For those of you who have been in Beaver, or have seen a White Out game on TV, you know this isn’t really that surprising. As my college career is coming to an end in a few weeks, it’s fitting that I get to sit here and brag about my stadium.
107k Strong
The headline is misleading, because we managed to cram 110 thousand people in the stadium during the white out game in 2017 against Michigan. That game was my favorite by far, not only did Penn State win in a blowout, we got to experience College Game Day for the first time. The vibe on campus was unreal during the whole week leading up to the game, and it’s something I will miss the most. Although we didn’t make anything of the season (losing to Ohio State by a point and followed it up by a loss to Michigan State) it’s a game I will remember for the rest of my life.
A Tailgaters Dream
I’m from just outside Philly, so I grew up on tailgates. Whether it was Flyers, Phillies, or Eagles game, we show up hours before the game starts and get rowdy. I felt right at home when I first arrived in Happy Valley. We’re out here in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the mountains, with nothing to do except watch football and drink, and man do we do that well.
One of the underrated aspects of a Penn State tailgate is the fact that all of the lots are in fields. I’m not sure how many other colleges do this (I am sure there are many) but coming from the tailgates in Philly, you don’t have much grass in the city so it’s a completely different experience. Being out in the fields all day drinking, eating, and having a grand old time waiting for that 8 o’clock white out game to start is something truly special that I don’t think is the same anywhere else in the country.
You might be thinking I’m just rambling on about how kids get super drunk before games but it’s not just us “kids” who like to tailgate. People of all ages show up to these tailgates. You have young kids having football catches in the middle of the lots, dads cooking, and people just genuinely enjoying themselves. People like to say Penn State is a cult, and I would be wrong to tell you that that’s not true, because it is.
Just look at other schools in Pennsylvania for example. There’s Pitt and Temple, and both of these schools have their students taking buses to the stadiums to watch games. How lame is that? Nothing will beat a Penn State tailgate, and for those of you reading this who haven’t experienced one, you are missing out greatly.
More Than a Stadium
Beaver Stadium is a national symbol. It represents our love for this school and love for the game of football. I’m proud to be walking away from Happy Valley knowing damn well I enjoyed every second of the atmosphere and the hype that came with games. Game weekends will never be the same, but the memories I have of this place will remain forever.
Best stadium in the country? Come on, we already knew this.
#WeAre
