Marketing senior Shannon McGreal-Miller, center, poses for a photograph with Nike trainers Holly Rilinger, left, and Deanna Jefferson after the Nike pregame workout March 29, 2013, at Breslin Center. Students received Nike gear after the workout. Katie Stiefel/The State News
There are various arrangements students typically make before a big game. Some order food. Some head down to the lounge to chat with friends. Others might take a pregame nap.
On Friday, however, about 150 students decided to forego the conventional methods of preparing for a big game, opting to work up a sweat.
Leading up to the MSU-Duke Sweet 16 matchup, Nike and the Spartan athletics department teamed up to hold a pregame workout and watch party at Breslin Center. Dubbed “Intensity #COUNTS,” students jumped, jacked, crunched, heaved and huffed as Nike trainers conducted the intense 45-minute session and passed out free Nike equipment.
“Intensity #COUNTS draws on the competitive on-court spirit in March and April, encouraging fans to get active and simultaneously support their favorite teams,” Nike representative Brian Strong said in an email.
Finance senior Curt Ruffin showed up with his friend Ricardo Johnson for a chance to receive complimentary Nike gear.
“I heard they were giving away a lot of free stuff, so it’s a good way to get in shape, get a little Spartan energy for our big game,” Ruffin said.
At the end of the workout session, Nike representatives passed out green shoes and Spartan jackets to lucky students. Each student also received a free Spartan-themed T-shirt.
MSU is competing in the Fuel Your Team challenge with other Nike-sponsored schools to build up the most NikeFuel points during March Madness. NikeFuel points are earned through physical activity and are tracked using FuelBands. As they worked out, students received free FuelBands from trainers.
According to Strong, students can track the fanbase’s aggregate progress and compare it to other schools at Nike.com/FuelYourTeam. The school that comes out on top earns a grand prize on campus.
As of presstime Sunday, MSU currently is in third place with 6,256,295 NikeFuel points. University of Oregon leads with 17,961,514 points. Florida is in second with 10,726,802.
Strong said the program is a great way for Nike to extend its connection to partner schools and recognize the fans’ role.
“We focus on providing innovative products to the players but also know that the Spartan faithful are integral to fueling basketball culture at Michigan State,” Strong said in an email.
Mechanical engineering junior Tyler Jezowski said he was surprised by the intensity of the workout.
“I thought it would be more laid-back,” Jezowski said. “It was a workout, that’s for sure.”
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