Lippy Lunatics announce return of Lippy Lights Out to kick off basketball season

Lipscomb University’s student section, the Lippy Lunatics, is bringing back Lippy Lights Out, an event that celebrates the beginning of basketball season and brings a night filled with giveaways, competitions, and introductions of both basketball teams. The date is set for Thursday, Oct. 29, at 9 p.m.

Landon Parrish, the Assistant Dean of Student Engagement, announced the event’s return after it was replaced last year by a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. It will also be the first time new Lippy Lunatics President Caleb Carlson will lead the event.

For an event that only juniors and seniors at Lipscomb would remember, over half of the student body will need a rundown on what they can expect from the event.

“It’s a kickoff pep rally for men’s and women’s basketball,” Parrish said. “It’s just an awesome time where you get to learn who the teams are.” 

The last Lippy Lights Out in 2024 featured giveaways such as a new TV, a Nashville Predators gift basket and even a Nintendo Switch. Along with that was a 3-point contest, dodgeball, and numerous attempts at “The Shot,” a famous three-quarters-court shot that Lipscomb made at the buzzer to win its first game at Allen Arena in 2001.

This midnight madness-esque event not only prepares the students and excites them for the upcoming basketball season, but also invites them to get to know the players, rather than seeing them as an unapproachable group of athletes. 

“It’s [an] opportunity for the students to get to know the players, the players to get to know the students.”

Parrish added the importance of this, stating that “a lot of times we feel like these players are put on this pedestal and the students don’t like they’re approachable.”

This has become a priority over the years for this wall between the players and the fans to be broken down. One example of this is shown often each home win, where the players will go over to the student section to show some love to the student section, before going to their team huddle after the game.

This young and growing event will take place during Halloweek at Lipscomb University. Parrish and Carlson look to fill Allen Arena for Lights Out with eyes facing toward the 2026-2027 season.

Featured Image courtesy of @lipscombstudentlife/@lippy.lunatics on Instagram