What made you a Penn State fan, assuming you are one?

[Charlie1978]

And when did you become one?

Glorious thread. 1968-1969 team, the great Kansas victory in the Orange Bowl, cemented with Franco scoring a TD the next year against Mizzou despite sweating out the punts to John Staggers, followed by the crushing loss to Colorado only to see Hufnagle save the season followed by us crushing the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl, followed by JJ Jackson returning an onside kick against Baylor, followed by the greatest one-handed catch in Orange Bow history against LSU followed by Millen and Clark and the bone crushing loss against Bear in 1978 wearing white cleats followed by Greg Garity and the selflessness of Curt Warner and the pure beast that was Mark Robinson against the toothless Georgia Bulldogs in 1982, followed by the legend that was Shane Conlan and Trey Bauer followed by the greatest QB that wasn't in Tony Sacca followed by this kid named Ki-Jana Carter and Keith Jackson's call of the Rose Bowl, and the 1994 Michigan and Illinois games called by men we made legend (Keith Jackson and Brent Mussburger, respectively) followed by the greatest victory in 100F in 1998 against some wannabe team from Arizona followed by this kid named Zack who came in and beat Northwestern followed this pass from Robinson to Williams in Chicago to win in 2008 that led to a fumble recovery in Columbus to win only to suffer another bone crushing loss in some cow shite town in Iowa thanks to Clarks conconsion against the Bucks but gave us a simply glorious catch by Ethan Kilmer against the chubby cheater from Tallahassee (you can run but never hide from Joe Paterno, Bobby) followed by the two kids named Mauti and Zordich who preserved the greatest program on earth culminating in these two dudes named Allen & Haley who reminded everyone you can't kill greatness.

That,

 

[JoeLion]

I was in high school and heard someone playing the piano in the auditorium. I walked in and listened for awhile. He noticed me and we started talking, he was the biggest person I ever saw. Later that day he gave a speech. That’s how I met Mike Reid and became a fan.

 

[NittanyBuff]

And when did you become one?

Watching the Sunday highlight show as a kid in the early/mid 70's, give Matt Suhey the ball baby!

 

[BostonNit]

My brother is 9 years older than me and spent his Jr and Sr years at UP after two years at McKeesport. Parents and I went to visit him when I was about 11 and I was hooked. Getting accepted to Main Campus as a frosh sealed the deal for me.

Plus I hated Pitt and that was the other likely option.

Actually, my dad really wanted me to go to Carnegie Mellon and kept taking my objections off the table to not go there.

Me - "It's so much more expensive."
Dad - "I'll cover the difference."

Me - "I want to go away to school and not live at home." (We lived 15 mins from CMU campus).
Dad - "OK you can live there even though that adds thousands to the bill."

Finally I just had to tell him that my heart was at Penn State.

The rest is history as I type this from my hotel in Atlanta for the Peach Bowl.

 

[razpsu]

And when did you become one?

Birth.

 

[OuiRPSU]

At the risk of “outing” myself, it was probably the night I attended my first Toga party, which resulted in my first trip to the emergency room for stictches, which was followed by my triumphant return to said Toga party. All happened in the early-to-mid 80s on my second night at PSU, and there was no way I was NOT going to make those the 4 best years of my young life!

 

[Fac]

Grew up in Hermitage (Sharon) where you had Penn State and Pitt. Liked both, but was indifferent as to who won. Dad was not into college football.
TV stations were from Youngstown, Ohio, therefore, always had Big 10 games on with ND highlights on Sunday. PSU and Pitt were on TV only when they played each other as I remember it.
Was hooked after going to the Miami Fiesta Bowl game (my first game).

Nice thread Nitt1300.

 

[DELion]

JVP primarily. What they did to that man is criminal.

Grew up in south central PA in the 70's. My older brother attended PSU before me. Still remember watching that goal line stand by Bama in the Sugar Bowl.

 

[ChandlerPearce]

Went to Ga Tech 1976....first day in Civil Engineering building saw a ranking of top engineering schools......Ga Tech was ranked 7th and PSU was ranked 5th...then in 1980 went to PSU and attended a speech by Phil Grosz and he converted me.

 

[CDLionFL]

Pretty much born into it. My parents were season ticket holders for 40 years even though neither attended PSU. My dad is a Temple grad who would bear the razzing every year as he made the way to his seat in his cherry & white for that annual thrashing. He finally had a nice laugh in 2015. My mom is from Kentucky and she thoroughly enjoyed the upset in 77 as well as the Citrus Bowl disaster that I got to witness in person (though that game earned me a date with a girl that I dated a while…so not all bad). The first game I remember watching on TV was 48-14 and first attended was Syracuse in 82.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

I don’t know the exact date but picking up a chick named Laurie at The Skeller back in the early 80’s might have “driven the point home!”

 

[PSU1969A]

JVP
my math teacher Ralph Morgan who said he was a W/O on at PSU during the Ralph Baker years, I have no reason to doubt him, although I did look on Black Shoes diaries for him and did not find him
1967?? or there abouts

What high school? Was it Schuylkill Haven?

 

[LionJim]

Went to Ga Tech 1976....first day in Civil Engineering building saw a ranking of top engineering schools......Ga Tech was ranked 7th and PSU was ranked 5th...then in 1980 went to PSU and attended a speech by Phil Grosz and he converted me.

I’ll throw a Hail Mary: did you know my cousin Tom Mowe, CE at Georgia Tech around the time you were there, maybe a year behind you? He started at VMI.

 

[Bvillebaron]

And when did you become one?

My Dad took me to see PSU play UCLA in 1963 when Rip Engle was still the head coach. Great game and close win.

 

[EricStratton-RushChairman]

We won that game in 1987.

Yes... ND loss meant were won. Pete Curkendall tripped up Tony rice in 2 point try to preserve win.

 

[RochLion]

The incessant crap talk I heard from a bunch of Big 10 alum at my first job in Syracuse NY, in the late 80's early 90's. Actually I was a big fan before that but the insufferable Mich, OSU, and Mich St fans drove my fandom to a new level. 94 was payback and I certainly rubbed it back in their faces.

 

[Yogiman71]

Joe Paterno and being a student there.

 

[Nits74]

After today, I'd rather not remember.

 

[soparklion]

The Grace of God, of course.

 

[LionJim]

My three long-time sports passions besides PSU football are Penn and Georgetown basketball, and the Commanders. Penn State’s doing the best of the four. I’ll be there when the season starts.

Wrong thread, meant for the looking forward to the 2024 season thread. Par for my day.

 

[bdgan]

And when did you become one?

Being an alumni
Believing in the Grand Experiment
JVP

 

[LB99]

After today, I'd rather not remember.

Quitter.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Late 70’s-early 80’s…I was just old enough to start paying attention, and all my family were either Pitt or WVU fans. I wasn’t necessarily trying to be different, but it was just so fun to watch those teams. The 82 NC clinched my fan-hood…was blessed enough to be able to attend the university about a decade later which only enhanced my love for Dear Old State.

 

[DonP74]

Joe Paterno. I loved the 1977 team. Hell of a run in '78. 82 was worth the wait. That was a night I will never forget.

 

[slwlion01]

And when did you become one?

JoePa, 1967 after military.

 

[Bvillebaron]

After today, I'd rather not remember.

Seriously Chicken Little

 

[SandyM]

Grew up in Tyrone. Not a PSU fan but started college there in 1953. Went to all the games for four years and became a big fan. Freshman year helped clear snow from stadium seats before the Fordham game. Lenny Moore and Rosey Grier were sophomore players my freshman year. Ended up as a 50 year ticket season holder. Now live in KY so TV has replaced my season tickets. Frequently rewatch the good games the next day. Won't be watching yesterday"s game a second time.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Since i was a kid in the mid 60's, first game in 67, high school trip. Been a loyal fan ever since,been some glorious wins,and heartbreaking losses. I'm in till death.

 

[Achowalogan]

Other than my graduation my poor dad came to SC twice... The 85 ND *** beating in the pouring rain, and the 87 ND loss in sub zero wind chill.

We attended both those games…worst 2 poor weather games we ever attended …and we’d do it again…

 

[blion72]

And when did you become one?

grew up with family as alumni and then I became an alumni. My first experience was in the early 1960's. Our family had all scattered around the country - nobody stayed in Pa, but stayed as a fan.

 

[PhillyBillyReprise]

Michigan State at Penn State Box Score, September 25, 1965. MSU 23-PSU 0​

I was Freshman and it was my first game. I had played high school football. In August I had played in the Lancaster County All-Star game. Michigan State had Bubba Smith. Roger Grimes injured his knee.

 

[MacNit]

And when did you become one?

My Dad earned Pitt’s only baseball scholarship in the mid-1950s. Then they took it away because Dad did not take Spanish in high school. (Later when Dad saw clowns like Tony Dorsett unable to even sign their own names - he was even more furious).

In the 1960s, Dad became a disciple of the Paterno Way and I was raised accordingly.

Further cementing the deal was hearing Boston Nit’s brother describe Happy Valley.

Closer was a visit in my junior year of high school.

 

[zepsterpsu]

1976 when I was old enough to appreciate football and remember it. My dad loved how Joe ran the program and it was all about "team", no name plates, black shoes, blue and white uni's, no ******* players grandstanding and doing look at me celebrations after a td. Hand the ball to the ref and celebrate with your teammates. My wife is a Penn St. grad and my brother-in-law played for Joe in the late 80's before a career ending injury, so I'm a lifer.

 

[zepsterpsu]

Grew up in Tyrone. Not a PSU fan but started college there in 1953. Went to all the games for four years and became a big fan. Freshman year helped clear snow from stadium seats before the Fordham game. Lenny Moore and Rosey Grier were sophomore players my freshman year. Ended up as a 50 year ticket season holder. Now live in KY so TV has replaced my season tickets. Frequently rewatch the good games the next day. Won't be watching yesterday"s game a second time.

I had the game dvr'd and erased it the second it was over. That was U-G-L-Y!

 

[psu31trap]

The truth. As a kid I would sporadically watch Penn State football with my dad, but the 1982 team and season was something special and I was hooked.

 

[NittanyBuff]

My three long-time sports passions besides PSU football are Penn and Georgetown basketball, and the Commanders. Penn State’s doing the best of the four. I’ll be there when the season starts.

Wrong thread, meant for the looking forward to the 2024 season thread. Par for my day.

Georgetown and the Redskins I get, but Penn Basketball?

 

[LionJim]

Georgetown and the Redskins I get, but Penn Basketball?

Penn 1969-70 through 1974-5: 25-2, 28-1, 25-3, 21-7, 21-6. Channel 17 had all their games.

 

[NittanyBuff]

Penn 1969-70 through 1974-5: 25-2, 28-1, 25-3, 21-7, 21-6. Channel 17 had all their games.

Fair enough

 

[LionJim]

Fair enough

Plus my dad and I went to many games at the Palestra.

 

[Ludd]

After today, I'd rather not remember.

You must be a new fan if a 10-3 season makes you want to forget that you’re a PSU fan. There have been a lot worse seasons over my 53 years of fandom, a hell of a lot worse.