What was all that noise?

It was a rolling pep rally held around noon yesterday, in an effort to increase the attendance at Nittany Lions and Lady Lions home basketball games. A beeping fire truck and two revved-up Harley-Davidsons followed a spirit-painted SUV as all weaved down Beaver Ave., up College Ave., and zigzagged around campus, ending up at the HUB-Robeson Center.

Observers stared at the rally, and their confused faces broke into smiles when they realized the commotion downtown was for sports support. Some waved and some pumped their fists in recognition. At the finale at the HUB, reaction intensified when the vehicles parked and starting playing music and handing out mini-megaphones.

Some students seemed confused about what all of the noise was for. "I was sitting down and I saw the fire truck," Irene Tam (junior-chemical engineering) said. "At first I thought something was on fire but then I saw the Lion and realized it was for a sporting event."

"Bring the Noise" is the theme of the campaign to get more fans to show up at the Bryce Jordan Center, and to bring their enthusiasm for Penn State.

"We want them to bring their 250 PCI lungs and support their teams," said Nathan Rearick, the public relations representative for the campaign.

John Powell, associate athletic director, said that when fans get into the games it really helps the home team.

"Our goal is to bring the noise that we had at Beaver Stadium all year, across the street to the BJC," he said.

The Athletic Department is also making advertisements, as well as having "basketball preachers" walk around campus, to help their efforts of bringing up attendance.

Steve Jones, the play-by-play announcer for the games, said that attendance could really make a difference in the game.

"Fans are playing the role of the sixth man," he said.

"Its not a question of intimidating the opposing team, it's lifting the home team."

In order to make the loudest pep rally possible, five cheerleaders waved from the alarmed firetruck, the SUV beeped its horn, and two members of the State College Hog Chapter rode their bikes.

"When you hear a Harley Davidson, there's no thunder like it," Rearick said.

Bruce Russell was a volunteer that rode one of the bikes. Riding in the 18-degree weather was worth it to him, so that he could show support for the basketball teams. He has had season tickets for 15 years for the men's team, and catches women's games when he can.

Russell has noticed a lack of attendance and enthusiasm at the games.

"What does the team on the floor think, when people are leaving the stands?" Russell said.

The rally was originally scheduled for December, but was postponed until right before the Big Ten home openers because of snow.

The campaign decided to hold it during the exchange of classes in order to get the most students to hear it, Rearick said.

Jeremy Kushner (sophomore-mechanical engineering) was at the HUB when the pep rally stopped rolling. Although he noticed the truck and bikes, he said that he did not know what the pep rally was for. Kushner occasionally attends games and said a pep rally couldn't hurt to make games more exciting.

"It's a pretty dead environment," Kushner said.

Powell said that he anticipates the effect of the rally at the Purdue game.

"This weekend we will see if we get the support we want," he said.