WVU fan here.
I'm 48, so I have many memories of the WVU-Penn State games of the 80s and early 90s. There were some great ones. I was at the '87 game in Happy Valley, Major Harris's freshman season, when we had an "illegal man downfield" on a 40-yard pass play to your 5-yard line on a 3rd and 9, with WVU leading 21-10 in the early fourth quarter. That call still ticks me off. We ended up losing 25-21. I was there for the WVU victories in '84 and '88.
All that said, WVU fans have a lot of healthy respect for the Penn State football team. PSU has obviously had their way with WVU and the rest of the Eastern football rivals over the years.
Because you are not Pitt, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with how well you'll be treated on August 31. Our fans are yearning for eastern/regional rivalry games anymore, as we often are playing teams from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and that area of the country. Don't get me wrong -- we're happy to be in the Big 12, but that familiarity and sense of rivalry just isn't there when we play Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Kansas State, et al. But, we are happy to see Virginia Tech, Pitt and Penn State back on the schedule.
If you are going, try to get there early and walk through the Light Blue Lot and Blue Lot. It's an experience. There will be many grills lit, many wild game meats being smoked and cooked, and plenty of home brew moonshine. And lots of pepperoni rolls, a West Virginia staple. If you cut through, you'll be offered moonshine, beer, and pepperoni rolls. Our fans will want to bend your ear about our "rivalry" and how glad we are that you're back on the schedule. We have our share of knucklehead fans, many of which are from New Jersey & New York, who will throw a "Joe Knew" or something similar your way. But, that's about it. Honestly, we're just fired up for our football team in 2024 -- our fans think this is going to be a very good WVU football team. The House will be packed for the noon kick, and it's going to be a hell of an atmosphere.
And -- please feel free to chime in during the WVU Rendition of Sweet Caroline to start the fourth quarter. We made up our own lyrics, but I think you'll be able to catch on quick....