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Penn State - Athletics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler5.00

Athletics

A+
Where does this grade come from?View all Athletics rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

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Quick Stats

Athletic Association
  • NAA
  • NCAA
Athletic Division NCAA Division I-A
Athletic Conferences Football: Big Ten Conference
Basketball: Big Ten Conference
School Colors Blue and white
School Nickname Nittany Lion
Men Playing Varsity Sports 423 - 2%
Women Playing Varsity Sports 286 - 2%
Students Receiving Athletic Financial Aid Football: 90
Basketball: 25
Baseball: 28
Cross Country/Track: 47
Other Sports: 293
Graduation Rates of Athletic Financial Aid Recipients Football: 74%
Basketball: 71%
Baseball: 67%
Cross Country/Track: 100%
Other Sports: 86%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

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.

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Penn State Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Athletics at Penn State

vlwoods

'15

English

3.5
B

Penn State Athletics

Obviously, sports at Penn State are BIG (BIG 10 big), but you don't need to play a varsity sport to keep up with athletics. There are tons of club teams and even more intermurals. IM sports are a great way to meet people and make friends. Also, we have 3 gyms on campus that offer classes and have any equipment you could want. All that said, there is a lot more to Penn State than just sports. Between the academics, thousands of clubs, Greek life, and THON orgs, Penn State represents much more than just the atheletes.

Jan 18, 2012

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Athletics at Penn State

carrickraider9792

'16

Broadcast Journalism

5.0
A+

Sports Are Life

Penn state's Athletics are amongst the top division one schools in all of there sports teams hear. Along with there Phenomanal athletes, Penn state's non athletes carrry penn states name when it comes to school spirit.

Jan 09, 2012

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Athletics at Penn State

sonynp

'13

Biology

5.0
A+

Athletics Are King

At Penn State, sports reign supreme. Whether it's an autumn football game or a winter basketball game, Penn State has no shortage of school spirit. Facilities are top-notch and athletes are celebrities.

Jan 07, 2012

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Page 1 of 18

Photos of Penn State's Athletics

College Students:
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Penn State - Taking the FieldTaking the Field
Photo by divinemisscopa
Penn State - Win Over Ohio StateWin Over Ohio State
Photo by qtpiektw
Win Over Ohio State After winning against Ohio State during the 2008 season, students poured out of their buildings and into the streets and commons. This was the celebration that took place outside East Halls.
Link to this photo
Photo by qtpiektw
Penn State - The Nittany Lion MascotThe Nittany Lion Mascot
Photo by acaben

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How popular are varsity sports on campus?

How popular are intramurals and club sports?

How would you describe the athletic facilities?

Facts

Men's Varsity Sports
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Fencing
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling
Women's Varsity Sports
  • Basketball
  • Fencing
  • Field hockey
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
Intramurals
  • 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
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
  • Wiffleball
  • Wrestling
Club Sports
  • Aikido
  • Archery
  • Badminton
  • 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
  • Jujitsu
  • 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
Athletic Fields & Facilities
  • Ashenfelter Multi-Sport Facility
  • Bryce Jordan Center
  • Fitness Loft
  • Holuba Hall
  • Intramural Building
  • Lasch Building
  • Lorenzo Wrestling Complex
  • McCoy Natatorium
  • Penn State Ice Rink
  • Rec Hall Fitness Center
  • Sami Tennis Center
  • Stone Valley Recreation Area
  • Walter A. Brown Area Memorial Skating Pavilion
  • White Building Fitness Center

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.

School Spirit

Penn State spirit has skyrocketed in recent years thanks to the football team’s resurgence to a national contender. Tickets are very tough to acquire, and tent cities are constructed days before home games. That enthusiasm has transferred not only to other sports, but to the entire campus as a whole. The Nittany Lion symbol and the words, “We are Penn State” hold a lot of meaning to students and alumni.

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

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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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at PSU

Name: James Bunting

Hometown: Whitehall, PA

Major: Journalism

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