When Kate Noonan applied to Penn State last year, she was attracted to the football culture of the university despite its recent losing seasons.

"It's so well-known for being a huge football school," she said.

Now in her first year, Noonan (freshman-biology) said she's not going to let the team's dismal record this season -- 3-7 overall, 1-6 in the Big Ten -- keep her from enjoying the games.

"The spirit of the school is still high," she said.

University officials say the football record is not deterring applicants.

But they add that a few more wins wouldn't have hurt.

"I can imagine that a successful football team is that extra thing that convinces students to come to Penn State," said Moradeyo Olorunnisola , admissions counselor.

Olorunnisola added that while a winning record would probably help increase potential student interest in Penn State, statistics show application numbers have not been affected negatively when the team has had a disappointing season such as the present one.

In fact, Olorunnisola said the application numbers have actually increased.

"The football team hasn't been doing well for the past couple of years ... but applications have increased," she said.

Olorunnisola said other factors generally hold a greater influence on a student's decision to come to Penn State, such as academics.

Jeremy Elliott (freshman-chemical engineering) said the football team's performance on the field did not affect his decision to apply to Penn State last year because the team's performance is too difficult to determine one day to the next.

"They can be good one day and lose the next," he said.

Elliott also said his greatest motivation to attend the university was the academic opportunities available at Penn State.

Morgan Bracken (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said Penn State's reputation for football did play a small role in her decision to apply.

But she said she wasn't too concerned with the team's performance when choosing her college destination.

"My dad was a big Penn State fan, so I thought it would be cool to come here," she said.

"But I wasn't really coming here for football," she added.