Here's How Purdue Fans Can Meet Gene Keady Before Exhibition Game vs. Kentucky
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Have you ever wanted to meet legendary Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady? Are you looking for a place to watch Friday night's exhibition game between the top-ranked Boilermakers and No. 9 Kentucky? You can do that all in one spot this weekend.
Ale Emporium in Castleton (located just outside of Indianapolis) is hosting a meet-and-greet with Keady on Friday, Oct. 24, allowing Purdue fans the opportunity to meet one of the iconic college baskebtall coaches. It will also host a watch party for the exhibition game.
Per Ale Emporium's Facebook page, Keady will be in attendance for a Play Hard Lager poster signing from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. ET. The Play Hard lager is a specialty beer created in Keady's honor by Sun King Brewery, also located in Indianapolis.
Immediately after the poster signing, fans can prepare to catch their first glimpse of the Boilermakers. Televisions will be tuned into SEC Network for Friday's exhibition game between Purdue and Kentucky. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET.
It sounds like an outstanding way to spend an evening for fans of Purdue basketball.
Keady was the head coach at Purdue from 1980-2005, setting a program record with 512 career victories. The Boilermakers won six Big Ten regular season titles and reached the NCAA Tournament 17 times.
Keady was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year seven times and was the National Coach of the Year six times in his career. He is one of the most beloved figures in the history of Purdue athletics.
Details for meet and greet with Gene Keady
- What: Meet former Purdue coach Gene Keady/watch party for Purdue-Kentucky exhibition game
- Where: Ale Emporium in Castleton (8617 Allisonville Rd., Indianapolis)
- When: Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
- Time: Meet and greet runs from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. ET. Watch party immediately follows, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. ET
What is the "Play Hard" lager?
In 2024, Sun King Brewery (Indianapolis) decided to create a beer honoring Keady's success at Purdue and induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
Keady collaborated with Sun King Brewery and in October 2024, the "Play Hard" lager was launched. The name of the beer is an ode to the style of basketball Purdue played under the legendary coach, playing a physical style that relied heavily on defensive pressure.
During Keady's run, the words "Play Hard" were written on the backside of Purdue's practice shorts.
The poster of the "Play Hard" lager features a caricature of Keady during his coaching days at Purdue. It also features his signature, as well as the year of his Hall of Fame induction.
Coach Keady is at Harry’s signing posters and they have the Play Hard Lager on tap. #Purdue pic.twitter.com/Xz3PqdBOeo
— Small Wizard (@StlSmallWizard) October 11, 2024
Related stories on Purdue basketball
- 5 QUESTIONS FOR PURDUE VS. KENTUCKY: A top-10 exhibition game between No. 1 Purdue and No. 9 Kentucky is on the docket for Friday. Five questions for the Boilermakers entering the matchup. CLICK HERE
- HOW TO WATCH PURDUE-KENTUCKY: Top-ranked Purdue takes on No. 9 Kentucky on Friday. Here's everything you need to know about the exhibition game between two elite teams. CLICK HERE
Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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