A pair of Penn State football fans from Altoona started a scholarship in honor of this year’s team and head coach Bill O’Brien.

Phil and Rosalind Sky donated $50,000 to set up an endowment, which means the scholarship will live on forever. They also invited other fans to contribute to the scholarship.

“It’s been such a difficult year for our team, but the players have shown great resiliency and enormous spirit in working to overcome the challenges,” Rosalind Sky said in a statement Penn State released. “We want to honor their dedication and commitment to Penn State.”

Sky said she and her husband were moved to start the scholarship after reading a news report about senior cornerback Stephon Morris and the pride his father has for him.

“We know a lot of other people feel the same as we do, so this seemed like a good way to get others involved,” she said.

Acting Athletic Director Dave Joyner thanked the Skys for their “exceptional gesture.”

Penn State is taking donations for the scholarship fund online.

But donations to the scholarship will not satisfy the donor requirements that fans need to hit to get tickets and parking passes, said athletics spokesman Greg Myford.