SILOAM SPRINGS [KFSM] - A Northwest Arkansas college had their first home basketball game of the season Saturday (Nov. 1), and when the home team scored their first field goal, they received a technical foul because of a fan tradition.
The toilet paper game began as a prank in the 1980s, but over the years has become a tradition that all John Brown University fans love. When the first field goal is scored by the Eagles, everyone in the arena throws a roll of toilet paper onto the court in the middle of the game.
"It's like a frenzy going on, everybody's quiet then all of a sudden when the shot goes in it's just madness, it's a really fun event to be a part of," Student Darwin Silva said.
He said he loves that his small university has such a big tradition for fans to enjoy. Silva said the technical foul the team gets is well worth the fun.
"I think it's worth it to create a tradition like this, and it's a simple thing, it's never been an obstacle for the team to win since I've been here so I think it's definitely worth it," Silva said.
The frenzy only lasts about two minutes. Players, fans and faculty members help to get the mess cleaned up so the game can go on. Kayla Holly and Jordyn Buckland drove two hours to experience their first toilet paper game. The high school seniors will be attending John Brown in the fall.
"I really appreciate traditions, I like the consistency of things, so I think it's cool that they have something unique, that they have as a tradition that's a part of their school," Holly said.
Buckland said the toilet paper tradition was a big selling point for the university.
"We're both coming to college here next year and so we are just really excited to just be in the atmosphere of the college and be a part of something big that they're doing," Buckland said.
The foul the team received Saturday night was the 34th technical foul they have gotten since the tradition started. The Eagles next home game will be against Dallas Christian on November 6.