Why Penn State Students Say They Were Late for Home Football Games

If Penn State students want to keep bragging about the best student section in the country, they might want to invest in new watches.

Tardiness has sometimes been so bad at home football games, television announcers have commented on it. StateCollege.com intern and Penn State junior Michelle Willemin asked students why they were late.

• “We don’t intend to show up late. You can thank the zigzag fence and strict entrance to the stadium. Why show up on time when you will undoubtedly get into the stadium late, anyway?” —Jason Aversano, senior, telecommunications

• “I like to spend time tailgating and wait until the last minute when we have to stop, then head in the game.”—Kristen Niles, junior, RHS

• “People insist on going in with large groups of people. Everyone else is late. It’s annoying a majority of the time, but once you get inside with those people, you realize that’s who you were meant to experience the football game with, and it makes sitting in the 50th row, instead of the first, worth it.” —Sara Shaffer, junior, kinesiology

• “I’m usually only late for the noon games just because they are pretty early, especially when you live far from the stadium. And if I am there on time, waiting in line and making my way to meeting up with friends and finding seats usually takes up some time. I’ve never been extremely late, but I do get bummed when I miss the pre-game show.” —Jenna Lucas, sophomore, hotel, restaurant, and institutional management

• “Friends walking slow.” —Danny Cohen, junior, criminal justice

• “Because of the amazing tailgating experience here at main campus.” —Allen Vickers, junior, broadcast journalism

• “The majority of games take place at noon. This is college we like our sleep and we can’t get it during the week. Make more games later and I’ll show up early just like I did for the late afternoon and early night games.” —David Callanan, junior, broadcast journalism

• “I found most students are late to the noon games, probably because they are hungover or it’s too early for them to go. Also because it’s nothing new to them, showing up late probably doesn’t make much of a difference.” —Katie Derkits, junior, print journalism

• “I’m never late.” —Erik Fagerstrom, junior, meteorology

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