Beaver Stadium was bleeding blue and white Friday night as fans piled in for Football Eve, a celebration to kick off the start of the 2010 football season. 

The pep rally got off on the right foot with chants of “We are Penn State”  and energetic music, courtesy of the Blue Band, echoing throughout the stadium.  “We’re going to make it a party in the stands,” the conductor announced as the crowd erupted in cheers.

The cheerleaders, Lionettes and the Nittany Lion mascot also contributed to pumping up the crowd throughout the night. A special appearance was made by Chuck Fusina, the All-American quarterback of the 1977- 1978 Nittany Lion team.

Fusina explained his long-awaited dream of standing in front of the crowd and leading them in a cheer. “Will you help me out with this?” he asked the audience, instructing one half of the stadium to shout “Penn” and the other side “State.”

The back-and-forth cheering style continued when a male cheerleader came out leading the crowd in chants of Penn State, Nittany Lion and Joe Paterno.

However, the loudest screams of the night rang throughout the stadium when game announcer Steve Jones welcomed “college football’s greatest coach” Joe Paterno, along with the 2010 Nittany Lion team to the field. 

“This group of kids behind me is going to make you happy,” Paterno said to the crowd, eliciting another outburst of cheers. “We’re gonna make this year something special.”

As JoePa wrapped up his pep talk, fireworks erupted in the sky, sending the crowd off with high spirits and excitement for the first game of the season against Youngstown State Saturday, Sept. 4. Judging from the game’s score, a 44-14 win for Penn State, the pep talk worked.

Time to roll up your pant legs because football season has officially begun!