UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Destined to adorn refrigerators across the Centre Region, 15 hand-drawn images by local children will be featured on the 2018-19 Penn State men's basketball season tickets.
Season tickets for the upcoming campaign are on sale at GoPSUsports.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-NITTANY from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
Penn State Athletics Marketing Manager P.J. Mullen initiated the idea to use the drawings and asked the children of the coaching staff to lend their artistic ability to the project. The Penn State Nittany Lion logo, basketballs, the court and the fan-favorite Nittany Lion appear in many of the pictures. Each child contributed their own creativity and drew their favorite things about basketball games.
"I wanted to draw a picture for the tickets because basketball is my favorite sport," said Ryan Chambers, the oldest son of Patrick and Courtney Chambers. "I play basketball a lot and I like coming to games to watch my dad and the players, and, to see the Nittany Lion."
The brightly colored masterpieces will be available on the printed version of the season tickets with a unique picture for each of the 15 home games. Each image will be unveiled on the Penn State men's basketball team's social media channels on the day of the game.
"My inspiration for my drawing was to get people excited for the season," said Leo Ferry, son of assistant coach Jim Ferry and his wife, Kelly, who included the logo, Nittany Lion players and a Penn State sketch on his drawings. "I drew a bunch of pictures to get you motivated, to get people ready come to games and cheer on the team."
Penn State will play host to 10 Big Ten Conference games, the first year with the new league scheduling format, as well as five nonconference games. The Nittany Lions open the 2018-19 season by hosting North Florida on Friday, Nov. 9 (7:30 p.m.) and will unveil the 2018 National Invitation Championship banner as part of the pregame festivities.
"I just love going to basketball games and that was one of the reasons I wanted to draw a picture for the tickets," said Grace Chambers, the eldest of the four Chambers children. "I drew a girl dressed as a Nittany Lion and I also drew a basketball court."
Another first-time opponent, Jacksonville State, will visit the Bryce Jordan Center on Monday, Nov. 12, the second game of the opening homestand and second contest of the U.S. Regional of the Cancun Challenge. Penn State plays host to Virginia Tech for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge game on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
The Big Ten home opener brings Indiana to the BJC on Tuesday, Dec. 4 with two nonconference games vs. Colgate Penn State closes out the 2018 portion of the schedule with UMBC on Saturday, Dec. 29. Last year, the Retrievers became the first No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament to defeat a No. 1 seed.
For more information or for answers to questions on how to purchase either season or single game tickets for the 2018-19 Penn State men's basketball campaign, visit GoPSUsports.com/tickets or call 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Keep up to date with the latest information from Coach Chambers and the Nittany Lions on Twitter by following @Coach_Chambers and @PennStateMBB, on Facebook and Instagram at @PennStateMBB.
