It wasn't an attractive hat. It was red felt. At nearly 32 years old it really wasn't even worth much money.

But this wasn't just any old hat.

This hat had seen every Nebraska game 61-year-old Jim Murphy attended since 1970. It was with him when he watched five national championships, and it was with him for every win and loss in between.

Until one young man changed it all. The man ran up to Murphy and knocked the hat off his head. Then he scooped it up off the ground and ran away.

"That meant a lot to my dad," said Jim's son Mike Murphy. "He has seven children and five grandchildren and we all have fond memories of my dad in that hat."

Mike Murphy ran after the man, but stopped at his dad's request.

"He basically told me to stop," Mike Murphy said. "We aren't the type of people who are going to get in a brawl."

The old red felt hat with a red "N" on the front really meant something to Jim Murphy.

It was symbolic of Murphy, his son said.

"It was honest. It was resilient. It was simple," his son said.

Murphy and his family came to Happy Valley from the Washington, D.C. area last Friday excited for the big football game.

They left the stadium disappointed because of the loss but were still enjoying their time in State College until the incident.

After finding out about it, many alumni, students and local residents expressed their outrage.

"We are all interested in getting this man's hat back to him," said Donn Troutman of Lewistown. "Actions like this give all Penn State fans a bad reputation."

Other people expressed concern over the behavior of students during the game.

"While I was ecstatic over this week's huge win over Nebraska, I was dismayed by some of the crass behavior [of some students and Penn State fans] before the game," said Jeff Smith, a 1997 Penn State graduate.

Mike Murphy has only a few words to say to the man that stole his father's hat.

"I would say: Number one, you are a coward. You stole from a 61-year-old man," Mike Murphy said. "Number two, you are a disgrace to your university. And number three, you are a thief."

Flashback to just a day earlier.

After arriving in Happy Valley on Friday, the Murphy family decided to go sight-seeing around campus.

At the advice of local residents the family visited the Lion Shrine and Old Main. They later stopped by the University Creamery for some Peachy Paterno.

"My 2-year-old daughter was especially excited for the ice cream," Mike Murphy said.

Throughout the weekend the Murphy family was treated to the finest in Penn State hospitality, Mike Murphy said.

"Even though we were dressed head to toe in 'Husker red, a PSU fan struck up a conversation with my father while we were trying to find tickets," Mike Murphy said. "About 30 minutes later, he returned with another PSU fan saying 'Normally I wouldn't do this for a Nebraska fan but ... ' "

The Penn State fan then offered to sell his tickets -- and refused to take any more money than face value.

Then the game.

Yes, they were disappointed at Nebraska's loss.

"What else can be said about the game," Mike Murphy said. "You guys kicked our butts."

While sitting in Beaver Stadium they were in awe of the tremendous noise generated by Penn State fans. The atmosphere was incredible, Mike Murphy said.

However, the actions of one person can have a detrimental effect on others, Mike Murphy said.

"At this point, we know we probably won't get the hat back," Mike Murphy said. "It was probably destroyed or is sitting in a dorm or a frat like some sort of trophy."

However, the outpouring of support from Penn State students, faculty and fans meant a lot to him and his family, Mike Murphy said.

"I posted a message on [Blue and White Illustrated] on Sunday night because I just wanted to get it off my chest," Mike Murphy said. "Later I went back and there were already about 50 responses."

Jim Murphy was unavailable for comment.