The Pat Chambers era begins in 11 days, and the sale to the show begins today in the HUB.

Today, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Alumni Hall, student season basketball tickets will be on sale for $59. The ticket package includes a Nittany Nation T-shirt, early admission to games to ensure the best seating, and admission to an in-season practice session. But tomorrow will be about more than just tickets. The festival-like atmosphere in the HUB will include player appearances, a chance to win prizes, and free food will be provided (which should be mandatory for any campus event.)

I like the new gray shirt. If there ever was a time for a marketing shift, it is now. A new coach and new players present a rare opportunity to rebrand the program. I wholeheartedly agree with the fresh approach.

Also, the #1 reason I buy season tickets is for the advanced seating. Basically, season ticket holders are guaranteed to sit court-side if they arrive early enough, which works great for waving to Mom on ESPN.

I have no problem admitting that I’m excited for this season. Pat Chambers is the kind of coach who will actually inspire the student body. Just listening to his introductory press conference gets me excited. The man has already put in an incredible amount of work, off the court especially, to advertise his new squad. Yes, this team is extremely young, but it will be interesting to see them develop over the winter. All I’m saying is, don’t be surprised if this freshman-laden squad catches some people off-guard.

But here’s the best part about the Pat Chambers era: People are talking about Penn State basketball before the season even starts…

Think about that for a second.