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

[Manofsteel200]

Fall ‘91. Touring the campus with my family as my brother was checking out Universities. Walking with my Dad and the bells started chiming. He looked at me and said, “Now this is what college should look and sound like.”

We were the first generation in my family to go to college. We both went to Penn State. I loved everything about it.

 

[CyphaPSU]

My earliest memories of watching college football I remember rooting for Notre Dame thanks to the influence of my mother who, more than my dad, would spend fall afternoons and evenings watching CFB. After all, I grew up in a Catholic household and that team was on TV every single week.

But, then I realized I lived in Pennsylvania. Despite my short stints being a fan of the Colorado Buffalos and Washington Huskies, I gradually grew to care more about the local big-time program to the detriment of the fondness I had for any other team.

I was a diehard Nittany Lion fan by the time I started high school. Attending the university became a no-brainer. Today both my mom and I are long-suffering PSU fans who do not even care about the team from South Bend, IN.

 

[Gobert21]

In 1960 I was born to a PSU alum my dad (PSU1957) and the first picture ever taken of me was with a bib on that said I was a PSU fan.

Actually remember becoming one during the 68 and 69 seasons. Charlie Pittman, Jack Ham, Mike Reid, Steve Smear were some of my favorite players of all time. Then came Franco and Lydell Mitchell continued that favorite plays era.

 

[NittanyBuff]

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

I forgot they made the final four in what 79?

 

[troutrus]

Graduated from there in ‘70.
Though I always preferred they win rather than lose, not sure if I would ever have been classified as a fan if that term is meant to be a shortened version of fanatic.
Watching games yesterday on TV and seeing reactions (cheers & tears) of those in the stands, makes me realize I’m not at their level of fandom.

 

[lemonears]

And when did you become one?

Joe Paterno made me a die hard Penn State fan in 1966.

 

[LionJim]

I forgot they made the final four in what 79?

‘79, yeah, Tony Price was captain. Good team.