Penn State Football Holds Its First Rally Under Bill O'Brien
By: Aaron Cheslock
Updated: September 4, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, CENTRE COUNTY -- Penn State football kicks off it's season on Saturday. On Friday night the Nittany Lions
held their Pep-Rally to get students, alumni, and fans of all ages, ready to turn the page on a tough offseason.
It was nothing short of electric. The football program, really the whole athletic department, stressed the word "change". Good thing too. They're coming off the worst offseason in Penn state football history, possibly the worst ever in college sports,
Many folks like Michael Egan from New Jersey, came out not just for football, but for the entire university.
"We felt we needed to come here to support the school, it's an excellent school"
Egan sent all his kids here, and says he has no regrets.
"They got an excellent education here and they're all doing very well in their careers..."
One of Egan's kids is Jennifer Haney, graduated from PSU in 2000. She even brought her kids to the rally.
"Look around guys, this is Penn State everything we have is cause of this school, I worked really hard to get here and I just want to give something back."
Haney says there's a difference this year, but she knew the rally would be just like this.
"Obviously there's going to be a change, but this is exactly how I knew it was going to be..."
Coach O'Brien showed the team's intro video, and then spoke to the crowd. However there was one glaring omission. No mention of the late Joe paterno, and Haney noticed.
"Joe paterno had a lot of influence on this school, a lot of great things he did for this school, so im going to remember him like that and we'll move on..."
Barbara Lederman from Willow Grove noticed too.
"...now a night like this, where were on the mountaintop of something that a man built, and not to mention his name, come on, that's my beef."
Lederman says this night was a good step for folks young and old, to move on.
"...every 80 year old to a baby coming in here with a little blue state or a little blue Penn State shirt, says it's good, but we will get over it, but we can't forget."
Many other coaches came out and touted their teams, from volleyball to women's lacrosse. They wanted to stress all fall sports. But everyone that came out wanted to see the football team and new Head Coach Bill O'Brien. The spotlight will certainly be on them on Saturday, and this time, much of the country will be watching.
