Penn State launches new excellence fund initiative, James Franklin added to 'We Are, in Philly' lineup

The pitch from Penn State football came through on Monday. Unveiling a seat plaque naming opportunity to Nittany Lion fans in a minute-long video, some of the program’s most notable personalities issued a call for support.

“Your name. Our tradition. A legacy built together.”

New to the program, the Nittany Lions’ football excellence fund is opening the opportunity to fans this summer to put their names on the chairbacks of the team auditorium at the Lasch Building. Available on a first come, first served basis, the plaques are priced with recurring annual donations of the same amount for $10,000 in the front row, $5,000 in the second and third rows, and $2,500 for the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh rows of the auditorium.

“By making a gift to Penn State football excellence fund, you can etch your name into the foundation of this program,” Michael Mauti says in the clip. “Literally. Secure a personalized name plaque on a seat back right here in the last team auditorium,” Aeneas Hawkins follows.

Inquiries into the tax deductible seat naming opportunity are being directed to [email protected], with an online sign-up form here.

Changing the game

Citing a primary focus of scholarships and student-athlete support, the initiative falls in line with a push made by athletic director Pat Kraft in February. Calling attention to the pending House vs. NCAA settlement and all of its far-reaching implications, Kraft said that at Penn State, the forthcoming changes will be significant in the doors they open to increased scholarship and support opportnuities beyond what’s currently permitted.

“I will say, everyone is discussing the $20.5 million and the rev share. But one of the biggest pieces to the House case is pulling the restriction of scholarships off,” he said. “That’s huge. That allows us to offer scholarships to all of our athletes if we could afford it. But as we’re out there raising money, we’re trying to let people know that’s as important as the $20.5 million.

“We have the ability now to not only help our teams in the space of rev share, but also put a lot more of our student-athletes, if we do it right, if we raise the right amount of money, on scholarship. And that is a huge advantage for us. So I feel really good where we’re at. We can always do better. I’m a competitor. I want to be the best in the country. But I think the new landscape is changing the way that’s going to play out.”

Marquee name added to HVU Philadelphia event

For weeks, Penn State’s NIL collective, Happy Valley United, has pushed supporters to attend its gala event in Philadelphia, set for Thursday evening this week. Set to take place at the Union League in Center City from 7-10 p.m. with a VIP reception from 6-7 p.m., the organization has rolled out a cast of attendees that will include Saquon Barkley, much of the Nittany Lions’ coaching staff, and a host of former players.

Monday, they one-upped the offering.

Head Coach James Franklin is back in Philly🙌

Philly, we’re coming BACK! This Thursday, May 8th, Penn State Football coaches, players, lettermen, fans and alumni take over the city for our 2nd annual We Are in Philly event! Blue & White energy, big Penn State vibes, and a night… pic.twitter.com/Af2UtZ3zsJ

— Happy Valley United (@HappyValleyUtd) May 5, 2025

Returning to Philadelphia this week for the second-annual event, closely following last week’s golf tournament in Harrisburg, head coach James Franklin will again be in attendance. Long touting the benefits of name, image, and likeness rules and the opportunities the rules can now provide to college football players and their families, he elaborated on the very real impact taking place with Penn State’s roster this season thanks to NIL and the realistic avenues it created for excellent players to wait a year for the NFL.

“I know there’s some frustrations or concern or lack of understanding about NIL. But I would say that this is one, to me, obvious positive of NIL,” he said. “You have a lot of guys every year that are third or fourth year players, and they’re trying to make the decision on whether they should leave early to go to the NFL or come back. And in the old days, when we were making these decisions, they would have to turn down third, fourth, fifth round, sixth round money in the NFL to come back to college for nothing.

“So now, you’re able to say, Okay, well, let’s not worry about that, because we can help with some of that. And now just make the best decision for you and your family, for your education, and for your football future. And you’re not asking young men to walk away from significant money in the NFL.”

Tickets to HVU’s “We Are in Philly” event can be found here.

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