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.