Front Porch FootballWE ARE the Best Mascot
CHALLENGE WINNER!
[wp_ulike]by Kathryn Tague
WE ARE more than just a guy in a sweaty costume who only parades around the stadium. The Penn State Nittany Lion represents the unity and passion of the blue and white community. Where else, but Beaver Stadium, can a mascot capture the attention of over 100,000 people without saying a word. He conducts the crowd with a simple gesture toward one side of the stadium that is instantly recognized by the fans to begin the traditional “We are… Penn State” pregame cheer. Maestro Nittany Lion gets Happy Valley roaring… music to the ears of Penn State fans.
Image from Penn State University
Named after the mountain lion that once roamed Pennsylvania, the Nittany Lion symbolizes the history, strength, and family-like feel of the university. I saw this first hand in the last home game of the 2017 season against Nebraska. It was freezing cold, raining and most of the fans had left, yet somehow the Nittany Lion had crowd surfed his way all of way up to the top of the stadium with help from a group of fans. This small gesture showed a lot about the university and what it stands for, which is what the Nittany Lion portrays on a daily basis.
Kathryn Tague is a junior at Radnor High School and lives in Villanova, Pa. She lives with her parents, brother and dog named Koda. Kathryn plays basketball and lacrosse, and is an avid Penn State Football fan.
We need to vote 10,000 times for the brilliant, adorable savvy Kathryn Tague!!!!
We Are
Aubie began his career as a mascot when James Lloyd, who was spirit director of the Auburn SGA at the time, reached out to a costume designing company in New York City that had done work for Walt Disney. Three “Friends of Aubie,” Bob Harris, Barry Mask and Vicki McGinty, brought the suit to life that first year.