Nittany Lion mascot Dave Johnson said he was instructed to not be passed through the suite windows after crowd surfing through the junior and senior sections for safety reasons.

From now on, officials will wait in the stadium's empty top row and escort the furry mascot down the stairs at football games, Johnson said. But it is unclear who made this new rule.

Johnson wouldn't say who told him not to be passed through the windows, and both Bill Mahon and Tysen Kendig, university spokesmen, said they were unaware of the policy.

Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson said he thought the policy had previously existed.

"It's my understanding that policy has been in effect in the past," he said. "I don't believe it's a change in policy."

The policy is a "safety issue" that will be in effect for all home games, Nelson added.

"The windows in the suites roll up, and it's possible someone might not have the windows all the way up," he said. "Someone might mistake them for being open and there is a possibility for injury."

Guido D'Elia, Penn State director of Brand Communications, questioned the rule.

"People are trying to say no to Paternoville, too," he said, "and all I can think is 'ay ay ay.' "

University police have seen no official policy on the lion's crowd surfing, Tyrone Parham, assistant director for Penn State University Police, said.

Parham also said he wasn't aware of any past incidents involving the lion mascot's safety.

"But the act itself does pose some element of risk," he said.

Some students said they were disappointed in the new policy.

"I think it's a real downer," Ryan Rother (freshman-biochemistry) said. "It's part of the school spirit and interaction with the crowd. I guess the university is just trying to cover themselves in case anything happens."

Other students said they thought the lion should still get passed through the suite windows.

"If the mascot is comfortable doing it, that's his decision," Levi Smith (junior-animal science) said. "I would think they would be more concerned about the safety in his crowd surfing."

But Smith said he didn't think it would impact the games.

"It won't be a big negative factor," he said. "Most people probably won't even realize he isn't going all the way to the top of the stadium."