Football is in the air on campus as Blue-White Weekend festivities begin today with the actual spring game taking place at 2 pm tomorrow. Saturday will mark the first time that many have entered Beaver Stadium since the emotional 17-14 loss to Nebraska last November. I’ve looked forward to this weekend for a while for many reasons. Listed below are five things I’m hoping to get out of this weekend, including the game, and around State College in general. Hopefully we agree on some:

1. No rain on Saturday- Last year, rain came down hard before the game started and did not let up throughout the first half. Attendance was way down with fans running for cover, and the game was called early in the third quarter. The progress of any players, let alone quarterbacks, was almost impossible to track. Big Ten Football weather can get ugly in the fall, and teams need to be prepared to deal with it, but relatively decent weather would be nice tomorrow. Several recruits — some committed and others with offers — will also be in attendance tomorrow. It would be cool to welcome them without a torrential downpour.
2. Network with alumni- Through the past five months, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with several Penn State fans and alumni on social media. This weekend, I’m hoping to turn some Twitter friends into in-person friends. Many people choose to attend Penn State because of the huge alumni base, and a large number of alumni return this weekend. Meet up with somebody downtown or at a tailgate before the game. The opportunity is there.
3. A decent game from Rob Bolden- It goes without saying that you’d like to see all quarterbacks play well, but I think Bolden needs it more than anybody. Matt McGloin has already showed he can sometimes move an offense. Paul Jones — although its now been two years — showcased some of his ability in the 2010 spring game. I’ve written about Bolden before, citing his skill set and untapped potential. He really needs to show it tomorrow.
4. A fast moving offense-Watching this team in practice, it is easy to see that this is not your Jay Paterno and Galen Hall offense of the past. They are getting to the line of scrimmage fast between plays and constantly moving. With O’Brien calling the plays, the chain of command on the sideline should be much more organized, leading to snapping the ball with a decent amount of time still on the play clock. Fans should see a preview of this tomorrow.
5. No serious injuries- Injuries in scrimmages and practices are not uncommon, and Penn State saw it’s first really serious one of the spring when linebacker James Van Fleet tore his ACL in practice this past week. Van Fleet blocked a punt which led to an Andrew Dailey go-ahead touchdown in the 2010 Indiana game and was in line to see a little more playing time this fall. Avoiding further injuries tomorrow is essential.

Check out the rest of our Blue-White Weekend coverage, here, here, here, and here, and make sure to follow along for updates throughout the weekend and during the game tomorrow.