This Game Is Gonna Be HUGE!

The Lions will have their biggest game of the season on Saturday when they venture into the un-friendly confines of The Horseshoe in Columbus. All the signs are falling in for this being a very big game; students set up a miniature Paternoville for the 200 student tickets available for PSU Students.

Also, College Gameday is coming to your city, you crazy Buckeye freaks! If you read the entire article, you will be treated to a very funny quote from irrelevant Vice-Figure-Head Chris Grassi (Paternoville Coordination Committee (PCC) Vice President).

"I'm concerned about the atmosphere," Grassi said. "It's going to be absolutely crazy. In 2006, they had a great atmosphere. I can't imagine what it will be like for a night game -- insane. Not rivaling ours, but probably close."

WHEW! Dude! You completely saved it there! You were about to possibly infer/concede/suggest that Ohio State's game-time atmosphere could rival PSU's! Close one. That last little part is what really saved it. I was starting to think: "what the hell is this kid thinking! Tosu can't hold a candle to the BEAV!" Then, you brought it all back. Good job.

We are also starting to get Penn State pocasts/bloggers wondering whether Saturday's game will be the biggest of their lives! I will now make some concessions: This is a big game, I am a huge fan of the over-the-top-rhetoric, I'm ready to get really fired up for the game, and I'm apparently incredibly old. This game is big, but I don't know if it is that big.

GO STATE! BEAT THE BUCKEYES!

Student Tickets and Complete Dumbassery

The mechanics of doling out Student Tickets for the 2008 season went through some major changes this year in an effort to make it easier for more senior students to acquire tickets to the games. This is in the response to the absolute online cockfight students went through to get tickets last year where tickets were sold out in under an hour.

Senior tickets went on sale yesterday after a pre-registration process and, from all accounts, everything went smoothly. The Collegian is reporting that 89% of Seniors who wanted tickets in fact got tickets.

The ease of acquiring tickets however seemed to have inspired some complete dumbassery among PSU Seniors:

"I pretty much came back from class, ate lunch, took my time, played the guitar a bit, clicked on Ticketmaster and got the tickets," he said. "It's too good to be true that I can just walk in and get them."--Brian Matthews (senior-labor studies and employment relations)(emphasis added)

Look, pal, I'm glad you got tickets but you aren't really inspiring me with your dedication. You apparently wanted tickets so badly that a sandwich and some fucking guitar took precedence over hopping on the computer and ordering up season tickets to the greatest spectacle in college sports? I mean, the fucking guitar? This seems like an absolute Belushi-situation.


GO STATE! PUT DOWN THE GUITAR AND GET FIRED UP FOR THE FALL!

Your Daily Firing Up

There are actually a bunch of over-the-top PSU videos out there right now. However, here is my favorite.






Oh hell yes. The shots of the sea of white in the student section gives me goose bumps every time!

GO STATE! GET FIRED UP FOR '08!

New Student Ticket Policy

The University has announced the new plan for distributing student tickets for the 2008 home schedule. The Collegian has a great article.

It will still be run online via Ticketmaster, however, the major change is that each more senior class is given preference. For example, the seniors choose first then juniors and so on down the line (grad students go last).

Also, each class is allocated a pro-rata portion of the tickets the percentage each class contributes to the student population as a whole will get that portion of students. For example, if freshman make up 22% of the PSU population then 22% of the tickets will be reserved for the common frosh.

Non-UP students are still allowed to get tickets. The idea of shutting those kids out was ridiculous in the first place. Whoever thought of it should be hit in the face with a snow shovel.

Nothing has been done about scalping. Really, I could care less about that. As an alum who loves to sit in the student section I want them to be able to scalp tickets so I can continue to do so. Also, if you went to PSU before 2005, like I did, I would highly recommend sitting in the student section for a game now. It is a completely different experience and you really feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself.

GO STATE!

BEST STUDENTS ANYWHERE!

Why wouldn't you want to play at PSU?

Thanks....

First, thanks to all the seniors who played their last home game at Beaver Stadium this week. You have been a special part of an amazing time for Nittany Lion Football, your contributions will not be forgotten.

Second, at least one person is upset (and rightfully so) that the graduating seniors on the team didn't stop and thank/celebrate/bask in the glow of the student section after the game against Purdue. According the the above letter only Terrell Golden stopped by the student section (was there anyone who questioned why this kid was a captain?). I think the writer of the above letter says it best:

After all, isn't this the student section that ESPN declared to be the best student section in college football?

And prompted Sports Illustrated on campus to say that a must for any college student is to attend a game at Beaver Stadium?

And turned Beaver Stadium into the White House?

Literally caused the stadium to shake at the sound of "Zombie Nation?"

And has helped make Penn State nearly unbeatable at home over the last two years?

Too true. The Student section has been phenomenal the last few years. You guys are the greatest show in sports today. You should be proud of making Beaver Stadium a really tough place to play.

Sadly, not all PSU fans are as classy. The Pike fraternity involved in the Youtube-beer-hurling-video-scandal faces further punishment for the incident before the Ohio St. Game. The Collegian has the story.

These punishments could include fines, a requirement to host a program on either anger management or alcohol abuse and a possible visit from the executive director or a senior staff member from the international fraternity, Justin Buck, executive director of Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity, wrote in an e-mail.The fraternity was suspended by both the university and its international fraternity pending a final decision on its chapter status as a result of an altercation caught on video, and posted on YouTube, that showed partygoers throwing beer cans at passing Ohio State fan.

But don't forget to thank the countless people behind the scenes that make the football program possible such as Brad "Spider" Caldwell.


GO STATE! BEAT TEMPLE!

Brief Thoughts

First, I had a phennomenal time at the game. The student section is always an intense experience but this was my first white out and will be something that I'll never forget. I tried my damndest to will PSU to a victory but all I got for my efforts was a sore throat and an empty feeling inside.
PSU really got a solid beating at the hands of Ohio St. The Buckeyes did exactly what they needed to do on defense but, from where I was watching, it looked like the offensive line completely dominated this game. Penn State couldn't get pressure on Boeckman and Tosu ran the ball with impunity. It was difficult to watch.
More reactions, pics, and videos to come later once i get back to a decent internet connection and I recover physically.

GO STATE! BEAT PURDUE!

The Buckeyes Bring the Noise

Everybody knows, or has at least heard, that the crowd in Beaver Stadium is going to be large, loud, and probably a little inebriated. In an effort to combat the devastating affects of the crowd (well, student section) Ohio St. has been blaring loud music and noise during practice. This isn't a new approach, however, I've never heard of a coaching staff doing the following:

"That sound effect they use, like the cat, the roar -- we just play that throughout practice," Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. "So when you hear it during game time, it's nothing new."

Indeed. I can only imagine how terribly disorienting such a sound effect would be. I would imagine the huddle would go something like this if they didn't prepare for the Lion's Roar.

Ohio St. has the ball on their own 20 to start the game, they are huddled up and about to call their first play:

Wells: What is the play?
Boeckman: Ok, 84 Rhonda, Iso......
**********Roar***************
Wells: What the fuck was that?
Boeckman: I dunno. That was completely new!
Robiskie: Have you guys ever heard that before? I have never heard anything like that!
Wells: I think it was a Lion's roar.
Boeckman: Fuck that! It was a cat.
Robiskie: We gotta call a timeout. I'm about to fucking lose it!
*******Time out TOSU*********

That is the only way it could possibly go down.

Now, Ohio St. hasn't just been wasting their time with sound effects. They have also done things to actually help their team such as:

In preparation for similar noise and anticipated communication problems on offense, Ohio State coaches handed out play-calling wristbands not only to their quarterback (a common practice around the country) but also wide receivers before the season started.

They've been using the bands all year, but the intent may have been to get used to them by the time this Saturday's game against Penn State arrived, Boeckman said.

Good idea. But I'm honestly shocked it wasn't to get ready for the Akron game. That thing could've gotten out of hand!

GO STATE! BE LOUD! WHITE OUT THE BUCKEYES!

Paternoville Is Back for Ohio St.

The Collegian is reporting that about 100 brave campers reestablished Paternoville despite the rain.

The Student section is going to be fired up! Thi s game has to be as eagerly anticipated as the 2005 game. It might be a cold, miserable day but football fans are going to be treated to something special on Saturday night!




Photo by Nate Smith

GO STATE! BEAT THE BUCKEYES!

Student Section = Sold Out in Record Time!

Students had the opportunity to buy Season tickets for the 2007 season starting this morning. Well, if you didn't get yours in the first 59 minutes you ain't getting 'em. Because they sold 21,000 tickets in 59 minutes.

UPDATE! Just in thinking how ridiculous selling 21,000 tickets in 59 minutes is, ponder this: that means PSU was selling roughly 5.9 tickets per second! PER SECOND! Unbelievable!

Apparently, the students don't care that some people don't like PSU's jerseys.

That is passion. That is dedication. That is the BEST STUDENT SECTION IN THE COUNTRY


WE ARE....