CAMPUS: Maroon Madness kicks off basketball season
By Cynthia Torres
Bridge Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025
TAMIU held its annual Maroon Madness event where the women’s and men’s basketball teams kicked off their 2025-2026 season. The event began with various clubs outside the Kinesiology-Convocation Building, such as TAMIU K-Pop Organization and Repro Justice 956.
Students participated in games, like bean-bag toss and air hockey, at various club booths. Smiles, laughter and overall good energy filled the air along with the waft of food. They offered food such as macaroni, burgers, Sloppy Joes, as well as desserts like brownies and cookies, plus drinks like lemonade and water.
TAMIU men’s and women’s basketball teams make mummies during Maroon Madness on Oct. 21, 2025.
The event included tables throughout the yard, so students and attendees could feast comfortably. As time passed, students grew eager and lined up in front of the building’s entrance to get in line to get the best seats. At the entrance, volunteers and staff gave out raffle tickets and free T-shirts on a first-come first-serve basis.
TAMIU Cosplayers Secretary Izmael Medrano adjusts his sunglasses while working at a Maroon Madness booth for the organization on Oct 21, 2025.
The prizes for students from the raffle included a Nintendo Switch, karaoke machine, electric scooter and even free tuition for a single semester. At 7:30 p.m. the event opened to the public and many filled the bleachers as they anticipated the new players for the 2025-2026 basketball season. The players ran between rows of cheerleaders and threw T-shirts to the audience.
TAMIU’s “The River Gull Journal” members Alexander Zapata and Alisa Mendoza participate in Maroon Madness on Oct. 21, 2025.
“The crowd was so hyped and energetic, you just had to be there to experience it,” The River Gull Journal committee chair Alisa Mendoza said.
TAMIU Reproductive Justice members Reanna Renteria and Karla Pedraza pose for a photo at their booth at Maroon Madness on Oct. 21, 2025.
The men and women faced off against each other, competing in various mini-games such as being the first to wrap their coach from head-to-toe in toilet paper. Another mini-game included stacking disks atop each other, making sure they did not fall. Overall, the women’s basketball team filled the atmosphere with their excitement and cheers for one another. The men’s basketball team competed, showing eagerness to win.
