Nearly four years ago, Penn State alumni Matt Brady and Tom Schmidt turned their love of a classic drinking game into a lucrative business.

In the summer of 2004, the pair started Bing Bong Inc., a company that sells collapsible, sturdy and portable beer pong tables throughout the nation.

Since the company's inception, it has sold close to 10,000 tables.

It has also become the "largest beer pong company on the planet," according to its Web site, bingbongtables.com.

Brady and Schmidt, both Class of 2000 graduates, thought of the idea at a friend's birthday party in a cramped apartment.

"We were all avid beer pong fans, and someone even mentioned bringing a ping-pong table," he said. "That is when it hit me: The world needs a beer pong table that is extremely portable so that you can take it with you to parties, tailgates or just about anywhere."

The tables have come a long way from an idea in a friend's apartment, but according to the company's Web site, it was a difficult journey.

The company's first tables were made in a living-room assembly-line process in a home off South Street in Philadelphia, and Brady was unsure if the company would ever take off.

"When we started, there was no other product out there like ours," he said.

"So we weren't quite sure our tables would even sell to the public, but after a couple of years, we knew that our tables would be popular."

Popular is an understatement, as the tables are currently sold at Spencer's Gift stores nationwide.

Two years ago, Bing Bong tables became the official tables used during the World Series of Beer Pong tournament.

"Our tables were the perfect size for a large-scale tournament," he said.

"We contacted [the World Series of Beer Pong] about being their table provider, and they welcomed us with open arms."

Brady attributes the company's success simply to taking risks and working hard.

"When I look back at it now, this is definitely one of those things that I would have looked back and said, 'that was my idea; that could have been me,' " he said.

Some Penn State students are encouraged by the idea that you can start a successful business only a few years after graduation.

"I have always thought about starting a business with my friends after college," Melissa Brown (freshman--kinesiology) said.

"It is really awesome that these men had such success with creating a product that they loved themselves. It is actually inspiring."

Bill Kane (senior--engineering) agrees that the success of Bing Bong Inc. is motivating and said he would even consider purchasing a table to help support the venture.

Bing Bong Inc. sells two types of tables: an 8-foot tournament grade table starting at $110 and a 6 1/2-foot, $79 table intended for those with smaller spaces.

Specially customized tables, which can feature various text, a design or pictures, are also available, with prices starting at $269.