Tomorrow afternoon, 23 senior football players will run out of the Beaver Stadium tunnel to the call of thunderous applause and screams, the loudest of which may come from their classmates, thousands of white-clad fans who will also be attending their final game as students.

The team's struggles the past few seasons have shown in students' attitude; last year, students without season tickets could easily find friends willing to give up their tickets, even for a small price.

But that was last year.

With the Lions two wins away from their second Big Ten title and a Bowl Championship Series berth, some ticketless students are paying almost $100 for what must be the world's most expensive blank envelope, which just happens to hold a ticket to tomorrow's Big Ten clash with the Wisconsin Badgers.

No one sees the difference in fan enthusiasm more than the experienced senior crowd.

"[This year] inside the stadium, the atmosphere is completely different," Kyle Centrella (senior-information sciences and technology) said. "The students are absolutely ridiculous, in a good way."

Centrella said that despite his stressful weeks leading up to each game, once Friday comes, he forgets about his schoolwork and gets hyped up for the games.

"Every time I go into that stadium and those promo videos play, it's a feeling I can't describe. It's something I want to share with my kids one day," he said. "Everyone in that stadium is a part of the team on that field. That's all heart man, and I'm sure the other 108,000 people in that stadium feel the same way."

The football team's success has spilled over the bleachers of Beaver Stadium and flooded almost every aspect of students' lives, the university and the town.

Kim Clinebell (senior-elementary education), who works as a waitress at Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., on weekends this semester, has noticed the more enthusiastic attitude of fans as well.

"It's so much busier. The whole town is pumped up, and the fans are more excited than I've ever seen before," Clinebell said. "My friends and I spend our Saturdays immersed in Penn State football. The last few years, if you didn't know a lot about the team, that was fine, but now people think you're insane if you don't know Penn State football."

Inspired seniors are beginning to realize that their chance to watch Penn State football games live is coming to a close.

Allison Ives (senior-nutrition) is a member of the Penn State dance team and sees every football game from the turf.

"This year, every game seems to mean a little bit more," Ives said.

"Since the team has been winning, the spirit at the games has been incredible, and every time I get on the field, I know I'm one game closer to my last," she added.

Many senior football fans do not want to miss their last chance as students to feel part of the spirit.

"I'm trying so hard to go to the game, but I didn't buy tickets this year," Clinebell said. "I'm scrambling to find a ticket. It's gonna be a sure hit to the wallet."