t of tailgating ple kitchen and cabinet space. Plush car pets stretch from the rear picture window to the elevated driver's console. Some even have complete music systems. Most tailgaters, however, are willing to forgo such hedonistic pleasures in favor of the more traditional car-back picnic. "We've come to the games before in a Winnebago and it isn't as much fun," claims Ed Anderson of Altoona. "If the weather gets bad we just put up a tent be tween the cars." Anderson, a non-alumnus, has been coming to Penn State games since 1928 Normally he and his wife are joined by eight couples who each contribute Sl5 toward food, gasoline, and liquor. Several members of Anderson's party remember days when Penn State tailgating was an activity for a few isolated fans huddled in groups. "We've been coming for ten years before tailgating became popular," explains Bet ty Wichulis. "Back when it wasn't big we'd sit in the car with sandwiches and that was it.., "It's important to have both the football game and the social atmosphere." she con tinues. "One isn't any good without the other." Not that nature and Penn State's tough opponents haven't done their best to disrupt that combination., But bad weather and an occasional loss are taken in stride by Joe Paterno's loyal following. "Weather doesn't bother us." says Betty Leßant, of Lock Haven, who has faithfully trekked to Beaver Stadium for the last eight years. "In snow, sleet or rain we come prepared and just put up the tarps." "You're really not a rooter unless you& come to all the games," she continues. "If you're for Penn State, you go with the team come hell or high water." To other tailgaters, Leßant is known as the "Button Lady". Normally she brings 50-100 Penn State buttons to each game and gives them out to anyone who asks. Pre-game party pleasure TO SOME PEOPLE, TAILGATING is as important as the game. The tailgaters come in cars, busses and vans, but they all share a common cause. An overview (upper left) shows the extent of the partying in the Beaver Stadium parking lot. Some groups use tables and fancy settings (upper right), While others (below) use the ground and an ice box. Photos by Tom Peters Last week's heavy rains rusted her Beat Kentucky buttons. For each game Leßant and her travelling companion Julia Aughanbaugh set a table of wine glasses and plates for members of the Lock Haven-PSU Tailgaters 'Club who make their way weekly towards this football mecca. Also part of Leßant's elaborate football season plans are a pre-season kickoff din ner and a more frantic post-bowl party. Favors for the 1973 Orange Bowl party in cluded tiny oranges in drinks and an orange bathing suit worn by the hostess. "Last year I wore a blue and white grass skirt for the Cotton Bowl party, she says, "but they were ready for it the second time." Even though parties and picnic banquets may seem frivolous to the hard-nosed foot ball fan, they represent a way of life to many tailgaters. "Sure there are other ways to spend your time and money," explains John In nes, of Lexington, Ky. "But we follow Ken tucky to every football and basketball game. This is the way we like to live." Unfortunately for Innes and three other Kentucky couples who arrived at Beaver Stadium Friday night, their way of life was temporarily interrupted by a Penn State ordinance forbidding camping on Univer sity grounds. "We've been to campuses all over the country, Tulane, LSU, out west, and this is the only place where we couldn't camp overnight," Innes says. By daybreak Innes was back guiding his $27,000 Winnebago in to a stadium parking berth•along with hun dreds of other jockeying motorists. By 11:00 p.m. the last camper is out of the stadium and slowly heading home. It has been a weekend of partying and foot ball, seasoned with an atmosphere of friendship and sharing. All that remains is the knowledge that next Friday they'll be on the road again. Old Ironsides Old Ironsides ... the first thing that comes to mind is that invincible relic from the Revolutionary War :and the War of 1812, the U.S.S. Constitution. Next, you might recall baseball's immortal Lou Gehrig, who played over 14 consecutive seasons without missing a single game. And then there's one you probably never even knew about=the Old Ironsides traveling trophy presently occupying a niche in Rec Hall. If all does not go according to Joe Pater no's plan tomorrow, this may be the week to bring that immense work of art out of retirement. Although Old Ironsides has been labeled a traveling trophy, it has not been moved from its homely location between the Collegian Penn State-West Virginia Special- by Barb Parmer men's and women's rooms in the upstairs hallway of Rec Hall for 10 years. Each year, the top finisher in the Penn State-Pitt-West Virginia rivalry gains con trol of the three-sided object topped with an almost regulation-size silver football. With West Virginia breathing down Penn State's neck in the football polls, this year could mark the fall of Penn State's dynastic rule over the mammoth trophy. The awarding of the trophy was initiated by the Pittsburgh Junior Chamber of Com merce in 1951. Not surprisingly, Pitt cap tured the first year honors by posting wins over both Penn State and West Virginia. Since then, Penn State has been custodian of the trophy 16 years, including 13 of the last 15 years. Although the silver wonder has adorned the hallway of Rec Hall for the past 10 years, few of those who pass it nearly every day know why it is there. The con dition of the trophy alone discourages anyone from thinking it is really im portant—a good polishing might erase some of the marks put there by the shoes of those who aren't aware of what they took their frustrations out on. And even the passer-by is interested in the story behind the trophy, looking at its features will not supply him with much in formation. Old Ironsides has not been up dated since 1970. This season, for the first time in several years, the trophy is really on the line. This season, the trophy may finally move on. Maybe then, it will be recognized as an active part of football and be brought off the bench and put back in the game. Of course, if Penn State continues to keep Old Ironsides, maybe someone will still buy that can of polish, get some old rags, and attach those missing plaques so the next time someone is waiting for his girlfriend to return from powdering her nose, he won't use Old Ironsides as a leaning post.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers