I generally think it’s fine when the Big Ten does well out of conference or in bowl season, but I don’t care that much. Pappoe closes the video by talking about how he’s playing to show SEC pride, and then name checks Auburn too.ĩ. Prior to kickoff, ESPN played a video package that featured one Auburn player (Owen Pappoe, maybe?) and Noah Cain talking about how they’re representing their respective constituencies. But having a high level southern team in Beaver Stadium is different from Penn State’s old eastern foes.Ĩ. It could have been Alabama, Georgia, Florida, or LSU. This game wasn’t important because it was Auburn. Neutral site games are fine, but home environments, student-focused crowds, and campus traditions are what make college football special.ħ. The SEC rarely plays these kinds of home-and-homes with northern teams. It’s remarkable that this is the first time Auburn has been north to play a Big Ten team since the 1930s. The existence of GameDay just screams, “THIS IS MEANINGFUL AND YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION.”Ħ.Ěnd that wasn’t wrong. But just having the crew on campus gives everything a boost and provides a team with gravitas. Sometimes it’s hard to find any time for it on a Saturday. I’m not the religious GameDay watcher that I used to be. Live and learn, I guess, but next time, let’s try to find vests and shirts that aren’t based in our opponent’s colors.ĥ. Of course, it would have been less impressive if our own stadium staff hadn’t elected to dress in orange as well.Ĥ. The Auburn traveling contingent seemed impressive looking, and they made a statement by dressing in orange. I’m truly surprised it didn’t, but it only missed by 931 people.ģ. With all the attention given to this game for several weeks, ESPN in town for GameDay, the first week win over Wisconsin, and exhaustion over last year’s COVID-19 restrictions, I would have wagered that Saturday night would set a Beaver Stadium attendance record.Ģ. I have several thoughts, which are set forth randomly below.ġ. The Nittany Lions emerged victorious, 28-20. On Saturday night, 109,958 fans, almost uniformly clad in white, came to Beaver Stadium to watch the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Auburn Tigers engage in a contest of American football in State College, Pennsylvania.
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