Oregon AD Pat Kilkenny Rules

There aren’t many occassions when I hear or read of an event that makes me say, damn, that was cool. But reading about what Oregon’s Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny did on Tuesday, I have to say “Damn, that was cool.”

55 members of Oregon’s student spirit group, the Pit Crew, camped out all night to get NCAA tournament tickets to watch their Oregon Ducks play in Spokane. Much to their delight, AD Pat Kilkenny showed up with his wife and treated the students to coffee and muffins. The couple had a much better surprise in store for the students:

Then came the announcement that the tickets ($56 per ticket, per game) were taken care of. Same goes for the bus, an idea [Pit Crew President Robert] Griesinger said he’d been pushing various people to consider for some time. Kilkenny, he said, called him one up one day and said he’d make it happen — and he did. [Kilkenny said] “If they’re anything like I was when I was in college, they’re broke.”

What an awesome thing to do. Who actually follows up on a lofty promise like that? I was never one of the fans that camped out for tickets — probably because I had a media pass to most games, but I couldn’t even imagine what sort of treat that must’ve been.

Pat Kilkenny, I will never forget you and your generous action. Congratulations on stepping up and delivering.