My Dad was an SJU grad and never stopped going to games after graduation, finally when I was old enough in the late 80s he started taking me to games with him. At first my mom only let him take me to Almuni Hall games, but I think when I was about six I was allowed to go to weekend games at the Garden (certainly not on a school night!)
Earlier in the 80s my grandpa retired from the nypd and took a job working security at SJU, so I'd go to games with my dad and if it was a slow night ... Like a marathon oil type game, grandpa would take me down to the court or the hallway outside the locker room. ; I've got some cool pictures at home with Matt Brust, Jayson, one with Bobby Werdann holding me up on his shoulders. Those are some of my fondest memories as a kid. Made me a Redman for life.
Also vividly remember getting to a game once probably round '89, at alumni hall, it was crowded and loud so it was propbably a big east opponent, BC?, and telling my dad that I saw Darryl Strawberry when I had gone to the bathroom, dad didn't believe me for a second. Then Darryl sat down in our section. That was beyond cool for me.
Final note: either my 3rd or 4th grade cyo team played an exhibition during halftime of a game at alumni, I made a steal and had a wide open breakaway.... I flubbed the layup to the crowds jeers. Not my finest moment on a basketball court.