If asked to identify a phrase that relates to Winthrop University basketball, most people would probably say “Rock the Hill.” Those three words are chanted throughout Winthrop Coliseum on game days and shared on Twitter by head coach of the men’s team Pat Kelsey when an important recruit commits to joining the Eagles.
But a new slogan – one that recognizes the value of a team that expands beyond the court – has quietly made its way into the basketball program. ‘25 strong’ is a saying that Kelsey began using to describe his team after he read “Above the Line,” a book written by retired football coach Urban Meyer.
“I think [Meyer] is one of the great coaches in the history of American sports myself, and [I’ve] really studied his leadership style,” Kelsey told listeners during a video chat that was a part of Winthrop’s virtual homecoming festivities.
According to Kelsey, Meyer’s book discusses having a clarity of purpose and an identity as an organization. That identity has become ‘25 strong’ inside the men’s basketball program, symbolizing the strength that comes when all members of the program, including players, coaches and others, work their hardest and put forth their best effort all the time.
“In a certain year, we keep two more walk-ons or if we have one more [graduate assistant], it might be 30,” Kelsey said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s 30, 31. We just use the significance of 25 strong so that it stays consistent, and the 25 strong refers to how every one of those pieces in that 25 strong is as important as every other piece.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re the student manager; it doesn’t matter if you’re the head coach; it doesn’t matter if you’re the thirteenth guy on the roster; it doesn’t matter if you are the academic advisor. We are asking for a championship, elite, above-the-line effort in everything we do, every single day. And if we get that type of contribution and that effort and that mentality from all 25 people in our organization…we’re [going to] win championships.”
After reading Meyer’s book, Kelsey discovered during a conversation with his dad that a family friend had been Meyer’s roommate during their time as students at the University of Cincinnati.
“This guy connected me to Urban Meyer, and he’s been unbelievable since, to be honest with you,” Kelsey said. “He’s a coach’s coach, and coaches want to pay things forward; That’s [kind of] what we do. Anytime I’ve reached out to him, he’s replied. He’s spoken to our team on several different occasions.”
While Kelsey praised Meyer, he often downplays the praise he receives from others, calling himself “Harvey Sweatsocks” and “Joe Bag of Donuts.” His humble attitude is a perfect fit for the ‘25 strong’ ideology.
“When you say ’25 strong,’ that tells the student manager that how he folds the towels [and] the amount of ice that he puts in the water bottles is as important as the plays that I call at seven o’clock and two o’clock on Wednesdays and Saturdays,” Kelsey said.
The phrase ’25 strong’ also appeared on the Big South Championship rings that the men’s basketball team received on Nov. 25 to commemorate their exceptional 2019-20 season.
Photo courtesy of Winthrop Athletics
