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.