It’s Thanksgiving week and my extended thankful list includes Penn State fans.
Seriously. They’re loyal and reliable. They might be slow adopters of certain changes (with tepid support of NIL/pay-for-play atop the recent list), but they’re generally rule followers who’ll do as they’re told. Plus, they show up — often in impressive ways.
This Saturday might be another one of those days.
With the football team having secured a spot in the College Football Playoff, the game against Maryland does not rank as one of the most must-see matchups in Beaver Stadium history — especially on a blustery day when the temperatures will top out at 30 degrees with flurries and real feel of 19.
It’s also the third time in the past several years that a late season Penn State home football game has been played on the first day of deer season in Pennsylvania. That apparent conflict was not an issue the past couple times it happened, though.
Each time, against Rutgers in 2019 and against Michigan State in 2022, the announced attendance was more than 105,000.
If that many people show up this week, it would be the second smallest crowd of the season (Bowling Green, 103,861) but it would remain impressive nonetheless. After all, Beaver Stadium ranks as the fourth-largest stadium in the world and the second largest in the United States. Even when not at capacity, the attendance number can be impressive.
History might provide part of the reason for fans to show up this week, too.
This will be the last regular season game with the stadium in its current configuration. Renovations that will impact capacity are set to begin in January and the next two seasons will feature some altered and reduced seating because of the construction.
For fans with a connection to the big old erector set, that might make this Saturday’s game a more meaningful trip.
Plus, there’s no guarantee the playoffs will produce a home game, so this could be the last home game of the season. Oh, it’s highly likely the first-round playoff game will be at home, but if Michigan somehow upsets Ohio State in their game earlier Saturday, a Penn State victory over Maryland would earn the Nittany Lions a trip to the Big Ten Conference championship game.
The outcome of that game against Oregon, either way, might move Penn State out of the playoff sweet spot as a first-round host.
The other thanks-worthy thing about Penn State fans — at least football fans — is that they know what to do. They’re there to cheer, to make noise, to support the team. That’s the culture inside Beaver Stadium these days, as it has been for about the past couple decades.
That’s also a change in historical behavior inside the stadium. For years, fans really embraced the “spectator” portion of spectator sports. It took the genesis of the White Out and an emphasis on marketing to help the place become a bit more consistently noisy and raucous.
Sometimes, though, that rules-follower DNA and being noisy just because can be at odds for Penn State fans. It occasionally happens inside the stadium, and it clearly happens with other sports, notably men’s basketball and wrestling.
Just a week or so ago, men’s basketball coach Mike Rhoades implored fans who attend games at the Bryce Jordan Center to make more noise and “sweat with us.” He challenged fans to get out of their seats and make noise.
“We will fight for you guys,” Rhoades said after his team beat Purdue Fort Wayne at the BJC. “We should never have the BJC quiet. I don’t care how big the BJC is. We’re not making any excuses around here, but I need you all. So, if you come to the game, bring some extra Gatorade and some water and sweat with us and get into the game. And for the older people like me and up, it’s a great day for exercise: in your seat, out of your seat, in your seat, out of your seat. Stand up.
“For all you young people, get crazy with it. And bring your friends with you all the time. You’re not going to get in trouble for being an idiot for 40 minutes. I got your back.”
His message was strikingly similar to that of wrestling coach Cael Sanderson last season, when he was complaining about the quiet atmosphere inside Rec Hall for wrestling matches.
He said matches were “awkwardly quiet.” In explaining his perspective, he said “It’s a sporting event, let’s make some noise.”
In both situations, well, all three, counting football, there can be a difference between cheering, making noise and supporting the team. Noise for noise’s sake seems silly. Cheering to encourage a team or support them seems to be the job of fans. At the same time, they’ve paid for a ticket and have the right to do what they’d like during the game.
Plus, an underlying aspect for the basketball fans might be a here-we-go-again, Charlie Brown-and-Lucy mentality and their own history with the program. Many fans probably have memories of jumping on a bandwagon or buying in only to have things go south quickkly, so they might be slow adopters when given the opportunity again.
The coaches can certainly set a tone, though.
After Sanderson’s spiel last year, both Rec Hall and the BJC added more music during matches. It’s still a shame he complained about a young fan starting a “We Are …” cheer (his point being the call and response should not be the only thing audible in the building) because leading the cheer was probably a big moment for the fan.
Still, it’s OK for Sanderson and Rhoades to make similar points.
My biggest and final thanks would be if Rhoades were correct — if you’re not going to get in trouble for being an idiot for 40 minutes. Not limiting support or not shutting down fans who get loud would be a change in Penn State’s game-presentation mindset.
It’s not been uncommon in recent years for on-site staff or ushers to limit or shush overly supportive fans. Sometimes the rules makers miss chances for flexibility and grassroots energy.
If that could change, that would certainly merit thanks.
If you’ve enjoyed this content, please subscribe to Stuff Somers Says With Steve on YouTube. Or join our newsletter by entering your email below.
