Advice for your first Penn State football game

A noon game is a lot earlier than you think

First-year students are likely still used to starting high school at 7 in the morning or having class at 8 or 9 here at Penn State, so a noon kickoff might not sound too bad.

However, if anyone intends to tailgate and get into Beaver Stadium before kickoff (which is typically the goal), it’s going to be an early morning.

Getting out to your tailgate could be over an hour-long walk from downtown or even some dorms. The tailgate is likely not going to be super close to the stadium, and getting into Beaver and getting settled for the game is probably going to take a minute as well.

So suddenly noon turns into leaving the tailgate around 11, getting to the tailgate at 9 which means leaving the dorms at 8:30 which means a 7:30 alarm.

Know where the tailgate is going to be and aim for a time to get out there. There’s nothing worse than getting into the stadium late and missing kickoff or missing out on the fun of a tailgate.

Have a plan before Saturday morning, get a good night's sleep, lay out your outfit, set your alarms and be ready to get rowdy bright and early. -Sophia D’Ovidio\

Drink water and eat food

Going to a football game at Beaver Stadium means you’re in for a long day, even if the game is at noon. You’ll need to fuel your body to make it through the whole day.

This means drinking enough water and eating enough food to ensure that you’re up on your feet for the whole game.

The first step is getting a nutritious breakfast before you hit the tailgate lot. Even better is when someone at the tailgate is making breakfast. Has anyone ever said no to a pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich?

Drinking water is essential. Whether you’re partaking in alcohol consumption or not, water is always a good choice, especially for an early September game when State College is still warm.

There is always someone in a group who drinks a bit too much. If this person isn’t you, try to help them out by getting them a snack and some water. If this person is you, remember that mixing in a water has never killed anybody. – Isabelle Charboneau

Be ready to go off the grid

Beaver Stadium announced they are working on improving their internet, but, this is kind of a need to see it to believe it situation for anyone who has stressfully downloaded their tickets to their wallet from the IM fields or lost their friends in the stands and tried to get back in contact with them during the game.

Go into Saturday assuming there is no service at Beaver Stadium and the surrounding tailgate lots.

Have your tickets downloaded in your wallet now. Seriously, go download your tickets right now and then come read the rest of this article.

Beyond having tickets downloaded, don’t separate yourself from your friends. It is difficult in hectic moments like a Penn State football game to stay calm and plan things out, but the odds of you being able to meet back up with your friends are low.

If you do get separated, don’t go alone. Also, it isn’t that deep if your group gets split up. It’s nothing to start a fight over if your group of friends doesn’t all make it into the stadium standing together.

The circumstances of having no service and a busy, loud stadium make it difficult to calmly plot where to stand and how to meet up.

Have a plan ahead of time, please download your tickets and enjoy a day with basically no obligations to answer your phone. -Sophia D’Ovidio

Dress for the weather

Some of the best Penn State game day outfits are suited for colder weather, but with a game this early in the year, it’s going to be too hot for a cute jacket or vest.

Making a stop at McLanahan’s or the Family Clothesline to make sure you have a baby tee or a skirt with the Penn State logo on it is worth it when the forecast calls for sun.

Later in the year, rain or even snow can hit State College on a game day, so it’s best to prepare yourself with a lot of options (bonus points if you share a bunch of game day outfits with your friends).

It’s always best to check the forecast throughout the week. Many students have fallen victim to not checking the weather and getting caught in the rain in only a t-shirt.

Whatever the weather may be, it’s always best to be prepared to dress appropriately for it. – Isabelle Charboneau.

Sophia D’Ovidio is a fourth-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email sgd5184@psu.edu.

Isabelle Charboneau is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ijc5186@psu.edu.