Brace yourselves, cynics. It's homecoming time. A time for happy events. A time for cheers. A time for lots of alumni to flood the streets, and bars, of State College. A time that will bring you warm fuzzy feelings and more blue and white clothing than you knew existed.
It's been happening all week on every corner of campus. So, if you're not prepared for it by now, you'd better stay home come tomorrow.
In a refreshing twist from the usual homecoming Saturday slaughterfest, this weekend's game against Michigan actually matters. This could be the first time in 11 years that Penn State can tally a big W against a struggling squad of wolverines in Beaver Stadium.
So, if this year's homecoming theme, "Inspired by Tradition," isn't enough to lift your spirits, maybe the possibility of a long-denied victory over Michigan will.
For one student group, however, simply showing up at the game, dressed in white for a student section white out and being super-excited isn't enough. Safeguard Old State (SOS), a student advocacy group, has begun a campus-wide campaign to encourage students to learn the words to Penn State's alma mater and fight songs.
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, said SOS founder and chairman Tom Shakely.
The SOS Web site also provides students with access to lyrics, videos and a sing-along YouTube video.
Believe it or not, this can be considered by some a somewhat controversial issue. Some have argued that Penn State students should sing, in a proud but ignorant tradition, "I don't know the goddamn words" instead of "For the Glory of Old State."
We think that's the slacker's way out. Just think about how impressive we'd be as a student body if every single person sang the Penn State songs loud and clear. We'd keep up that No. 1 student section in the country award without breaking a sweat.
Sure, some detractors might call us dorks, but they're probably just secretly jealous.
So learn the words. It's really not that hard. Put the songs on your iPod or watch the YouTube videos on repeat a few times and you'll get them down soon enough.
Sometimes, we as students don't appreciate how unusual it is to be a school where lots of people know about, and care about, homecoming.
That level of commitment is something we all need to live up to.
Have fun this weekend, but don't be stupid. We'd quote the alma mater here, but since you're supposed to be learning it, just refer to the first line of the fourth verse.
