All, I just got 2 tickets for the PSU vs OSU game next weekend. It will be the first time in State College for both my dad and I. Are there any tips, tricks, or things to avoid? What about the PSU fan base? My dad's friend who lived near PSU told him it might be best not to wear our OSU gear to the game. I told him not to worry, we're both grown ups and can handle ourselves. I was curious as to your thoughts?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDiRPUiQZHc
Well...this is what we did. haha and walked right down to college gameday and held it in their faces. It eventually got tore down and we got pelted by anything they could find to throw including a full bag of chips (which we gladly opened and ate) but if you are looking to be non confrontational I recommend not doing this. haha
"Anything less than flagrant is just playing grab ass!"
That is hilarious, even today. I haven't been to Happy Valley, yet (going next year), but I would imagine if you're not a complete ass and don't walk through a crowd of drunken Penn State students, you won't get that sort of treatment. I'd expect plenty of verbal abuse, though.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
My advice would be to acknowledge that most of the fans who will be at a game in State College, PA will be some of the worst fans you will ever meet. I'd recommend avoiding trouble and students as much as possible, stay around other Buckeye fans. Personally I would never travel there for a game, or to Camp Randall for similar reasons. It's just not worth the risk.
This is how ridiculous their fans are. Worst fans in the country:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/11/penn-...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDiRPUiQZHc
You're fine to wear your Buckeye gear without concern. Night games there are a little different, but you don't need to worry about that. The best advice about going into the teeth of by opposing teams fan base is to be respectful in regards to your enthusiasm for your team and make sure not to say anything disrespectful or act disrespectful towards the home team and/or their traditions. Lastly, it should be pretty easy to identify any hostile fans in your section, resist any temptation to engage them. I'm sure that just by asking for advice that you're not one of the 10% idiot fans and you'll represent Buckeye Nation well. Have fun and Go Bucks!
D. Anthony
disgusting to see those videos man. I go to the games with my gf, and if some little scrawny punk ran up and threw a beer can at me, I would seriously lose it. Probably not good for my safety, but that just pissed me off. The damn mob mentality of a bunch of douchebags who have not come to the realization that what they are doing is wrong. That, just because mommy and daddy are not there, they can act like complete a**holes. What a crappy start to my Thursday. I hope we destory psu..... Happy Valley my ass...
edit: with that being said, I am not one to go somewhere like that and start acting like an idiot. I do show respect, because I do not want to taint the game I love with bullshit like this.
Exactly dubjay --- I would recommend to those of you who decide to go to Crappy Valley or Camp Randall -- do not take your women. You are just setting yourself up for a really bad situation. In my life I've found the best way to avoid dangerous confrontational situations is to simply make good decisions about the types of situations you put yourself in (ie. AVOID BAD ONES). :)
That's a good video to watch if you ever start feeling sorry for PsU.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
To be honest I would never EVER go to Crappy Valley. If you are going wear Ohio State gear you better be prepared for the ensuing verbal/physical assault. If you do decide to go you can follow these steps:
1. Bring riot gear and/or kevlar armor and wear it along with a poncho or rain coat when the State Penn Fans start throwing urine balloons
2. Travel in a large group with other Buckeye Fans
3. Do not make eye contact or verbal contact with any State Penn Fans
4. Do not mention Joe Paterno at all
5. If you see Franco Harris please let him know what a douchebag he is
"if irony were made of strawberries, we' d all be drinking a lot of smoothies right now."
Made it down to "happy valley" a couple of years ago for a night game. Tailgated and fans seemed to be respectful, as were we. Didn't have any real problems inside the stadium cheering the Bucks on to a victory, even though some of their fans were telling us to sit down, which I could understand we were getting a little carried away. On the way out of the stadium an intoxicated man tried to get into it with my much older uncle who had difficulty even walking some of the hilly terrain. I pushed the guy and told him to back off, his friends grabbed him. Other than that it was a great trip, wore my buckeye gear the entire time.
"Without winners, there wouldn't even be civilization."
PSU fans can be rough, I have tailgated with many (as I have friends in PA), as with most programs you have your "rough" fans and your "regular" fans. In my experience PSU does have a larger majority of "rough" fans (compared to other storied programs).
PSU's motto should be: PSU "A place where 8-4 or 7-5 makes you nationally relevant"
I make as much eye contact as possible! And when they say anything I remind them that when they win...that means that kids lose. Just saying. Then I ask a simple question..."do you love pedophiles or young boys more?"...and when they respond "young boys" I yell "f&$@ing pedophiles!"
"Anything less than flagrant is just playing grab ass!"
You should be able to wear your school colors to anywhere you want without fear.
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
I have been to several games in State College and would reccomend getting there really early. State college is in the middle on nowhere and the roads match the destination. Many stretches are 2 lanes and get really crowded on gameday. I also would hope that the Buckeyes have the game put away early because then people will leave early. 3 years ago it took me 2hrs to get out of the parking lot after the night game. I finally got home at 4am!
Represent Buckeye Nation proudly, but don't intentionally be an ass.
Buckeye in PA purgatory
I'm glad you posted this because I was gonna post the same thing next week as I am attending the game as well. Any bars that anyone recommends or places to tailgate?
Try to stay away from the student section and areas/bars that are mostly students.
My time in State College was great. The bars were a fun time the night before the game. The college kids heckled a little bit at the bar, but if you aren't a douche you can fit in with anyone, share some beers and have a good time. One of the guys in our group did end up getting a ticket for jaywalking (he was being a drunken idiot). Gameday honestly didn't hear much of anything going throughout tailgates etc. Some profane language but that stuff doesn't bother me one bit. The only bad things I hear was from on the field some kids in the student section were yelling some pretty terrible (awesome) things. If you have thick skin you'll be fine.
Greg Jennings "I put my team on my back"
My buddy offered me ticketes to the game but I refused. I'm not a wimp I just know Penn State has nothing to lose and they don't dislike anybody as mush as Ohio State fans. It will be like walking into a hornets nest at college stadium especially when Braxton and company put 45 points on the lions. Go Bucks!
Ok a word about this video...
1. The person that hit the OSU fans with a beer can in the head was NOT as Penn State student. In fact he was a Pitt student making PSU fans to look to be bad.
2. The fraternity that was throwing cans got banned for quite some time on campus.
I seriously hate when people use this video to judge a fan base. That's like everyone judging Ohio State fans based on this video and thinking Columbus is like this every weeking (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AtaeCMqnPQ)... That was in the past and only one incident. That isn't to say PSU fans aren't innocent because every fan base has bad apples and boorish students. That being said this doesn't clear up the fact that Penn St fans can be sour. The difference between PSU fans is that the hostile behavior can easily be found away from the campus and in the tailgaiting area as soon as you get out your car and show your colors. I missed a trip in 2009 with friends but they hated the place so travel with your group and don't start trouble. Go to the Cremary and Allen's Bar and Grill. Enjoy your time.
Ohio State's band SLAUGHTERED Michigan's band. If this were a football game, it would have been Florida State vs. Savannah State. - SB Nation following OSU vs. UM 2012
For all those who replied, thanks for the input. I wanted to let you know that my dad and I had a great time. We ended up parking in the lot near the agricultural barns and then walking through the RV tailgate area. I tried to find @HUMBLE, but with no luck. However, many nice PSU fans, even some that brought us in to drink with them. Several typical comments, but A LOT of folks said "welcome", "thanks for coming", or "how are folks treating you?" Overall, the atmosphere was electric, and I can't see how you couldn't be pumped up in a stadium like that. After the blocked punt, the noise was ridiculous and the stadium was literally shaking. Only a couple of ignorant folks near us, but since we showed class, so did they. Overall, a great experience.
Man theres no way in hell im going to let some immature drunk a-holes ruin my love for the game or stop me from representing my team! Im actually planning on going to State Penn for a OSU game and while I wont be disrespectful, im surely not gonna let something like this stop me from enjoying myself. Screw those little punks! Its sad because you know if you caught any one of those jerks alone all that toughness would disappear! I hate people who only have courage when they out number people! Cowards!!
@BME
I've been to PSU twice and learned from the first time not to go into the heart of the tailgate area or interact with most PSU fans (especially the students) because that video was actually pretty damn accurate. I got beer dumped on my head multiple times. While I was trying to go through the parking lot to go see OSU's band march through I was grabbed by a couple more PSU fans who for whatever reason wouldn't let go of me and wouldn't let me pass through. The one then proceeded to dump another beer on my head and I had to essentially punch (it was more of a bitchslap, really lol) the one guy to let go of me. After that I came walking out of that tailgate row into a big mob of young PSU fans who proceeded to surround me and shove me and throw things at me until a police officer had to come intervene. An old man tried to fight my friend and I lseriously had to hold him back after he came up to us and said our fans were the worst there are and we said bullsh*t, your frans are the worst there are. The guy was literally in his 70s. Later I was again ambushed while alone and trying to get to my friend's car and two PSU students were drunk and acting like idiots and grabbed onto me and once again wouldn't let go. I forcibly removed myself from their grasp only to "wake up" af ew moments later on the ground with blood coming out of my mouth, which I later found out was due to a 3rd person coming and sucker punching me from behind. We had an OSU flag and were walking around with it and numerous people tried to fight us and rip it down. Students threw eggs at us from their dorm room windows as we walked across campus. Plenty of profanity and slurs were used throughout the day toward us and upon leaving the stadium to return to our car we found that several cars with Ohio plates had been egged. Throw in on top of that, this was the game in which their students were throwing bags of pee at our band. So, BME....I don't think that video, based on my experiences, is all that inaccurate.
I will say, we did come across several nice and welcoming older fans that invited us in to come eat/drink with them...but more hostility than anything else. Especially with the students.
@BOLT
My gosh, I nearly spit out my coffee reading this. I think your trip to Penn State tops anything my friends had to deal with and any other experiences I've had at away games. Granted I didn't make the trip in 2009 to Penn State, my friend experience was the same. They tailgaited from their trunk. Drank beers, played music and etc. I don't remember the details of what they told me exactly but I know one of my friend said he was engulfed by a circle of Penn State fans pushing him around. Another claimed one of them tried to use a weapon to either hit him or stab him after the game was over. They got beer shower barade from PSU fans as well. However, they said that their were fans/students who tried to make their trip there more welcoming by hanging around where they parked and talking. I guess if you appear to be with PSU fan its not as bad.
While we can agree PSU fans are bad, there is some hope that they are good. I tend to have skewed views because I have friends who are Penn State Alum. We watch the games with large viewing parities of OSU and PSU fans in PA and I've never had as bad of an experience after a win or lost.
After reading your story I'm ambivalent in my feelings about PSU fans. I guess its one of those things you have to experience. I just don't like that video personally so please don't take offense to apathy of the video. Personal experiences, like yours helps me to understand how most Buckeyes feel about other fanbases.
I do have one question though. You commented,
We're you holding an OSU flag and walking around with it as to attract attention to you and your party? Was this before or after the win/lose (Not sure when you went)? I could understand hostility from PSU fans and why they would want to rip it down and fight your group if that was the case, not that I agree with that behavior. A similar occurance happened in 2008 when 4 PSU fans walked up and down High street waving their flag throughout campus friday night and then after the game Saturday night. There was hell to pay from OSU fans for their arrogance; ballooning around our campus with their flag and ego. Just curious. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Ohio State's band SLAUGHTERED Michigan's band. If this were a football game, it would have been Florida State vs. Savannah State. - SB Nation following OSU vs. UM 2012
Hope your trip went well. When I was in State College, I had the worst experience out of any of my road trips, including Ann Arbor. All the stories I've read are synonymous with my experience, i.e. the gang mentality, physically antagonizing bucks fans and plenty of beer cans thrown in our direction. 80% of the fans I met were jackasses...as for not wearing your buckeye gear, I'd go into the bowels of hell before I would leave my S&G swag at home. Always glad to see us go into Happy Valley and come out with a win
@BME
We walked through their campus with the flag to get to a restaurant and then back to the tailgate. When we were in the tailgate area it was put away and a lot of the "events" took place when I was on my own and away from the rest of my group. I certainly could understand them trying to rip down the flag and what not...even the throwing eggs at us I could understand to an extent because as I said we had the flag out when we were walking around campus. I went in '05 so everything I described was prior to the game as it was a night game. College GameDay was there so we rolled in early for that. It was when they had their "back from irrelevance" year, so they were extra fired up. We spent the next 10 hours around campus and mostly around the tailgate area before heading into the stadium for the major let down of a game. All in all, regardless of the hostility we still had a great time. It certainly was some kind of adventure. We went back in '07 and stayed on the periphery of the tailgate area and stuck around our car with another group of OSU fans. Our experience was much less hostile and eventful as we learned what not to do from the previous trip.