It all started innocently enough. Penn State offensive line coach and prolific tweeter Herb Hand informed his 13,000 followers of his lunch choice this afternoon — a fresh slice of General Tso’s Canyon Pizza.

Quick stop at @PSULionsPride to pick up some swag for my kids followed by lunch at @CanyonPizzaPSU(get the General Tso’s slice&thank me L8r)

— Herb Hand (@CoachHand) February 3, 2014

What Hand didn’t realize at the time: If the Sandusky scandal is the most contentious topic in State College, best pizza place is a close second. We’ve done scientific studies ourselves. It was a freshman mistake. What followed was mass outrage, confusion, and shock.

@CoachHand Try Brother’s Pizza on College Ave for a real slice

— Adam Gress (@PennStSasquatch) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand We can tell you’re new here lol. Bells Greek is actual pizza.

— Christyan Telech (@CTel92) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand @PSULionsPride @CanyonPizzaPSU Oy coach, great late night pizza but always go Bell’s Greek during the day

— Clay Sauertieg (@CSauertiegPSU) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand Coach, you’ve got to get some Pizza Heaven — greatest pizza in Centre County!!

— Maddy Pryor (@maddyyypryor) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand you’re not supposed to eat @CanyonPizzaPSU during the day/awake…

— David Morar (@morar) February 3, 2014

 

You may question someone who eats Canyon, for lunch, sober. But that is exactly the type of person I want coaching offensive lines.

— Matt d (@PSUMatt2005) February 3, 2014

Somebody should tell Herb Hand that Canyon Pizza is probably not the best place to get lunch in State College.

— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand Pizza Heaven!!!!

— Maddy Pryor (@maddyyypryor) February 3, 2014

If our offensive line coach tosses some basil on his Canyon pizza, he will literally have a “herb hand”

— JoePa’s Doghouse (@RowlffDogg) February 3, 2014

 

Herb Hand eats Canyon sober?!

— Cory Sprankle (@CorySprankle) February 3, 2014

 

@PSULions09 @CoachHand bells greek is great! And if you go to college pizza make sure to get some ranch dressing on the side!!

— Matt Knerr (@KNERR_86) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand Pizza Heaven on North Atherton is worth the “drive” – exceptional. Foccia Luna’s wood fired pie on South Atherton is great too.

— Jim W (@Hatepylons) February 3, 2014

 

Welcome to PSU @CoachHand! Add Faccia Luna’s (one on S. Atherton) wood fired brick oven pizza to the list – my favorite.

— Kim Austin (@kla246) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand @ChiTownLionPSU @CanyonPizzaPSU is good sober don’t let the haters hate! Canyon4life

— _ajP (@_ajp) February 3, 2014

 

So it appears that either @CoachHand is drunk, or has the uncanny ability to eat Canyon while sober…and like it.

— Derek Aschman (@TheDaschMan) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand Your results will vary greatly depending on your BAC.

— Brandon Armstrong (@chubs_kgun) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand Mama Mia’s and it’s not even close.

— Dear Old State (@BuatsRovert) February 3, 2014

 

@CoachHand Hey Coach – Margaritas is where it’s at!

— Jackie Stare (@JStare) February 3, 2014

 

Hand took the barrage of mentions in stride, but stood by his Canyon decision, going so far as to say that he’s ordering it for dinner. No one goes to Canyon twice in one day. No one.

It seems as though my @CanyonPizzaPSU shoutout has stirred up a firestorm in the fan base-Looks like I’m going back for dinner now. #WeAre

— Herb Hand (@CoachHand) February 3, 2014

Could a Herb Hand pizza tour be in the works?

So far I have recs for Brothers, Margarita’s, Bells Greek, College Pizza and Mama Mia’s – I see a pizza throw down in the near future.

— Herb Hand (@CoachHand) February 3, 2014