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Booster offers $10,000 to break the attendance record

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Booster offers ,000 to break the attendance record

Cayden Check / Thresher

By Diego Palos Rodriguez 11/19/24 11:11 p.m.

On January 14, the second day of the 2025 spring semester, the Rice men’s basketball team will play its first home game of the semester against the University of Texas at San Antonio. As with most sporting events, prizes will be awarded to entice students to participate, but this time it’s a little different.

Basketball booster and alumnus Randy Block ’94 pledged $10,000 to each college with a shooter who makes a blindfolded shot from the opposite free throw line as well as $500 to the college with the most students in attendance, the loudest college and every college shooter who makes a half-court shot.

Block is offering these prizes in an effort to break the student attendance record at Tudor Fieldhouse.

In an email to Thresher, Block explained exactly how this money would be distributed:

“$500 to the college with the most students!” »

“$500 to the loudest, rowdiest college!” »

“$500 to each college whose shooter makes a half-court shot!” »

“$10,000 to each team whose shooter makes a blindfolded shot from the opposite free throw line!” »

Any of these awards would give colleges the opportunity to invest in a number of resources and activities. According to Baker College President Lynn-Chi Nguyen, in addition to funding new traditions for the Bakers, they would use the money to support future athletic attendance.

“Since the fund comes from a sporting event, I would encourage that a portion of the funds be used to support our student-athletes, such as finding ways to encourage Bakers to attend more sporting events “Nguyen said.

In preparation for the Jan. 14 game, colleges will choose a shooter for the half-court shot and the 75-foot blindfold shot from the opposite free throw line. At Will Rice College, the selection process will be just as competitive as the actual competition.

“(We would do a) battle royal,” said Felipe Lerner, president of Will Rice College.

The 75-foot shot would be the seventh longest in NBA history.

While it may be very difficult, Block would have to pay $116,500 if every college can make that shot in addition to the half-court shot, a figure Block explained he would “absolutely” give up.

Regardless of the outcome, Block said he hopes this challenge can pack Tudor Fieldhouse and encourage students to show up to the game as a united front, creating a special environment for the men’s basketball team.

“In the history of Rice, this type of large amount of money has never been offered for an academic challenge at an athletic event,” Block said. “Let’s package Tudor and see if a student can take $10,000 from me to support their university!”