As much as writers should plead neutrality when it comes to college football programs, I’ll be honest about it from the start: I’m a Penn State fan.
I’m not a Penn State fan because my parents are from Pennsylvania. I’m not a Penn State fan because I went to university for four years in State College, Pennsylvania. I’m not a Penn State fan because my wife was a Penn State fan, or her family are Penn State fans.
I’m a fan because in the fall of 2003, I lived in New York City on a three-month visa. I was alone, frustrated and miserable. My weekend basically was the highlight of my life, and it was spent sitting in ESPNZone in Times Square, watching college football from the start of the day to the end of the day. It was at that now-deceased restaurant train that I was injected with my love of the pigskin. I’m a grateful for it now – even if my wallet wasn’t so much! Anyway, one day I saw a video interview with Joe Paterno, the long-time Penn State football coach. Tearily, he said to the camera: “It’s all about the kids. That’s why I love coaching.” A few days after, I watched Penn State lose to Ohio State in controversial circumstances, 21-20. Joe Paterno may have enticed me, but atmosphere of Penn State’s stadium – known as Beaver Stadium- enticed me. And on November 15th, 2003, I went to Beaver Stadium for the first time. Penn State won the game 52-7, and I was in love. I saw Joe Paterno run off the bus that day. I tailgated with some of the friendliest fans in football. I laughed, I drank, I talked toga parties with cheerleaders. I was made to feel welcome immediately, and that’s hospitality I’d never forget.
“For the Glory of Old State
For her founders strong and great.
For the future that we wait,
Raise the song, raise the song” – Penn State Alma Mater
For her founders strong and great.
For the future that we wait,
Raise the song, raise the song” – Penn State Alma Mater
In 2005 a guy called Drew Deyo went to the college I attended down in Tennessee, and his passion for Penn State reignited my interest in the school. Trust me, in 2004 I’d watched quite a few Penn State games, but most of the games should have been ‘18’-rated in terms of watchable experience they were so bad. The team that I’d seen win 52-7 in 2003 were horrifyingly awful in 2004.
But I met Drew, and Drew’s passion (this was a guy who would drive up half the Eastern seaboard to ensure he could see the first game of the season on the TV, because the South didn’t carry the Big Ten Network), sparked something off in me. I went to the massive wins over Ohio State and Wisconsin that season, made many more friends at the school, and after that, I returned for games in 2006 and 2007, but hadn’t been back since – simply because of my commitment to going around the country looking at other conferences, following the ‘big game’ rather than the Penn State game. Disloyal? For sure. Fun? Absolutely.
“May no act of ours bring shame
To one heart that loves thy name” – Penn State Alma Mater
To one heart that loves thy name” – Penn State Alma Mater
In 2011, Penn State made national news. And it wasn’t for a good reason. In fact, it was for one of the worst reasons a school could possibly make the national news.
News of a child abuse scandal broke around State College, which encompassed not only an ex-coach, but members of the upper echelons of Penn State society, including Joe Paterno. The evil man who was responsible for the absuse was a former Penn State defensive co-ordinator called Jerry Sandusky, a man responsible for make Penn State ‘Linebacker U’ – a home for some of the best defensive players in the country. Anyway, as the news of the abuse worsened, the roar against Paterno- who was the most powerful person at Penn State at the time – increased. “He should have done more,” screamed the critics. The critics got their blood. In November 2011, Paterno was fired. The school’s athletic director and school president were also fired. Paterno died in January 2012.
For me, I trembled with rage. Everywhere I’d gone in America, people had known that I was a Penn State fan and said: “We really respect JoePa” and talked about how they really want Penn State ‘back’ as a football superpower. But now, saying that you were a Penn State fan was about as welcome as a folk music fan at a death metal concert. But it wasn’t about me – it was about my faith in Paterno. Maybe it was God telling me about my faith in idols.
Penn State was given the death penalty, which saw a lot of Paterno's wins eviscerated, scholarships lost, and the school lost bowl eligibility for four years. People estimate that it will be at least a decade until Penn State is back to being a power - especially when the lessened scholarships dig in.
Penn State was given the death penalty, which saw a lot of Paterno's wins eviscerated, scholarships lost, and the school lost bowl eligibility for four years. People estimate that it will be at least a decade until Penn State is back to being a power - especially when the lessened scholarships dig in.
In January 22nd 2012, Joe Paterno died with complications from lung cancer. I think I cried that day.
“We Are…..Penn State”
On September 7th, 2013, I returned to Penn State. I returned there because I hadn’t come home for six years. I’d witnessed the drop-down gorgeous ladies of Austin, the red-trousered clones at Georgia, Mike The Tiger at LSU, the burnt orange/crimson split at the Cotton Bowl. I’d been to an SEC Championship game, two Super Bowls, and when the NFL took over Wembley Stadium, but I hadn’t been to Penn State in a day and an age. I hadn’t been to Penn State since my wife Suzy died, despite the wonderful messages and support and love from so many of the friends that I met at State College, and I needed to go back. Somehow, I needed to say goodbye.
I tell you, that going to Beaver Stadium when there’s no Joe Paterno statue, the game – Eastern Michigan – is not exactly ‘big-time’ when it comes to the football schedule, and there’s no Joe Paterno, is a really different experience. And because there’s no bowl game, there’s nothing to play for. The Nittany Lions are truly playing for pride.
But you know what? Tell that to the Penn State student section, which filled out mid-way through the first quarter. Tell that to the students who camped out overnight for the best spots at ‘Paternoville’ . Tell that to the 90-odd thousand people who attended, still wearing the blue and white on their sleeve. Oh, and tell that to Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who could have gone to any school in the country, but chose to play for Penn State…because that’s where he committed to playing.
When the crowd shouted “We Are”, my blood jolted from the memories of the ‘White Out’ against Ohio State. When we shouted back ‘Penn State’ I remember the pride I felt when I stood there in the cold against Indiana. Look, even if you’ve got no connection with Penn State, Beaver Stadium’s a hell of place to get wired in. Honestly, it’s one of the loudest stadiums in the country. And yes, I’ve been to loud places before.
The game itself came and went. The student section got a little rowdy, then a little quieter as the rout increased and the hangovers kicked in. Penn State still jumps around, still roars, and the band still rocks. Sure, some people are pissed about not getting 'Sweet Caroline', but those people should wait out. The PC guys will find something else to scream at.
And I – even I – cry a bit at the alma mater. And I didn’t even go to school there.
We Are. Penn State.
