From a heightened Blue White Boardwalk to music blaring on Beaver Stadium's loudspeakers throughout the scrimmage, there was plenty to take in during Penn State football's 2023 debut.
Four years ago, Blue Sapphire Gillian Brooks strutted onto Beaver Stadium's field. Today, she's fulfilled a lifelong dream while inspiring the next generation, too.
Nearly 8,000 first-year Penn State students packed Beaver Stadium Saturday for the first time in their college careers to enjoy a modified version of the annual Blue-White spring scrimmage.
Although this weekend’s practice was anything but a normal Penn State football gameday experience, the university deserves praise and applause for making the event special for each and every student in attendance. For many students without established ties to the school, the two-hour production first introduced them to Penn State pride.
Prior to the action on the gridiron, the “Beaver Stadium – 101” crash-course into Penn State football cheers and traditions immediately involved the spread out, yet united, student body from the get-go. Blue Band director Gregory Drane spearheaded the effort by teaching the words, motions, and cadence of each traditional chant in a clever and engaging manner.