Brace yourself, Happy Valley.
It’s that time of year again: the calm before the Perfect Storm for Us.
In a short time, our relatively quiet town we’ve experienced for the last three months will come to an end. And though I have certainly enjoyed the calm — it was a great thing — the return of students is even more enjoyable for me.
Sure, there will be fewer parking spaces and a long wait at every downtown restaurant, but there will also be that enthusiasm that floats through the air when State College starts roaring (like a Nittany Lion, of course) with students.
It’s great seeing kids return to The Park, stopping in and saying hello, but I love meeting the freshmen. On average, it takes about two or three days for these rookies to realize exactly what journey they have just embarked upon. They’re here to receive an unbelievable education, but I am a bigger fan of all of the other life experience they are about to gain.
My favorite program for the incoming class is ‘Be a Part From the Start,’ sponsored by the Lion Ambassadors, the Penn State Alumni Association and Residence Life committee. During this program, the freshmen learn about Penn State pride, which includes our alma mater, PSU fight songs and several of the traditions we honor here in Happy Valley.
Even before the academic year begins, several athletic teams will already be in season. Women’s volleyball and field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and then, of course, this little game we call football. What I would like not only the freshmen class but all students to be aware of is that Penn State teams have some of the most impressive coaches in all of collegiate sports.
- As most are already aware, we have the winningest active coach in college football and third on the all-time list. Joe Paterno is only six wins away from 400 victories and is entering his 45th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions. WE ARE excited for this season!
- Penn State’s field hockey coach, Char Morett, is in her 24th season and is only four wins shy of her 400th victory. Once that’s accomplished, Coach Morett will be only the fourth Division 1 coach to have reached the milestone.
- Erica Walsh’s women’s soccer team is pre-season ranked at 13th in the country, and I have a good feeling these gals are going to kick their way up that chart.
- I would like to take this moment to welcome the new men’s soccer coach, Bob Warming. He may be new to Happy Valley; he is definitely not a rookie to the soccer field. Coach Warming previously coached at Creighton University, where he was the winningest coach in program history.
- As for the women’s volleyball coach, Russ Rose, he is the winningest coach in Penn State history, with 1,002 wins, a winning percentage of 86 and three national championships. Congratualations, Coach Rose, and good luck to you and all of the above coaches (and teams) I have just mentioned this season!
All of the above listed sports are exciting to watch and a fun atmosphere to be a part (from the start) of, but students must learn to balance out athletics with academics. While you are over by Rec Hall to cheer for our volleyball team, you might also want to take note of where Pattee Library is! Then find out where my post office is and familiarize yourself with the Creamery!
If you concentrate on all of these things plus meeting so many new friends, you will have no time to get homesick, but you should be able to squeeze in the time it takes to make some cookies for your campus mailman.
Feel free to stop in and introduce yourself, as well as review my Top Ten Freshmen Things To Do list. Seniors: I have a Top Ten list for you, too…
Welcome back, upper upperclassmen; I hope everyone has a great start to this semester!
Please be advised: The only thing more important than showing up for class, cheering on our teams, studying at the library, and snacking at the Creamery is mailing your parents a thoughtful card every so often (so you can visit me with cookies in hand). After all, the most important victory on this campus is not your GPA or the football team’s record; it is my Cookie of the Month contest that really matters.
