering freshman Phil Erickson was looking forward to winning a prize as well as getting a free shirt.
“I was thinking I’d come out and try to win a game,” Erickson said.
“I heard there was a free MSU bro tank and I thought that sounded pretty cool. I think the fact that UAB provides it is a pretty cool thing.”
