The title of “best fanbase in the country” is fragile. And as of recent, it’s become clear that it’s only as strong as we Penn Staters make it.

Penn State football had recent sustained success for years. While many took it for granted, students and alumni have been privileged to watch such incredible talent take the field for the blue and white.

After recording 34 wins in the previous three seasons, victories are now hard to come by in State College. James Franklin was relieved of his duties as head football coach, and the team has dropped six straight games. The Nittany Lions have subsequently been eliminated from College Football Playoff contention.

This past weekend, the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers came to town. It was a perfect opportunity for Penn State to earn a signature win, turn the page on an era, and create a memory that would have lasted a lifetime. 

However, the student section was near empty before kickoff, and fizzled out after halftime despite the close score. The amount of times I heard the words “I left because I knew were going to lose” was more than I could count.

Are we serious?

You only get 28 home games as a student. You only get so many chances to watch your team take the field in Beaver Stadium, and even fewer opportunities to watch Penn State attempt to defeat a top team in the nation. If you leave the game because you are predicting a loss, you’re not a realist. Dare I say you’re a fake fan, and, frankly, you don’t deserve tickets.

But instead of completely knocking those who don’t see the true value of gameday in Happy Valley, I want to use this as an opportunity to praise the non-fair-weather folks.

True Penn Staters support their team through thick and thin. They care less about the outcome of the game than the passion and emotion that comes with watching Penn State football. Yes, it can be difficult at times. But there’s no other team in all of sports that I’d rather experience the ride with. This program has dealt with a lot in its history. The least we can do is show up.

Being an optimist isn’t easy. Believe me, I try to be one whenever possible. The world is filled with so much negativity, that even sports, which are supposed to be an escape, are filled with pessimism. 

The ones who stayed for the entire game on Saturday deserve praise. The ones who arrived early deserve praise. The ones who cheer on the team, not degrade and boo them, deserve praise. This is college football, and the people playing the game are kids. Those who truly love their university know this. And these are the people who I respect.

Going into this weekend, I was told by countless so-called Penn State fans that Indiana would beat the Nittany Lions by 50 points. If you’re such a supporter, remind me when the last time we lost by such a margin was? Not recently, I can tell you that. What’s the fun of rooting for a team you don’t believe in?

With so much up in the air for the future of this program, I’d like to speak to all of the believers out there. Keep doing you. Keep having faith. As Terry Smith said, we’re in the storm right now. And the best way to get through it is by sticking together. 

Keep setting the highest expectations for this team, and believing they will exceed them. It’s not delusion, it’s called being a fan.

To the blue and white blooded optimists, you are Penn State.