Among the top-rated TV markets nationwide for Saturday’s Michigan at Ohio State game included Dayton, Cleveland, Cincinnati and – not a shocker here – Columbus.
Walking around State College on Saturday afternoon, I would not have been surprised if “parking lots or grassy fields surrounding Beaver Stadium” also made that top 10 list. If a car or RV didn’t have the The Game on TV – an Ohio State win meant the Nittany Lions still had a chance at the Big Ten title game – someone had it the radio or was getting updates on their phone.
Tyler Washington, one of my first friends I made at IUP, came across some free tickets back in the summer for the Penn State-Michigan State game.
Our conversation that day went something like this: Do you want to go to a Penn State game? “Yeah, of course. How much are tickets?” Free. “Yo, that’s awesome!”
He had never been to Happy Valley before and I’d only been to one Nittany Lions game back in 2009 when JoePa’s troops thumped Akron, 31-7, in the season opener. I arrived in downtown State College a little earlier than Tyler, so I had a chance to see some of downtown, including the Student Bookstore, Old Main and the famous Inspiration Mural. Out of genuine curiosity, I almost asked two gentlemen where Jerry Sandusky used to be painted, but figured that He Who Must Not Be Named is probably still a sore subject around these parts.
After getting situated in our parking spots, we quickly made friends with the family next to my car. I don’t remember the husband’s name, but he works in construction and built dorms at both IUP and Pitt-Bradford. He also offered us cheeseburgers from his tailgate grill, so he’s an all right guy in my book.
About 45 minutes before kickoff, we decided to make our way toward the stadium, but got sidetracked by an RV that had the waning minutes of the Ohio State game on. We were also offered drinks, so we stayed to see the Buckeye’s kicker nail his boot between the uprights to send the game to overtime.
By the time we walked up a short hill to the stadium and found our gate, we found another tent with the game on and quickly made more friends, with whom we watched the Buckeyes win, Michigan lose and altogether give Penn State the opportunity to play meaningful football for the next three quarters.
Even though we and thousands of others missed most of the first quarter of the game most (not us) paid to see, somehow it seemed right that we watch a game between two teams everyone despised in a cold parking lot underneath a tent. Besides, nothing beats free food and beverage.
Once inside, we feasted on kettle corn, sang “Sweet Caroline” and only had a few people notice that neither of us actually went to Penn State.
Dirty, cheap or smart?
Up by five points with seconds remaining in Sunday’s game against the Bengals, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh sent out his punt team like usual on fourth down deep in his own territory. Harbaugh also ordered, after the snap to his punter, that every Raven player hold a Bengals player.
Flags for holding littered the field, but time ran out, giving Baltimore an important late-season win against a division rival. The play is legal – a penalty on the offense while time runs out by rule ends the game – but is it cheap or just smart?
It’s almost the equivalent to fouling the opposition in basketball, when up by three points, sending the other team to the line for only two shots and not allowing a chance for a game-tying 3. For all 14 soccer fans in the area, it also reminded me of Luis Suarez in the 2010 World Cup when he swatted away a sure-goal late in extra time of a tie game, was red-carded then watched from the tunnel as Ghana put the penalty kick over the crossbar and eventually lost in a shootout.
Tickets, tickets, tickets
As much of a thrill as it would be going to a football- or basketball-crazed school, I don’t know that I’d watch as many live events if I had to pay a steep admission. IUP, like many smaller colleges, doesn’t charge students admission for football or basketball games, while student tickets for Saturday’s Big Ten title game are going for north of $40.
Put the pigskins away until next year
Football season ended this weekend for Ridgway and Kane, effectively ending the season for me as well. In the process of the last 14 weeks, I’ve seen some fine performances by area athletes and traveled everywhere from Duke Center to DuBois and Smethport to Slippery Rock.
I also had a chance to work side-by-side with some really talented writers and radio announcers in that time. I learned if you hang around The Hound’s Barry Morgan long enough, you’ll end up with a belly full of Jack Bell’s grillers.
I’d like to point out a few gentlemen – Tom Bowes with The Hero’s broadcast crew, and Devin Smith and Steve Peterson, Kane’s statisticians – for always helping me with ball carriers and yardage.
