Pigskin Stew: Penn State: The Loudest Stadium? The Best Student Section? A Challenge Awaits THIS Weekend

Above the Penn State student section gate there is a sign that states “The Best Student Section in the Country, By Far!”

Those words were uttered by ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit at halftime of Penn State’s 17-10 win over #6 Ohio State on October 8, 2005. That night the student section White Out captured the nation's attention (before spreading to the whole stadium). The PSU student section became a menace, a weapon that made life a living hell for the visiting team.

ESPN production staff, camera operators and announcers had trouble hearing each other. The Press Box shook. Everyone noticed the wall of noise that made this the best home field advantage in the country.

Even Urban Meyer has said to me and has said publicly “I’ve been to LSU at night, and this is louder. It is a 7-point home field advantage.”

But the statement by Herbstreit was made over 19 years ago. Those words above the gate were spoken before a good chunk of that student section was born. And to all of our students, if you were born in early to mid-July 2006 AND your parents are Penn Staters, you may have been conceived on that very night (do the math).

That game and that night was THAT good.

But there is a new challenger from out west on the loudest stadium block. For years, the folks at the Big Ten’s newest school have been a menace to visiting fans. And although its capacity is less than other Big Ten schools the 60,000 fans of Mighty Oregon believe that the raised voices and intensity in Autzen Stadium pour forth the greatest noise in all the land.

I made the trip on October 12th to see it for myself when the Ducks hosted Ohio State.

What I found when visiting Oregon was a school with a beautiful campus. The sunny days, the leaves changing, the students walking to and from classes the day before a big football game…..there was electricity in the air. It felt like Big Ten football. The fans were packing bars and restaurants, visiting Ohio State fans were chanting “O-H…..I-O” when they saw one another.

Oregon fans have already learned to chant “F--- OHIO”.

The leaves were gold and red and were falling lightly. People were making their way around the Quad. Oregon student-athletes were busily making their way to practices and workouts. The track stadium, Hayward Field, site of the US Olympic Trials earns Eugene the name Track Town, USA. And the campus is bisected by the beautiful Willamette River. On a warm Friday afternoon, a lone fly-fisherman had waded in and was casting about. Autzen Stadium sits near the banks of that river.

By the time 5:30 a.m. on Saturday rolled around, the Oregon students had massed in huge and loud numbers to be the active backdrop for the pre-dawn start of College Gameday.

It felt even more like a Big Ten game.

In the afternoon, the tailgaters were welcoming. As the talk turned to Penn State, their fans looked forward to visiting here next fall. They know about the noise, and the White Out.

But they kept saying that they're the loudest stadium in the country. They cited decibel readings they believed proved their point.

“We’ll see.” I said.

We did see. Oregon's atmosphere was world class. I am no decibel meter reader, but there was no question that the crowd noise seriously impacted Ohio State early in that game.

Between the 3rd and 4th quarter they pay homage to the movie Animal House (filmed at Oregon) by singing “Shout” by Otis Day and The Knights. It comes complete with a re-shot video injecting a number of prominent Oregon athletes, the Duck mascot into the movie clip. And it ends with a Nike Logo and the words “Just Do It.” I’ve seen “Jump Around” in Madison, this was better.

The 60,000 fans were far louder than the sum of their parts. They stood the whole game, they made as much noise as they could. And Ohio State fans were telling people that it was the loudest stadium they’d ever been to.

The numbers don't lie; it is a tough place to play. They are 36-1 in their last 37 home games. During that stretch they're 8-1 against ranked teams (4-0 vs. Top 10 teams) with an average margin of victory of 14.4 points.

I have to admit, Autzen Stadium is Really, Really Loud. I have to admit, their student section is packed, well-choreographed and……the Oregon students are Really, Really Loud.

Are they as good as our student section? Are they as loud or louder than Beaver Stadium?

It is damn close. But a challenger to the throne is a good thing. No champion knows their true mettle until they face a worthy adversary. The Oregon fans and Autzen Stadium are a worthy adversary.

In the past few years, outside skeptics have said that perhaps the place may not be as noisy as it once was. Some skeptics say maybe we’re resting on a reputation and thinking that a sign stating we’re the best is good enough. Maybe they just don't know us.

But we’re in a new Big Ten, with a new challenger from the West.

And when a new challenger throws down the gauntlet and issues a challenge, true champions up their game.

This Saturday, we’re not playing Oregon (they’ll be here next year). But we are playing Ohio State in a game with the same kind of playoff and Big Ten title implications that game had.

So, for all those Ohio State fans who stated that Oregon was the loudest place they’d ever been……it’s time to remind Ohio State and everyone in the Big Ten and in the country that the best student section in the loudest stadium still stands in Happy Valley.

And to Oregon, after a trip to Eugene, a full and hearty welcome to the Big Ten. Even if you weren't the top-ranked team in the country, you'd still be a great (if distant) addition to this league. And here's hoping that as you keep winning you pull for Penn State. Wouldn't you rather play someone new rather than OSU for the Big Ten title this year?

We look forward to seeing you in Happy Valley next year (and hopefully in Indianapolis in a few weeks).

But for now---much respect to everyone and the noise at Oregon, but this weekend......

From the student section to the far reaches of the North Deck, raise your voices, make your noise and let's show everyone what it means when we say We Are Penn State. Let's be "The Best Student Section in the Country, By Far" and let's put on "The Greatest Show in College Football."

This weekend, remember to show the country that "We Are Penn State."