It’s now two years in a row that it wasn’t a happy homecoming.
Though this one is stinging a bit less than last year’s homecoming, especially the morning after.
Still, win or lose, there is one bit of business to take care of: Did You Notice…
• We begin with a bit of an update to a story we posted on the blog earlier this week. On Tuesday, I wrote about how Penn State was still charging fans for access to Roar+, its NIL media platform, despite dropping the paywall to new customers and not posting on the platform since the start of the school year.
However, as soon as I was able to connect to the Beaver Stadium under stadium wifi, I was greeted with this teaser post about content coming for Roar+ on Oct. 10, the weekend of the White Out.
Additionally, Penn State posted – as of the time of writing this – three videos on the platform Saturday, related to Penn State’s game against Wisconsin.
Though I can’t say I’m eager to resubscribe to the platform after dropping it this week (and hearing from others who also did because of the article), I am a bit surprised at the timing. SSSWS made two separate attempts to Penn State inquiring about the status of the platform moving forward. It’s odd that Penn State did not respond with a comment about restarting the platform if it was in the plans all along to relaunch the White Out weekend.
A comment – even if it didn’t share the date – would have changed some of the points made in the article, and while yes we are a quasi-media outfit that tends to ask more off-the-beaten-path questions, Penn State has responded to other questions regularly. Our view of Roar+ in general has also been positive, giving the platform repeated airtime and interviews as well. Answering the questions with a statement that had a hint of excitement from Penn State seemed like an easy win.
It just doesn’t add up that Penn State then announced that teaser return while also rushing three bits of content related to Saturday’s game – the fourth of the season but the first of the season to appear on the platform – out the door instead.
• As for the moments inside of Beaver Stadium, the most obvious place to start is that the public address system did not work properly for many key parts in the game on Saturday. Roughly halfway through the third quarter, the PA system seems to become almost robotic.
Eventually, it became unlistenable and Penn State made the correct decision to shut it off for a decent chunk of the fourth quarter. It appears that it was only PA sound as other sound effects and music could be heard clearly through the speakers. The situation seemed to be more of an issue with the relay between the PA system to the speakers.
But it is frustrating that Penn State spent much of its offseason touting its new speaker system – which has been an improvement (though maybe not as much as promised) – only for it to have issue in just the third game of the season.
• Saturday was the first true test for Penn State football and the first true opportunity for Penn State fans to make more consistent and louder noise throughout the stadium. While I do not have a way to measure the before, this is just one man’s opinion and the after may be tainted by the fact this game meant more than the first two home games, it certainly feels like Beaver Stadium got somehow even louder thanks to the addition of the west’s second deck.
The noise from the west sideline doesn’t seem to be as lost given how much closer it is and it also appears that noise overall in the stadium is being well retained. The noise made an impact as Wisconsin was charged with five false start penalties.
• The other major Beaver Stadium upgrade this season was its lighting system and earlier this season I noted how much brighter it was to look at in the daytime. In the first night time experience, it felt even brighter. In fact, from our seats in NB looking at the east sideline, the brightness of the lights washed out the ability to see “The Pennsylvania State University” on the top of the suites. That is something that will take some adjusting.
• I noticed a few more ticket takers at Gate F than usual, and though we entered the stadium roughly an hour before, relatively short, quick lines.
• I found more draught beer. There are at least two taps right at the entry of Gate F, though I did not check the selection. Additionally, yet again, I also noticed no lines at the one on the east side of the stadium. I think that is a selection problem given they only have State Light Lime and Linebacker Bru. I think they’d be longer if Penn State swapped out those kegs for something like Bud Light or Miller Lite. I do wonder if that is an issue or snagged by some sort of contract with the various beverage distributors inside the stadium.
• I ventured back up to the 300 level of the west side again prior to the game and noticed that it appears the only way to get up there truly is via the stairs. In theory, you could take an elevator up from the south end zone and walk over but that’s not an ideal solution. I would be mindful that it is at least six flights of stairs from the top of the 100 level to the top of the 300 level, especially if you or someone you’re going to the game with has mobility concerns. As noted earlier this season, I do believe that is temporary as you can see construction of escalators happening now. But the elevator piece may be something I look into one of the next home games.
• I do love the views of State College and the surrounding area from up there. I know it was a point of contention over seeing Mount Nittany back when the south deck was added but there are several great views in that direction. But I also found a great view looking at the gap between the north and east portions of the stadium. You can be easily reminded of Penn State’s agricultural roots as you can see cows grazing in the fields that way. I enjoyed that.
• The other thing I noticed from up there? The fact that Penn State did not do any special end zone, nor did it roll out a new Generations of Greatness uniform, for homecoming.
• I also hit up the new men’s room at the top of the de facto 100 level on the west sideline in part because of a tip someone sent me. Do you notice the subtle reference to Penn State’s helmets on the bathroom signs – even if the colors are inverted? That can’t be a coincidence. That was a clever easter egg.
Inside the men’s room, there are no world-famous Beaver Stadium troughs and instead standard urinals with a place to put your beverage. Additionally, there is hot water and only hot water that comes out the sinks. Modern technology is finally reaching one of the world’s largest stadiums.
• Someone else sent me this playlist/now-playing graphic that was shown on the scoreboard during a TV timeout. That’s a great touch. I will say I may not have noticed it as the picture features the north end zone and I’m looking at the south end zone scoreboard. It feels relatively new they are showing two different feeds.
• I also noticed that a few individual player stats were flashed on the scoreboard at times during the game – though it would be nice to get those more frequently.
• I may have missed them earlier this season because of how subtle they are but there is Penn State branding hanging below the second deck with one plaque saying “We Are” and the other saying “Penn State.”
• I also noticed Bud Light branding at the top of the north end zone. Apparently that area is called the “Bud Light End Zone.”
• Sheetz sign for the day: “Roast Badger.”
• I’m starting to agree with this tweet from tailgate partner, groomsman in my wedding and podcast host Cory Lestochi. The student section was quite late to today’s game but I’m not sure it ever filled up. While it’s typical for an alum to grumble about this, it feels particularly noticeable these last few seasons. Let’s see what happens at USC.
• Inspired by a tweet I saw about an offering at Alabama football home games, I picked up a small handheld radio this week off Amazon to listen to Steve Jones and Jack Ham’s radio call in the stadium for what truly may have been the first time in my life.
I will now never go to an important game without it. The little thing worked great. The battery life was fantastic. I did not keep the earbuds in the full game but never shut it off. Steve and Jack have always been more of a driving-in-the-car thing for me but it’s nice to have their insights during a game you’re experiencing. I noticed virtually no delay using FM 103.7. Last year we interviewed Bob Taylor who explained how Penn State’s radio broadcast gets from Steve, Jack, Roger and Brian to your ears just like that.
• That sunset, and some of the pictures coming out of it are gorgeous. Unfortunately, it reminds me of the last great Beaver Stadium sunset: the one just before a kickoff. Final score of that game? Oregon 30, Penn State 24.
What did you notice? What’s the best part of the gameday experience? What’s the worst part? Shoot me a note at darian@stuffsomerssays.com and we might chat about it on this week’s podcast.
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