Here's one for the ages: The Haunted House of Hoops! It was a tremendous idea by Coach Meyer that helps to promote his program as well as provide a community service. It's done on Halloween in the gym with players giving out candy to kids in the community. You can introduce your team, put on a shooting exhibition, pass out schedules and get the town excited about the season. Parents love it because they know their children will be safe and dry in the gym on Halloween.My very first Coach Meyer Academy was in 1994 and this made page 3 of my notes. I came back and shared this idea with Dale Brown and in the fall of 1994, on Halloween night (by the way, Coach Brown's birthday), LSU kicked off is first Haunted House of Hoops. And it was a big hit.
How big a hit was it? It is now hosted by the entire athletic department. We call it the Boozar and each sport has a booth that it decorates and it is operated by our student-athletes. We pass out candy (donated by the local stores) and sign autographs, pass out schedule cards and talk to fans young and old alike. It's been going for 15 years now and each fall thousands of children crowd into the LSU Fieldhouse to meet athletes and have a safe trick or treat.
It's an amazing event that has become a tradition on the LSU campus.
