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Comparable Schools'
Athletics Grades:
Quick StatsAthletic Division
NCAA Division I
School Colors
Blue and white
School Mascot
Nittany Lion
Men Playing Varsity Sports
426 - 2 %
Women Playing Varsity Sports
276 - 2 %
College Prowler Take
Football is a big part of Penn State life. Other varsity sports pale in comparison to the aura of intensity that surrounds every home football game. People fly in from all over the country to sit in the 106,000-seat Beaver Stadium. Tailgating is a full-time, three day occupation. The town really comes alive with the influx of Penn State families and visitors during a game weekend, but you can avoid this by staying on campus. You don’t have to love football to come to Penn State, but you do have to accept that Penn State loves football. The men’s basketball team has made big strides over the past few years and has created a nice buzz on campus. The women’s volleyball team won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2007 and 2008. Penn State boasts one of the largest intramural sports programs in the country. The IM department hosts regular leagues in sports like soccer, softball, and flag football. They also put on special one-day events, like golf tournaments and homerun derbies. Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
Basically there’s football, then...
Basically there’s football, then there’s everything else. Football seems to have a stranglehold on Penn State, which may be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Other varsity sports are overshadowed by it, but are, by no means, non-existent. IM sports are pretty big in that there are tons played all over campus all year long. |
Anonymous says: |
Sometimes it seems like varsity...
Sometimes it seems like varsity sports are PSU. In the fall, life is all about football games and tailgating, and in the winter, I hear we have a basketball team. Football games are fun, but as you can see, you can be a PSU student and not care about sports. |
Anonymous says: |
Varsity sports are huge,...
Varsity sports are huge, especially football. IM sports are not as big, but they do get pretty competitive. |
Anonymous says: |
Varsity sports are huge, all of...
Varsity sports are huge, all of them. It’s awesome to go to such a great variety of sports events. The IM sports are also big, and there are tons of sporting events going on in the fall, winter, and spring. |
Anonymous says: |
Sports are a huge part of the...
Sports are a huge part of the school. The football games are so much fun; I recommend getting tickets. If you don’t play varsity, though, there are tons of club and IM sports you can join. |
FactsMen's Varsity Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Fencing
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Swimming and diving
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Women's Varsity Sports
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Fencing
- Field hockey
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and diving
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Volleyball
Intramurals
- Table tennis
- Wrestling
- 3-on-3 basketball
- 5K road race
- Arena football
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Dodgeball
- Field hockey
- Flag football
- Golf
- Handball
- Home run derby
- Kayaking
- Racquetball
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Wiffleball
Club Sports
- Badminton
- Jujitsu
- Aikido
- Archery
- Baseball
- Basketball (men's and women's)
- Bass fishing
- Billiards
- Bowling (men's and women's)
- Boxing
- Cheer
- Crew
- Cricket
- Cross country
- Cycling
- Disc golf
- Dodgeball
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Field hockey
- Figure skating
- Floor hockey
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Ice hockey
- Indoor winter guard
- Judo
- Juggling
- Karate
- Kendo
- Korean karate
- Lacrosse (men’s and women’s)
- Martial arts
- Nittany divers
- Nittany grotto
- Outing
- Paintball
- Powerlifting
- Quantum jujitsu
- Racquetball
- Rifle
- Roller hockey
- Sailing
- Shotokan
- Ski team
- Snowboard
- Soccer (men's and women's)
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Synchronized swimming
- Table tennis
- Tae kwon do
- Team handball
- Tennis
- Track
- Triathlon
- Ultimate Frisbee (men’s and women’s)
- Volleyball (men's and women's)
- Water polo (men's and women's)
- Waterskiing and wakeboarding
- Wrestling
- Yoga and meditation
Gyms and Facilities
- The Fitness Loft - The cardio-only facility overlooks the three pools in the McCoy Natatorium. Located near East Halls with a maximum capacity of 40 people.
- Ashenfelter Multi-Sport Facility
- Bryce Jordan Center
- Holuba Hall
- Intramural Building - Located next to East Halls, the IM Building is a mid-sized facility with 20 cardio machines and a variety of free weights. It also features basketball courts, racquetball courts, and a jogging area.
- Lasch Building
- Lorenzo Wrestling Complex
- McCoy Natatorium
- Penn State Academic Support Program - Held in the Elliot H. Cole Academic Support Center, this program assists student-athletes in their academics and is available to all varsity student-athletes. There are ten desktop computers, all networked to the University and the Internet, four laptops, and a laser printer.
- Penn State Ice Rink
- Rec Hall - Located next to West Halls, this state-of-the-art facility contains equipment for every person’s needs. Television monitors are built into every cardio machine, and the Nittany Lion is imprinted into every dumbbell.
- Sami Tennis Center
- Stone Valley Recreation Area
- Walter A. Brown Area Memorial Skating Pavilion - The pavilion has a capacity of 3,806 and serves as the home of the Penn State hockey team. It is considered one of the finest facilities of its kind in the nation.
- White Building Fitness Center - Centrally located next to the HUB and Pollock Halls, the White Building has 75 plate-loaded stations, 50 free weight stations, and 60 cardio machines. It also features a pool and basketball courts.
Athletic Fields
AstroTurf Field (field hockey), Beaver Stadium (football), Jeffrey Field (soccer and lacrosse), Medlar Field at Lubrano Park (baseball), Nittany Lion Field (softball)
Getting Tickets
Tickets are free to Penn State sporting events except football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics and women’s volleyball. Ticket information for these sports can be found at the Penn State Athletic Ticket Office in the Bryce Jordan Center. Phone: 1-800-NITTANY or at www.gopsusports.com
Most Popular Sports
There is no question that the football team holds reign over the campus. Men’s basketball is gaining in popularity thanks to the Nittany Nation, Penn State’s student section. Women’s volleyball also has a very nice following on campus and regularly fills Rec Hall.
Most Overlooked Teams
It is easy to say that almost every team gets overlooked because of the football program, namely the women’s soccer and the men’s and women’s fencing teams.
Best Place to Take a Walk
The trail that runs through the Penn State golf courses is a popular spot for students and locals. On a warm spring day, joggers and walkers are all over State College.
Did You Know?Penn State has finished in the top 25 of the Directors’ Cup in every year of its existence. The Directors’ Cup is a compilation of rankings in all sports.
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