Week 3 fan: Joseph B. Desmond Jr.

Gail Franklin

The CDT's pick for Saturday's Nittany Lion fan of the game has taken the white-out theme to a whole new level.

Christopher Weddle

Joseph Desmond, Jr., of Mill Hall, talks with friends outside of Beaver Stadium. CDT/Christopher Weddle

Who should be the Penn State fan of the year, as featured in the CDT?

"I've combined my heart with my art," said Joseph B. Desmond Jr., as he pointed to various hand-sewn patches on his sparkling white tuxedo. "This was always a hobby of mine."

Desmond, 72, has become familiar to many fans, having worn a tuxedo with his signature patches to games for almost 25 years. The patches include a smiling orange that represents the Orange Bowl, a rose for the Rose Bowl, the numbers of his favorite players and one to honor the cheerleaders.

And that's his third suit. He also stitches a special message for each game with blue and white yarn on a plastic grid that's attached to his top hat.

Saturday's couplet was a crack at the Buffalo Bulls: "Enjoy the dip/ Dodge chips/Lions will rip bull slips."

He said it was a message to tailgaters, "not to slip on Buffalo chips."

Desmond, a retired school counselor from Mill Hall, has made about 150 top hat messages. He stitches about 300 smaller pins for fans every season and also makes special beaded pins for the mothers of Penn State basketball players.

FAN of the game: Joseph B. Desmond Jr.

Hometown: Mill Hall

Game attire: The Penn State tux with a navy blue bow tie.

Favorite game: 1987 Fiesta Bowl vs. Miami.

Favorite cheer: We are ... Penn State. Why I'm the best fan: "I've been dedicated to Penn State a long time. I support them with my heart and my art."

Why I should win the contest: "I think I'm one of a kind and because of all the hours I put into stitching."