Fall is finally coming, which means endless amounts of autumn colors, pumpkin spice everything, and, of course, football season. College football at Penn State is absolutely sacred. Having the most loyal alumni in the world calls for a cult-like return of adults and kids alike to the best school in the world to watch the Nittany Lions dominate the Big10.
Penn State football has a unique cultural aspect ranging from the snack bar food to the halftime rituals, distinguishing our football Saturdays from so many other universities. I truly believe WE ARE the best school in the world, and our sports culture is just one aspect that sets us apart.
Here are the 20 best parts of Penn State’s home football Saturday’s:
1. Chicken. Baskets.
There is truly nothing better when the game is coming down to the wire, you’re waiting out a brutal halftime in the cold, or simply are craving a mid-game snack than a warm, fresh chicken basket from the stadium snack bars. They are magical.
2. Picking out the perfect game day clothes
Maybe this only applies to the female fans (although, I personally think guys secretly pick out their outfits the night before) but game day outfit picking is one of my favorite past times. There’s something about choosing the perfect spirited clothing and putting that face paint on that puts me in the best mood.
3. Miles of tailgating fields
This part of Penn State absolutely shocked me the first Saturday I was there. Seeing those miles of green farmland and nothingness suddenly overflowing with people, RVs, and cars all decked in blue and white is an overwhelming sight that never gets old.
4. Gametime chants
I’m not even sure what all of these chants are, but I’m sure they include “We Are” somewhere in there. I just kind of go along with it, and get hyped either way as everyone is screaming in unison at the top of their lungs.
5. The drum major’s signature flip
THIS IS SO COOL. Period. The fact that every drum major is required every year to be able to lead the band with a flip each game is a unique part of Penn State football that I still can’t get over.
6. Everyone’s favorite mascot, the Nittany Lion
The Nittany Lion is a super coveted position whose identity is secret, and who literally devotes all of their time to be the most impressive, involved mascot ever, in my view. He can flip too, which is another impressive part.
7. The Blue Band
For those unaware, the band is situated within the student section, playing all of the songs and chants right in earshot of the students to get everyone extra amped up, one of my favorite parts. Not to mention their insane halftime show, but we’ll come back to that.
8. Drunk alumni reliving the glory days
Definitely, one of the best parts of PSU football, the sheer number of alumni who make the return, recent graduates and great grandparents alike, is astounding. Penn State truly knows how to take a piece of its alumni’s hearts, drawing them back in the thousands each and every game.
9. Being lifted in the student section on touchdowns
I personally haven’t had the privilege yet, this is definitely a bucket list item. With each touchdown, you see hundreds of kids being hoisted up and down for the number of points we have all around you, a sight that is unmatched by other schools.
10. Blue and white… everywhere
Something I probably won’t ever get over is the sheer amount of blue and white everything that permeates our campus every Saturday, even more so than normal. There’s something so exciting and yet comforting in seeing the uniformity of it, especially in the stadium
11. Saquon, period.
This boy is almost singlehandedly carrying our Big10 Championship for us, no offense to the other players. He is so impressive and I really can’t get over it, my jaw drops each time I see him play.
12. Thousands of blue and white pom poms in the stands
THIS LOOKS SO COOL. Seriously, the Penn State student section is one of the rowdiest, most spirited and most impressive of them all. Anyone would be overwhelmed as hundreds of thousands of blue and white pom poms are waved together by students.
13. The greatest tailgate food ever
Breakfast sandwiches, juice, buffalo chicken dip, burgers, hot dogs, dessert, you name it. There’s nothing better than parents cooking up some nice tailgate food for us broke college students deprived of home-cooked meals on a cold Saturday afternoon.
14. Probably terrible weather (makes it all the more fun)
In Happy Valley, you can pretty much expect a snowstorm, a downpour, an aggressive fog, pretty much any disastrous weather circumstance. However, it only makes it all the more fun as endless fans stick it out together.
15. Cornhole games on every inch of lawn
Cornhole is one of my favorite games ever, I’ll say it. Even though I still struggle to do the math as I play, and I almost always lose, it gets me pumped each time.
16. The Alma Mater sang at the end of every game
This is one of my absolute favorite parts of game day because every person in that stadium, young, old, alumni, friend, joins arm in arm and sings the Alma Mater together. There is something truly magical about that moment.
17. Post-game celebration
The party never stops here! As soon as the game ends, win, lose (mostly win), we rally together and keep on celebrating well after the final whistle. Penn State knows how to have a good Saturday, that’s for sure.
18. When you realize you attend the absolute best school in the world
No ifs, ands, or buts, Penn State is unrivaled.
