10 Questions (With The Logo): The PSU Toaster Is Toast
If you’ve spent even five minutes on Penn State Twitter, you’ve probably run into a particularly bold appliance who knows a thing or two about Nittany Lions football.
Of course, we’re talking about the PSU Toaster — better known to most as the Toast With The Logo. For nearly a decade, @PSUtoaster has contributed to the Penn State community’s Twitter presence by doling out burns, trash-talking opponents, and pumping out meme after meme.
Now, as the beloved account prepares to retire, we sat down with its creator to learn more about the PSU Toaster’s history, favorite memories, and more.
Onward State: For readers who might not know, who are you? What’s the elevator pitch for the PSU Toaster?
PSU Toaster: I’m just another person who spent too much time on Twitter and thought that I’d have some fun with a silly gimmick. I kept things simple. I’ve been doing the same bit for over a decade. “Team X is gonna be toast” before the game and “Team X is toast” after we win. Work in a few bad puns, and you’ve got yourself a Twitter account.
OS: As you noted, you’ve been a fixture of Penn State Twitter for nearly a decade. What’s your origin story?
Toaster: I believe it was either my junior or sophomore year…PSU Twitter was a bit different back then. @PSU_Facts was in its prime, and the PSU Black Sheep account was also a fun follow. Just a bunch of folks dunking on angry Pitt/Ohio State fans online and having a good time.
I decided to make the account on a whim after a night at the Gaff. My thinking at the time was, “I can do jokes like that, too.” I ended up scrolling through a Penn State merch site and picked what I thought was the most ridiculous thing: A toaster that puts the PSU logo on bread.
So, I made the account, and things took off from there. Notably, at that time, I did not actually own a PSU toaster. But during my senior year, the toaster in my apartment broke, and I bought the last PSU toaster from McLanahan’s. It was $20 or something but totally worth it. It’s held up well over the years, but recently, only one of the toast slots applies the logo well. The other side just puts a black oval in the middle of the slice. I’ve also had people reach out to me asking where they can buy one, but they’ve been nearly impossible to find online.
One funny story is that I almost lost the account when I got a new phone since I didn’t know the password (and probably made it while drunk). I eventually figured it out.
OS: What went into your decision to hang up the toaster after all these years?
Toaster: I just didn’t want to tweet anymore. I have literally been doing the same joke for about a decade, and I felt like I didn’t have it in me to do another season. Now was the time, because if I didn’t do it before Blue-White, I’d be (morally anyway) on the hook for the season.
I thought about just switching it to a bot and/or scheduling the tweets in advance, because who would really notice anyway? I do have to say, I am very surprised by the number of folks who have reached out. We do have an incredible fan base…most of the time ;)
OS: Do you think a return to posting could be in the cards? It’d be tough to imagine a Penn State College Football Playoff run without your input.
Toaster: I don’t think so! I am not going to delete the account. If someone really wanted to, they could just search through and retweet the “X is gonna be Toast” tweet for whoever Penn State’s playing that week. If we made it to the College Football Playoff, I’d have to drop back in.
OS: Looking back, do you have a favorite memory on Penn State Twitter? Does anything stand out all these years later?
Toaster: This is a tough one. There are a few that stick out in my mind. I love when Joe Moorhead tweeted back at me — that was pretty wild. It was something about “Tuddie Toast with the logo on it.”
Of course, there are plenty of ridiculous memes and edits, but I would have never thought that someone would dress up as the Toast With The PSU Logo On It for Halloween.
I tried to have fun with it! It was also a good creative outlet to a degree — trying to come up with something new or thinking about how to jam the logo into an existing meme format.
OS: As you get set to ride off into the Sunset With The Logo, how do you feel about Penn State football’s future? Is Franklin the guy? Is Allar the future?
Toaster: I’m feeling pretty good! Franklin has done a great job, in my opinion. He’s done a great job of pulling in some dudes. There are, of course, a few things that stand out, like that awful 4th & 5 play and a few clock management issues. No one’s perfect.
I’m very excited to see how much time Allar and Christian Veilleux get this year. I’d imagine that since Cliff already knows the plays Allar can get more reps in practice/pre-season and get more comfortable.
OS: Looking at Penn State football’s 2022 schedule, I’m sure you’ve got some thoughts. Which opponent is going to be the most toast when it faces the Nittany Lions?
Toaster: Without a doubt, it’s Maryland. I think the answer will always be either Maryland or Rutgers (more like Butt-gers). I hope James runs it up each time we play them. Grind them into a fine dust.
OS: In your professional opinion, where’s the JoePa statue?
Toaster: My big-brained conspiracy theory is that it was melted down and integrated into class rings. However, I think it’s more likely either in a storage container owned by the school or by the Paterno family. That being said, the theories of it being buried at mid-field or in the walls of the Phyrst after the remodel are much more fun.
OS: Finally, per Onward State tradition…If you could be any dinosaur, which would you be and why?
Toaster: Going from “Jurassic Park” here…I think those real tall guys just hanging out eating trees would be pretty chill. Brachiosaurus? Just seem super chill, eating leaves and cruising around. Seems like a good deal!
Editor’s note: Responses were lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
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