What was the moment you became hooked on Penn State Football?

[OptionBob]

November 14, 1964. My older brother had graduated from Penn State the previous March and was serving in the Air Force overseas. I followed the Nittany Lions during his college years when Pete Liske was leading the squad at QB.

Then came the 27-0 stunner in Columbus, and my parents got tickets for the Penn State game in Houston versus the Cougars.

When Joe Vargo ripped off a long punt return for a touchdown, I was officially "hooked" (as they say here in Texas).

I've been hopelessly and obsessively loyal ever since.

 

[PSUForever]

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...

I was at that 1977 PSU vs Pitt game in the snow. It was freezing. All the Pitt students lined the endzone for that 2 point conversion. I highly doubt Walker broke the plane. He was undercut by Joe D'Ange and although he falls forward the ball was not extended. Knee down before the goal line. Impossible to tell definitively in the snow but he did not get in. I say stopped at the half yard line. Let the delusional old timer Pitt fans live in their fantasy world.

One of my favorite PSU plays of all time happened in that game. The Cefalo to Guman reverse on the punt return for a TD was great! The TD shifted the momentum to PSU and was the difference in the game.

 

[dougt24]

Some time in the 1960’s, sitting in the end zone with my parent’s on wooden bleachers playing I think WV in the rain.

I remember sitting on the end zone bleachers in the 60's too with my parents, brothers and sister but can't remember which games.

 

[MB Nit Lion]

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.

Loved those Sunday highlights shows on KDKA. PSU followed by Notre Dame.

 

[MB Nit Lion]

Grew up in Pittsburgh watching a lot of football. In my family there were PSU, ND and Pitt fans. I rooted for them all. But got my acceptance letter and decided to go to PSU the week before the Fiesta Bowl against Miami. That was the clincher. I was Blue and White from that point

 

[PSUForever]

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...

My Dad getting season tickets starting in 1976. I was 10. We beat Stanford 15-12 in the first game when they had their star WR Tony Hill. Next game we lost a brutal one to O$U 12-7. Jeff Logan who succeeded Archie Griffin ripped off a huge run and we had a terrible fumble at about their 10 yard line that essentially lost the game. We should have won. Classless Woody did not shake Joe's hand after the game.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

My brother got out of the Navy in 1964 and was listening to PSU beat OSU on the radio with him. Listened on the radio since then --seen them in live in 67.

 

[CDLionFL]

48-14 was the first game I remember watching on TV while in my grandfather's basement. My parents were season ticket holders and I had remembered PSU getting to #1 that year and then losing to Miami the very next week but don't recall watching that game. The next spring, I went to the Blue-White game and all I wanted to do was high-five Blackledge as the team came through the tunnel. I had to settle for a pat on the head from Jon Williams. My first game was the Syracuse win in 82 (28-7) where the only thing I remember about it was sitting in the trunk of my dad's car to tailgate. My next one was the goal line stand in 83 vs. Alabama and that just sealed it. Now whenever I'm able to get back to Beaver Stadium (last time was the Buffalo game in 19), the emotions really well up when the band starts to come onto the field because to me, that signifies that I'm home and back in my happy place.

BTW, I finally got that high-five (and a conversation too) from Blackledge in 2003 because a friend was working for CBS at the Florida-FSU game and was able to get me into the compound after the game.

 

[Steve B]

In 1967 I was 13 years old and the Gator Bowl game against FSU is my first memory of watching a Penn State football game. What followed was the 30 game unbeaten streak including the two gripping Orange Bowl wins. I have been a PSU fanatic ever since.

 

[LionJim]

In 1967 I was 13 years old and the Gator Bowl game against FSU is my first memory of watching a Penn State football game. What followed was the 30 game unbeaten streak including the two gripping Orange Bowl wins. I have been a PSU fanatic ever since.

That 30-game unbeaten streak was a big deal. Remember the shock you experienced when Colorado beat us? I couldn't believe it.

 

[doug e fresh]

1968 ........thought we would never lose

 

[Fortheglory612]

6-4.

This was one of my first PSU games as a student . Beating OSU in the 05’ whiteout was my favorite memory. I have a really great framed aerial picture of that day in our basement/main TV room. I also loved when we beat Sparty at the end of that season and hundreds of us ran to Beaver stadium randomly and taking pictures in front of the Joe Pa statue. There was also a semi-impromptu pep rally at Rec hall with the team when the team plane got back from East Lansing that night. Those two wins were two of my favorite memories as a student.

 

[Nits1989]

My Dad’s uncle was from DuBois PA. He got my Dad hooked on PSU football in the 1940s, despite that they lived in South Buffalo, NY, which was very pro-Notre Dame. My Dad introduced me to PSU football when I was a kid, and I went to PSU from 1985-1989. I really became a fan during my freshman year. They went 11-0 in the regular season and played Oklahoma for the National Championship. I‘ll never forget the excitement of that season, even with loss to Oklahoma. The next year, they followed it up with the National Championship. Two fantastic years for sure. I was lucky to see it first hand.

 

[kgilbert78]

12 men on the field.

Likely the same for me as well....

 

[ApexLion]

12 men on the field.

same

 

[ApexLion]

same

 

[Connorpozlee]

You know, I couldn’t honestly point to a moment. I just always was. My brother is 9 years older than me and was a die hard fan and I just followed along, I think mainly because JoePa grew up in a neighborhood not too far from where we lived in Brooklyn. I guess my moment would probably be whatever his moment was. I do know that I was more of a Steelers/NFL fan as a very young kid but even at that I can remember taking great pride in Ham and Franco being from Penn State.

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

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...

Jan. 1, 1969 - Penn State 15 - Kansas 14. I was eight years-old.

 

[Bvillebaron]

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...

Can't remember the year but it was when Rip Engle was the coach and PSU beat NC State in a back and forth game.

 

[MontereyLion]

Fall of 1968, my senior year in high school, at Mannheim Germany. Dad was stationed there. I kept hearing on the radio (we didn't have a TV) about this college football team that was on like a 20 game win streak. Having been born in Pennsylvania, near Valley Forge and looking ahead to going to college, that cow college peaked my interest.

 

[Dan D. Lion]

I went to the opener against Navy in 1970 as a high school senior. PSU was in the midst of their long unbeaten streak which was snapped the following week against Colorado. I recall Mike Cooper was the starting QB and the John Hufnagel was a back-up at the beginning of the season. That team had the great running back tandem of Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell. I also believe Fran Ganter was on that team. My next year of 1971 I was a freshman at Penn State and have been hooked on Nittany Lion football ever since.

 

[JoeLion]

In 68 or 69 when I met Mike Reid.

 

[No Name All Game]

It was 1972 listening to the Navy game on the radio with my pop he was a diehard Penn State fan as was my grandmother. Attended my first game in 1977 we played West Virginia It was so cool being there and seeing them win.

 

[BostonNit]

48-14. I received a phone call from a buddy who was a Pitt fan when they went up 14-0. For some reason I didn't hear from him the rest of the game.

 

[Bob78]

My brother is 14 years older than me and went to Penn State. I went to my first PSU game at age 4 in 1960. My parents told me I slept through it. We went to a game or two each season while my brother was there. I don't really remember them, but I was there. My brother was in a fraternity that was home to a number of football players, so I got to meet them and then watch them play. I remember more about staying in the fraternity house and meeting the guys than I do going to the games. I remember watching the PSU bowl games of the early 60s on TV with my brother and parents. That was fun, and I was happy whenever PSU won, but I was not yet as into Penn State as I was the Baltimore Colts.

But that changed in 1964 when my parents and I sat in our kitchen and listened to the Ohio State game on the radio; I was in for life from that point. That huge upset is my first real memory of being really into a PSU game and feeling the sheer emotion and excitement from it. Rip Engle was still the coach then. I listened to as many games on the radio as I could after that, and watched whenever they were on TV. When Joe took over and took the program up a notch or twelve, I was as proud as could be to be a fan. I went to just a few games between then and when I started as a freshman in 1974. One of those was the game at Army in 1970 on a gorgeous October Saturday when John Hufnagle was the surprise starter at QB, taking over for Bob Parsons who had taken over for Mike Cooper. Hufnagle led the team to 5 straight wins to end up 7-3. Dartmouth won the Lambert Trophy that season, and Joe wanted to play them in Yankee Stadium to settle who was the best team in the East!

TV Quarterbacks on the PBS station out of Hershey on Wednesday nights with Fran and Joe and a guest player was must-see TV. I read every bit of PSU news in the Harrisburg Patriot News, written so well by John Travers and Ronnie Christ. Back then, until sometime in HS, for the life of me I could not understand how anyone could NOT be a PSU football fan!

 

[Yogiman71]

1966 at my Grandmothers house watching Penn State beat Pitt 48-24. I wanted to go to Penn State but did not have the grades to get in. I went to California State of Pa. for freshman year 1967 made the grades then was conditionally accepted for summer of 68. Made the grades and ended up graduating March of 71 in Finance. Best thing I ever did. I bleed blue and white until I die. JoPa was an inspiration and I was fortunate to have 40 yard line seats at the Fiesta Bowl when we won our last Championship. Success with honor and always display great sportsmanship with class.

 

[herby74]

As a 12 yr. old Philly kid I listened on my transistor radio while Penn State beat Alabama 7-0 in the 1959 Liberty Bowl. Then found myself living in Beaver Hall in 1965, Rip Engel’s last season.

 

[WyomingLion]

The seed was planted in1967. Full bloom in 1968 and 1969. Local heroes Jack Ham, Mike Reid and Steve Smear (is there a better name for a football player?) made it sweet. I grew up near Johnstown, those guys were gods.