Countdown to kickoff
In the bookstore at the HUB, the Hetzel Union Building, he purchased a large, navy coffee mug, showing a profile of JoePa, and listing his records.

It is hard to separate the success of Penn State football from that of Joe Paterno. The two are synonymous. Going into the 2005 season, Paterno had been a coach at Penn State for a total of 55 years, 16 as an assistant; 39 as head coach. He started coaching in 1950, at the age of 23.  As he entered his 40th year as head coach, he sported a 334-116-3 record, through 2004. His teams have had 5 undefeated, untied seasons: 1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, and 1994, and 7 undefeated regular seasons. JoePa has been on the coaching staff at Penn State for a period spanning 11 U.S. Presidential administrations. He is the all-time leader in bowl appearances and post-season triumphs. He is the only coach to win the four traditional New Year’s Day Bowls: Orange, Rose, Cotton and Sugar. In addition, Joe Paterno has contributed more than 4 million dollars to Penn State University.

As for the University, Penn State began football in 1887, and remained an independent until 1993, when they joined the Big 10.  The Nittany Lions have won two national championships, 1982 and 1986.

Penn State players have won one Heisman Trophy, one Biletnikoff, two O’Briens, seven Maxwells, one Lombardi, one Outland, one Butkus, one Doak Walker, one Bednarik, two Walter Camps, and one Sammy Baugh.

Past Nittany Lion heroes include Heisman Trophy winner John Capalletti, Shorty Miller, Richey Lucas, Ted Kawlick, Lydell Mitchell, Franco Harris, Jack Ham, Bobby Engram, Todd Blackledge, Kerry Collins, Glenn Ressler, Mike Reid, Chuck Fusina, Larry Johnson, Bruce Clark, and LaVar Arrington.

There are four Penn State coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame: Dick Harlow, Hugo Bezdak, Bob Higgins, and Rip Engel. JoePa will join them, when his time as head coach ends.

Exiting the building, the hunger pangs hit him; he needed some solid food. Cap headed back across College to Baby’s, at 131 S. Garner.

The place was right out of the '50s, complete with a jukebox playing doo-wop, and a gum-chewing waitress with a metal coin changer on her belt. Cap ordered a bowl of 5-Alarm chili, a Whimpy Basket (two Whimpy burgers and fries), a cherry Coke, and topped it off with a Black Cow.  As he ate to the sounds of The Drifters, The Exciters and The Marcels, Cap delved into the student newspaper - The Daily Collegian - the Centre Daily Times, and USA Today, chasing game times and the latest on tomorrow’s showdowns, coast-to-coast.

Fully nourished, he headed out, back down Garner and turned onto College Ave. There were people, everywhere. Fans were pouring into the downtown area now, shops were bustling - gameday was on its way.

Friday afternoon on College Ave.

Members of the Blue Band were across the street, then on the sidewalks of College Ave., playing "The Nittany Lion" and "Touchdown, Fight on State.” The cheerleaders and the mascot were everywhere, and the whole street was Blue.

Cap spent the afternoon up and down College Ave.  He hit the shops: first he approached double doors with a lion’s head on the knobs. As he pushed open the "jaws of the lion,” a lion’s roar filled the room, at Old State Clothing.  Also, University Book Centre, the Clothes Line, and Lion’s Pride, as he scoped for Lion gear.

As the afternoon shadows fell, the downtown area pulsed with energy, continuing to fill up with Nittany Lion fans, letting their hair down, getting ready.

Cap headed to the Hampton for a short nap, then back to the Tavern for dinner. With vintage historical paintings throughout, depicting scenes from the Commonwealth and the Centre Region, the place was warm and comfortable – and the food was great. As Cap finished off a rib-eye, he felt the need to find a party.

Then out and down the street - he could hear the music. First, starting at Crowbar, then Cafe 210, and ending at Player’s, where the joint was jumpin’ and the dance floor was wall-to-wall. Finally, he’d had enough. It was time to snooze.

Back in his room, he slowly unwound, and as he dropped off to sleep he murmured one last thought, "We Are...Penn State.”

Gameday
Trip Captain was awake early on gameday. He dressed quickly and then checked the list: game ticket; new navy shirt with a picture of the Nittany Lion on the front, “Penn State” below it; navy cap, block S on the crown - downright majestic; fold-up schedule of game times and match-ups, nationwide, lineups, camera, binoculars. Check.

Cap headed out, down College Ave., parked in a parking garage just off College, then to the Corner Room for a latte, as the ESPN GameDay show came on live from Blacksburg. Corso pulled the HokieBird head on, and there were giggles, all around. Then, Cap caught the CATA bus to the stadium.

Riding the CATA bus for $1.50, fans can beat the traffic. A lane is designated and kept clear for the bus from downtown to the game site.  While motorists sat helplessly in gridlock traffic, the bus sped past and dropped Cap at the basketball arena, Jordan Center, across the street from Beaver Stadium.

Beaver Stadium is named for James A Beaver, an attorney who commanded the 148th Pennsylvania Voluntary Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. He lost a leg in the war, before serving as Governor, Justice on the State Superior Court and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Penn State. Beloved by the students, Beaver obtained the funds to improve the first football field.  Today, following recent expansion, Beaver Stadium seats over 107,000.

Surrounding Beaver Stadium, the tailgating was robust and rowdy. A band belted out a swing tune, as television screens on the sides of huge RVs showed other games kicking off. One fan showcased his collection of Blue buttons from past games, over the years.  And everywhere - Blue and White.

The original colors, chosen by a three-member committee in 1887, were dark pink and black. However, the pink faded to white in the sunshine. The official colors were changed in 1890 to Blue and White.  “I’m sure glad it faded,” Cap quipped, “pink just doesn’t work for me – it’s not a smash-mouth color!”

The food, laid out on Blue and White tablecloths, amidst decorative centerpieces, was plentiful, delicious, and distinctly Penn State.  Every kind of food imaginable - from hot dogs to pasta and pastries - Blue and White, Lions everywhere.

Cap strolled innocently through the aisles of RVs, trying to look hungry and deserving to be fed. The ladies of Happy Valley didn’t let him down.  They had affectionately named their dishes, and he had his choice: Lion’s Paw Ribs, a Penn State Blue Burger (made with Bleu Cheese), Lion’s Share Lasagna, Blue Band Special Chocolate Cake, The Lion and the Mousse and Undergrad Soft-Center Fudge Cake. He tried some of each, and washed it down with a Lion’s Libation.

KFC ranked Penn State the Number One Tailgating School in the nation in 1998. “It’s easy to see why,” said Cap, as he headed to the Jordan Center.

Across the street in the Jordan Center, the Blue Band entertained a full house with the sounds of gameday, "Penn State Victory (‘We are Penn State’),” "The Nittany Lion,” "Fight on State,” and "Penn State Alma Mater.”  Geared up, Cap headed to Beaver Stadium. Time to get it on.

The drum major goes airborne.

Inside, the place was Blue, charged with energy - and loud. The Blue Band took the field, led by their drum major, who hit a running full front somersault to the splits at midfield, and saluted the crowd as the student section went nuts. They were ready.

And, they didn’t have long to wait. JoePa led the team out, pumping his fists, working the throng into a frenzy.

From the opening kickoff, this game belonged to the Nittany Lions. They controlled throughout, as the defense dominated and tailback Eric McCoo carried the mail. And as the fourth quarter clock ticked down, the thunderous sound reverberated to the top of Mount Nittany, "We Are...Penn State!"

As the crowd sifted out of the stadium, the Blue Band drum corps circled up in the north end and banged away, as a contingent of die-hards looked on.

Working his way out of the stadium, Cap passed a line of fans waiting to get into the men's room.  In the middle of the line stood - of all things - the Nittany Lion costumed mascot.  Cap did a double take.  That was a photo opportunity if there ever was one and quickly Cap pulled out his camera.  He shouted, "We Are...Penn State!"  In response, the lion raised the #1 finger with cat-like reflexes. Focus. Click.  It's a keeper.

Cap caught the CATA bus in front of the Jordan Center. The crowd spilled across the campus, and back into the downtown area as the evening shadows grew. The restaurants and bars on College Ave. filled quickly, and TC was lucky to find a stool at Cafe 210, where he could sip a Dr. Pepper and catch games and scores from around the country.  Lost in other showdowns, the evening flew away.  Conference races were shaping up, and the run for the Crystal Ball was gaining steam.  Virginia Tech won big, Florida State, Nebraska, Kansas State, Tennessee and a host of others were in the hunt.

Allen Street and College Ave.

Cap wrapped up the day at the Allen Street Grill, overlooking the Elms and Old Main, spooning a bowl of Peachy Paterno ice cream.

He retrieved his car from the parking garage and was soon watching Gameday Final, back in his room. As scores and highlights flickered across the screen, he replayed the events of the day.  Another autumn Saturday of showdowns, a huge win for the Nittany Lions and gameday – the Penn State Way.

Rearview Mirror
Cap was awake and checked out early Sunday morning. Then back down to the Corner Room for breakfast, and one last drive around the campus, before heading out.

As he cruised west on I-80 back to Cleveland, he considered State College. It was definitely much more than he could ever have anticipated. Mount Nittany, the campus, the Elms, the Nittany Lion Shrine and mascot, the Creamery, College Ave., great restaurants, bars, shops and tailgating, the Blue Band, “Fight on State,” the Blue and White, Beaver Stadium, JoePa, Old Main and “We Are...Penn State!”  Cap knew that some day it would all call him back - back to Happy Valley.

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