Preparing for Game Day!

 

Preparing for Game Day!

By: Team C

Possibly the most important aspect guaranteeing a day to be fun and exciting. Whether you realize it now or not, there are a lot of things you need to take into consideration before heading out the door to Beaver Stadium.

1.     Understand that you will have NO cellphone service in Beaver Stadium.

Due to the crowds of people flooding into the stadium, it gets hard to communicate via text, snapchat, or other means of contact. Let your family and friends know this before you leave so nobody is left in the dark

1.     Download your tickets from Ticketmaster onto your phone’s wallet BEFORE leaving.

THIS IS CRITICAL! Penn State switched to all digital tickets a few years ago and it has been convenient but also another thing to remember. I recommend doing this days in advance or as soon as you can because, once again, service is extremely slow. You don’t want to be pacing back and forth in front of the gates stressing about your tickets at.

1.     Check the weather (and dress accordingly!)

Pennsylvania weather is a strange thing. One minute it's sunny, the next it's pouring rain (or maybe even snowing). The weather app will become your best friend. I even recommend downloading The Weather Channel to keep an eye on the radar. Rain jackets, ponchos, gloves, hats, and more layers become very handy. Also, if it is going to be bright and sunny, sunscreen is your best friend! You will burn faster than you realize, trust me, I have experience.

1.     Bring only the necessities (bring a clear bag if necessary).

Beaver Stadium had strict rules when it comes to what and how much you can bring inside. No water bottles, no bookbags, no purses, and more. You are allowed to bring a clear bag if you find that you cannot hold everything you want. Some of the things I bring on game day include my phone, wallet, PSU id, and last year, my dorm key. That’s all I needed but bring what is necessary for you (minimal is always better).

1.     The earlier you arrive, the better chance you will get good seats.

This may be obvious, but on big game days, the student section fills up fast! Gates open roughly 3 hours before the game is scheduled to start. If you want to be up close to the field, go as early as you can, get some food, and enjoy the environment! If you don’t mind sitting in the back, feel free to wait until an hour before so you can still catch the pre-game events!

 

I have to say this as well: the first game will be stressful at first, but this is only because its new! Once you get into Beaver Stadium, you’ll see why it is one of the best environments in college football, and you’ll forget all about the worries you had before.

Tailgating 101

So, if you are anything like me, you may have never been to a college football game or a pre-sporting tailgate event before coming to Penn State. Regardless of your experience, PSU culture is extremely unique and I will let you know everything you will need to be ready to rock your first PSU football game tailgate!

Firstly, tailgating is HUGE at Penn State, wayyy bigger than I was expecting. I mean tailgate spots span miles…literally! So, if you are invited to one or a few, get the exact location (lot number, etc.) and look at a map to confirm because it is a lot bigger than one may expect. You also get no service around the stadium so calling your friends asking to describe their location and/or using google maps is a no go. Ask for distinctive qualities about their tailgate to help navigate (are they by a tree? What color is their tent? Do they have a flag up?)

 

How do you get invited to tailgates? As a first-year, I understand that it may be hard to get connections for people that tailgate but ask around! Your friends, friends of friends, and a lot of orgs/clubs/Greek life host tailgates and love new friendly faces! Something I have learned is alumni and parents LIVE for tailgates and are more than excited to be able to host you. After all, that is the whole point of the tailgate experience! To eat food, hangout, and enjoy the Penn State community, there is absolutely NOTHING quite like it. Also, I understand that it can feel uncomfortable and that you are “intruding” on someone’s tailgate, but in my experience, everyone loves people stopping by and enjoying themselves. Understand that this is why people host them! You ARE a part of their family, the Penn State family.

 

Lastly, this may be the most important advice I have! Navigation on game day can be very difficult, especially without cell service. So, the people you tailgate with/walk to the game with will more than likely be the people you sit with at the game. Bouncing between tailgates and trying to meet up with friends is very very hard to do so I would suggest staying together if you really want to enter the stadium together. In my personal experience, I planned to meet up with friends that were at different tailgates and needless to say, after many failed texts and calls we were unable to meet up. My rule of thumb: the people I tailgate/walk to the game with are the people I am sitting with!

 

You are ready for your first PSU tailgate as a student! Enjoy it! It is genuinely my favorite part of being a Penn Stater, everyone is so welcoming:)

 

 

Getting Into the Stadium

The gates open 3 hours before the game starts. If you want to be in the front few rows you need to be there at that time. The student section entrance is at gate A. Once the gate opens you will get in one many lines. Have your ticket pulled up on your phone, you’ll also need your student ID. You’ll scan your virtual ticket and be given a physical one with your seat section. You will quickly go through security (make sure to only have see through bags and no liquids). After that you’ll be in the stadium. Overhead there will be signs directing you to your section. Find your section and there will be workers checking your tickets. Once you get past them you are free to claim your seat. (Warning, always have people guarding your section or you will lose it). In the stadium there are food and drink options that you can buy with lion cash or card.

Now you're ready for Penn State Football!

What puts the “Happy” in Happy Valley?

So now that you've finally reached your spot in the student section, it's time to relax, have some fun, and enjoy the atmosphere of gameday! Make sure you take a minute to look around at the thousands of fans, listen to the pregame music, and smell the sweet scent of chicken baskets in the air. Penn State football is truly an amazing experience, and you want to make sure you soak in all that serotonin. I'll cover a few important topics in this section so that you are a gameday pro before you even step foot into Beaver Stadium!

 

A big part of what makes Penn State the best atmosphere in college football is the Chants! Throughout the game you'll most likely hear Sweet Caroline, Livin’ on a prayer, and many other classics to sing along with, but my favorite game day tradition is the Alma Mater. It may be tempting to run out of the stadium and celebrate after a Penn State win, but don’t forget to stick around to stand arm in arm with fellow students and sing Penn State’s Alma Mater. Don't panic if you don’t know the lyrics, they will be flashing on the big screen. Trust me, by the end of the season you'll know this song like the back of your hand!

 

In order for you to have the best experience possible, there are some things you should do to prepare for the craziness of the student section. You may want to wear boots or flats to the game, but I highly recommend you wear the most comfortable shoes possible. My go-to is a pair of running sneakers with a lot of support. When I say that you will be standing the entire game…. I mean the ENTIRE game, and those bleachers are not so forgiving on your feet. If you're lucky you'll get to rest your feet for a bit during halftime, but as soon as the Nittany Lion makes an appearance, you'll be right back on your feet.

 

Another important aspect of the Gameday environment are the themes! As you probably know, Penn State is famous for our theme games such as the White Out, Blue and White, and the Stripe Out. Each one is pretty self-explanatory on what to wear, especially if you are in the student section. The student section almost always wears white, and if you are unsure about a theme don’t be afraid to ask around! It's always better to ask than to show up in the wrong color!

 

The last thing I love about Penn State football is the Nittany Lion, our very own celebrity! The lion will be all over the stadium doing dances, cheers and sometimes games with the students. He LOVES to watch the cheerleaders dance, and if you yell loud enough sometimes, he'll come over and give you a high five or even take a picture. I know it could be intimidating at first, but don't be afraid to walk up to the lion and ask for a selfie or a fist bump. I promise you he is the best and makes my day just about every time I see him. You might see him starting the wave (which can get pretty big) or doing his famous “noise” hand gesture. It’s no question that the Nittany Lion brings something very special to Beaver Stadium.

 

Whether it's a day or night game, you can expect that the energy will be high, and the football will be unmatched. These are the best moments as a Penn State student, and you deserve to enjoy every bit. As STEM majors it is so easy to get wrapped up in classes and homework, but for these couple of hours you get to put aside your worries and become part of the best atmosphere in college football!