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[Photo Story] Fans Eagerly Return To Beaver Stadium For ‘Blue-White’ Practice

For the first time in forever, Beaver Stadium inched just a little bit closer to being #107kStrong again when it welcomed select students for a modified Blue-White event.

About 7,500 first-year students and family members came to the stadium Saturday afternoon to cheer on Penn State football as it ran a fully padded practice, complete with drills and scrimmages. Although it certainly didn’t reflect a true gameday experience, the excitement buzzing through the stands was undeniable all day long.

Our visual staff brought along its cameras to capture the afternoon in fully.

Naturally, the day got started with crowds of freshmen eagerly awaiting to enter the stadium. Brings back mobile ticketing memories, right?

Teagan Staudenmeier | Onward State
Teagan Staudenmeier | Onward State

Once they got inside, folks took their seats, scattered about the stadium in small groups of up to three.

Shannon Smith | Onward State
Mira DiBattiste | Onward State

Remember, freshmen. They’re shakers — NOT pom-poms!

The Blue Band was there, too! The group kept things lively all afternoon by blaring pep tunes and fight songs as the Nittany Lions ran through drills and plays.

Coming soon to an Instagram feed near you…

Oh, did we mention chicken baskets were back on sale, too? Spend those meal points wisely, folks!

Of course, some football happened, too. The Nittany Lions came out in their black shoes and basic blues to warm up on the field and take in the ambiance.

Running back Devyn Ford quickly stole the show while practicing kick returns. He took this one to the house untouched!

Freshman cornerback Kalen King stole the show alongside other young talents. He flashed off his skills by picking off two passes and taking one to the end zone for an impressive pick-six.

By about 2:45 p.m., Penn State’s practice ended. Per tradition, the Class of 2024 stood together in the stands for an expectedly clumsy rendition of Penn State’s Alma Mater.

Once that wrapped up, some players took a lap to greet fans and slap some skin.

We’d be lying if we said Saturday’s festivities were perfect, especially given the controversy surrounding them. But it was undeniably refreshing to see folks in Beaver Stadium once again.

Hopefully, by the time next season rolls around, the rest of Nittany Nation will get to enjoy it, too.

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About the Author

Matt DiSanto

Matt proudly served as Onward State’s managing editor for two years until graduating from Penn State in May 2022. Now, he’s off in the real world doing real things. Send him an email ([email protected]) or follow him on Twitter (@mattdisanto_) to stay in touch.

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