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We’re learning very quickly that new Washington State Cougars coach Nick Rolovich is a different kind of cat, and we got even more evidence of that on Sunday night when he hosted an impromptu meet-and-greet with WSU fans at Seattle’s Magnolia Village Pub.
Presumably in town to do some recruiting, Rolovich posted this to Twitter late Sunday night:
Let’s try this again. Any #GoCougs fans out in Seattle tonight? Send the address. Trying to sharpen the claws with some of you guys tonight.
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) January 20, 2020
And then shortly thereafter:
#LetsRoll pic.twitter.com/P3q7da0RD3
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) January 20, 2020
The Village Pub is a well-known Cougar hangout in Seattle, and it didn’t take long for fans to show up.
My husband just ditched movie night with me and ran out the door. #teamrolo #gocougs
— Mary Nam (@Mary_Nam) January 20, 2020
We out here. @NickRolovich pic.twitter.com/rruTf0coEq
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) January 20, 2020
— Jack Thompson (@PapaThrow) January 20, 2020
Coach is holding court! Someone go buy him a beer or 6!! @NickRolovich @COUGFANcom @VillagePubMN pic.twitter.com/pL3MLkg7gX
— Brian J. Walker (@BrianJWalker) January 20, 2020
That last tweet implores fans to buy him some drinks, but as it turned out, the newly-minted millionaire picked up the tab for bar.
We had brussel sprouts also. Appreciate people making the effort to come out. Fun deal. https://t.co/lwCYZg6FBd
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) January 20, 2020
Rolovich said he appreciated the passion of the fanbase.
Guess who's making a surprise visit with Cougar fans?
— KING 5 Sports (@KING5Sports) January 20, 2020
New @WSUCougarFB coach @NickRolovich stopped by famous Cougars bar the Magnolia Pub. pic.twitter.com/VJnTLA3yp8
These are definitely different times for Cougar fans. Comparisons will be inevitable with the previous coach(es), and while Mike Leach actually is quite approachable in informal settings, he obviously never used Twitter to extend an open invitation to an entire city of Cougs to come have drinks with him.
Between his introductory press conference — during which he referenced the Apple Cup and committed to recruiting the state — and buying beer for a bar full of Cougs, Rolovich clearly knows how to endear himself to this particular fanbase.
Although, we might need to have a chat with our coaches about their beverage choices:
Kyle Smith is a Modelo guy. Rolo, apparently, is a Pacifico guy. These are the things you want to know, right? pic.twitter.com/NiuWFhovGd
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) January 20, 2020
Coach, there’s a whole world of great beer out there — especially in Seattle. Maybe we could introduce you to some at some point?