We've hit the big time!

If perhaps you spent all day yesterday in a sensory deprivation tank, or in Cleveland, you might not know that the New York Times did a story on Russ Rose. THE. NEW. YORK. TIMES. The Gray Lady! All the news that's fit to print, and yesterday, Russ was fit! To print!

Of course, it's a little scary having a big media outlet like the NYT profile one of our own. What if they mischaracterize Russ? Don't capture the essence, the tao of Russ?

In 31 seasons at Penn State, Rose, 56, has always done things different from most, reflected in his droll, straight-faced sarcasm and his penchant for sweats, swear words and cigars.

That's...actually pretty much dead on.

Raised in Chicago, Rose does not believe in schmoozing or sugarcoating.

Nailed it. 

“He’s like that black-sheep uncle,” said Adam Jarrett, a volunteer assistant for the program for 13 years.

Spoken like a man who, as a volunteer assistant, does not risk loss of income by characterizing Russ as a black sheep.

Penn State and Coach Rose are getting all this recognition because, of course, they've won a ridiculous 97 matches in a row, besting Wooden's UCLA record of 88, and UNC women's soccer's 92. 

More Russ-ily goodness.

“I’ve heard people say that maybe we’d be better served had we lost,” Rose said. “I was kind of wondering what profession they were in. I wouldn’t want a lawyer representing me to think like that. I wouldn’t want a doctor operating on me to think like that.”

But how fun it would be if doctors and lawyers advertised those facts: "I'm Dr. Gerkin, and I boast a stunning 37-1 record in gall bladder removal!" or "Bob Johnson: Undefeated in personal injury settlements since 1995."

Rose, who arrived at Penn State in 1979 with bushy dark hair and a Tom Selleck mustache...

Is Selleck now the gold standard when it comes to mustaches? What happened to Burt Reynolds? Mike Schmidt? Mike Schmidt's mustache isn't good enough for you?

A good chunk of the article focuses on Rose's stats that he takes during a match, stats that are more important to him than the official stats. Turns out Russ wrote his masters thesis at Nebraska on volleyball stats. 

So he knows stats. “He knows everything you’d want to know. And everything you don’t want him to know,” offers Kaleena Davidson, former libero and current assistant coach. Notice among the paid staff's quotes that the words "black sheep" are nowhere to be found.

“I have my own stats,” Rose said. “Because I want to win.”

Score one for college volleyball! Prime-time exposure in the New York Times. Now if they can just find a way to work "Alyssa D'Errico" into that crossword of theirs, we'll really have something.