By John Mulvaney, WSAZ Sports

He runs onto the court. There is no music, no emotion in the voice of the home team's PA announcer. The silence of the crowd is interrupted only by random boos and inaudible one-liners from the student section.

He is the last visitor introduced. He is the last enemy to hit the court and arrogantly chest bump his teammates, as if he knows something you don't. 

Then the lights go down all over the arena. The next brief moment of darkness is shattered by thumping bass. Screams and cheers fill the air but they are drowned out by the piercing shrill of a guitar and a low, deep thump. Pulsating light washes over a standing crowd as the video board comes alive.

For the next sixty seconds highlights of ferocious dunks and heart pounding beats convince everyone with a ticket stub that this arena is the temporary Mecca of basketball.  As the video tribute to past glory and future dreams ends, the spotlight bursts into existence. The circle of white hot light frantically searches gym for the home bench. So much has stimulated the eye and ear in the last minute that the deep rumble of the PA announcer is almost alarming. He blares out a trademark phrase to alert the crowd this is the climax of  what they've been waiting for, it is time to meet their warriors.

The light now fixated on the home bench is almost louder than the crowd. That solitary circle of light and anything within its grasp are the only things visible in the pitch black atmosphere. Finally, each name, each number is belted out. The announcer strains to be louder than the fist pumping music that consumes the arena. Every player is introduced with such emotion, such conviction. Almost as though he is the only hope for victory.

When the last player is introduced the players encircle their captain. They chant, with fists raised together so they create an impenetrable temple of unity. By this time the adrenaline in the arena is almost palpable.

This is the perfect way to set the stage. This is basketball, but this is NOT Marshall basketball.

The changes in Marshall's basketball program are everywhere, Donnie Jones has brought excitement back to the Henderson Center. Unfortunately the Henderson Center has not returned the favor.

Marshall's pregame routine and in-game audio is nothing short of boring.

Against the number two team in the country there were no elaborate introductions, there was no pre-game highlight package. There wasn't even a pep band! Chesapeake high school filled in for the Marshall pep band. They actually did a good job for a high school band. But Marshall is in Conference USA, playing the highest ranked team to ever visit Huntington and they can only find a high school pep band? Where was Marshall's Band Director on that one?

Here is a typical scene at the Henderson Center this season: Tirrell Baines grabs an offensive rebound, sticks it back between two defenders. The freshman races back down the court blocks a shot and starts a break that culminates in a thunderous Markel Humphrey dunk. The opponent is so flustered they call timeout, now is the time any other arena is filled with one of the hottest songs on the hip-hop charts or a school signature like "Jump Around" (by House of Pain) at Wisconsin. Not so for Marshall. Instead, this is the time Jones high-fives Baines and Humphrey as "Devil Went Down to Georgia" (by Charlie Daniels) fills the arena, draining away all emotion and confusing every fan's adrenal system.

I like Charlie Daniels. I do. But unless you are playing a team from Georgia or a team with a devil themed mascot, it has no business in a college basketball arena.

Music and athletics will forever be tied together. But it is a delicate relationship. Not just any song will do. "Under Pressure" (by Queen) is a great song, but only if played at the appropriate time (and only if all of your other CDs and Mp3 files have been permanently damaged). The purpose of music is to energize fans, keep them in the moment, and keep them wanting more. Music at athletic events should also entertain and excite the athletes. That is pretty hard to do when most of the music played was written before their time.

Something seems selfish to me about putting pressure on a coach and his athletes to win and not providing those athletes with an environment which excites them and makes them comfortable. How many Marshall basketball players grew up listening to Tom Petty and Boston? I would wager not many.

Late in the game against Winthrop, before overtime, the paying crowd was treated to a stirring playback of "Last Dance With Mary Jane" (by Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers). Not exactly best blood pumping soundtrack for a team of 18, 19 and 20-year olds. Not to mention this song is widely regarded as one long drug reference, so anybody who doesn't want to hear hip-hop or rap should re-evaluate their standards.

In the first half against Memphis, the second ranked team in the nation, the Thundering Herd trailed by 15 points. During a timeout in that stretch, the sound system should have been blaring "Party Like a Rockstar" (by Petshop Boys) or "Ladies and Gentlemen" (by Saliva). Instead Marshall fans heard a organ instrumental of Sunday School favorite "If You are Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands" (by any fifth grader with a Casio organ).

Several minutes later Marshall went on an impressive run to close out the half. Donnie Jones and the Herd get the credit on that one, not the sound system.

Attendance is up, fans are back in the seats and ready for a great product. Jones and his first MU team are doing their part, now is the time to compliment the transformation undergoing the Marshall basketball program.

Turn out the lights, turn on the spotlight and buy a CD or download something from iTunes from 2008 please. I've attached a couple of links here to YouTube videos. The first is a pre-game video shown by the University of Kentucky before home team introductions. The second is a similar video from Auburn. The Third is amateur video of South Carolina's pre-game ritual.  Billy Donovan's Florida program does something very similar. Enjoy the videos and imagine what a Marshall home game could be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUG4cLFbwHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8nfL7JNjO0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIqhLblxul0