Louisville women's basketball coach to buy fans beer

Jeff Walz will pony up the cash to buy fans beer on Thursday. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Jeff Walz, the head coach of the Louisville women's basketball team, will have a $5,000 bar tab on Thursday night.

The first 2,500 fans 21-and-over at the KFC Yum! Center for the No. 5 Cardinals' Preseason WNIT semifinal game against No. 14 LSU will get a beer on Walz, according to assistant sports information director Kim Pemberton.

Each beer is $2, and the school said Walz will pay with his own money. Fans with proper ID will get a voucher, which they can redeem at concession stands.

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“We’re just trying to have a little bit of a good time here at the ballgame,” Walz told The Courier-Journal in Louisville. “Make sure you have a designated driver if you want to come and have a few of them.

“… It’s a little way to say thanks to all our adults who come and support us, and we’re just trying to get some of our fans who haven’t come out to come on out one time and get a drink and enjoy the ballgame and hopefully grab the attention of a few more fans.”

The arena is off-campus, and beer is normally sold there for all games, so the school said there are no NCAA compliance issues.

Last week, Kansas State gave away about 300 pounds worth of free bacon to students at its women's basketball team's season opener.

“We don’t need any bacon,” Walz joked. “… We’re more hummus around here, health food. Fried asparagus for the next game, a tofu burger.”

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