Iowa Fans

[rationalPSUfan]

Probably not what you are expecting to read here. I've always respected Hawkeye fans and their program since even before PSU became a B1G member. Moreso the program, rather than the fans, but we know there are all types. Quick background on me; I enlisted just before the Gulf War and ended up staying 20+ years so I've been to a few places to say the least. Ordinarily none of that matters to me except when I go home to visit on gameday weekend. I'm not there to go to the game (this time) and was really just wanting to get to my room and bed. I had plans to see my brother and nieces the next day. Such was the case this past weekend when I checked into my hotel in Clearfield PA (my home) and was greeted with literally dozens of Hawkeye fans buzzing around the lobby. I can say they were genuinely polite, respectful folks; just as I recall all the folks from Iowa are. We had some very light hearted banter and I stated I admired their loyalty to drive 12 hours to sit in shitty weather to root on their Hawkeyes. Yes I would be writing this if the score was flipped as well.

Even on this board, folks were great and as good as I could expect a fan from that weeks opponent to be treated. Sure, there were some nasty folks at the hotel afterwards.......and there are some nasty folks on here. But Iowa v. PSU has been pretty epic over the years and regardless the outcome, this PSU fan wants an Iowa win every Saturday but one.

 

[Birky]

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[TombItMayConcern]

We stayed in Clearfield Friday night also. Had a great time at the Best Western and at Denny O's. Also had a great time tailgating with PSU fans. Our only problem was getting a lingering PSU fan out of the RV after he had fallen and dislocated his shoulder and us trying to make the game by kick off.

 

[Rustys Dad]

Probably not what you are expecting to read here. I've always respected Hawkeye fans and their program since even before PSU became a B1G member. Moreso the program, rather than the fans, but we know there are all types. Quick background on me; I enlisted just before the Gulf War and ended up staying 20+ years so I've been to a few places to say the least. Ordinarily none of that matters to me except when I go home to visit on gameday weekend. I'm not there to go to the game (this time) and was really just wanting to get to my room and bed. I had plans to see my brother and nieces the next day. Such was the case this past weekend when I checked into my hotel in Clearfield PA (my home) and was greeted with literally dozens of Hawkeye fans buzzing around the lobby. I can say they were genuinely polite, respectful folks; just as I recall all the folks from Iowa are. We had some very light hearted banter and I stated I admired their loyalty to drive 12 hours to sit in shitty weather to root on their Hawkeyes. Yes I would be writing this if the score was flipped as well.

Even on this board, folks were great and as good as I could expect a fan from that weeks opponent to be treated. Sure, there were some nasty folks at the hotel afterwards.......and there are some nasty folks on here. But Iowa v. PSU has been pretty epic over the years and regardless the outcome, this PSU fan wants an Iowa win every Saturday but one.

Thanks for sharing ... It's good to be reminded there still are good people and stories in our world (sadly, we don't hear enough of it any longer). Was listening to a Hawkeye podcast last night and a caller (Iowa fan) said he went to the game and PSU fans were incredibly welcoming ... And yes, as you alluded to ... there are always your aholes in every group ... but for the most part ... I think both our fanbases are pretty good ... Cheers!

 

[Pepperman]

I have always heard that PSU is one of the best away games. I hope to get there someday for a game to see it myself.

By the way, in case anybody cares, here's the list based on only what I have seen, read, and at times experienced first hand:

Best places to travel to:
Penn State
Michigan
Nebraska
Iowa

Worst places to travel to:
Wisconsin
Ohio State
(big gap down to maybe Michigan State?)

 

[rationalPSUfan]

I have always heard that PSU is one of the best away games. I hope to get there someday for a game to see it myself.

By the way, in case anybody cares, here's the list based on only what I have seen, read, and at times experienced first hand:

Best places to travel to:
Penn State
Michigan
Nebraska
Iowa

Worst places to travel to:
Wisconsin
Ohio State
(big gap down to maybe Michigan State?)

Hope you get to a game in Happy Valley and it is a great experience for you.

 

[rationalPSUfan]

Thanks for sharing ... It's good to be reminded there still are good people and stories in our world (sadly, we don't hear enough of it any longer). Was listening to a Hawkeye podcast last night and a caller (Iowa fan) said he went to the game and PSU fans were incredibly welcoming ... And yes, as you alluded to ... there are always your aholes in every group ... but for the most part ... I think both our fanbases are pretty good ... Cheers!

I'm a Hawkeye fan from here on out. You guys handle business in the West and maybe we just might give you a boost by handling Wisc.

 

[Rustys Dad]

I'm a Hawkeye fan from here on out. You guys handle business in the West and maybe we just might give you a boost by handling Wisc.

Sounds like a very good plan! ...

On a sidenote: I'm a huge Steeler's fan (since the late 70s) ... My plan is to catch the Hawks in HV and Pittsburgh all in the same weekend ... I'm more motivated to go to Happy Valley as a road trip as I hear good things about the fan base ... From all the negative talk about Wiscy's fan base ... I don't think I will be going to Madison anytime soon ...

 

[rationalPSUfan]

We stayed in Clearfield Friday night also. Had a great time at the Best Western and at Denny O's. Also had a great time tailgating with PSU fans. Our only problem was getting a lingering PSU fan out of the RV after he had fallen and dislocated his shoulder and us trying to make the game by kick off.

Lol sorry you had the misfortune of "that one PSU fan". We were most likely at Denny's at the same time. We were 100 ft up the hill from you at the Hampton

 

[rationalPSUfan]

Sounds like a very good plan! ...

On a sidenote: I'm a huge Steeler's fan (since the late 70s) ... My plan is to catch the Hawks in HV and Pittsburgh all in the same weekend ... I'm more motivated to go to Happy Valley as a road trip as I hear good things about the fan base ... From all the negative talk about Wiscy's fan base ... I don't think I will be going to Madison anytime soon ...

Ironically there was a couple we talked to that was going to HV Saturday and Pitt the next. They don't have to change colors lol

 

[rationalPSUfan]

Sounds like a very good plan! ...

On a sidenote: I'm a huge Steeler's fan (since the late 70s) ... My plan is to catch the Hawks in HV and Pittsburgh all in the same weekend ... I'm more motivated to go to Happy Valley as a road trip as I hear good things about the fan base ... From all the negative talk about Wiscy's fan base ... I don't think I will be going to Madison anytime soon ...

I'd say you should go to HV and Pitt for the weekend BUT NOT if Ohio State or Baltimore is in town. Way too many assholes taking thing way to seriously for me. And you being a non-participant in either, will leave a bad taste in your mouth. Best thing about a PSU game is that no alcohol is served in the stadium.

If you ever want to have an away game experience, the white out at PSU is hands down, the way to go. The stadium literally rocks ( if PSU makes a game of it). 110K all moving and shaking......it's pretty wild.

 

[Pepperman]

From all the negative talk about Wiscy's fan base ... I don't think I will be going to Madison anytime soon ...

From what I gather, the major problems happen west of the stadium near the fraternities. A lot of alcohol-fueled dooshers challenge away fans to fights, or pour a beer on the visiting fans and then 10 guys ask "what are you going to do about it?"... I've heard about beers poured on wives and such, and the visiting fans either have to take a beating or just keep walking and suffer the humiliation of it...

There was also the 15-year old Hawkeye fan that got punched at Camp Randall a few years back
https://www.wisn.com/article/badger-fan-punches-iowa-hawkeye-fan-in-the-face/6207973

 

[rationalPSUfan]

Thats' unfortunate. Teenagers are some of the biggest mouths but that's really all they are. They're just kids. I've been to a lot of games, from SEC to PAC 12 and I've seen that kind of nonsense. Actually had a similar incident @ Arizona State once but it was me and 6 other bros interfering with some dooshes that had too much ale in them and were getting on some older folks. We didn't wave the active duty flag but we didn't have to. It was pretty obvious. Things were settled without punches being thrown but there was this "one" guy that needed it.

I have a bucket list entry to watch PSU and Iowa wrestle in Carver Hawkeye.

 

[JWB389]

From what I gather, the major problems happen west of the stadium near the fraternities. A lot of alcohol-fueled dooshers challenge away fans to fights, or pour a beer on the visiting fans and then 10 guys ask "what are you going to do about it?"... I've heard about beers poured on wives and such, and the visiting fans either have to take a beating or just keep walking and suffer the humiliation of it...

There was also the 15-year old Hawkeye fan that got punched at Camp Randall a few years back
https://www.wisn.com/article/badger-fan-punches-iowa-hawkeye-fan-in-the-face/6207973

Not making excuses, because I have encountered enough idiots in home colors while attending games over the years. There are A LOT of them, particularly at night games. Why anybody attending a football game at Penn State from out of town would find themselves near the frats is beyond me. You have to seek them out as they are nowhere near the stadium. The two that are (were) on campus are at the opposite end of campus from the stadium. It would be like the person who walks through the bad part of town at night with a wad of cash in their hand and is surprised they got mugged. NOT blaming the victim here, but have some common sense. If they were near the frats, they went out of their way to be there.

There is a video of some idiot in an alley near a frat dumping a beer on an Ohio State fan. Then the drunk frat boys start throwing their beer. The kid that initiated ended up being a Pitt student who was later identified and arrested. Kid lived in the same town as me.

 

[luvmyhawks]

Not making excuses, because I have encountered enough idiots in home colors while attending games over the years. There are A LOT of them, particularly at night games. Why anybody attending a football game at Penn State from out of town would find themselves near the frats is beyond me. You have to seek them out as they are nowhere near the stadium. The two that are (were) on campus are at the opposite end of campus from the stadium. It would be like the person who walks through the bad part of town at night with a wad of cash in their hand and is surprised they got mugged. NOT blaming the victim here, but have some common sense. If they were near the frats, they went out of their way to be there.

There is a video of some idiot in an alley near a frat dumping a beer on an Ohio State fan. Then the drunk frat boys start throwing their beer. The kid that initiated ended up being a Pitt student who was later identified and arrested. Kid lived in the same town as me.

Pretty sure he is talking about Wisconsin, not Penn State.

 

[Diehard1]

Probably not what you are expecting to read here. I've always respected Hawkeye fans and their program since even before PSU became a B1G member. Moreso the program, rather than the fans, but we know there are all types. Quick background on me; I enlisted just before the Gulf War and ended up staying 20+ years so I've been to a few places to say the least. Ordinarily none of that matters to me except when I go home to visit on gameday weekend. I'm not there to go to the game (this time) and was really just wanting to get to my room and bed. I had plans to see my brother and nieces the next day. Such was the case this past weekend when I checked into my hotel in Clearfield PA (my home) and was greeted with literally dozens of Hawkeye fans buzzing around the lobby. I can say they were genuinely polite, respectful folks; just as I recall all the folks from Iowa are. We had some very light hearted banter and I stated I admired their loyalty to drive 12 hours to sit in shitty weather to root on their Hawkeyes. Yes I would be writing this if the score was flipped as well.

Even on this board, folks were great and as good as I could expect a fan from that weeks opponent to be treated. Sure, there were some nasty folks at the hotel afterwards.......and there are some nasty folks on here. But Iowa v. PSU has been pretty epic over the years and regardless the outcome, this PSU fan wants an Iowa win every Saturday but one.

Thank you for your 20+ yrs of service, Sir! Also appreciate the kind words!

Go Hawks!

 

[rationalPSUfan]

you make as much sense as the song Yellow Ledbetter



None whatsoever........

Nonetheless......I'm a Hawks fans now

 

[JWB389]

Pretty sure he is talking about Wisconsin, not Penn State.

I stand corrected.

 

[rationalPSUfan]

Not making excuses, because I have encountered enough idiots in home colors while attending games over the years. There are A LOT of them, particularly at night games. Why anybody attending a football game at Penn State from out of town would find themselves near the frats is beyond me. You have to seek them out as they are nowhere near the stadium. The two that are (were) on campus are at the opposite end of campus from the stadium. It would be like the person who walks through the bad part of town at night with a wad of cash in their hand and is surprised they got mugged. NOT blaming the victim here, but have some common sense. If they were near the frats, they went out of their way to be there.

There is a video of some idiot in an alley near a frat dumping a beer on an Ohio State fan. Then the drunk frat boys start throwing their beer. The kid that initiated ended up being a Pitt student who was later identified and arrested. Kid lived in the same town as me.[/Q

And I know that I want and I say that I want that I don't want to be there again.....

Ok Eddie Vedder