PSU Hockey Game

Last week was a busy week, with TED talks and a few tests.  I had not done much outside of schoolwork.  That weekend though I had been planning to go to a Penn State Hockey Game, with my cousin, on the 14^th of November.  I was excited since I had never been to a Hockey game and we had seats in a box.  Which meant free food throughout the game..... since each box is catered.

PSU is a Division I hockey team but they are relatively new.  It was not in till Peguala Ice Arena was built in 2013 that the PSU hockey team was division I.  For the longest they where simply known as the PSU Icers and were not a division I program. They are a really new team and are still developing into a good program. 

The game was set to start at 4:00pm.  PSU was playing the Sacred Heart, it was the last of three games in a series between them.  PSU had won the first two games and this was the final game.  Unfortunately, SHU scored first which was a shock and it was not in till the end of the first half that PSU scored to tie it up.  

At half time my cousin and I went for deserts, which to my disbelief were free and unlimited to those sitting on the second level.  There was creamery ice cream being served, brownies, coffee, popcorn and other snacks.  Along with the free desert during half time the sun was setting and it was a vary cool view. I am a sucker for natures beauty so I had to toss in this picture. 

Once the second half started back up I could immediately tell both teams were playing with more energy.  They both realized this would be the last of a three game series so they had nothing to conserve.  There energy crescendoed till the game was over.  The game ended 3-2 PSU with WIN.  It was a close game and SHU missed some golden opportunities,  I’m not complaining thought.    

The game was vary fast paced, there are no breaks for subs so in the middle of a play three or four guys will jump over the wall and skate onto the rink as another three or four come off.  To me Hockey made no sense, I do not know the rules, but it was still vary entertaining to watch.  Once in a while someone would get leveled against the wall.... that was exciting.  I think Hockey is definitely an overlooked sport hear at PSU with teams like football, basketball, wrestling, volleyball all taking the spotlight.  It is definitely something you need to do.  I would recommend a ticket on the second level even if it Is not a box seat because the refreshments were nice, and the view of the rink was great. 

BANDORAMA 2015

On Friday October 30^th, at Penn State many people were getting ready to go out, it was Halloween weekend.  I chose to do something completely different, I went to BANDORAMA at the Eisenhower auditorium at 7:00pm. 

Every year this event is held at Eisenhower Auditorium, hosted by the Symphonic Band and Blue Band.  This year the symphonic band played first.  Not to insult anyone who is in the Symphonic band, they were a nice opening act, playing only four songs, for the main event the Blue Band. 

The Symphonic band played four pieces of classical music all the work where composed over 100 years ago.  The mood was vary relaxed while they where playing.  The melodical sound that set the mood curtsey of the symphonic band was thrown out the door at the entrance of the Blue Band.

The Blue Band entered cheering, “GO! STATE! BEAT! ILLINI!”  I was not ready for the sudden jump in volume and energy.  Eisenhower transformed from what one would imagine a crowd watching a symphony, to an environment alike to a PSU football game. 

It was defiantly loud enough to be a football game.  For the performance the Blue Band went through all the music they had played all year long ,  starting with the September 12^th game against Rutgers, and working all the way to the Illinois game.  This event was not only about the blue band, there were also performance integrated by the PSU dance team, baton team, flag team and ribbon team.  It was everyone who on game day at Beaver stadium would be out performing. 

It was a really neat experience since at a football game the band and these other accessory teams are just there they are not the focus.  So I will admit you can not appreciate them, but in this environment the spotlight is on them. 

Before I knew it the show was over and I was surprised to notice that it was 9:30pm, the performance had lasted for 2 ½ hours.  As I walked to the parking garage my friend and I made the sudden connection that we where vary close to the creamery.... So we had to stop by to complete the Friday night.  I ordered my favorite flavor, Bittersweet Mint. 

This performance is an annual thing, so even though you all missed it this year, there is always next year.  To me it was more like a pep rally for PSU than anything. One strange fact,  I concluded average attending age was 60... still fun if you appreciate music.

PSU Has a Beutiful Campus

This post for my passion blog will be significantly different than what my past ones have been.  Instead of focusing on my personnel experience/activities over the weekend or even the school week, I will focus on a more communal experience, which is the fall season hear at Penn States and Central Pennsylvania, because it is defiantly something to be enjoyed hear at Penn State.

It is that time of year, the later part of the fall season at Penn State is a new experience for me, and maybe many of you as well.  I come from Eastern North Carolina were the majority of the trees are evergreen (some sort of fir/pine tree).   To say the least there is minimal indications that the fall season is approaching.  There are a few trees whose leafs change colors; it is a completely different story in Pa. 

As you all have experienced in your daily walks from class to class or were ever you may be heading, the environment is inspiring.  At this time the coloration of the leafs has completely changed and are beginning to fall off the trees.

I see many landscaping crews spending each day gathering leaves into large piles.  I was even walking back from a class I had in the forum building in front of Old Main, when I saw a group of students jump into a pile of leaves.  This act of child playfulness caused me to remember my early childhood, growing up in the state College Area.  Being at my grandparent’s house playing in the leaves under their big oak trees with my twin sister. 

These piles of leaf scattered about the campus really give it a sense of homeliness.  The campus itself is always changing and expressing the emotions of the seasons.  In the short time I have been a student at Penn State I have fallen in love with the campus.  In my free time on a Saturday or Sunday I will simply walk around campus taking it all in.  Walking for fun is a lot different experience then the constant rush from class to class during the school week.  It changes the way you can look at the campus, by just slowing down and looking up and all around, not having tunnel vision.

I have really loved this experience so far and look forward to seeing how the campus changes as we roll right into winter, in the coming months.  It may not have the same the ascetic appeal as the fall season, but is sure to be a great experience. 

I hope everyone has enjoyed the scenery and environment as much as I have recently.  If you have not, just remember to slow down in one of your busy days and take in the experience and enjoy it. 

Running at ShingleTown

I have always enjoyed running.  Maybe it is because the sport I played all my life, soccer, revolves around running.  So on the 17th of October my friend, Ransom, and I woke up at 7:00am to go for a nice run.  Only thing is we were not just running down the street, I decided to go trailing running at a location called ShingleTown, located just outside of State College.

To get to Shingle town you have to know where it is, because along the road there are no signs or indications, that show a location for hiking is there.  Even though it is an unmarked location it is a popular place.  On most Saturday mornings the small parking area is packed, but not this Saturday.  Maybe most people though it was too cold to go for a hike that morning.  They may have been the smart ones.  My friend and I went anyway. 


If you guys have not noticed the State College area is beautiful, all year round, but its beauty is highlighted during this time of year.  The patchwork quilt of color that the surrounding mountains become, during the fall, is the height of the natural beauty in State College.  This natural beauty if one reasons that running at shingle town to me is so fun.  I have run their many times but always in the summer and never during the fall season it was a really neat experience. 

Usually running along the trails at shingle town possesses a challenge because of the treacherous ground that must be traversed, there are roots sticking up, rocks big small lose, and even areas were the trail in nothing but rocks.  Since it is fall the leaves on the trees have fallen down all along the trail.  This makes it hard to identify the true shape and location of the roots and rocks that are sticking up whose only purpose in life is to trip you up. 

The challenge of traversing the rocky laden trails I have always considered a game.  You have to plan where each foot is going to land as well as plan ahead to keep a decent running pace.  The challenge this present always creates a vary engaging run.  Another great side effect the constant concentration of carefully placing each step draws the brains attention away from the fact that you are running and it is kind of hard.  Especially when running up hill. 


My favorite section of trail to run at Shingle town, is a trail that is about a mile long, the catch is that it is all up hill.  This is the “Bald Knob Ridge Trail.”  It begins in the draw between the two parallel ridges and is a pretty direct ascension up the ridge that is closer to the State College area.  When you look out your dorm window to the South the Mountain/Ridge line you see is the one I run up at shingle town.  The fact that it is all up hill makes it the most intense exercise I will commonly do.  I timed myself and it took a little over ten minutes to run up without stopping for a break. 
Once at the top of the ridge if you go to left down the trail there will be a little clearing that opens up.  This is the location I took the background picture for all my passion blogs.  I is a great view of all of State College.  IN total if all you do if run to the lookout point of the top of the ridge and back it is a little over four miles.  While four miles normally on flat ground is not a vary long run.  Four miles that are littered with rocks, roots and elevation change can be challenging. 

The challenge is worth it though, as it is a good break from the monotony of running along the road or track for miles and miles.  I suggest a trip out to Shingle Town even if it is not for a run.  It is beautiful trail that can be admired and enjoy at a leisurely walk as well.   

 

Homecoming Parade

One of the traditions of the NROTC program at Penn State is that ever year the freshman march in the Homecoming parade.  Friday October 13^th I was part of that tradition.

This is not an event that we take lightly.  Since one week before school started this fall the freshman midshipman (Naval ROTC) have been practicing twice a week at 5:30-7:00am, at the Wagner building.  Unlike the other ROTC programs, Army and Air Force, it is only freshman in this parade, meaning we had to start from scratch.  The other programs upper class-men, who have been exposed to drill march in this parade.

To become proficient at drill it takes hundred of hours, unfortunately (but also fortunately) we did not have that much practice.  In total we may have practiced approximately 20-30hours.  That time was spent practicing turning left and right (Colum left/right) and marching in a straight line.  It is much harder that one would think.  You have to stay aligned with the person in front of you, to the side, make sure your steps are right, while never looking anywhere but straight ahead.  And hold a M16-A2.

On parade day the weather predicted rain... the weather was holding in till around 1pm it started pouring.  I was thinking to myself this is going to be awful marching in but lucky by the time I had to report to the Wagner building (by the IM building) the rain had subsided and the Sun had come out.

The parade was scheduled to start at 6:00pm but we arrived at Wagner and got in formation at 4:30pm. Honestly, the worst part was just waiting for the parade to begin.  Once it did it was super neat.  I will admit I peaked around some at the packed sidewalks along the parade route (I am never supposed to look anywhere but straight ahead while in formation), to just take in how many people wear their.

The route was down Curtin, starting at the IM building, take a left onto Bigler, then right on Pollock, left on Shortlidge, right onto college, and ended after we took a right off college onto Burrows.  The whole route was packed but there was one place that stood out. 

It is another tradition that all the NROTC upper-class midshipman wait at café 210 on college for us to march by.  When we do they go crazy, I have never heard human voices reach the volume they did.  That was a special moment for all of us freshman, that highlighted the Homecoming Parade.

In typical NROTC fashion while we were waiting at Wagner to put the M16-A2 back we had a drill contest.  Which included rifle Manuel, which is wear you manipulate the rifle from the ground to different positions at the whim of the caller.  This contest was intense.  I would never have though two months ago that I would have enjoyed a drill contest but I can honestly say I did. 

Now us freshman get a break from drill for two weeks, but then it starts back up.  We will be back on the 5:30am schedule as we prepare for the Villanova Military Excellence Competition, which is at the end of the spring semester.   

Springmills Sunday Shoot

On Sunday September 27^th, my grandparents and I went sporting clays shooting at the Spring Mills Fish and Game Association.  Spring Mills holds a shoot once a month, six times a year, and is located about 30-40 minutes outside of State College.

For those who do not know what sporting clays is, it is a category of competition for shotgun shooting.  This category allows for the most variation of the targets as there is nothing set in stone about sporting clays, unlike Olympic trap, skeet, five stand...etc.  These other categories of shotgun shooting follow a specific order, and anywhere you go to shoot these disciplines should be within given parameters. Sporting clays is meant to simulate hunting, and the course designer is at liberty to adjust target speed, trajectory, have them curve, go behind trees...etc, they try to surprise the shooter with each new target.

Spring Mills is not a full time sporting clays location; the closest one is Hillendales, which is located about 40 minutes from State College.  The targets at Spring Mills were defiantly the most interesting targets I’ve ever shot at.  Since, their events are simply a fun thing to do, and not a major business for them, they have the liberty of making certain stations pretty difficult. 

In our shooting group at the event were my, grandfather, grandmother, Mick and myself.  Mick is a master class sporting clays shooter, which is the highest rating given in the discipline.  Mick was having trouble as well at this course, which is a testament to the course. 

The course was made up of eight stations and fifty bird, comprised of minis (small), midis (medium), regular and rabbit targets (bounce along the ground).   Also at certain stations the trapper (person who clicks the button to set off the targets) was at liberty to mix up the targets.  So no person shoot at the same fifty targets. 

Our group shot two rounds of fifty and the first time through my score was much higher I even beat my grandpa(who has multiple world championships in NSSA Skeet Shooting), second time through not so much.  I am not making excuses but I will say I went 0/6 on the second station in the second round and that was the difference.  That station was one of the ones were you never knew what was coming, and I did poorly. 

	Max	Grandpa	Grandma	Mick
1st round	39	38	21	41
2nd round	32	38	23	42

Penn State actually has a Trap and Skeet club, which I will be joining next semester.  Funny thing is on their website Mick Markel is in the picture on the left as a coach, and on the right is Mark Saucer who I also know.  I had not looked at their webpage until writing this blog, but I have talked with both coaches.  This club is open to anyone, you do not have to be an experienced shooter or have any experience at all.  They hold practice on Sunday at Shenacoy.  I know they are a pretty active club and go to multiple shoots a year.  Along with fundraising to cover the cost of ammo.    

Rutgers Vs PSU Concessions

September 19^th the Penn State Football team played the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.  This contest had teased out a lot of sentiments from both sides of the Field.  There were rumors of added police and other precautions for this game, due to a rivalry that while not long standing is still intense, Rutgers is from New Jersey and many a joke was passed around about the crime associated with the team.  I heard someone exclaiming we mine as well be playing the State Penitentiary today. Also, a stripe out.... it seemed an ironic thing to be held when we were playing a team that had six players arrested.  This game promised to be a good one especially when it seemed PSU had a good chance of winning and I had a free ticket in.  There was a catch though, my ticket was not to the game, it was to be a worker at a concession stand... at least I was there.

For the NROTC program, being a freshman, I am required to work two home football games at the concession stand to help raise money for the program.  The Rutgers game would be my second weekend of working concession, so I would be done in till next year. 

For the 8:00pm game I was required to arrive at the Wagner building (right by the IM building) by 3:30pm when our group of workers would be heading to the concession stand.  When we were all gathered we walked over to Beaver stadium to the employee entrance, there I encountered a problem I had left my student ID in my room.  I live in Atherton which is a solid thirty-minute walk from Beaver stadium, but I had to do it.  I ran to Atherton and since I did not have my ID had to wait for someone to open the door.  It was amazing to me how I waited for like 10-15 minutes and nobody came out of the door, everyone must have been out tailgating.  I finally got inside, grabbed my ID and ran back to Beaver stadium. 

I had not missed much it was about 4:30pm when I got to our concession stand 270 (NROTC always works this stand).  Not much was happening everyone was just standing around and a few people were starting to cook some food.  Then somehow I was tasked with the job of making pretzels.  Honestly it is the chilliest job at the concession stand, which entailed a lot of sitting around.  

Once I had stocked the front with pretzels I had some free time to just sit out in Beaver stadium and watch the teams warm-up.  It is one of the coolest things looking out over the vast empty stadium.  What is even cooler was the stripe out.  

Once the stadium started to fill it was time for me to work, since I was in charge of pretzels I was also tasked with helping with the drink fountain and fetching ICE.  It was an intense period from about 8:30-11:30pm as there were 100,000 plus people in attendance.  The time flew right by; we sold out and closed up before the game was over.  So I was able to catch a solid bit of the last quarter.  Which was a nice plus of working concession. 

A PSU football game is something all college student should enjoy, of course it is not something that would be a hidden gem of the area it is the gem of the area.  This was my weekend and if anyone has not gone I strongly suggest going.  I have been to many a game and they are always a joy. 

Messiah College Soccer Game

Last Friday, on September the 11^th, my best friend growing up was playing a soccer game at Messiah College. So naturally, I got my work in order and made plans to attend.  

At 4:00pm Friday I met my Grandparents at the Boalsburg Military Museum, to head to Messiah for the game that stared at 7:00pm.  As we headed out of State College on US-22 east we noticed a flood of cars heading toward State College.  It was an unusual amount, and then we remembered there was a PSU football game that Saturday.  It made for an easy trip being we were one of the only cars leaving State College on a Friday before a football game.  Messiah College is just South of Harrisburg (Pennsylvania’s Capital) and about two hours from State College (Messiah Colleges Address).   

When we arrived at Messiah, we noticed a steady stream of people heading toward the athletics complexes, which were located in a clearing outlined by the Yellow Breeches River.  To cross the river to enter the athletic complex was an ancient red covered bridge,  I had never seen one that cars actually drove over.

In general Isabelle fashion we arrived an hour early at Shoemaker field.  We were greeted by two banners that ran the length of the stadium.  My friend Julian had not told me anything about Messiah soccer, these banners told me all I needed to know.

It was a perfect night to play soccer. It was a clear day and when the sun went down a light sweater was needed to cope with the chilled air. 

As it approached 7:00pm the whole stadium became filled, along with tailgaters on the surrounding hills and fields, all for a soccer game.  It was an awesome atmosphere before the game had even begun.  It turned out that this was Messiahs first home game of the year and it seemed as though the whole college had showed up for the game. 

My friend is a freshman and starts as a Center back on his team Randolph College.  They are from around Lynchburg Virgina.  As soon as the game started I could tell, as foreshadowed by the championship banners, Messiah was the superior team.  They controlled the game, albeit they did not have that many attempts on goal, partly due to my friends play.  After forty-five minutes the first half was over with a score of 2-0, Messiah ahead.  The second half went the same as the first, two goals for Messiah.  It ended 4-0. The student section did not sit down for the whole ninety minutes. They were crazy.

After the game, my grandparents and I headed over to talk with Julian and give him some homemade chocolate chip cookies, courtesy of my Nana.  After a good talk we said our goodbyes and started the drive back to State College at around 10:00pm. 

This blog post might have strayed from my idea of things that can be done in close proximity to State College PA, but it still illustrates a great activity for any college student.  PSU soccer games are played at Jefferey Field and that would definitely be a blast to attend, if you are a fan of the game.

                                                                                                           

Howard Lake

School has only been in progress for the last two weeks but I will admit Labor Day was needed.  The complete life change that college has been these first two weeks has been enjoyable, albeit tiring.  My Labor day was vary productive...  I was happily lounging at my dorm catching up on some sleep; when I was invited to go boating with my cousin.  The decision was to get off the college campus for some fun in the sun, or loaf about,  it was a no brainier.

I was picked up right outside my dorm ready to go, it was a beautiful day.  I was told we were going to Howard Lake or Bald Eagle Lake depending on whom you talk too.  Apparently the lake is part of the Bald Eagle state forest, but it is in the township of Howard (I found that interesting).  It turned out to be about a 30 minute drive North East of State College.

As we drove by the lake, the first thing that struck me was how active the lake seemed to be.  There were kayakers, tubers, skiers, boaters and fishermen all sharing this lake, on a Holiday weekend.   When we arrived at the boat dock, where my cousin’s boat is stored, we went to work prepping the boat and we were under way in about five minutes.  

As we idled out of the little cove that the boat docks inhabited and the lake opened up I though to myself this is a beautiful place.  To me the pinnacle of beauty is found in nature and this location does not disappoint. 

The Lake can be separated into two half’s by a bridge that bisects the lake.  This bridge also seems to separate the lake by activity, on one half there is the crazies flying around on there boats, on the other it is peaceful and more for the swimmers and loungers.   For a while my cousin and I were part of those crazies.  Driving the boat around as fast as it could go with the wind in our faces, just enjoying it.  That can only be done for so long, as we retired to the peaceful side of the lake to enjoy the sun.  

I am a southern boy and for the past month I have been missing the sun and the beaches of North Carolina.  Of course we did not just lounge for hours there was swimming, listening to music, and fishing for my cousin.  Unfortunately, a fishing license is required and on this particular day I did not feel like risking it as we had seen the game warden driving around.

The water was surprisingly warm.  I have swum in other bodies of water in Pa and they all tend to numbingly cold, but this water was just perfect.  When it was time to head back we finished by taking a tour of the lake.  We then docked the boat put the cover on and headed back to State College.

I had a really good time at Howard lake it was a great experience.  To enjoy the lake you do not need a boat, there is a man made beach a swimming area, along with boat and kayak rentals.  One thing I would love to do is go boating on Howard lake when it is a clear calm night.  I hope to do that at some point.