The Lions' Pride

My name is Adam Carroll and I am a graduate of University of Central Arkansas (wish I went to Penn State ) with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I grew up in Missouri being a Penn State fan. Mizzou football in the 80s wasn't on TV so I was drawn to the black shoes, blue shirts w/ no names on them (for real, it did get me) and JoePa. I played a little football in high school and college (flag mostly lol) but really enjoy Friday-Sundays in the fall (high school Friday, college Saturdays, and finish off with NFL Sundays).

I currently live in the heart of ScUM and Sparty country in Livonia Michigan. I am a Physical Therapist that works in Outpatient, Inpatient, and Home Care. My wife is a resident at a small community hospital in Garden City Michigan. She also went to UCA but I have converted her to the dark side (PSU) also (been encouraging her to look for jobs in PA but my mother has said hateful words to us when we talk about moving to PA....she lives in MO still). She hasn't officially been to a game at Happy Valley (did go to the spring game in 2010) but has been to Penn State games at ScUm, MSU, and Northwestern with me so far. We are going to the Illinois road game and Wisconsin game after Thanksgiving. We have 2 daughters, Madison-Anne is 3 and Meredith is 5 months. Madison watches games with me on Saturdays and kind of has the We Are...Penn State chants down. She also will go to her 1st Happy Valley game when Penn State plays Wisconsin. We (I mostly, lol) plan on both of our daughters going to Penn State (fingers crossed).

My favorite Penn State game was the 2009 @ Michigan game....yes we finally beat them there!!!!...my wife's 1st Penn State game and she was so impressed by the amount of Nittany Lions' fans, all the Penn State chants, and JoePa on the field. My favorite Penn State players are Michael Robinson and Curtis Enis (he was the 1st one I really followed as a Penn State fan).

Sorry my response is a little long but I love Penn State!!!!

My name is Todd Speck; I graduated from Penn College in 1982. I live about 30 miles south of State College but I am currently dating a woman in State College and I’m there a lot. I am the VP of a manufacturing plant in Huntingdon, PA where I have been employed for almost 29 years. I have 3 sons (29), (27) and (15) and a Daughter (21). My girl friend got her under grad from Rutgers and her grad from PSU. She has 4 children, 3 of which are current Penn State students at University Park campus.

I have been a season ticket holder for over 20 years. I never miss a home game and I usually go to at least two away games a years as well. I haven’t missed a PSU/OSU game (home or away) since 2004. I am a member of the PSU Alumni Association (Centre County Chapter), a life time member of “Back the Lions”, a member and corporate sponsor of the State College Quarterback Club and a corporate sponsor of the “Huddle Up” with Steve Jones TV program. I also started a new Penn State football fan page on FaceBook called “PENN STATE Football Nation” after the former page was abandoned and take over by spam.

Favorite stadium/campus I have been to – Notre Dame
Best away game fan base – Ohio State
Worse away game fan base – Michigan
All-time favorite game – Nebraska at Penn State 2002 (40-7) Penn State’s 1994 National championship game
Most exciting game – Ohio State at Penn State 2005
Best away game experience - 2009 Rose Bowl, my son and I had a great time

Awesome idea Michael. I'm Clint - 39 years old, grew up in Pensacola, FL, now live in Arlington, VA. Dad's family has been in Lancaster County for over 150 years; he was in the Navy and met my mom who was a local P'cola girl. He was a die-hard PSU fan and despite some early liking for Alabama, the '86 Fiesta bowl sealed my lifelong PSU loyalty. Like many others here, Joe was my mentor, despite the fact I never met him. He and my grandfather were very similar, despite one being from the Deep South and one being from Brooklyn, and I respected both if them more than anyone else on earth.

Applied to PSU in '91 and got in, picked out my dorm, the whole thing, but came from a poor family and a free education at FSU 2 hours from home seemed a much more practical choice than $60k in debt to attend PSU, so FSU it was. It worked out - got involved in politics, worked for a couple of Governors, lobbied for a few years, and helped run a state health agency. Moved to DC in 09, and currently run the government healthcare group for a global company. Single (divorced), no kids, awesome girlfriend, life is good.

Like Tdiddy, being a PSU grad has been a lifelong dream, and I was accepted last week to the PSU World Campus MHA program, so in about two years I'll be "official".

Make it to a couple of games a year - favorite game in person was Miami '99, with my brother and my Dad - only game we've ever been to all together, amazing ending, and beating Miami is always sweet as a Nole and a Lion. Hate JS even more knowing he was in the sidelines for that game.

I'll bleed blue and white til the day I die, and no matter how heinous the actions of four or five men were, #Wearestill and #Willalways be PENN STATE

Nice idea, I do more reading than commenting, so I know many may not know who I am. My name is Ryan, I am 17, and I live in Atlanta. I will be a senior in high school this coming fall and as for colleges, I am undecided right now. I have a couple of offers to play college tennis at some smaller schools and with the hope scholarship (Full tuition paid at any in state school) I may end up at UGA. I will be applying to PSU for sure and if the price is right I would love to go. My dad graduated in the early 1980's and has been a lifelong fan and I guess that is how I got started. I first got started in recruiting in 2008 or so and love keeping up with the school and hearing what all you guys have to say, since most of you are way more in touch with the school than I am.

My favorite game was the Outback Bowl vs LSU. It is the only Penn State game I went to and I won 25 bucks from a bet with an LSU fan.

Being in the south, the JS scandal has made talking college football tough with friends. I love the quality of this board and the openess to discussion. I love the direction the program is headed in and would love for BOB to restore the national respect for PSU.

Okay....I'll start this for the ladies.

My name is Karol and I'm not a Penn State grad - I'm a Kansas Jayhawk. However, I married into the PSU family back in 1994. I grew up in Southern Illinois near St. Louis, but the family moved to Kansas City. I played volleyball at Kansas and am a diehard KU basketball fan. My husband grew up in Chambersburg, graduated PSU with an engineering degree in 1981. He took a job with the Navy (civilian) fresh out of PSU and after a stint in the VA Beach area, ended up in DC. I moved to DC in 1988 and met him playing volleyball. We have 2 children, 17 and 10 and live in Alexandria, VA. I currently work for a non-profit. We are season ticket holders and make it to almost all games. My husband and son (the 17 year old) have a tradition of going to every bowl game, while my daughter and I sometimes go as well.

I do want to say this about PSU and I'm sure all of you know it.....PSU and Penn Staters are something very, very special. My love for Penn State started with the football program and JoePa. But after becoming involved with the local alumni chapter, I began to see that it's so much more than football -- it's the students, the faculty, the alumni, the fans, the education you receive at PSU, the research, etc. Penn Staters are the salt of the earth. That is the "cult" called Penn State.

My admiration for JoePa will never change. The Penn State family will get through this and it will take a long time to restore the image of the university in the eyes of some people. Penn State may never be viewed favorably with others and so be it. But if I know one thing about Penn Staters, you will not let this define you. You will take what has happened and make good of it -- both in your personal lives and for your university.

Now, the only thing that really irritates me about Penn State is the out of state tuition!

My name is Rick. 63 years old. Grew up in Hazleton, PA. Currently live in Mountaintop, PA after living in MD, CA, CT, HI, RI, and NC. Wife, mother, father, both grandfathers, aunts, uncles, many cousins PSU grads. BS Math/minor Physics from Wilkes U (played some hoop with a certain coach in the BIG), Navy OCS, Gulf of Tonkin combat OPS during Easter Offensive of 1972, stayed in the Navy Reserve retired as a CDR. Been to a lot of places (Korea DMZ, Iceland, Okinawa, Portugal, Med, Italy, Switzerland, North Atlantic, Pearl Harbor with the USN). MS Nuc Eng at PSU; came back to PSU for MBA (turned down Wharton). Worked for nuclear utilities for 25 years. JD UCONN Law. Currently self-employed Patent Atty and consulting atty for major construction projects in Southeast. (I'm lucky I have two jobs in a time when millions of people have no job).

Season ticket holder since 2001. My favorite PSU is the next one. I love heading to Beaver Stadium on a Saturday morning.

Still a huge JoePa supporter - Success With Honor. Really looking forward to seeing what Coach O brings to the table.

My favorite players are the ones who combine academics and athletic achievements. Number one right now is John Urschel, followed in no particular order by Poz, Wiz, Michael Robinson, Daryl Clark, and Robert Price. (MRob, Daryl, and Robert because they used their time at PSU to get two degrees). Another favorite from way back is Carmen Masciantonio - because he got a degree in Chem Eng while playing LB for Joe. Also like Justin King because he graduated in three years and was frequently on Dean's List.

My name is Daniel Ray. I'm from Aiken, SC and I'm 21. My mom graduated from Penn State in 86 and I was raised a PSU fan. Ironically my dad is the one who supports my fandom more by going with me to games, to restaurants to watch games, etc. I'll be a senior at USCe this year in Chemical Engineering. Carolina is the very last team you'll see me cheering for, but i'm there solely from the financial standpoint. I hope/plan to be at PSU in the fall of 2013 to get a masters in food science. I'm also considering medical school, but I rather be positive I want to go that route before I commit to the time/loans and therefore plan on doing the 2 year masters in SC first. I've actually spent the last two days in Hershey and State College. My favorite game attended would be a tie between MSU '08 and OSU in the Shoe last year. NW 06 will also have a special meaning to me as the first game I've been to.

Andy, 34 and originally from Hughesville, MD (aka, the sticks). Live in San Francisco with my wife, 2 young kids (Dylan, 2.5 years and Caleb, 10 months) and work as a construction manager. Graduated from Bishop McNamara HS (DCAA) in 95, played soccer and lacrosse in HS. Graduated PSU AE in 2001 (5 year program + coop for all you smart asses out there). Played on PSU's club lacrosse team for a couple of seasons. Both of my parents are OSU alumni, so we always have "friendly" bets around the house come football season even though they're not very friendly.

Going to see Penn State football over multiple seasons was a religious experience to me. Favorite game is a toss up between PSU - Michigan in 95 (think snowball to Amani Toomer and fake FG to win it) or PSU - U Arizona in 99 (blow out 4 vs 3 preseason). Favorite player was LaVar.

My name is John, I am currently a PSU sophomore at the Berks campus.. The dorms here at Berks are much nicer than the ones at University Park ... I'm glad I live there.. Anyway, I'll be going up to UP after this year. I went to Lansdale Catholic HS where I played football. My coach, Jim Algeo, had been at Lansdale Catholic teaching and coaching since 1967. The Philadelphia Inquirer called him the Joe Paterno of LC. He just retired this past year.

My dad went to PSU. I am wearing PSU gear in just about every one of my baby pics. Despite that, I came very very close to attending West Virginia University. I didn't really take any college besides PSU seriously, but when I went to Morgantown, I was blown away. But my love for PSU prevailed in the end. Anyway, I can't wait to move back into school!

Awesome idea!!

My name is Jack. I'm 29 and live in Groton, CT. I received my associate's degree from Penn State in 2006 and my bachelor's in 2010. I work for General Dynamics Electric Boat as an engineer. We build nuclear submarines for the US Navy. I grew up just outside of Altoona, PA which is just minutes away from the motherland! I have been a Penn State fan since I could walk.

I have tailgated at so many games I can't remember how many I've been to. The best experience I have was from when Penn State beat Ohio State in 2008. I was at Champs watching the game and when Terrelle Pryor fumbled at the end of the game and Penn State recovered, I thought my ears were going to bleed. We then went downtown in front of the dorms on East Beaver Ave where 5000-10000 people had gathered. Everyone was yelling and having a good time and it never got out of control. It was quite an unbelieveable experience. WE ARE!

My name is Mitch, and I'm 36. I am an AE in the TV advertising sales industry, and live in Hoboken, NJ. Class of '98 here. I didn't grow up with PSU like alot of you. In fact, my only memory was of the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. Dave Szott was our hometown hero, and a very highly recruited freshman OL so we watched and rooted for PSU that night. From there, it was another 6 years before PSU came onto my radar. Thankfully I discovered this wonderful school and football program in much more detail at that time.
My first game at the Beav was vs. USC in 1994. I didn't see a loss for over one calendar year after I enrolled, that frustrating 1995 Wisconsin game. My favorite game is still vs. Ohio State in 1994, and my favorite player to watch was Ki-Jana. And one of the best days of my life was in December 1994 when I was walking past Pattee with no one else in sight and Joe Paterno was walking towards me. We shook hands and said hello, and it still resonates with me today.

The last year has been tough to go through as a Penn Stater, and will likely become tougher before subsiding. But one thing is for sure, my love and loyalty for this school will burn brightly no matter what.

My name is Paul. Class of '74 so that makes me 60 years old.

I was the first in my family to go to college and graduate. Now I can boast a wife and a son who have also graduated from Penn State. When I first met my wife she didn't know what a first down was. Now she sits and screams at the games as much as I do.

We live in Lafayette, Indiana now. It is the home of Purdue University and my wife works there. Despite this, we are loyal Penn State fans.

I guess the game I'll always remember was beating Pitt 48-14 in 1981 when Pitt was ranked #1.

As for the tough times we're having right now I think we are going to emerge from this stronger than ever. That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger.