All is calm and bright in Odle Arena at Taylor University - until it isn’t. The annual “Silent Night” game is right around the corner. (Photo provided by Taylor Athletics)
On Dec. 5, the Trojans will be taking on the Archers of Moody Bible Institute at 6 p.m. on Paul Patterson Court in front of a packed house for the 28th installation of Silent Night.
Taylor is 26-1 all-time in the game. Moody is a familiar foe. Last season, Taylor dismantled their defense on route to a 107-59 victory. Junior forward Nate Paarlberg scored the 10th point on a fast break dunk. It was what happened next that makes the game so unique.
The fans that had been silent since the reading of the starting lineups, finally broke loose and stormed the court. A media timeout was instantly called and there was a mosh pit at halfcourt.
There is limited space inside Odle Arena; so to insure a spot on the floor or near midcourt, students camp out the week prior. The two main spots that students focus on are the front lawn of Odle and the main lobby of the Kessler Student Activities Center (KSAC). Camping out begins as early as Monday morning around 6 a.m. and doesn’t end until the doors are opened for the game.
“Some people will bring in TVs, gaming consoles, board games,” senior Jackson Woodward said. “Others will even bring in bedding so they can stay overnight.”
The students of Taylor University are heavily dedicated to finding a spot for the Silent Night game. One of the many reasons is because of how tightly packed it is. A good spot can make all the difference.
With the limited space, the out of bounds area behind both baskets is utilized and with around 2,200 students, it is still a tight squeeze.
“You’re all crammed in like cattle," Woodward said. “You’re really just trying to not get pushed out to the side by other groups.”
It’s utter chaos trying to find and keep a spot but once the game begins, all is silent. Taylor University’s student body is crammed into an arena and there are 2,200 students completely silent. And they will stay that way until the 10th point is scored. After that tenth point is scored, it’s pandemonium for the rest of the game.
The sound never ceases as students are roaring during the game. During timeouts some students even participate in skits such as Batman chasing down the Joker or Third Center Olson dressing up as Caitlin Clark and one of their members draining a three.
The final part of the annual tradition happens with two minutes left in the game as all the students put their arms around one another and sing “Silent Night” while the game is still in play.
Heading into Silent Night, Taylor has some serious momentum after a monumental win over the No. 1 ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats. The Trojans handed IWU their first loss of the season on Saturday, Nov. 22 in front of a full house. In a game that saw several lead changes and ties, it was the Trojans that prevailed 80-77.
Junior guard Izaiah Day led the way in terms of scoring with 17 points and also grabbed eight boards along with one assist. Junior guard Anthony McGhee had himself a night as well, posting 14 points, four assists and two steals. He also went 3-7 from downtown.
Taylor’s next game is on the road against the Bethel Pilots on Tuesday Dec. 3at 7:30 p.m. Then it’s Silent Night at 6 p.m. the following Friday.
