With the first Penn State football game being a huge success, I was excited for the next game. Additionally, with Penn State having a 99% chance of winning against Delaware, I knew this game would be filled with the same excitement and energy as the last. One big difference between last week’s games and the first… was the times the games occurred.

When people say fans stay out tailgating all day for game day, they are not kidding. My friends and I arrived around ten o’clock in the morning at the tailgate for the noon football game to find thousands of people already there and seemed to be there for hours. I found comparing and seeing the differences between the two tailgates for game days fun and exciting. Instead of barbecues and brick oven pizzas, there were griddles for pancakes and displays of pastries and donuts at almost every tailgate. Gathered with friends and family, I spent the morning playing lawn games and enjoying breakfast until it was time for the gates to open.

Walking into the gates of Beaver Stadium was just as thrilling and exciting as the first, and I feel and hope that it is a feeling that will never go away. As always, people filled the stadium seats within minutes, and the kickoff began before you knew it. With a score of 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, it was still hard to be sure of the game’s outcome. However, with the second and third quarters moving by, and Penn State scoring three touchdowns in both quarters with Delaware scoring none, the winning team and that 99% chance of winning became crystal clear.

With a game like this one and Penn State so far ahead, I noticed some things. I saw fans more relaxed, seated, and enjoying the game rather than standing on the edge of the bleachers praying for a win. I also noticed more people tended to leave around half-time or the third quarter because of their confidence in Penn State’s success. However, with all of this, the camaraderie and spirit never died. The student section carried the electric feel and cheers as we supported the team until the fireworks went off, ensuring our win.

I also noticed that the players on the field were able to become more diverse in their plays. Specifically speaking on one trick play, Drew Allar faked a handoff and then launched a deep pass to a wide-open receiver who sprinted to the end zone for the touchdown. While already having such a substantial lead over Delaware, the student section could not help but jump up and down and cheer, including me.

The game came to an end, and it was again another successful win. My friends and I left the game, ready to head back to our dorms like the first game, only to find that people returned to their tailgates for evening fun. As if the game and morning tailgate were not enough fun for the day, the barbeques and brick ovens came out for the evening, and the rest of the day was filled with more tailgating festivities. While you may be reading this thinking about the weather from that day, yes, it did rain for a little, but that did not stop the fun.

This game was one of my favorites; the day was so much fun. I want to say I loved the noon football game more than the night, but I also loved seeing the fireworks light up the night sky. What about you? What is your favorite time for a football game, especially a Penn State one?