What a wonderful semester it’s been so far. You’ve got good grades, made some new friends, and attended some ~real~ Penn State football games. Life couldn’t get any better, could it?

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Somehow, someway, you’ve tested positive for COVID-19. Responsibly, you headed to isolation, but you’re now experiencing a bad case of FOMO as you watch your besties throw down in the tailgate lots via Snapchat.

However, as with all bad things, there’s usually a silver lining. Here are some tips and tricks to help make your isolated gameday experience one to remember.

Sleep In

On most gamedays, you and your roomies will wake up at the crack of dawn ready for a long day full of good, pure, wholesome fun. Depending on where you live, you might have a lot of walking to do. The great thing about having to stay at home is that you get to plan out your own schedule, which, in this case, involves sleeping most of the day. Just be sure not to oversleep if the game kicks off at noon!

Put Together A Gameday ‘Fit

While you may not have thought to pack your Nittany Lion ears or football jersey when you hastily threw together your bags, there are still plenty of opportunities to put together an immaculate ‘fit before the game begins. You can even photoshop yourself into your tailgate to show it off for good measure.

Order Some Grub

One of the best parts about tailgating is obviously the food. Depending on where you order from, you’ll likely encounter staples like pulled pork, wings, chicken fingers, burgers, hot dogs, and more. Luckily for you, State College is full of great places that can fill in for your usual tailgate fare.

Places like Wings Over, BRGR, Local Whiskey, Wegmans, Sauly Boy’s, and more could satisfy your cravings, but just be sure to have them delivered since you can’t go out. If your friends really love you, they’ll drop off some leftovers for you.

Take A Mid-Tailgate Nap

When the middle of the day hits, or if you woke up super early to get a head start for the noon game, you’ll sometimes find yourself craving a siesta during those slower hours. Lucky for you, though, you can simply choose to lay down whenever you want and resume your party whenever you feel like it.

FaceTime Your Friends

Missing that feeling of sprinting through Gate A to the student section? Want to watch the sunset over Beaver Stadium during a night game? Itching to sing “Sweet Caroline” even though you won’t be reaching out and touching hands? If you ask nicely, your friends may brave Beaver Stadium’s shitty Wi-Fi to (virtually) bring you to the game.

Cheer, But Not Too Loudly

While you may be tempted to yell at your TV or laptop if something exciting happens, don’t forget about your neighbors who may be trying to sleep or be productive. Or, be that guy and try to make friends through the walls. You never know what will happen. Maybe you’ll make a new friend!

---

Now that we’ve given you a few ideas, you’ll be ready to tackle your isolation gameday with ease. It sucks that you need to miss a game, but remember that you’re doing the right thing and keeping your friends and other folks safe by staying home. You’ll be back in Beaver Stadium before you know it!