The 2023 Penn State football season is coming to an end and sadly so is our time for blogging. For this blog, let’s recap on last week’s Penn State football game against Michigan, our past 2023 season, and look into the future for what next year’s season might bring. 

To blatantly start…we lost last weekend. The score was 15-24 and it was a tough game to watch. We ended the first quarter with a field goal leading 3-0 going into the second quarter. In that second quarter, we let Michigan gain two touchdowns and secured one with thirty seconds left of the quarter; leaving a score of 9-14 going into the half. In quarter three we held off Michigan allowing them to kick a field goal for three points but in the fourth quarter, we were unable to catch up and left Michigan with the win. 

I know that our school has an amazing football team and our records and game stats tend to showcase that but our performance in big top-ten games must get better. I feel as though players on our team get intimidated or maybe we need to truly take time to create new plays. I personally see great potential and a lot of gaining yards when we throw the ball rather than run it. While I also understand that in all cases we can not throw the ball and our only choice is to run I think if we throw the ball more we at least could gain more yardage and earn more first downs. 

Fans are starting to get angry and frustrated and this is not good. We are the biggest college football fan base and we must remain this way. As a team and as fans we want growth and we want to be a team that is not feared by most but feared by all, especially by Ohio and Michigan. 

Next year we play many different teams such as UCLA, USC, and more but Ohio once again is on the schedule. This time though we play Ohio at our home stadium and personally I am a firm believer in home-field advantage. Let’s play hard, cheer hard, work hard, and make sure next year is our best year yet. 

Now, I must say I truly loved blogging for you all this semester, and hope I was able to catch you up on all the recent Penn State football news this past season. I will not be able to blog for this week’s game against Rutgers but I am sure you will all be there or watching from home. Bye, everyone!!

Hello fellow bloggers, sports watchers, and Penn State football fans. While I am excited that Penn State has won I would be lying to say that last weekend’s football game against Indiana did not leave me worried and quite frankly a little embarrassed. Am I crazy for thinking that way? I can not help but feel as if losing to Ohio has put a major setback on our team’s drive and motivation. With Indiana having a 2-5 record compared to our 6-1, this game should have been almost a shutout. Additionally this time last year, we beat Indiana 45-14. As a team aren’t we supposed to get better and not let teams we have beaten in the past come close to beating us?

The game began and halfway through the first quarter, Indiana’s quarterback Brenden Sorsby had a 90-yard pass to Dequece Carter securing them a touchdown and leading the score. Later in the quarter, we were able to secure our own touchdown from Drew Allars 9 yard pass to Khalil Dinkins but ending the quarter on a 7-7 tie was nowhere near where we should be as a team in the Top 10. 

As a Penn State student and fan I was calm and hopeful that Penn State would quickly turn around and take this game in the palm of their hands then only a minute and a half into the second quarter Indiana once again secured themselves a touchdown. At this point, I could feel the slight ounces of anger and embarrassment brewing from the fellow students surrounding me. With two minutes left on the clock, we secured a touchdown and kicked a field goal to gain an extra three-point lead going into the half. In the third quarter, we were able to strive a little harder and hold off Indiana, and score another touchdown bringing the score to a 24-14 lead. 

However, hold your excitement Indiana scored a touchdown and field goal, leaving a 24-24 tie going into the last minute of the game. Finally with the talent of our team showing off we secured one last touchdown with a minute left on the clock and an additional two points from a team safety. 

To make this all very clear I am very glad that Penn State won. As a fan I will always support my team and wish for nothing but the best but also as a fan we know when our team is not at their highest potential… This was one of those games. Indiana should have been a game with a score like when we played Delaware, to show our growth as a team, but it was not. This weekend we play Maryland, we must be on top with our best energy and best determination because in two short weeks, we take on Michigan.

Hello fellow bloggers and blog readers, this is not the type of blog that I was intending to write today. I was hoping to come in and write to you all about a thrilling weekend of Penn State football with of course our team on top; however,  I am sad to say that last week’s Penn State football game against Ohio has ended our winning streak and left a slight break in our hearts. 

While this was not a home game almost no student here was about to miss the biggest game of the year. I heard of friends and families traveling to Columbus, Ohio to watch the game, while others, such as I, watched the game with friends at school. 

With some people on the edge of their seats and others with their noses almost to the T.V. screen.. Kickoff began.  The game seemed to be going by very slowly as these almost evenly matched teams held each other’s offense very well. As a result of this the first quarter ended with a 3-3 tie with both teams scoring field goals. 

The second quarter began which in my opinion held the most detrimental play that was a significant factor in Penn State’s loss. I am going to visually describe it to you … imagine Ohio State’s quarterback Kyle McCord has the ball for it to be punched away by Penn State’s linebacker Curtis Jacobs to be picked up and carried all the way to the endzone. Penn State fans are ecstatic. You can hear screams and cheers from neighboring dorms. Then all of a sudden… there is a flag. 

We all patiently wait and hold our breath for the touchdown to count until the ref says ‘holding penalty, defense,  number 4.” The room went silent; you could hear a pin drop other than the sound of Ohio’s cheers coming from the computer, which should never be the case during a Penn State football game. This created a fresh start of new life and new downs for Ohio’s team giving them a great advantage to score a touchdown which they did. With time running low until the half our only option was to kick a field goal to close the gap between the scores. Leaving a score of 6-10 going into the half. 

Coming back from the half both teams held each other at a standstill but once the fourth quarter hit it seemed clear that our team was filled with slight defeat and Ohio was filled with motivation. Ohio scored a field goal and touchdown bringing them up to twenty points as we stayed at six points with only four minutes left in the game. To close the significant score difference between the teams Penn State was able to secure a touchdown with thirty seconds left in the game but were not able to succeed on the two point conversion attempt. The game then ended with a score of 12-20. 

To say the least, fans, coaches, and players were yes filled with defeat but this only motivated them to get stronger and better and especially get ready for this weekend’s home game against Indiana!

Once again, just like the Whiteout game, it was a cold and rainy game day here at Penn State for Saturday’s football game against UMass. Even though the temperatures were low and rain was falling, Penn State players and fams pushed through with spirit to hold the undefeated streak marking this 63-0 score game as their sixth consecutive win for the season. The one significant difference between this game was it was the Homecoming game and the festivities surrounding the game lasted all week. While the game was so fun and the spirit of fans as always was at an all-time high, I want to focus this week on some of the amazing activities the Penn State Homecoming Committee pus on to make this week so special. 

As a freshman, I had never experienced a college homecoming week before and was truly excited to see what the week had to offer and Penn State sure did not disappoint. There were so many activities such as golf tournaments, Alumni socials, and more that were available to all people awaiting the big game. Being a student here means it can often be hard to find free time and therefore seemed almost impossible to make it to all the activities being offered but my roommate and I wanted to make sure to attend some of these great activities. 

On Wednesday we attended the BoPs carnival on the HUB Lawn. It was filled with students and families playing lawn games, getting a caricature, or stuffing their own stuffed animals. My roommate and I went to many tables and learned all about what it is like to be on the Homecoming Committee and all the benefits if you join. After attending each table and getting a little blue ticket we took all our tickets to the stuffed animal station and made our own Nitanny Lions. It was so much fun and I love having a little souvenir to always remember it by. 

Later in the week, on Friday, we attended the Homecoming Parade. We took an almost thirty-minute stroll down to College Ave. from the East dorms to find the best spot. After grabbing some Snap’s pizza we walked a little while to eventually find the most perfect spot right across from The Waffle Shop. We enjoyed our pizza and watched as thousands of people walked by throwing candy, t-shirts, and so much more. I have to say my personal favorite part of the parade was the Alumni Blue Band; I loved watching all of them play and dance and genuinely look so happy to be getting back into what they once did here almost every Saturday in the Fall. I guess you can also assume that I was just as excited when they played at the actual Homecoming game on Saturday too!

Penn State’s Homecoming Week is probably my favorite set of memories I have made here so far and I truly can not wait to experience it again next year. In the meantime, keep the spirits high and send good luck to the football team because this weekend is the biggest game of the year…. Penn State takes on Ohio!! 

Hey everyone! Just like the Penn State football team having an off week last weekend for games, we as well had an off weekend from blogging. With that being said, for this week’s blog I am not going to talk to you about a specific game day but instead going to rewind to about two weeks ago to Family Weekend and talk to you about one of the best experiences I was able to have. 

For a quick spoiler alert…yes it involves Penn State football. 

 I was ecstatic and very excited for Family Weekend to come for many reasons; of course, I was mainly excited to see my family but it was almost equal to the excitement I had for the activities and tours we had planned. Today specifically I am going to tell you all about the best tour I went on and it was the Penn State Stadium tour.  

My family along with several others got to experience something only a few people do; go behind the gates of Beaver Stadium. We started off the tour in the press room. This is the room where head coach James Franklin speaks to the team after the games and breaks down how the game went and also where players get interviewed by the press after games. 

After being allowed to take as many pictures in press chairs and behind the microphones as we wanted, our tour began. We walked through the rooms where players hang out and waited for game day kick-off and eventually went into game day locker rooms. We got to see how each section of the locker room is divided by players’ positions and we even got to take pictures of the lockers with some of our favorite players. Many people in my tour knew a player personally and I found it very interesting to hear them tell stories of how their friends or loved ones got to be D1 Penn State football players. 

Moving on from the locker room we were then taken to the gate where the players run out every game day. All families stood there waiting for the gates to open and once they did we all rushed out as if there were thousands of fans waiting in the bleachers to see us. It is honestly comical thinking back on it now, but in the moment it felt so cool and exciting. Standing on the field and looking up all around me the stadium was empty, not a single person in the bleachers, but in a way the energy felt just as present. 

I took thousands of pictures with my family and of the stadium, two of them that you can see below. I truly wanted to capture the moment for as long as I could since the chances of me getting to do this ever again are quite slim. It was an amazing and surreal experience and one I am grateful I got to do especially with my family. 

Now it is homecoming week and time to get in the mindset of beating UMass and keeping our undefeated record! Keep the spirits high and hope to see you all at this weekend’s Homecoming Game!

While the sky was filled with gray clouds, rain was falling from the sky, and the weather was at its lowest degree since this school year started….. the Penn State Whiteout was still at an all-time high. The overall hype and anticipation that surrounded the Whiteout from all the students on campus made me excited to participate and see for myself just how great it is, and knowing my family was coming down to experience the game for themselves especially made me eager.

The day started early with a nine in the morning wake-up call for me and my family was already at their lot starting up the grill for game day snacks. After waking up, I quickly got dressed in my all-white Penn State gear but, of course, with jackets and hats layered on top, and got ready for the long and chilly day ahead. Leaving my East dorm halls, it was a lengthy thirty-minute walk to Lot 32, but definitely worth it when I got there. After lots of hugs, I got to spend the day snacking and playing games with my siblings, parents, and friends as we waited for the gates to open.

Time started to fly by, and it was time to meet my friends to enter the stadium. With the amazing day I was having so far, I knew it could only get better. We waited in the huge crowd, got to the gate, scanned our tickets, got our bands, got our pompoms, met with friends, found some seats, and kickoff began.

The first quarter seemed to fly by, ending with only three points from a field goal and with everyone standing or sitting on the edge of their seats. Out of all the teams Penn State football has played so far this season, Iowa definitely knew how to hold their own and come off strong. In the second quarter tight end Khalil Dinkins was able to secure a solid touchdown bringing the score to 10-0 at half-time. However, this was not enough to create the feeling of a secured win. So, as we do as Penn Staters, the spirits and energy only got greater, chants and singing got louder, pompoms were raised higher, and we were ready to win. Next thing you know, tight end Tyler Warren secured us two touchdowns during the third quarter!!!! At this point, with the fourth quarter about to begin and the score being 24-0, it was safe to feel secure that Penn State was going to win this year’s Whiteout Game, and that’s what happened. The game ended as a complete shutout with a final score of 31-0.

The game ended late at night and my friends and I went back to our dorms for the night. The next morning, before my family went back home, we got to go to breakfast and recap on just how exciting the game was. It truly was an unforgettable experience, and while I will never experience it for the first time again, I am excited that I have many more years to attend “The Greatest Show in College Sports.”

This past weekend, the Penn State football team took the ten-hour trip to play against Illinois for their first away game of the season. The outcome, once again, was just another successful win for Penn State football. Bringing the team to a three-win and no-loss record, the future and the rest of the season are shaping up to look extremely optimistic.

While my friends and I could not attend the game against Illinois last weekend, we watched from the TV, and just as in last week’s game against Delaware, we were almost 100 percent positive that Penn State would come out on top by half-time. The best was the school spirit I could hear from the TV and real life. Penn State fans made their attendance known at Illinois’ stadium with cheers and chants for the team. However, the cheering did not stop there. My friends and I could hear students within our halls chanting and jumping up and down from watching the game in their dorms, just like we were. The exciting and thrilling game came to an end with a final score of 30-13.

As the game came to an end, one of the biggest realizations my friends and I had was how reliant we are on home football games to fulfill our weekends; Fridays are spent preparing, Saturdays are the actual game, and Sundays are our reset and homework days. Besides the three hours spent watching the game in our dorm room, we found ourselves to be bored this weekend and had to search for new things to do. We did not have a tailgate to attend or extended family or friends to meet; instead, it was just us.

However, one of the best things about not having a home game was that it allowed my friends and I to explore and use our free Saturday to our advantage. We went down to College Ave. and found an abundance of stores and shops that we shopped in for hours. Still, with the Penn State football games in mind, we purchased our now-planned outfits for the big White Out game this weekend. We then finished our day eating at Snaps Pizza. I have to say that a part of me is grateful that Penn State football was away last weekend and allowed me and my friends to explore. I feel as if we were missing out on how fun College Ave. is.

Now we know that for future away games and next semester when we do not have football Saturdays, we can also go downtown and have a good time. However, for now, we will sit and wait for home games to roll around and enjoy our fun-filled days of tailgating and cheering. Next up……the White Out Game!!!

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?

Penn State Football’s reputation speaks for itself and I could not wait to see what it was all about. I was filled with excitement the days leading up to last weekend’s game against West Virginia.To describe the experience in any single word would be an impossibility, so, today I want to do my best to describe to you the heart-pounding, adrenaline fueled day of my first ever Penn State football game. Game days start hours before the players take the field with the time-honored tradition of tailgating. Waking up Saturday morning, my friends and I put on our already prepped Penn State gear outfits and got ready to conquer the day. Living in East Halls and so close to the stadium, the few steps outside our dorm were already filled with people getting ready for their fun-filled day. I walked in awe as fans gathered in lots firing up grills, playing lawn games, and bonding over their love for football and Penn State. I was overwhelmed with such a great feeling of camaraderie and sense of community. This entry experience only led me to be more excited than ever to walk through the gates of Beaver Stadium. I was told by numerous upperclassmen to “get into the stadium early,” my friends and I took the suggestion seriously and were glad to see it paid off. The gates and stadium seats were swarmed with students and families piling in to get the best seats they could. Once my friends and I found seats to enjoy the game… kick off began. The stadium immediately erupted with over one hundred thousand people cheering and chanting. There was an infectious and electric energy within the stadium. Every touchdown, big play, and every moment of celebration is met with a wave of applause, singing, and chants. I found myself jumping, screaming, and high fiving my friends each time Drew Allar threw a touchdown pass or made a great play. It was not too long before I looked around to notice everyone else in the stadium doing the same. It is in one of those moments I understood the feeling of Penn State as a family and community, I truly felt the power of the statement “WE ARE.” Additionally, I cannot forget to mention the Penn State Blue Band that took the field right before the game and during half-time. The band filled the stadium with their incredible music and formations. I was blown away to see how perfectly and quickly they stand and change in formation. Particularly in the shape of the year 1989 as they played songs from the Taylor Swift album. However, it is not just the game itself that makes the experience so incredible but the traditions that add to the uniqueness of Penn State football games. From looking at the student section to looking beyond to the other spectators I could not help but imagine that many of them years ago were standing in the very stands I was. Penn State creates a family and home that I got to experience last Saturday and one that I am glad to say I get to experience for many more weeks throughout my time at Penn State and for as long as I can after I graduate. I truly can not wait for more games to come! 

With only three days left, Penn State Football games have filled thousands of students with excitement. The preparation of tailgates, gameday outfits, and the suspense of our football team to win has definitely made me excited. The best thing about sports is that it is never the same; whether it be the game’s outcome, the plays, or the lineup you will never see the same exact game played twice. With a new game every week there will always be a new exciting and thrilling play or news that I will eagerly blog about and I can not wait. Besides the football games and in a way relating to gameday outfits, college fashion is another blog worthy idea. Despite most high schools, Penn State students are not enforced with strict dress codes or mandated to wear uniforms. Walking around, a person’s outfit can completely differ from the person who is walking beside them and without saying a word a person’s outfit can tell a lot about them.