Perhaps the name Happy Valley should have given it away. After all, I wasn’t traveling to Death Valley or The Swamp. From the students on campus to historic Old Main and Beaver Stadium, State College, Penn., is filled with one thing: class.
The Penn State campus has to be one of the prettiest in the nation, with a mixture of old and modern buildings. Being away from a big city, you still get that college town feel, and Penn State pride radiates throughout the town. Surrounding the campus are the lush beautiful hills of Mt. Nittany. Students cannot ask for a more beautiful setting as they maneuver their way around campus. Sitting in the press box of Beaver Stadium, you are just as amazed by the raucous student section as you are the picturesque backdrop that engulfs the stadium.
Of course, my trip was centered around football, so the highlight of my Penn State experience was at legendary Beaver Stadium where the Nittany Lions play. Beaver Stadium is actually bigger than Bryant-Denny, however, you really can’t tell the difference between the 7,000 or so extra seats at Penn State. What you can notice is the age of the old stadium. However, this only adds character to the viewing experience.
Upon entering the press box, I noticed how old the stadium was. Penn State’s student section is notoriously loud, and when the Lions stopped the Crimson Tide on its first possession, the box literally shook. At that moment I could only imagine how it sounded to AJ McCarron and the rest of the Tide offense.
The game atmosphere was simply electric. I knew seeing a Penn State white-out was going to be a special experience, but actually seeing the crowd decked out in all white with white shakers waved all in unison was the coolest football experience I have ever witnessed. The atmosphere stayed electric most of the game, despite Alabama gaining control early. To sum it up, saying that football passion is only southern is a lie.
Penn State fans’ passion can only be matched by the class that they showed Alabama fans. After the game, I walked around campus in an Alabama shirt and not once was I harassed by a fan. Penn State fans know football, and they knew enough to respect the game that was played that day. The only thing heard from Penn State fans were congratulations and how much they appreciated the opportunity to see two traditional powerhouses go up against each other.
In fact, the only person to give me a hard time was Penn State backup quarterback Paul Jones. Late that night at a McDonald’s, Jones informed me that I do nothing for the team and therefore meant nothing to my university. The former prized recruit and I share that in common, due to the fact that since enrolling into Penn State, he has been kept off the team due to academic ineligibility. Perhaps on top of focusing on his studies, Jones should also take note of the class exuded by his fellow classmates.
I would be remiss if I forgot to mention how well I ate at Penn State. The food there was absolutely the best. I started off with a sandwich at Are You Hungry, a late night sandwich shop that puts nearly anything you can imagine on a sandwich. Then I had some of the best ice cream of my life at the Berkey Creamery where I tried the historic Paterno Peach flavored ice cream. I even got a chance to visit The Diner and get my hands on a famous grilled sticky. I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of my trip I came back a good five pounds heavier.
Writing this column, I realize how much I am going to miss Penn State. It was an experience I will never forget and one that I hope to be able to do again. To our host Joe McIntyre and the rest of my new Penn State friends: We are… Penn State!
