Beginning at 10 last night, between 700 and 800 students gathered across from Rec Hall to guard the Nittany Lion Shrine from any would-be vandals.

Their vigilance, extending well past midnight, proved to be a rousing success.

The tradition began in 1966, when Sue Paterno, wife of Joe, defaced the emblematic lion statue with orange latex paint the weekend of the Syracuse game to stir up school spirit on campus.

While Paterno's paint washed off easily, the next year Penn State wasn't as lucky, when Syracuse fans poured oil-based paint on the lion -- the remnants of which can still be seen faintly on the underside of the statue.

Since then, it has been Penn State tradition to "Guard the Line Shrine," in the event of any future attacks.

Sue Paterno spoke at the event, retelling the story as her own personal anecdote.

The event also served as a finale to the homecoming workweek for many of the participants.

"During the week everyone was on their own, working with their own organziations, but now everyone is coming together tonight," said Lindsay Miller (junior-psychology), a member of Blue and White Society.

Now in it's third year, the "Last Guard Standing" competition put a pool of 55 entrants through a four-round tournament to see who would be crowned the last guard standing at the Lion Shrine.

This year's winner, after a final round of Penn State trivia, was Ryan Carley (senior-mechanical engineering). Carley won a football signed by 1973 Penn State Heisman winner John Cappelletti.

Throughout the evening, a tight set of pop-rock covers by Scranton-based band The Likely kept the crowd moving.

"The band was way better this year," said Kate Walter (sophomore-kinesiology), in agreement with friend Carrie Grandy (sophomore-communications, arts, and sciences).

Check Monday's Daily Collegian for the full story.