Way to use this for some positive messaging. Granted, we could all pick the scenario apart (“I saw nothing of the sort”, “where’s this from?”, etc.), but none of that is at all the point. Reach out with a ‘welcome’ or a ‘good luck’ and by all means, man up if anything remotely like this scene comes across your path.

even though the Illinois fans did deface the Joe Paterno statue a couple years ago (basketball season), we should not treat them with disrespect.

PSU is getting a lot of great positive press over the last 5 weeks because of our on the field brilliance, let’s keep the momentum going as we enjoy this special season.

Remember, it takes a bigger man to show respect than it does to show distain or disgace someone.

There are ways to show passion for your team and being disrespectful in such a manner as described above, is not one of them. As someone who travels to other venues for Eagles games, I make sure to go out of my way to sort of police unruly activity against opposing fans when attending home games, not only because I expect the same in return but b/c it’s just plain rude and inconsiderate.

You can’t taunt others and have some fun with them, it’s part of the fun in being a fan, but please do so in a respectful manner.

Back in the day (before 9/11) there used to be about 20-30 gates into the stadium. Now there are what 6?

Everybody was nice at the tailgate, right? Inside the stadium, especially if you in you own section, you are generally okay, (anybody who wears non-PSU colors in the student section is asking, literally begging, for trouble) right?

I suspect the biggest trouble spot is going into the game, where it a total mob scene, and a huge frustrating bottle neck. You have the annonmity of a huge crowd, and it is at this point where everybody is the drunkest and most fired up, it’s a recipe for trouble.

My advice, would be have fun at your tailgate, and either get to your seat early, or try to get there a little bit after kick off to avoid the mob. Don’t sit in the student section. Avoid the South end zone (and fraternity parties) before the game, because that is where the most unrully people are going to be.

Should you have to do this? No. But an ounce of prevention adn some common sense can be a better solution to a problem than a letter to the editor.

Booing and taunting in good fun? Wonderful. Expected, even.

There is no reason — absolutely no reason — for any sort of physical interaction. No shoulder blocks, no spitting, no punching, nothing. Nothing.

A lot of younger (and really, I’m 33, I’m not that old!) fans may not realize this because they’ve only been experienced Successful Penn State Football since 2005, but Penn State fans have ALWAYS been universally loved by visiting fans, merchants at bowl games (we’re notoriously huge tippers, for example), and even when we’re the visiting fans at another stadium. There are decades of goodwill built up by the people who have attended and supported Penn State football.

The problem is, it takes only a few short years to tear that reputation down. That whole “success with honor” thing? It may be a bit of a running joke, but there’s a reason that the marketing people can get away with it as a tagline. It used to be very, very true.

If you don’t have something nice to say, just don’t say anything? No one is asking you to be best friends w/ fans from opposing teams, just treat them with the respect you would want on a road trip. I can’t imagine anyone saying, “yea, I went to tOSU, got spit on and it was the coolest thing, man!” Grow up, people!

The Student Section is a cespool. Everybody’s student section is a cespool. No, it wasn’t any better when you were in school. No, it isn’t any better at your school. Student Sections are full of drunk college kids, and ours is enoumous.

If you are not a Penn State student, you do not belong in the Penn State Student Section. That goes for everybody, not just visiting team fans. Frankly, the reason they have student sections is so they can act like assholes and not bother everybody else. I have no pity for anybody who buys a ticket in the student section, caveat emptor my friend.

we should mimmic the asshats at ohio state or wisconsin. we’re better than that, and shouldn’t need to act like them to show that we support our team

If Penn State no longer has quality fans, then who does? Who is known for having good fans who never get into incidents? I really am curious.

I’m sorry an event like that happened, but its unfair for them to paint all of the Penn State fans in attendance with the same brush. I personally supported the Illinois fans with nice comments, even when my drunk female friend insisted on being mean to them.

It happens, but shouldn’t happen. I get a little pissed off when visitors say “this experience left a bad taste in my mouth” or “I won’t tell anyone to go there”. By saying things like that, you are pretty much saying it will always be a terrible environment, which we all know is not true. Give those of us a break who actually show respect.

I would bet there isn’t a big time program in the country who hasn’t had some bad incidents over the years, and that includes the holier than thou Notre Dame and others. Someone above said, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I would think the same applies for someone giving their (unfortunate) biased account of the Penn State Experience.

That these kind of reports are the exception and not the norm.

I will be making my first ever trip to Beaver Stadium when Michigan comes to town on October 18th. I have been to campus once before (last December) but have never been for a football game. I am really excited to see what has been described by many to be one of the better atmospheres in college football, and I sure hope it’s not ruined by some clowns who think that you have to create “atmosphere” by being an a$$ to opposing fans.

I fully expect some verbal “this and that” (you know, the always creative and hilarious buckeye-esque bastardizations of our name, etc) but here’s where I draw the line: opposing fans are entitled to support their own team, and if they don’t invite problems, they shouldn’t have any, period. I don’t care what team you root for. Some of the best fans I have ever encountered are the Penn State fans that have made the trips out to Ann Arbor. Personally I love to discuss the game and goings on and traditions etc with those around me, regardless of what colors they happen to be wearing.

Now listen, I understand that a few #$!@ can be found in any fanbase, but the physical crap and over the top verbal assaults are hallmarks of Columbus and should be avoided at all costs.