LA JOLLA, Calif. – For more than 25 years, one of the favorite memories among UC San Diego alumni is attending Spirit Night, an annual event that takes place in conjunction with a basketball game of significance in RIMAC Arena.
Face painting, showing college pride and a week full of contests and activities lead up to the big game and all contribute toward the highly-coveted "Cup of Cheer" that is awarded to the students from the most spirited college.
This Friday afternoon, due to the pandemic, a different type of Spirit Night will take place when the Triton men's basketball team hosts UC Davis.
With Return to Learn protocols in place, along with local and state regulations, fans are not be allowed to attend games in RIMAC Arena and students are not able to gather in groups to show their Triton Spirit. Thus, a number of "virtual" activities are planned to ensure students have an opportunity to experience Spirit Night and cheer the Tritons against the new Big West rivals.
Last month, students launched the Cup of Cheer competition by participating in Triton Madness, an online program that included contests, prizes, hype videos and visits from members of the men's and women's basketball teams. Triton Madness served as the first of five events that provide points that contribute toward determining the most spirited college.
During the first week of winter quarter, Triton Tide leadership launched three contests that will each count toward the Cup of Cheer – a Triton Tide Trivia Night event, a TikTok challenge and a social media contest. These contests will culminate in a special Spirit Night Virtual Fan Fest!
Spirit Kits have been sent to approximately 1,400 students for Friday's virtual program, which begins at 3 p.m. and ends immediately prior to the Tritons' 4 p.m. tipoff against the Aggies on ESPN3. Students are encouraged to watch the game on ESPN3 for the announcement of the winner of this year's Cup of Cheer.
Last week, the first 200 students each from the university's seven colleges that registered for the Virtual Fan Fest received special Spirit Packages that included a gameday t-shirt that was designed by UC San Diego student Annika Hatcher. Members of the men's basketball team will wear the shirt during their pregame warm-ups as a show of appreciation for the support of Triton Tide and the entire student body.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
