PSU Fans Excited For Season Opener Against Ohio University
By Diana Rocco
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (CBS) - It is football eve on Penn State University's campus.
With a new school year students have not forgotten the late head coach Joe Paterno, but they are ready for the start of a new season. The signs are up, from students to businesses, all are wearing the colors.
"We're living through history. It's unreal almost indescribable," says junior Chelsea Mullin from Springfield, Pa. "I can't wait to be in the student section, [it will be] unreal, unlike any of the previous games."
"Obviously the last year has been difficult, but everyone is looking forward to a new day and moving forward in a positive direction," said Rob Pileggi, an alumnus who also owns a business on campus.
The alums are out in big numbers and are students buzzing about tonight's rally at Beaver Stadium which starts at 7 p.m.
The first game against Ohio University starts at 12 p.m.
Pileggi brought his family from West Chester.
"They're going to the first game in the new Bill O'Brien era."
The Nittany Lions will be lead by new head coach Bill O'Brien. The players that stayed will be wearing new jerseys for the first time with their names on the back, something Paterno never allowed.
"I think a lot of people want to put everything behind them. I don't think you should forget, but a lot of people around here just want to support the team. We wear the colors proudly and continue to do so," says Jeff Henne, a 1990 alum who brought his family for the weekend all the way from Ohio.
The newly imposed NCAA sanctions loom, in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky abuse scandal, and alleged cover up by the University. In front of the stadium the Statue of the late Head Coach Joe Paterno is gone, but not forgotten.
"There [are] things with Paterno's name on it all over the place. That's the down fall of the situation. People put this light on the football side and they forget that he (Paterno) did so much for the University in general," says Sophomore Adam Kolwalski.
Students have been camping out since Wednesday in the newly named Nittanyville, a tent city next to the stadium, for the first tickets. It was formerly known as Paternoville. Also tweeting with hash tags, #oneteam and #restoretheroar to show their unity has been popular.
