I’m a Pitt student and a Penn State fan

My parents both went to Penn State. My grandmother taught at Penn State. All of my cousins have attended Penn State. I think it’s safe to say that I was born into a Nittany Lion family, and to be honest, I’d say I’ve led a Nittany Lion life.

I’ve schlepped across the Penn State campus for football games, I’ve maintained a healthy amount of blue and white in my closet, “we are” were my first words—I embody the qualities of your typical Penn State student, and I’ll be a lifelong fan.

But I decided to go to Pitt. Didn’t even apply to Penn State.

Honestly, it came down to the education. Pitt is a solid university. I’m not in love with the school, and I never have been. I think “H2P” is obnoxious. I don’t think football games are worth the effort it takes to trek across town. Honestly, I don’t have school spirit. I’m here for the education and the fantastic professors, and in three years, I’ll graduate and be done with the school.

As you’d probably expect, it’s tough being a Penn State fan. People actually get pissed off. Like, the freedom of speech rule applies on campus, unless that speech is about Penn State. Last year, this guy tried to fight me because I was wearing a Penn State shirt. I was minding my own business, brushing my teeth, enjoying life, and he actually got in my face and threatened to hit me.

And he isn’t the only person who’s gotten pissed at me. The other day, my professor asked the class about who was planning on going to the Pitt vs. Penn State game, and I was the only person who didn’t enthusiastically raise their hand. Hell, I didn’t even raise my hand. So, he asked me why I wasn’t going, and I told him it was because I didn’t give a shit about it. (My professor encourages the use of obscenities.)

“You don’t give a shit about football?” he asked.

“No, I give a shit about football. I just don’t give a shit about Pitt football.” And that’s the story of how I earned a spot on my professor’s shit list.

But I guess I don’t really understand why Pitt students think our football program is superior. Although I will concede that Pitt is ranked higher than Penn State, there is so much more that goes into the football culture than mere ranking. Penn State students always stay for all four quarters. Meanwhile, Pitt students stay past halftime, and they want a damn medal. Penn State students walk to the games, but Pitt students have to get their asses shuttled across town.

We play “Sweet Caroline” for every game, but so do a million and a half other sports teams, both collegiate and professional. Penn State can easily fill Beaver Stadium, but it’s a struggle getting Heinz Field at half capacity for Pitt games. (And don’t give me shit about Penn State having 30,000 more students than Pitt, because it also has 40,000 more seats to fill than Pitt does.)

You know, you’re always taught that you should be yourself. “Be true to yourself,” the dad always says in shitty Disney movies. Well, here I am, being true to myself. I am a Pitt student, but I am a Penn State fan. I eat at the Berkey Creamery and at the Corner Room. I brave the chilly mountain air and the freezing rain to sit on the uncomfortable metal benches at Beaver Stadium. I could eat Pokey Sticks for every meal.

I hope that my story will help other Pitt students who are closeted Penn State fans. You may not be accepted by others on campus, but you should always accept yourself. Just remember- we are Penn State.