Despite a troubling end to Joe Paterno's career in coaching, this town of 42,000, swells to more than double on game day to cheer on the Nittany Lions. It covers both extremes of what the college football town-experience is like. State College, Pennsylvania, ranks fifth on our Top 100 College Football Towns of America Countdown.
To celebrate 100 days until the start of the college football season, HERO Sports is counting down the Top 100 FBS College Football Towns in America. Each day, through Aug. 24, a new city will be revealed. We will analyze the city, the program, the good and bad of the city as well as the bottom line. If you got a problem, @me on Twitter.
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5. State College, Pennsylvania — Penn State
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Is there life in State College after Saquon Barkley? (Photo: Associated Press) [/credit]
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The Program
For almost 100 years, every Penn State head coach ended up in the College Football Hall of Fame. Starting with Dick Harlow in 1915, the Nittany Lions have always been a prominent force in college football. Of course, much of that streak of Hall of Fame coaches has to do with Paterno, who was there for 46 years and became an institution in college football.
Paterno coached five undefeated seasons. Ironically, only one of those five resulted in a national championship. Although, Paterno caught two under his belt. When he was fired, Paterno was the winningest coach in NCAA history.
His firing and the sanctions placed upon the football team was expected to cripple the program. Yet, Penn State's two head coaching hires since turned out to be ideal. Bill O'Brien kept the ship from sinking in his two years in State College and James Franklin has returned the Nittany Lions to their former glory.
The last two season, Penn State has finished inside the Top 10, and if things can get figured out quickly on the defensive side of the ball in 2018, a third straight 11-win season could be possible. On the other side of the ball, Trace McSorley returns–albeit without Saquon Barkley–and with the help of a running back by committee and wide receiver Juwan Johnson a second Big Ten title in three years.
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The City
If we're going to talk about Clemson changing its city name then we have to reference the town in Happy Valley going full college town, with State College. The name alone makes you think you the city is not really a municipality but an extension of the campus, as if it should read, welcome to State College, a Penn State University product.
According to data collected by National Asset Services, "Penn State found that the college’s sports programs brought in over $90 million to Centre County."
With a population of around 40,000–the 12th largest in Pennsylvania–on game day, Beaver Stadium swells that number to 106,000–the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania–State College becomes the third largest city, only behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Outside of game day, because of Penn State, the city is a cultural hotbed, smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania. Like many college towns, there are art festivals and parties, but few combine them like State College. Where a "Monkey Boy" pitcher will both start and end your night, or a 46-hour no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon can raise millions of dollars to pediatric cancer.
Ultimately, State College revolves around Saturdays with enough activities both inside the stadium and outside to provide priceless memories.
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The Good
There have been many representations, but this one stands alone among the Whiteout traditions.
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The Bad
Without getting into the horrific details that led to Paterno leaving the State College sidelines after 46 years to highlight the bad in State College we'd rather focus on the light-hearted.
As in, the ridiculous idea for your team nickname to be a made up animal. What's a Nittany Lion? The internet and other resources will tell you that it is a mountain lion from the Nittany region, but there is no Nittany lion in the animal kingdom. It is no different than a Hokie or a Golden Gopher being a thing.
Don't even get me started on Beaver Stadium (yes, I know it's named after a former Pennsylvania governor, but you got to admit, that's confusing.).
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Bottom Line
Franklin has brought this program back from college football purgatory. With a college town dependent on football, there is an unbridled passion, which can be both good and bad.
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NEXT: Top 100 College Football Towns in America: No. 6 Ann Arbor, Michigan
NEXT: The Ultimate College Football Road Trip
