The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) doesn't make an appearance in the sports section very often.

Then again, the USG doesn't create committees devoted solely to athletics very often, either.

Athletic Affairs, a newly developed committee of the USG, began operation last semester at the insistence of President of the Undergraduate Student Government Ian Rosenberger.

"Athletics is something we have not really explored as much as we could before," Rosenberger said. "We created Athletic Affairs to address some of the other needs of students."

Although the committee may only be in its infancy, director Jared Trexler and assistant director Sean Crosby didn't wait long to get the ball rolling.

Trexler and Crosby organized the Big Blue Tournament, a 64-team student basketball tournament that took place in the Intramural Building on Saturday.

The 3-on-3 playoff was the first of its kind here at Penn State, as it was fashioned after the March Madness craze.

"I loved the tournament style," said James Leedy, one of the tournament's participants.

"It was really organized."

In addition to organizing the big hoops tournament, Trexler and Crosby have been busy generating a few other projects that help bring the student and the student-athlete a bit closer.

"Sometimes the students feel disconnected from the student-athletes," said Trexler. "We just want everyone to be seen as the Penn State student."

Last semester, Trexler and Crosby initiated plans for a meet-and-greet between the fans and the men's and women's basketball teams. According to Crosby, the meet-and-greet may take place as early as next semester.

Even the student-athletes seem eager to build a bridge between the students and themselves.

"We're no celebrities," Penn State men's basketball team forward Aaron Johnson said. "We're just a bit taller than everyone else."

While one of Athletic Affairs' goals may be to bring the two groups together, that certainly doesn't mean its mission is limited to strictly that.

Trexler and Crosby are in the midst of preparing a 100-page portfolio on the money Penn State currently allocates to athletic funds.

According to Crosby, Penn State gets the least money allocated in the Big Ten, and Athletic Affairs would like to change that.

In addition to that reform, athletic affairs would also like to see some changes in the Intramural Building.

For starters, said Crosby, a Gatorade and a healthy food machine should replace the candy bar and soda machines.

"Who wants to eat a candy bar after working out?" asked Crosby.

While these and other issues are currently being milled over by the new committee, there is a chance athletic affairs might not even exist next year.

"If they don't feel this committee is necessary, they could get rid of it," Crosby said."We're definitely hoping this committee will stay."