Penn State Game-Day Football Buttons To Feature Throwback Slogans

by Evan Murach

“Discharge Army,” “Undo Purdue,” “Burst Champaign’s Bubble,” “Quiet the ‘Nois.” If you think those slogans look familiar — you’re right.

In years past, they’ve been featured on those ubiquitous blue and white Penn State football buttons that have been a familiar part of the Nittany Lions game day attire for the past 43 seasons.

The buttons, distributed by Citizens Bank each year, are going retro. Eleven of the best slogans from past seasons of Penn State football are making a comeback in 2015.

“It will vary, so some might be from five years ago and some might be from 40 years ago,” Lauren DiGeronimo, Citizens Bank vice president of media relations said.

The slogans will still relate to the team the Lions are playing. So for example, when Penn State plays Rutgers on Sept. 19, you could see an old zinger that targeted the Scarlet Knights sometime back.

Unlike previous years, fans will have no input on what slogans will be used.

“We have a team of Citizen Bank [employees] who have always enjoyed the button program and distributing them to customers,” DiGeronimo said. “So that team will be gathering and voting on the ‘best of buttons’ for the year.”

Originally, Citizens Bank was planning on producing 12 throwback buttons. However Penn State has never played San Diego State. So, the slogan for that game on Sept. 26 will be brand new. The slogans will be revealed every Wednesday before a Lions football game at 26 central Pennsylvania Citizens Bank locations.

Buttons are free and available for everyone. Fans can also buy this season’s complete set of buttons in late August by donating $20 to the Foodbank of the State College Area.

Fans are also being asked to make a non-perishable food donation to the food bank. However, only 12 bank locations will have collection bins, including the Citizens Bank office located on West College Ave.

Central Counties Bank, the original creator of the game day buttons, started the tradition in 1972. It wasn’t until 2001 that Citizens Bank took over production.