A win’s a win, folks.

Penn State football traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday and escaped Huntington Bank Stadium with a 26-25 win over the Golden Gophers. A win wasn’t always certain, but the Nittany Lions eeked it out with a fourth-quarter drive that featured three fourth-down conversions to close out the game.

While the Nittany Lions battled it out on the field, there was plenty to take in on the campus of Minnesota.

Flyover+

Who doesn’t love a good flyover?

Minnesota, however, added to the flyover experience by sending four paragliders into the stadium with an American flag, a University of Minnesota flag, and even a dog in tow.

The dog, sporting a doggie flight suit and doggles, came in hot with his handler and trotted to the 50-yard to an ovation louder than that of Minnesota’s first score.

The American flag, though, touched the ground. The Golden Knights are frowning upon you, Minnesota.

Goldy Gopher

The Nittany Lions have gone up against a Mountaineer, Tommy Trojan, Bucky Badger, and Purdue Pete this season, but none hold a candle to the segway-riding, head-spinning Goldy Gopher.

Goldy’s signature move is the spinning head, which he executed to perfection multiple times during the festivities on Saturday. It was simple, but the fans loved it.

Much like Purdue got its mascot and nickname from a newspaper, so did the Golden Gophers. A newspaper ran a satirizing cartoon with nine gophers that had the heads of local politicians in response to a railroad that was proposed in western Minnesota. The cartoon earned Minnesota the nickname “The Gopher State,” and the “Golden” was added in the 1930s when the football team wore gold jerseys.

Another Coke School

It’s always a great day when Penn State’s away matchups take place at a Coke school. While unlimited Starry gets the job done in the Beaver Stadium press box, a cooler full of Coke products is really where a press box earns its worth.

As for the spread, there was a taco bar for a pregame meal plus some quality hot chocolate and confections available all game long. Huntington Bank Stadium was another in a long line of pleasant away press boxes this season.

Canoe Racing School?

All over Huntington Bank Stadium is the phrase “Ski-U-Mah.” It seems like a random group of syllables thrown together for a makeshift victory cry, and turns out, it is.

Way back in 1884, two Minnesota rugby players witnessed a canoe race on Lake Pepin in southeastern Minnesota. A young Native American boy won the race and yelled what sounded like, “Ski-U.” The two rugby players added “Mah,” and the chant was born.

However, there is no word in the Chippewa language pronounced “Ski-U,” so it’s likely the players misheard the boy. Regardless, the tradition lives on.