In what ESPN The Magazine dubbed the No. 1 student section in the country, thousands of students can be heard mumbling the lyrics to traditional Penn State songs, stumbling over several words or making up their own.
But members of student advocacy group Safeguard Old State (SOS) are determined to fill in the missing words and revive an old tradition.
The organization is beginning a campus-wide campaign -- which was announced Tuesday afternoon outside Beaver Stadium's Gate A -- called "For The Glory, Know The Words" to teach students the words to Penn State's alma mater, "For the Glory of Old State," and fight songs "Nittany Lion" and "Fight on State."
SOS Executive Director Chris Morell said the group is hoping to have students know the songs for this Saturday's game against University of Michigan, which has beaten the Nittany Lions in the last nine contests.
"It would not just impress the alumni at the game, but it would also intimidate Michigan," he said.
Most students at Big Ten schools know their songs, SOS founder and chairman Tom Shakely said.
"I think the fact that they have to put the words up on the jumbo-tron is ridiculous," Shakely said in regard to Penn State.
To help teach the lyrics, the organization will place lyric fliers in each on-campus mailbox, visit off-campus apartments and distribute the fliers at tailgate events, Shakely said.
The SOS Web site provides students with access to lyrics, videos and a sing-along YouTube video.
SOS members will also visit Paternoville Thursday night to sing with the students and teach them the words, Morell said.
Paternoville resident Cameron Corday (sophomore-mechanical engineering) said the event will be effective because students at Paternoville are "really enthusiastic" about Penn State football and everything associated with it.
Though SOS representatives said they realize how difficult this feat will be, they are willing to do whatever it takes to bring back the tradition.
Shakely compared the "For the Glory, Know the Words" campaign to SOS member Joe Veltre's founding of "State Patty's Day."
Morell and Shakely agreed Veltre (senior-biochemistry and molecular biology) single-handedly created a lasting tradition in State College, serving as an inspiration for them both.
"The biggest thing is that we realize this is an ambitious campaign, but if nothing else, we view it as a much-needed start," Shakely said. "We have all of these events where we talk about having school spirit, but there are very few instances where we make that real, and this is a way to do it."
