The students and alumni who battled the rain Saturday afternoon received the first glimpse of the 2006 Homecoming theme, "Pride In Our Legacy," after the first quarter of the Blue-White game.
Homecoming Overall chairman Mark Poblete said the committee chose the logo because it best represents this year's theme and "summarizes Penn State."
"Homecoming is all about creating a legacy for ourselves and continuing the legacy that the countless alumni before us have established," Poblete said in a press release.
Public Relations Overall chairwoman Melanie Ranalli said there has been a trend of pride and unity in past homecoming themes, such as "One Pride Upholding Tradition" and "Honoring the Legend," and this year's theme fits that mold.
The 2006 logo is incorporated with the theme, using a blue Nittany Lion shadow as the "i" in "Pride," the tail as part of the "r" in "Our," and the right leg as the "l" in "Legacy."
Poblete said the logo, which also features a white lion's paw reaching toward the sky, is not only simple and appealing, but it symbolizes reaching for bigger and better things, which is something the homecoming committee is trying to do with the annual event.
Linda Mattioni's logo proposal was chosen out of 20 logos submitted by students from graphic design professor Kristin Sommese's class.
Mattioni (junior-graphic design) said as she thought about the theme, she thought about the Nittany Lion and what it represents -- the Penn State students and alumni.
"The lion represents the face that we all become part of the Penn State pride after we leave our mark," Mattioni said in a press release.
Poblete said he was pleased with the reaction from the Blue-White game audience, even though many didn't come because of the rain.
"Those were the die-hard fans, and we want to show them this is something to be a part of," Poblete said.
Jennifer Carr (sophomore-geography) said she agreed that the lion and letters were creative for the logo. "I think it's good to honor our traditions," she said. "We are lion pride."
