Why are you a Penn State fan?

[bmw199]

Had two Aunts from one side and an Uncle from the other either graduate or attend PSU. Grandparents on both sides were JoePa fans. What solidified our family forever was when my sister was diagnosed with cancer at age 2. THON and the Four Diamonds Fund paid for everything and it became my goal to one day attend PSU and dance in THON. Accomplished both. My dad would also take me to games growing up and I would make him stay the whole time no matter the score or horrible weather that day. Some of my favorite memories!

My fiance is a Lehigh undergrad but currently getting her Masters at PSU to pull her into this as well.

 

[LionJim]

Wow, great stories. Mine is similar. Grew up in So Philly, Irish-Catholic in a family of Notre Dame fanatics. I remember watching a show on Channel 12, the local “PBS” channel, called TV Quarterbacks with this guy with the thickest glasses I ever saw.

However, I was intrigued and started to read and follow Penn State football. I wasn’t the greatest student, but they took me in. I pulled a high draft number which was a relief to my parents because my cousin was KIA in 1967, so off I went.

So, to wrap this up, it was Joe Paterno who gave me the bug. Even on a grainy TV show he had some type of charisma that projected.

When the BOT stabbed him in the back, I shouldn’t have been surprised. We are surrounded by institutional failure, in every walk of life, but when they abandoned Joe, they abandoned me. It will never be the same, sadly.

Lol, I’ll never forget my Uncle Bill staring at me in shock and asking, “You don’t like Notre Dame?”

 

[PSUoh90]

I grew up in Ohio and whiffed on the chance to be lifelong Buckeye fan because my mom went to PSU and my dad is from PA and has always been a fan. Growing up in that state as a member of the vast minority that isn't an OSU fan is pretty much torture. Now I hate O$U passionately and am still tortured every year.

What I find interesting....

As great as OSU has been, they have won 2 National Championships since 1970! 1 came off of a phantom penalty that should have ended the game ('02). The other came off a controversial admittance into the playoff where many thought they should have been left out ('14)

Anyway, I apologize for making this about OSU. I'm a '13 PSU grad and will be a fan always.

 

[harbest]

simple question

1 I live and breathe in Pennsylvania.

2 I don't (thankfully) live in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

3 When I came of age, I started following a team and it's coach who did things the right way.

 

[LemonEars]

Why am I a Penn State fan? Spent 4 years (1966-1970) at University Park, Nittany Lion Club member for over 40 years, and idolize Joe Paterno.

 

[Beachwineguy]

Born in York, moved to Chester County when I was five and my dad’s company got bought by DuPont. Both of my parents were from WV, and they didn’t like the school systems in that area, so my dad got transferred back so they could be closer to their families. I was nine at the time, but the next year, some of my classmates were talking about college football, and, as most kids in WV, were Mountaineer fans. They asked who I liked. Being from PA and missing my roots, I said Pennsylvania. They said, “Do you mean Penn State? Ha ha, they stink!” This from WVU fans that had never seen a victory over the Nits. Of course, the year was 1982, we went to the Sugar Bowl and won the Natty. I’ve never wavered my allegiance.

 

[CDLionFL]

Parents were season ticket holders since mid-70s and my grandfather had them from even further back. None of them went to PSU (dad went to Temple, mom from Kentucky) but being from Williamsport, it was the closest ‘pro’ team around. My first sports memory was watching 48-14 in my grandfather’s basement. Went to my first game in 82 (28-7 over Syracuse) and was forever hooked. However, PSU was never on the radar for undergrad so my fandom is with just football.

 

[doofis]

My Dad was a die-hard fan. He took me to many games in the 70's.

I started my undergrad days at the Univ. of Miami in 1981, where i singlehandedly cheered the Canes on to an upset victory over then-#1 Penn State.

 

[L.A.Lion]

PSU sent mail and then called me, practically begging me to apply. Against my better judgment I did, giving up matriculation at a warm weather school in the southwest to which I had already been accepted. Turned out OK, despite MassimoManca II’s DNA all over the goddamn place.

 

[paws1957]

I cut myself when I was young and bled blue so I knew right then I had to be a Penn State fan!

 

[JBott]

1. Joseph Vincent Paterno and what he stood for “Success With Honor”.
2. Mark D’Onofrio, brother of a lifelong friend. Watched him play since pee wee football!
3. Daughter is currently a senior at PSU.
Admits it was the best four years of her life.
She will be at the Cotton Bowl with friends.
4. Season ticket holders.......forever!

 

[nittany119]

Why am I a Penn State fan? Spent 4 years (1966-1970) at University Park, Nittany Lion Club member for over 40 years, and idolize Joe Paterno.

1976 to 1980 and copy the rest of your post. 2020 will make 40 years for me as a NLC member. Wow, can’t believe that’s even possible.

 

[bison13]

I'm the first in my family to graduate from college. My two siblings and I all went to psu. All of our signficant others went to psu. My wife's sister and mom went to psu. All of our children have been to psu multiple times. I would assume many of them will attend as well.

 

[rudedude]

Grew up in NEPA a Penn State fan! Lucky enough to have married an alum #IMarriedIntoThis

Yes you are lucky you married an alum! Lol Merry Christmas!!

 

[LemonEars]

1976 to 1980 and copy the rest of your post. 2020 will make 40 years for me as a NLC member. Wow, can’t believe that’s even possible.

Yep. You are correct. I joined the NLC in 1981. I got my BS at University Park from 1966 to 1970, as I said in my post. I have been in the NLC for 38 years, not 40.

 

[rudedude]

Also grew up in NEPA and always watched TV Quarterbacks with my family and thought Jopea was the bomb. Went to home games with my old high school teammate in the 70’s when we were both at Worthington Scranton. Used to drive down in his Pinto with a case of Genny Cream Ale. Nittany 28 denizen and loved every minute of my time there. Great memories, great friends, and grew up there.

 

[SheldonJoe2215]

1. Big fan of Joe - I think of him as PA royalty
2. State pride
3. Friends and family who have attended PSU

 

[nittany119]

My family is from the same general area of Brooklyn that JoePa was from. That made my brother who is 9 years older than me a fan. I just followed him.

Where are you/they from? I’m from Bensonhurst, but I think Joe was from the other side of Brooklyn.

 

[N&B4PSU]

I was raking leaves the day colorado destroyed our win streak. Tears just streamed down my face, but i kept on raking (or papa bear swat me). Only the penn-villanova fiasco in 69 hit me harder.. but both made me stronger.

I was fortunate to be a psu and penn fan when they were killing it... so i learned (kinda the hard way) that life ain't all sunshine and rainbows. Those 2 games taught me to appreciate the wins and accept the losses.

OTOH... my nemesis in HS was a notre dame fanatic, and we certainly went at it. That was a series that should never have died. PSU and ND should play every year in the finale for both.

THAT is a rivarly.

Anway.. still my favorite rocky moment... it ain't all sunshine and rainbows

 

[GSPMax]

I was raking leaves the day colorado destroyed our win streak. Tears just streamed down my face, but i kept on raking (or papa bear swat me). Only the penn-villanova fiasco in 69 hit me harder.. but both made me stronger.

I was fortunate to be a psu and penn fan when they were killing it... so i learned (kinda the hard way) that life ain't all sunshine and rainbows. Those 2 games taught me to appreciate the wins and accept the losses.

OTOH... my nemesis in HS was a notre dame fanatic, and we certainly went at it. That was a series that should never have died. PSU and ND should play every year in the finale for both.

THAT is a rivarly.

Anway.. still my favorite rocky moment... it ain't all sunshine and rainbows

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I remember exactly where I was when we lost that Colorado game.

 

[N&B4PSU]

I remember exactly where I was when we lost that Colorado game.

What is more amazing (in a sense) is that even now I feel the pain. It was an unreal/surreal thing (like... this can't be real.happening). All i could think about for days.

 

[fairfaxlion2]

went to PSU. entire family went to PSU. been following PSU football and basketball since i was a kid

 

[Connorpozlee]

Where are you/they from? I’m from Bensonhurst, but I think Joe was from the other side of Brooklyn.

Marine Park

 

[ATLPSU1]

Both parents went to PSU, grew up a PSU fan, started going to games at 6 didn't miss a home game until I went away to Prep, primarily for swimming, at 15. Went to West Point as a swimmer but in my Plebe year an upper classman asked a lunch table of Plebes at mess who their favorite college team was. As we went around the table everyone said "The Black Knights of the Hudson, Sir!" - Until they came to me and I said "The Penn State Nittany Lions, Sir!" ..A Cadet will not lie, cheat or steal... I soon realized I was not at my correct school and "transferred" to PSU to swim. Our PSU team has met every year since graduating in 85 for a "Swammers" reunion at OC, NJ. You can see my front plate, my GA license pate reads "PSU 1"

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Joseph Vincent Paterno and his wife Sue and what they did for me and my family.

 

[GulfCoastLion]

Growing up in PA I was always a fan but at this moment I chose to be an alumn.

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I lived in Chicago at the time an also attended the game. Sat and stood at the 35 yard line at the top of Notre Dame stadium and leaned against the back walls screaming for the Nittany Lion upset the entire game. Glorious evening !

By the way, the TV announcers for the game didn’t sound too thrilled during your shared video of Fayak kicking the winning FG.

 

[MJG-90]

I’m a south central PA Yinzer transplant. Grew up rooting for Pitt (and everything else related to Pittsburgh - especially the Penguins and Stillers). Not being much of a city guy, but wanting to go to a school with big sports programs, I ended up going to Penn State. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

[CZM]

PSU graduate plus hauled football equipment to away games during late 70’s and through the 80’s

 

[nittany119]

For some reason, I always thought Joe grew up near Flatbush Ave.

Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure he was from Flatbush. Not sure if near Flatbush Ave or not.

 

[nittany119]

I figure I was an admissions department processing aberration back in ‘85 as I offered a tepid academic dossier as a transfer candidate from a community college in Upstate NY...

Little interest in college football back then but really craved a large-school/collegetown experience after two years at a small commuter college...

Knew not one person when my Dad pushed me out of the Oldsmobile and into Hamilton Hall one snowy day in January 1986... the next three years were like being in Disneyworld, met 98% of my best friends and memories at Penn State... I left a tremendous amount of DNA in State College and surrounding areas

Why did you feel compelled to spit a lot and leave strands of hair in all these places?

 

[nittany119]

Marine Park

Not all that far from me. It’s still a nice area there. They have a big time cricket league that plays in Marine Park
Did you say you’re in NJ now? I’m in NJ, Essex County

 

[brupsu]

simple question

In the service got free philly papers in a combat zone.Began to read about this winning streak and the way this coach goes about it.I was hooked and became a lifelong fan.

 

[Connorpozlee]

Not all that far from me. It’s still a nice area there. They have a big time cricket league that plays in Marine Park
Did you say you’re in NJ now? I’m in NJ, Essex County

I grew up in Jersey down on the shore. I’ve been in Kentucky for 22 years now. Completely different world.

 

[artsandletters]

Richie ‘Riverboat’ Lucas and the stories in the Philadelphia Bulletin. about his PS successes.

Then three of my good friends (best man for one of them) went on to become scholarship players at PS. Now I’m a bigger fan than all of them.

 

[1AA]

I'm from the NE WA ST so unlikely to end up a fan but at 8 years old has to choose a team to my new found favorite sport. Joe Pa was so intriguing and the uniforms and the way the way they played stuck on me. Live and die around games I could get on tv ever since. In 2004 we put our 5 yr old son in wrestling to make him tough for football and within a few years I had a new sport to obsess over. Only game I've been to was vs Nebraska the week of hell. I'd planned trip for a year and man what a letdown when everything hit the weekend before. Spent three days in State College and left as big a fan of the people we met as the teams. Been to many wrestling events and the Rose Bowl a few years ago now and everywhere you go if they know your a fan you get treated like a friend. WE ARE!!!

 

[Ohio_Pirate]

Went to high school at a tiny little school in Ohio with 59 people in my graduating class. No big time athletes played in our conference. All of a sudden Curtis Enis shows up at a school in our conference and we are boys against a giant man trying to tackle that kid (and watching him dunk on us in basketball). I never saw anything like that in person so I followed his career to Penn State To see how he did there and ended up falling in love with the school and the program.

 

[LionJim]

Went to high school at a tiny little school in Ohio with 59 people in my graduating class. No big time athletes played in our conference. All of a sudden Curtis Enis shows up at a school in our conference and we are boys against a giant man trying to tackle that kid (and watching him dunk on us in basketball). I never saw anything like that in person so I followed his career to Penn State To see how he did there and ended up falling in love with the school and the program.

Awesome.

 

[Air Force 1]

Grew up in Perry county and just started watching them and that led to me being somewhat of a fanatic.

Hated ND because they were always on TV sometimes bumping PSU off the airwaves.

 

[CF LION]

My evolvement as a PSU fan....

1. My oldest brother attended PSU late 60’s - early 70’s. I was still 10 years away from attending college. I was a huge football fan (Jets). My brother would come home and talk about these two guys Lydell and Franco (I would meet both of them 40 years later).

2. I never missed our local HS football games and during breaks the guy on the PA would announce college football scores. I started to listen intently for the PSU score. The PSU game started to become more important than my high school game.

3. My older sister was a cheerleader at Clarion U and met a guy from PSU at a wrestling match. He was president of a frat at PSU. He came around our house a lot and I started to look up to him. He was really into PSU and as a young impressionable kid I found that fascinating.

4. I started to watch Joe Paterno’s TV Quarterbacks religiously. Became a huge JoePa fan as a pre-teen.

5. Sister and the PSU guy married and lived in State College for a few years. I would stay with them for a week during the summers and found the area and campus amazing.

6. Graduated high school and once I was accepted to PSU it was a done deal. Really wasn’t much of a decision.

7. Grew up at PSU. Met a woman who would become my wife at PSU. I have memories about the place that are seared into my brain. I can’t ever not love the place.

 

[PearlSUJam]

Went to high school at a tiny little school in Ohio with 59 people in my graduating class. No big time athletes played in our conference. All of a sudden Curtis Enis shows up at a school in our conference and we are boys against a giant man trying to tackle that kid (and watching him dunk on us in basketball). I never saw anything like that in person so I followed his career to Penn State To see how he did there and ended up falling in love with the school and the program.

I was on campus at the same time as Enis and would see him between classes. What stands out the most to me with him was seeing the scabs on his elbows and huge forearms. Astroturf was a horrible invention.