Baseball team connects with 'Penn State family' through alumni chapters

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared in AlumnInsider, the Penn State Alumni Association's monthly member e-newsletter. You can click here for information on becoming a member, and can follow the Alumni Association on Facebook and Twitter for more stories and updates on events. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When the Penn State baseball team’s schedule was released, head coach Rob Cooper scanned the list of upcoming road games and locations. A typical exercise for anyone in Cooper’s position, but he wasn’t just interested in learning more about future opponents.Cooper wanted to know where the team could meet with Penn State Alumni Association affiliate groups while traveling, and the second-year coach took the initiative, contacting chapters that were near road and neutral-site games that the Nittany Lions played during the first month of the season. Because of the local weather, Penn State’s first 18 scheduled games were away from University Park, but that gave the Nittany Lions an opportunity to connect with alumni elsewhere in the country.

Throughout the first few weeks of March, the team played games in South Carolina and Virginia, among other states, with the Lions meeting with the following groups: Charleston, S.C. Chapter, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Chapter, Columbia, S.C. Chapter, and Southwestern Virginia Chapter.

Cooper said the get-togethers were less structured than the events for Coaches Caravan, which he participated in last year. The conversations were informal, with the players and alumni talking over a post-game meal or in the team’s hotel lobby. Cooper said the motivation was more about “getting the Penn State family together” than anything else, with personal interaction taking place instead of a formal agenda.

“I want our kids to realize what an unbelievable University they’re part of and how much it means to people,” Cooper said. “I want them to be a part of that when they get done and graduate.“I think it’s important for them to join an alumni group and give back, as well. I’m a big believer in the power of numbers. When you realize you have this giant university and more than 600,000 living alumni, it’s a lot easier to go out and play against nine other guys when you know you have that behind you.”

Jim Prisco is the president-elect of the Myrtle Beach Chapter and will take that position in June. His group coordinated efforts with the Charleston Chapter for Penn State’s three-game series against Charleston Southern on March 6–8 at Charleston, S.C.

Prisco keeps track of the various Penn State sports schedules, looking for when teams compete in and around the area. Cooper originally contacted the Charleston Chapter, with president Ben Gruber then speaking with Prisco to arrange all the details.  

“Cooper reaching out to everybody was a great move,” Prisco said, “because that gave us an indication they were interested in meeting us.”

The two chapters watched the middle of the three-game series, followed by a talk in which Cooper talked about his team’s schedule and what they’re trying to accomplish.Prisco estimated that including chapter members and parents of players, approximately 100 Penn State fans attended Saturday’s contest, outnumbering Charleston Southern fans nearly two-to-one.

Each chapter had its banner displayed, and naturally, the Nittany Lion fans made themselves heard.

“We were cheering, ‘We Are … Penn State’ -- we had the ‘Thank You’ and all that,” Prisco said. “The Charleston Southern kids were looking at us dumbfounded, but the Penn State parents were getting a kick out of it. The turnout was really great, so it was a lot of fun, a really good experience.”

The Charleston Chapter arranged a post-game meal, which featured a brief talk from Cooper and plenty of time for chapter members to meet with the players.

Prisco said that -- just like anytime Penn Staters get together -- they talk about campus, and shared memories and how the college experience is now, compared to when alumni were in school. There’s potential for the team to connect with the chapters again in the future, with some discussion about Penn State playing in a tournament close to Prisco’s chapter.

Chuck Greenberg is the president of the Single-A club that plays in Myrtle Beach; his ownership group also owns both the Altoona Curve and State College Spikes. Cooper told Prisco that he knows Greenberg, and also pointed out that Greenberg’s son played at Penn State. The stadium in Myrtle Beach could possibly be used for a future mini-tournament that features Penn State.

Prisco perked up at that possibility, saying, “That’ll be fantastic,” if that could happen, and his positive reaction was emblematic of the overall event.

“It was great, they had a catered meal with great southern barbecue,” said Greg Guears, a redshirt junior outfielder. “It was great seeing alumni. There was a big turnout there; and in Lynchburg, it was great to meet some alumni and hang out with them a little bit, too."

“They were appreciative of the turnout,” Prisco added of the Charleston gathering. “It was great, it really was.”

Penn State played two games against Liberty in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 14 and 15, with a few members of the Southwestern Virginia Chapter making the 90-minute drive to watch the series opener and meet the team afterward.

Chapter President Josie Eyer attended, and along with other chapter members, met with the players at their hotel after the game; they also met some of the players’ parents. Eyer said it was a wonderful experience, and that all the players and Cooper were very friendly.

If Cooper calls again in the future, chances are pretty good he’ll receive a warm reception -- when he references the Penn State family, the alumni chapters know what he’s talking about.

“Anytime someone from Penn State reaches out to us, we’re happy to help out any way we can,” Eyer said.