Penn State will square off Saturday against Michigan State, the best in-conference opponent it has faced at home all season, with a Rose Bowl trip on the line.

Its iconic coach enters the game with no public assurances this will not be the last time he graces the Beaver Stadium sidelines or coaching booth.

Apparently, someone forgot to tell Lauren Neiman's friends.

"I have a few friends who are seniors who are selling their tickets," Neiman (senior-psychology) said as she waited to give blood in the HUB-Robeson Center for the Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge. "It really makes me mad."

A combination of Thanksgiving break, dashed national title hopes after losing at Iowa two weeks ago and subfreezing kickoff forecasts appear to have dampened anticipation for a game that, on paper, could be the Nittany Lions' most dramatic of the 2008 season.

"I know a lot of people are going home," Marlee Rosenberg (sophomore-biobehavioral health) said. "I was going to go [to the game] anyway, but there's a general lack of enthusiasm."

Facebook Marketplace shows 550 offers of Michigan State tickets over the last 10 days, as of press time Thursday. Those offers generally average between $40 and $60 per ticket.

By comparison, Facebook shows a total of 182 ticket offers before the Illinois game. Asking prices for those tickets were commonly between $100 and $150.

"Frankly, I've seen Coastal Carolina tickets going for more than Michigan State," Chris Grassi, Paternoville Coordination Committee vice president, said.

Grassi said the loss to Iowa that knocked Penn State out of national championship contention has affected the level of excitement on campus for Saturday's game.

"It's understandable with any fanbase that after a tough loss fans will ratchet back their enthusiasm," he said.

But Claire Semerjian (junior-psychology) said last week's crowd for lowly Indiana in harsh weather is proof fan loyalty is still thriving.

"I think people kind of got over the fact that we're not going to win a national championship," she said.

Penn State Alumni Association Executive Director Roger Williams said he has seen interest among alumni for Saturday's game intensify since the loss to Iowa. He said the annual season-ending game between the "astral twins" of land grant universities has become reminiscent of Penn State's old rivalry with the University of Pittsburgh.

As for head coach Joe Paterno's future, Williams, like many students, seemed to put little stock in the threat Paterno faces by entering the season's final game without a contract for next year.

"Just because there's no contract doesn't mean he won't be here next year," Williams said. "I personally wouldn't expect him to do anything but continue coaching."

Matt Rowek (senior-supply chain management), who talked eagerly of attending this weekend's matchup, also said he didn't think it would be Paterno's last game.

"It crossed my mind, but I think Joe's going to coach forever," he said.

But Mike Nicoara (senior-premedicine) pointed to Paterno's potential hip replacement as evidence it may be time for him to retire.

"I always thought that Joe should go out after this year," he said. "Even though we lost to Iowa, this has been an impressive season."

Matt Tolerico (freshman-agriculture) said he began his Penn State career this fall well aware Paterno, who turns 82 next month, could be gone by the time he graduated.

"I didn't think he was always going to be here," Tolerico said.