It's truly a remarkable contradiction, the Penn State football experience. While other Big Ten teams have embraced change, Penn State, for better or worse, is all about the basics; everything about this university's football team induces nostalgia. Except, that is, for the football atmosphere at Beaver Stadium. While Penn State has remained grounded in its roots on the gridiron, the gameday experience just outside it has lost its soul.
Penn State football is generally considered one of the most storied and honorable programs in college football. Led by the holy Joe Paterno, it has achieved massive success during his long tenure as head coach. The last few years, however, have been years that Penn State fans would rather forget. The program seems to be stuck in a funk of mediocrity that doesn’t even approach the stratosphere of expectations that PSU fans have for Paterno-led squads.
The Code Blue athletics rewards program is off to a successful start as we enter the heart of the fall sports season. Find out how it's doing, what the goals are for it moving forward, and how you can earn rewards for attending Penn State athletic events (if you haven't already!).
You can stop taking all of your sappiness out on the tear-stained pages of your journal because this week in Happy Valley there are two chances to get on stage and show off your songwriting skills.
At the beginning of the season, all 120 Football Bowl Series teams have a chance to go to the BCS Championship Game. For the second season in a row, Alabama showed Penn State fans what it looks like to actually have a team capable of making the championship game. After watching the game live from the press box and for a second time on the television, I have compiled a short list of observations about the game with a look ahead to Temple next week.
Matt McGloin may have been Penn State's most valuable player during the 2010 football season. But between the end of last season and now, he may have also become the most disliked amongst the fanbase.