Penn State basketball coach Mike Rhoades has a message for the PSU fan base ahead of what will possibly be the biggest game at the Bryce Jordan Center this season.
Penn State has started the year 8-1, with the most recent win being an 87-64 triumph over Buffalo at the BJC Sunday afternoon.
But now, it gets serious.
Big Ten play is starting, and Penn State’s first opponent is none other than defending conference champion, national runner-up and consistent powerhouse Purdue.
So what does Rhoades want to see from Penn State fans Thursday night?
RHOADES’ MESSAGE
Mike Rhoades speaking with the media ahead of Friday’s clash with Virginia Tech. Photo via Penn State Athletics.
“Show up and sweat with us, right? A Big Ten game, that’s the fun of it. These are the experiences that, as a college student, they have a lot of fun. Our players will be fired up to play against one of the best programs in the country for the last 10 years.
“Just the fun of it, right? The experience of it. And let’s compete. We all love competition around here. We love to win. Let’s see if you can help your Penn State players, the Penn State athletes, find a way to win a game. I want everybody to sweat with us. I’ve said it. I want everybody to be a part of this as we build this. The number one thing we can do is just fight like crazy for each other and for all of you and all those students, and people take pride in how you’re going about it. And they want to be a part of it, and then they come out here and act crazy and have two hours of fun being a college student and a fan of Penn State athletics. That’s what’s been really neat, seeing that for the last two years for me.”
A NEW SLOGAN
Photo by Penn State Athletics: Mike Rhoades
The words “sweat with us” are already on t-shirts that Penn State basketball fans wore at the Bryce Jordan Center Sunday.
Rhoades first uttered them after the team’s win over Purdue Fort Wayne Nov. 20.
“This is to everybody that shows up to games at the [Bryce Jordan Center], OK?” Rhoades told reporters after the game. “The talk and what we used to say about the BJC and how quiet it is, I’m challenging all of you, right, the old Penn Staters, the middle-aged Penn Staters like me and all the young ones, all the students, every one of us: Get out of your seat, get on your feet, sweat with us, OK? We don’t need popcorn at this game. Get your butts out of the seats.”
“We will fight for you guys. I want you sweating with everybody. We should never have the BJC quiet. I don’t care how big the BJC is. We’re not making any excuses around here, but I need you all. So if you come to the game, bring some extra Gatorade and some water and sweat with us and get into the game. And for the older people like me and up, it’s a great day for exercise: in your seat, out of your seat, in your seat, out of your seat. Stand up.”
“For all you young people, get crazy with it. And bring your friends with you all the time. You’re not going to get in trouble for being an idiot for 40 minutes. I got your back. But I want to build this program with all of you guys, and I want it to be a fun night in State College every time we play.”
Penn State takes on Purdue at 6:30 Thursday, Dec. 5.
