For me, it was the final game of my third year following, "The Beast of the East" in 1977... I was in third grade. We played Pitt at Pitt Stadium in a swirling snowstorm as I watched on TV with a roomful of family at my Gram's. Pitt scored a TD with under a minute left while their fans stormed the field to get within 15-13. Subsequently, they went for two and Elliot Walker did not break the plane although, to this day, many old-time Pitt fans clearly stated that, "He was over." Then, I enjoyed the Fiesta Bowl and defeating Arizona State on Christmas Day while I played with my gifts (Chutes Away!). I cried when ND (with Joe Mo) was voted number one at the end of the season because, deep- down, I did not think they were as deserving, and PSU would've beaten them head-to-head. I suppose my resentment of the Irish came at an early age! Fast forward to the following summer... My dad and I were driving down Market Street when I saw a passing car had a bumper sticker that read, "PENN STATE #1 in '78." That was the moment where there was no turning back! I saw my first Beaver Stadium game that fall against Texas Christian. No, it was not a whiteout, but just the same the atmosphere was totally amazing! I would be delighted to hear about some of your experiences. Thank you...
What was the moment you became hooked on Penn State Football?
- Thread starter WSTLion87
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Early 70's loved watching Matt Suhey, Mike Guman etc.. pounding the rock between the tackles. Sunday highlight show is what did it for me, loved hearing George Paterno throw in his analysis..
Roger Kochman against Syracuse 1959 (a loss). Listened to the game on an old upright wooden radoio
That brings up memories for me too on those bleachers. Every fall our H.S. football team was treated to a Pitt and PSU game. It would have been easy for me to become a Pitt fan since we had a former player on their team. But watching PSU warm up in the end zone right in front of us from that bleacher I just felt PSU was something special. Think they played Oregon that day and the year was around 1963.
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There was this game back in January of 1987 when I was 11, got to stay up all night watching it. My uncle had one of those fancy VCR things that he used to tape the game. We watched it every year at Christmas and many other random times.
I don’t know the moment. For me it was watching PSU highlights on tv which growing up in Pittsburgh. This was the early 70’s. By ‘75 I know I was hooked. My first PSU game was PSU-Pitt at Three Rivers. Thank you Carson Long (and wide).
Early 70’s climbing and crawling through the bleachers in the south end zone. I remember the track and buckeyes everywhere. The actual nuts for the osu and psu game. Always met my parents who sat in wc at the rock after the game.we parked in the grass where the bjc parking lot is now.
My dad went to PSU and was a fan. So my fanhood started as soon as I had any interest in football.
The thing that got me emotionally attached was the blue-collar '86 team, Miami's antics before the game, and "Intercepted Giftopolous!".
The thing that got me emotionally attached was the blue-collar '86 team, Miami's antics before the game, and "Intercepted Giftopolous!".
05 whiteout vs OSU. My parents were both alums, and I was always a fan. But that game took it to another level. As a high school sophomore, I decided that day I was only applying to PSU. My mom was upset that I put all my eggs in the PSU basket, so she applied to other schools on my behalf. She was annoyed when I picked Psu over Georgetown.
My freshman week 1963 - All freshman were encouraged to attend one of Rip's pep rallies and the game. I was hooked!
Fiesta Bowl vs Miami. Was there in person.
Danced next to JoePa and SuePa at the NYE's media party.
Danced next to JoePa and SuePa at the NYE's media party.
BTW. Walker didn't break the plane of the 2, much less the goal line.
While a freshman at Berks campus in 1966, took a bus trip on All-University Day to watch PSU play Syracuse. They had Floyd Little and Larry Csonka in the backfield. We lost a close one but it was the most exciting thing I had ever seen, and that was in Beaver Stadium with 50,000 in attendance and, compared to current crowds was considered pretty laid back.
Yeah, you probably noticed I said the same. I keep forgetting the exact year the game was played so it’s easier to just say 12 men on the field. I was 11 at the time, watched it with my dad.
Those Sunday morning highlight shows were the best, wish I could watch some of those today.
Tell me about it. Highlight shows suck any more. They’ve sucked for a long time too. And now living in KOP area and Philly tv, you get minimal coverage highlight-wise.
Growing up in Southwestern PA my experiences were a lot like yours only I think I'm a little older. My gym teacher in High School was a Pitt grad and didn't like me. LOL. So yea those Pitt games resonate with me. I think some of those games were on a Friday correct?
Gotta agree with the both you and @saturdaysarebetter! I remember, also as a 10/11 year older, my dad and I watched both the 68 & 69 Orange Bowls, telling me we had to root for our HOME team, Penn State! And, winning both didn't hurt either! What sealed the deal for me really becoming a "die hard" fan, was when I attended my 1st game with my future wife and in-laws. It was in 1973, homecoming vs West Virginia. I had chills up and down my spine sitting there with 50-some thousand people shaking their blue and white shakers as the Blue Band came on the field. Awesome!
They were excellent. They were shown on KDKA TV and was pretty much way ahead of its time in that it was basically the BTN 60 but abut 40 years earlier and IIRC Ray Scott might have been the host and he was excellent. For me it on Sunday's after Church so I'd get home and watch it right away and then go right into Sunday Steeler football. Good times.
IIRC Ray Scott might have been the host and he was excellent. It wasn't TV Quarterbacks it was what that turned into or at least thats the way I remember it.
I believe I was at that game!
Carson was from my hometown, Ashland, and my wife graduated with him, NS class of '73. I graduated with his brother, Jesse, in '75. I know Carson well. See him around here once in a blue moon. Overall, he is a GREAT guy!
Can't point to a moment but it was watching games with my dad in the mid-1970s
We knew the Eagles would lose on Sunday but on Saturday we had a great chance of enjoying a win
Later had the good fortune to be a PSU undergraduate in 1986
We knew the Eagles would lose on Sunday but on Saturday we had a great chance of enjoying a win
Later had the good fortune to be a PSU undergraduate in 1986
With parents and grandparents listening on the radio hearing the phrase "This is Warner" (which I incorrectly heard, and oft repeated, as "Mrs. Warner"), coupled with the occasional tailgate with my family...later solidified by "Interception Giftopoulos" while watching with my brother-in-law (older sister's husband).
I was a casual PSU Fan growing up and to be honest I favored Notre Dame. However, that all changed in 1987 when this happened...
Think it was Ray Scott and George Paterno, great show, couldn't wait to get home from Church to watch, back in the day when you couldn't see every game live on a Saturday..
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Ran into some co- eds that day , a lot of boola, boola if you know what i mean.
Ran into some co- eds that day , a lot of boola, boola if you know what i mean.
I grew up in Lancaster County playing high school football. Big games were F&M v. Gettysburg and Millersville v. West Chester. I matriculated to Penn State in the Fall of ‘65. On September 25, 1965, I went to the Penn State v. Michigan State game. PSU loss 23-0, but I was hooked. The next week at home again the Lions lost to UCLA 22-24. The season ended 5-5 and I was hooked. It was Rip Engles last year as head coach. JoePa took over the next year.
I went to McCaskey and F&M.
For me, it was the mid-1960s at the Lancaster Sportswriters Banquet at the Host Corral. i was maybe 10 years old, and my dad took me. I met Rip Engel and his assistant, Joe Paterno. Both of them signed my program. Paterno wrote "You are a fine young man."
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