DePauw men's basketball team slates Dec. 19 Senior Citizen Day

Friday, December 14, 2012

"Senior Moments" will come thick and fast Wednesday, Dec. 19 when the DePauw University men's basketball team hosts its inaugural Senior Citizens Day event at 1 p.m. at the Lilly Center, 702 S. College Ave.

The Tigers will be taking on Kalamazoo College.

Admission to the game is free for all who attend and their families with door prizes contributed by Starbucks, McDonald's, Papa John's and Walmart to be offered at the Wednesday game.

The drawing will be held at halftime and will include gift cards for free coffee from Starbucks, extra value meals from McDonald's, large pizzas from Papa John's and a $25 gift card from Walmart.

This is the first of two such events planned at DePauw this winter. The Dec. 19 game reflects the community interest hopes of DePauw coach Bill Fenlon. The second event is Jan. 5 at 3 p.m. vs. Hiram College.

"We just want to find a way for the communities of Putnam County to become involved in our athletic program at DePauw University," Fenlon said, noting the Tigers are 2-1 on their home floor and 4-3 for the young season going into a Monday engagement at Rose-Hulman.

A second component of the team's neighborly outreach is a commitment to community service in Greencastle and wherever a positive experience is likely.

Sharon Pitcock, director of the Putnam County Senior Center on the square in Greencastle, has already seen evidence of the DePauw basketball players' energy and enthusiasm.

"Three boys from the team came up one afternoon and we turned them loose on the cluttered basement of the Senior Center," Pitcock said. "They cleaned the basement so well and then lugged all the excess furniture, files and things up to the attic into storage.

"We just haven't had the manpower to do these things, and it was such a wonderful gesture," she added. "The boys were so nice and courteous and came back for several more work sessions and interacted with the seniors here in the Center on those workdays. We've have had many thoughtful DePauw students help us out through the years, and it's been such a joy to have them help us."

The DePauw players also plan other work/visits trips this season to Autumn Glen, Mill Pond and Asbury Towers.

Attendance to all the games this season will be free. The team welcomes fans from throughout Putnam County, not just Greencastle, to attend for free.

In other activities planned for the Dec. 19 Kalamazoo game include free hotdogs or popcorn plus a soft drink.

Senior citizens attending the game will have the option to high five the DePauw players when they are introduced before the game.

Seniors may line up on the south side of the floor, along the out-of-bounds line and show their team spirit by high-fiving players as they are introduced. Participation in this gesture is optional.

DePauw's remaining home games include:

-- Dec. 19, Kalamazoo, 1 p.m.

-- Jan. 4, Allegheny, 8 p.m.

-- Jan. 5, Hiram, 3 p.m.

-- Jan. 9, Wabash, 8 p.m.

-- Jan. 16, Denison, 8 p.m.

-- Jan. 23, Wittenberg, 8 p.m.

-- Jan. 26, Ohio Wesleyan, 3 p.m.

-- Jan. 26 vs. DePauw alumni, 5 p.m.

-- Feb. 9, Oberlin, 3 p.m.

-- Feb. 16,Wooster, 3 p.m.

* Men's 3 p.m. games will feature women's games at 1 p.m. except on 12-19 and at 6 p.m. preceding most 8 p.m. games, except on 1-23.

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