we have visiting relatives for holiday, and some will be going to tOSU game. only one is from CBus and most are from Cincy area. one is an administrator at UC - but will be going to game wearing Buckeye garb. We were all talking about how tOSU is the flagship OHIO program - even though there are many solid D1 teams in the state - OU, UC, Miami, BG, UT, Kent and Akron. if PSU were in the playoffs, would an administrator from Temple head to the game wearing Lion gear???? interesting our family who hail from BIG states all look at PA and assume PSU is to PA as tOSU is to Ohio. my brother always asks me why would a kid ever choose another PA school over PSU.
several of our relatives going to tOSU v Clemson game
- Thread starter blion72
- Start date
Tosu is like an nfl team to ohioans who didn't go there. Tosu wins, and the Bengals and Browns suck most of the time. It also helps that Tosu is located in the state capital. The rivalry with michigan is a huge factor as well. Tosu is the football team in ohio.
In PA, football fans who didn't go to Penn State have the Steelers and Eagles, both of which have winning traditions (especially the Steelers). Also, Penn State is out of the way for many Pennsylvanians. Many residents will never visit the campus. It's out of site, out of mind for many state residents by virtue of location. Plus, Penn State has no long-standing rivalry. Rivalries draw in many fans.
Generally speaking, Tosu is the football team in Ohio. Pennsylvanians with no Penn State ties are generally drawn to the Steelers or Eagles.
In PA, football fans who didn't go to Penn State have the Steelers and Eagles, both of which have winning traditions (especially the Steelers). Also, Penn State is out of the way for many Pennsylvanians. Many residents will never visit the campus. It's out of site, out of mind for many state residents by virtue of location. Plus, Penn State has no long-standing rivalry. Rivalries draw in many fans.
Generally speaking, Tosu is the football team in Ohio. Pennsylvanians with no Penn State ties are generally drawn to the Steelers or Eagles.
All the more remarkable what Paterno did in building PSU into the brand it became considering the backwoods-jerkwater college it was when he arrived in 1950. Of course the administration pissed 61 years of progress away in 2011-2012.
Backwoods-jerkwater college?
Obviously Penn State's stature has grown tremendously since 1950, and yes, Joe Paterno contributed to that, but "backwoods-jerkwater college"? Duh.
That wasn't an uncommon perception of PSU before Paterno arrived. Even Paterno relayed a story about mentioning to people at Brown about going to PSU and noting their reaction about PSU being in the hinterland. I believe in 1955 Rip Engle was offered the head coaching job at USC and took a vote of the coaching staff about whether they would prefer to move to LA or stay in State College. Only 1 coach voted for the move to USC - Joe Paterno.
Backwoods-jerkwater college?
Obviously Penn State's stature has grown tremendously since 1950, and yes, Joe Paterno contributed to that, but "backwoods-jerkwater college"? Duh.
The original poster made a good point. I find it crazy that some folks in PA don't support PSU. Let Temple and Pitt have their hoops. The entire commonwealth should back PSU football...bottom line.
PSU has been part of AAU since 1958...sure wouldn't recognize backwater university
Paterno came to PSU in 1950 - I guess his presence had an affect pretty quickly. Basically, psu's history can be broken into 3 periods - before Paterno (BP), after Paterno (AP), and since 2011 a continued period of decline.
As Gambit is probably at a post Christmas sale right now, I feel obliged to post on his behalf in order to correct your misstatement, Bob. PSU has two long-standing, big time rivals:
1. Pitt (and its many national championships)
2. Rutgres (and its many....something....help me out here)
PSU has been ranked top 50 nationally for several years, and a top 50 research budget R1 school.
our niece (from Pitt Central Catholic) just told us she will attend PSU as an eng major. passed on Case Western, Carnegie and Pitt (distant 4th with full scholie). she will also swim.
her dad's name is Bob (not the Bob from Pitt on Phils show)
