12 p.m., Fridays, in Webster Gym. When these students aren’t working, trying to catch up on sleep or missing meals, you can find them on the basketball court, facing off against professors in the weekly Noon Ball game.
Tigers play casual pick-up games throughout the week, usually featuring teams of four or five, with the teams playing full court to 12. This informal setup usually happens throughout the week until Friday, when the Noon Ball players come out for their weekly pick-up game.
A long-standing Trinity tradition, pits professors and students against one another. The rules have stayed constant for years: full court, teams of five, and the first team to seven baskets wins.
For hard-working students, it can be tough to find solace away from the classroom. Many find Noon Ball to be a fun way to engage with professors and relax on a Friday afternoon.
“Noon Ball is cool cause we play slightly different rules [from the rest of the week] and the professors come, which is fun,” said senior Mac McCrory. “Sometimes Dean Tuttle joins. He calls me ‘The Assassin.’ “
Getting involved with professors on a competitive and personal level certainly draws students into Noon Ball.
“The games are fairly competitive and everyone has a good time,” said sophomore Dylan Alexander. It’s nice to meet professors you wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
A fun way for students to interact with professors, Noon Ball is also beloved among students because it’s a consistent way to relax at the end of the busy week. There is no difficulty with coordinating a time for everyone to come together to play; all players know the drill.
Without Noon Ball, players are left hoping to find other people to play with during free time in their schedule, which does not always line up accordingly. Alexander is unable to play a lot during the week outside of Noon Ball.
“I play usually once or twice a week,” Alexander said. “During IM basketball season, I usually play a lot more.”
For basketball aficionados, the sport is merely one way of staying active during free time. A lot of players find themselves looking for other activities to engage with when basketball games are not taking place.
“I analyze sports and play other sports in my time that isn’t spent studying,” McCrory said.
Sophomore Mason Dunn also finds other ways to get involved.
“I play some soccer, participate in my fraternity, and study a lot,” Dunn said.
Whenever they’re not studying, Tigers can find comfort knowing that eventually it will be noon on Friday again, where surely a ball will be dribbled up and down the Webster Gym court as professors and students alike come together to engage in an activity they both love basketball.
