We Are... Penn State! Happy Stories

[BostonNit]

How about a thread about some good things that happened because you are a Penn Stater? I'll start with a quick story.

A few years after graduating I was driving back to PA from the Jersey shore. I had a ton of Penn State crap plastered all over my white (of couse!) Acura Integra. Somewhere on the Garden State Parkway a distinguished looking couple in a Mercedes S-class were coming up quickly in the left lane to pass me. Rather than passing me they slowed when they got next to me to maintain the same speed.

The husband toots the horn, and the wife of the couple points to her Penn State hat and gives me a thumbs up and a nice smile. I smile and wave and continue driving. About a mile or so later we were coming up to a toll booth and he accelerates and cuts me off, almost clipping my left front end. The only reason I didn't flip him the bird was because they were Penn Staters, but the driving was a real dick move.

Then when I get to the tool booth the toll taker said "The guy in the car ahead of you paid your toll for you".

We Are!

 

[psykim]

I live in NNY-65 miles N of Syracuse. I often wear PSU clothes. Just having people who do not know me (YET) yell "WE R". One is a local city planner-we do know each other now.

 

[Bison13]

Didn't Joe drive a Mercedes?

 

[leinbacker]

Didn't Joe drive a Mercedes?

I thought he had a Ford Taurus.

 

[Bob78]

Didn't Joe drive a Mercedes?

I think so, but could be wrong. The local Mercedes (or BMW?) dealer had a deal with him, I think, from what I recall.
Kind of an early NIL thingy, I suppose!

 

[psuro]

I have a Penn State - Joe specific license plate (not an alumni plate)....was in SC about 3 months after Joe passed....was walking up to my car and saw a woman I kind of recognized was on her phone and pointing to my license plate....as I came up she asked me "is this your car?" To which I said yes....she introduced herself as "Mary Kay" ....so of course it's one of Joe's daughters....she thanked me for supporting her dad.

I gotta tell ya - I got teary eyed and mumbled "sure no problem"....

 

[Fac]

Driving to the Fiesta Bowl from New Orleans for the Miami game.
We had a JoePa standup situated so that he was looking out the rear window.
As we drove, many cars honked their horns at us.

 

[PrtLng Lion]

I don't have any good stories like BostonNit's or psuro's, but have heard "We R" yelled in my direction while in Kauai, Denali, and Barcelona.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

Tonite! After we b*tch slap Iowa....WE ARE!

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

A few years back...in Jackson Hole on a Friday nite. After a day of white water rafting anf a horseback ride I walk into a Pub...Gilley's. A true PA bar, the owners are originally from Philly. I walk in wearing my PSU hat and quarter zip. PSU is playing Illinois on a Friday nite...bartender sees me, tells me to sit right here in front of the screen, "your first 3 beers are on me!"

 

[BostonNit]

Didn't Joe drive a Mercedes?

Pretty sure it was a BMW.

 

[step.eng69]

I thought he had a Ford Taurus.

In the early 90's I was in State College many time a year visiting my daughter at PSU. Usually I'd travel past Joe's & Sue's house, turn around in the park and exit on Park.
If I recall, the house had a rusty, broken tv antenna and a Ford Tempo usually parked in the driveway. Maybe later in the 90's Joe moved up to a Taurus, then "obviously " to a Mercedes.

 

[BobPSU92]

Happy and Penn State? I’ll get back to you.

 

[LionJim]

Happy and Penn State? I’ll get back to you.

I don’t want to be a downer but when I think of my time at Penn State I think of all my missed opportunities. Pathetic. Well, carry on!

 

[ApexLion]

For Halloween, I went to school in 3rd grade as Tom Donchez. My teacher said I have no idea who that is (for you youngsters he was a FB at PSU in the early 70s). The gym teacher, a PSU grad, yelled 'here comes Donchez' for months every time our class was lined up in the hallway. No doubt my elementary teacher went to her grave murmuring 'Donchez'!

 

[Tom_PSU]

Just this morning, I’ve been visiting my sister in the Boston area. (I know only an idiot goes to New England in the Winter). Foolishly I neglected to bring enough of three medications that I need. Anyway, I called my doctors office in Fl. to have them refilled. Due to time, distance and our National Healthcare System there was going to be an extended delay.
I took a chance and went to a local drugstore to try and sweet talk my way into a bridge supply until they could be filled properly. I’m standing there with a PSU Winter jacket on and not making any progress with the clerk. Suddenly from the back the pharmacist yells “We Are” and comes to the counter. It seems his son just graduated from PSU. We shoot the breeze for a minute or so. Football of course, and how much his son loved dear old state, and how he had just landed a great job. Then he tells the clerk to give me a week’s supply of whatever I need on the house.

 

[BobPSU92]

Just this morning, I’ve been visiting my sister in the Boston area. (I know only an idiot goes to New England in the Winter). Foolishly I neglected to bring enough of three medications that I need. Anyway, I called my doctors office in Fl. to have them refilled. Due to time, distance and our National Healthcare System there was going to be an extended delay.
I took a chance and went to a local drugstore to try and sweet talk my way into a bridge supply until they could be filled properly. I’m standing there with a PSU Winter jacket on and not making any progress with the clerk. Suddenly from the back the pharmacist yells “We Are” and comes to the counter. It seems his son just graduated from PSU. We shoot the breeze for a minute or so. Football of course, and how much his son loved dear old state, and how he had just landed a great job. Then he tells the clerk to give me a week’s supply of whatever I need on the house.

“And while you’re at it, I’ll take some of the little blue pills.” *wink*

 

[Tom_PSU]

“And while you’re at it, I’ll take some of the little blue pills.” *wink*

It will take more than little blue pills. I’ll need some tongue depressors, surgical tape, and a blind woman.

 

[BostonNit]

Just this morning, I’ve been visiting my sister in the Boston area. (I know only an idiot goes to New England in the Winter). Foolishly I neglected to bring enough of three medications that I need. Anyway, I called my doctors office in Fl. to have them refilled. Due to time, distance and our National Healthcare System there was going to be an extended delay.
I took a chance and went to a local drugstore to try and sweet talk my way into a bridge supply until they could be filled properly. I’m standing there with a PSU Winter jacket on and not making any progress with the clerk. Suddenly from the back the pharmacist yells “We Are” and comes to the counter. It seems his son just graduated from PSU. We shoot the breeze for a minute or so. Football of course, and how much his son loved dear old state, and how he had just landed a great job. Then he tells the clerk to give me a week’s supply of whatever I need on the house.

Awesome story. And please spend plenty of money here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts!

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

Just this morning, I’ve been visiting my sister in the Boston area. (I know only an idiot goes to New England in the Winter). Foolishly I neglected to bring enough of three medications that I need. Anyway, I called my doctors office in Fl. to have them refilled. Due to time, distance and our National Healthcare System there was going to be an extended delay.
I took a chance and went to a local drugstore to try and sweet talk my way into a bridge supply until they could be filled properly. I’m standing there with a PSU Winter jacket on and not making any progress with the clerk. Suddenly from the back the pharmacist yells “We Are” and comes to the counter. It seems his son just graduated from PSU. We shoot the breeze for a minute or so. Football of course, and how much his son loved dear old state, and how he had just landed a great job. Then he tells the clerk to give me a week’s supply of whatever I need on the house.

And make a trip to Maine… eerily beautiful in the winter. Or, the White Mountains in NH. If you are going to be cold, might as well be in a beautiful spot!

 

[manatree]

I don’t want to be a downer but when I think of my time at Penn State I think of all my missed opportunities. Pathetic. Well, carry on!

Fire LionJim!

 

[EricStratton-RushChairman]

My daughter and wife and I spent 3 weeks traveling western Europe neck in 2017. It seemed like every day we'd see someone in Penn State gear. Every time we did I'd turn to my daughter and say, " We're a global organization".

Year later we are taking a tour of Kyoto. Ahead is a guy with a Penn state ballcap... My daughter turns to me and says "I know, you're part of a global organization". We walked closer and it turned out I knew the guy, member of the Dallas Alumni group

 

[kgilbert78]

I'm going into a pizza place in Konstanz in 1978 (I was in Germany for Penn State's foreign studies program). Struck up a conversation with the guy next to me (I do not recall if I had a PSU shirt on). Turns out he was from State College and was next door neighbors with another guy in my program (there were only 30 of us).

Fast forward about 30 years. I'm visiting a very small Mennonite church in London, Ohio (an exurb of Columbus), as one of my best friends is having a farewell lunch there after services as they were moving to Virginia. They had a guest lay preacher that morning. I saw his name in the program and thought that it looked familiar. I look to my left and see a woman who also looked familiar. I ask my buddy if that was the guy's wife--and if her name was ****. I got the strangest look from him. It was. She was another of my classmates from the program. Near as I could figure out it was 30 years to the day from when we'd landed in Germany....

 

[BostonNit]

Another story...

Years ago I was running for public office against an entrenched incumbent. I was out door knocking one weekend in my opponent's home town and needed to break for lunch.

I stop at the local Greek Orthodox church's food festival for a quick bite. Being of Greek American descent, I asked to be introduced to the pastor.

He joins me at one of the tables in the tent and we chat a bit while I enjoy the amazing food. I handed him one of my push cards just as an "FYI here's who I am" .

He reads the brief bio on the back and says "What year did you graduate from Penn State? I'm a Penn State grad too." As it turns out, we graduated the same year and both lived in the same dorm quad in East Halls!

He tells me "you're welcome to put a sponsor banner in the dining tent and we'll make sure it ends up in a visible location". I went straight to the local print shop and returned an hour later with a banner and a sponsorship check.

I beat the 16 year incumbent that year.

Oh, and my signs were dark blue with white lettering despite playing for the political red team.

 

[ApexLion]

The story on the Thon on CBS Morning this morning. Simply outstanding.
We Are!!!

 

[aferrelli]

I thought he had a Ford Taurus.

I saw Sue Paterno driving Joe around SC in a Toyota Camry; it was around 2004-2006.

 

[PSUJam]

The story on the Thon on CBS Morning this morning. Simply outstanding.
We Are!!!

Not to derail this thread but guess how volunteer students on Thon commitees (those working Thon event for free) get rewarded for their hard work? They get to show up AFTER the wrestling match last night and clean up the BJC until 2 AM. How fun!

 

[CDLionFL]

Got 4 'We Are' shoutouts as I was riding around Torrey Pines today while wearing a PSU hat, including one from a San Diego cop who was escorting the winner to the green for the trophy presentation. Nice guy in his 30's from Aliquippa who said he was lucky to get out.