Is that through everything we've been through. We've never lost our sense of identity.
I've watched the PSU Wisky game about 10 times since I got back from Indy on Sunday, and when taking the time to really evaluate what was happening in between every play, listening and watching the fans in the stands, evaluating the expressions of the coaches, and the hearing the comments made by the announcers; one major thing that stands out to me is the crowd noise and support that comes from our fan base.
I wasn't able to fly out of DC until early in the AM on Saturday, and had to change planes in Atlanta before finally arriving in Indy. On a 6am flight, there were 8 people (yes we counted) wearing Penn State stuff en route to Atlanta. When we got to the gate in Atlanta at 7:50AM we had about 20 minutes until boarding. Walking down the terminal, we didn't even have to confirm the gate number because there were dozens of people dressed in white waiting for the airline to call the boarding zones. The guy standing next to me literally asked me if PSU had booked a charter flight out of ATL for the game. It was amazing how just the presence of proud Penn Staters around me gave me the "kid on christmas" feels.
When we finally got to Indy, we poured off the plane and headed toward the middle hall of the terminal, looking around; out of every corridor the Nittany Nation clad in mostly white and some blue, made our way to the taxi stands. Did not spot a single person in Wisconsin red.
Throughout the day, the cheers that come second nature to us could be heard echoing throughout Indy, and then later throughout Lucas Oil Stadium; Cowbells, "Da Da Daaa" Chants, WE ARE, etc. My group decided to wait in line to receive wrist bands to attend the pregame tailgate, and while waiting in line Matt Millen walked down the hallway against the direction of the Line. If you've seen my posts on this site, you know I'm not the biggest fan of the guy... but when seeing him in person I couldn't help but reach out my hand... I said, "you're Matt Millen." (Like a kid seeing a super hero) without skipping a beat he grabbed solid hold of my handshake and said, "I am, and We Are... Penn State buddy, let's gettem!"
It wasn't the Matt Millen that makes me mute the TV, it was the Matt Millen that truly does love Penn State and that gives us our common ground. We were doing what we used to do back in the day. The NittanyNation was taking over the scene where our Lions were about to battle and the pride that swelled throughout the day was unstoppable.
We're all accustomed to the fan support our Lions receive in Beaver Stadium, and it's been acknowledged as being the best in college football. I think what often times gets overlooked is how vocal and supportive our fans can be away from home. Look at the PItt game. I haven't watched the replay of that nearly as much as I might have had we come back and won, but what you can take away from the replay is how vocal and intimidating we can be... ON THE ROAD. We have the ability to change the game, and we often times do.
I had the pleasure to attend 8 of the 13 games we've played this season and two of those were road games at Pitt & Michigan. Looking at the Michigan game: Why did we get blown out? #1 we were banged up, #2 we were playing a veteran team on the road, and #3 we never had the will to win. We fell behind, and never really had a shot at getting back into the game because the energy and emotion was all against us.
A major factor in beating Ohio State at home might have been because the fans at Beaver Stadium willed the team to come together to do what they had to do to win. It wasn't a fluke, it was exactly what good teams do. They thrive on the energy of their home stadium and beat the odds. Once we had the lead there was no way 100,000 people were letting that go. The ferocious comeback against Pitt was almost possible for similar reasons.
The one moment that stands out to me against Wisconsin comes after we score to make it 21-28. Go to Hour 1:27 and listen for the "Let's go PSU" chant before and onsuing the kickoff. The look on the Wisconsin fans faces says it all. Think she says, "They're pretty loud, aren't they?....."
I think what has me most excited about the future of Penn State football, is that we're still a resemblance of what we once were. We've always been identified as underdogs, who are a "bunch of fu**ers!" who believe in each other, inspire each other to make big plays and do great things. It might have taken a few "signature wins" for me to believe in Franklin, but there's no hiding the fact that the program he's rebuilding has many of the same characteristics of what makes 40,000+ given a weeks notice flock to Indy in the first place.
Paterno built our program around believing deep down inside yourself, leading to doing great things. Taking care of the little things, so the big things can take care of themselves. Consistently performing at a higher level than others around you. And finally, never forgetting that when a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality.
I can't be thankful enough to have Franklin as part of the Penn State family.
He gets it.
He always has... Shame on me for needing a few victories to see that.
There are no names on our jerseys. It's why, We Are... and always will be.... Penn State.
I've watched the PSU Wisky game about 10 times since I got back from Indy on Sunday, and when taking the time to really evaluate what was happening in between every play, listening and watching the fans in the stands, evaluating the expressions of the coaches, and the hearing the comments made by the announcers; one major thing that stands out to me is the crowd noise and support that comes from our fan base.
I wasn't able to fly out of DC until early in the AM on Saturday, and had to change planes in Atlanta before finally arriving in Indy. On a 6am flight, there were 8 people (yes we counted) wearing Penn State stuff en route to Atlanta. When we got to the gate in Atlanta at 7:50AM we had about 20 minutes until boarding. Walking down the terminal, we didn't even have to confirm the gate number because there were dozens of people dressed in white waiting for the airline to call the boarding zones. The guy standing next to me literally asked me if PSU had booked a charter flight out of ATL for the game. It was amazing how just the presence of proud Penn Staters around me gave me the "kid on christmas" feels.
When we finally got to Indy, we poured off the plane and headed toward the middle hall of the terminal, looking around; out of every corridor the Nittany Nation clad in mostly white and some blue, made our way to the taxi stands. Did not spot a single person in Wisconsin red.
Throughout the day, the cheers that come second nature to us could be heard echoing throughout Indy, and then later throughout Lucas Oil Stadium; Cowbells, "Da Da Daaa" Chants, WE ARE, etc. My group decided to wait in line to receive wrist bands to attend the pregame tailgate, and while waiting in line Matt Millen walked down the hallway against the direction of the Line. If you've seen my posts on this site, you know I'm not the biggest fan of the guy... but when seeing him in person I couldn't help but reach out my hand... I said, "you're Matt Millen." (Like a kid seeing a super hero) without skipping a beat he grabbed solid hold of my handshake and said, "I am, and We Are... Penn State buddy, let's gettem!"
It wasn't the Matt Millen that makes me mute the TV, it was the Matt Millen that truly does love Penn State and that gives us our common ground. We were doing what we used to do back in the day. The NittanyNation was taking over the scene where our Lions were about to battle and the pride that swelled throughout the day was unstoppable.
We're all accustomed to the fan support our Lions receive in Beaver Stadium, and it's been acknowledged as being the best in college football. I think what often times gets overlooked is how vocal and supportive our fans can be away from home. Look at the PItt game. I haven't watched the replay of that nearly as much as I might have had we come back and won, but what you can take away from the replay is how vocal and intimidating we can be... ON THE ROAD. We have the ability to change the game, and we often times do.
I had the pleasure to attend 8 of the 13 games we've played this season and two of those were road games at Pitt & Michigan. Looking at the Michigan game: Why did we get blown out? #1 we were banged up, #2 we were playing a veteran team on the road, and #3 we never had the will to win. We fell behind, and never really had a shot at getting back into the game because the energy and emotion was all against us.
A major factor in beating Ohio State at home might have been because the fans at Beaver Stadium willed the team to come together to do what they had to do to win. It wasn't a fluke, it was exactly what good teams do. They thrive on the energy of their home stadium and beat the odds. Once we had the lead there was no way 100,000 people were letting that go. The ferocious comeback against Pitt was almost possible for similar reasons.
The one moment that stands out to me against Wisconsin comes after we score to make it 21-28. Go to Hour 1:27 and listen for the "Let's go PSU" chant before and onsuing the kickoff. The look on the Wisconsin fans faces says it all. Think she says, "They're pretty loud, aren't they?....."
I think what has me most excited about the future of Penn State football, is that we're still a resemblance of what we once were. We've always been identified as underdogs, who are a "bunch of fu**ers!" who believe in each other, inspire each other to make big plays and do great things. It might have taken a few "signature wins" for me to believe in Franklin, but there's no hiding the fact that the program he's rebuilding has many of the same characteristics of what makes 40,000+ given a weeks notice flock to Indy in the first place.
Paterno built our program around believing deep down inside yourself, leading to doing great things. Taking care of the little things, so the big things can take care of themselves. Consistently performing at a higher level than others around you. And finally, never forgetting that when a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality.
I can't be thankful enough to have Franklin as part of the Penn State family.
He gets it.
He always has... Shame on me for needing a few victories to see that.
There are no names on our jerseys. It's why, We Are... and always will be.... Penn State.
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