When some people retire, they move to Florida, buy a condo and play bocce, but the Spurlins are not the average retired couple.
Ron and Aryls Spurlin made it one of their goals after retirement to visit every Big Ten stadium for a football game.
They were here for the 2002 Iowa-Penn State game, and Aryls Spurlin said they had such a good time they came back again.
"We liked the score then, too," Ron Spurlin added. "42-35, Iowa."
The Spurlins both did some graduate work at University of Iowa and were sporting their black and gold T-shirts while sharing a bowl of Creamery ice cream in the shade of the Bryce Jordan Center.
They flew all the way from Ankeny, Iowa, because, as Aryls Spurlin said, "we bleed black and gold."
Even though their allegiance is with Iowa, they said Penn State is their favorite Big Ten school -- "and I'm serious," Aryls Spurlin said.
The Spurlins said they've had anything but trouble with Penn State fans.
"They've been fantastic," Ron Spurlin said. "So many people walk by and said 'welcome to Beaver Stadium' and 'welcome to Penn State.' "
Nate Beecher, a native of Iowa and longtime Iowa fan, said he had always wanted to come to Beaver Stadium for a game.
He and his friends had been looking for an Iowa tailgate but had been asked by some Penn State tailgaters, whom they had never met before, if they wanted to join.
"We walked by and this nice guy, Rick, invited us ... he was like, 'you guys look like you need a beer,' and we came by and they kept feeding us," he said.
Beecher said his girlfriend, who also came, is used to watching games in the Big East conference, so he was teaching her what Big Ten football is like.
"It's not the same as East Coast football, but we're enjoying it," he said, holding some barbecue ribs in his hand.
Kortney Williamson, an Iowa '06 alumna, said she and her friends were booed once by some Penn State fans, but that everyone else had been welcoming them to Happy Valley.
She said she thought the game was going to be a close one.
"Both good defenses, both bad offenses," she said, "it's going to be a toss up."
Ron Spurlin said Penn State has reason to be proud of itself and its many traditions associated with football.
"Your fans should be very proud of your traditions and your coach, Joe Paterno. He's one of our favorite people," he said.
"You've got phenomenal tradition here. It's a nice place to be."
