HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University men's basketball player Jalen Billups is in the midst of  "Operation: Save the Beard" in an attempt to keep his trademark facial hair for the men's basketball photo shoot.
 
Head coach Dave Bezold has long had a policy of players being clean-shaven for the team's photos. But Billups, a junior on the team, was determined to keep his beard. So, Bezold and Billups worked up a deal for the star post player to be able to keep the beard.
 
"I worked all summer to let it grow and I like the way I feel with it," said Billups. "The beard doesn't make me feel so baby-faced. As it kept growing, I realized I liked it and really wanted to keep it."
 
Billups has until Tuesday, September 16 to secure 1,500 signatures of support in order to keep the facial hair. He will be in the James C. and Rachel M. Votruba Student Union on Tuesday, September 16 from 11:30-12:30 talking to students, faculty and staff while accepting signatures of support. The team will have its annual photo shoot for the upcoming season this Thursday, Sept. 18.
 
Last Friday morning, Northern Kentucky President Geoff Mearns pledged his support by both signing the petition and also posing with Billups for a few photographs.