Penn State Nittany Lions’ student section named nation’s best during ESPN awards ceremony
Penn State’s players may not have come home with any serious hardware during Thursday’s College Football Awards Ceremony on ESPN — but the student section is still bringing home a trophy.
During the televised show, which included the presenting of the Maxwell Award and 19 others, Penn State was named the best student section in the country. The young fans won the official Live Mas Student Section of the Year Award, which was decided by 10 ESPN personalities and country music singer Chase Rice.
No, the award was technically not considered part of an elite lineup that included the Butkus, Camp and Outland — it was sponsored by Taco Bell, after all — but the committee discussed different student sections every week. And, by the end of the season, it was pretty clear who deserved to be recognized during the prestigious ceremony.
The chairman of the committee, ESPN analyst Rece Davis, told reporters in October just how special the atmosphere at Beaver Stadium is — especially during the White Out, when student fans are at their loudest.
“That’s something that will run chills up your spine,” Davis said.
The praise for the Nittany Lions’ student section came from every angle. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit has been a vocal supporter of the blue-and-white atmosphere for more than a decade, most recently commenting on how the stadium “feels like family.” ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren, who is on the committee, called it a “well-deserved” honor.
It’s not hard to see why. In fact, Penn State might’ve even wrapped up this award by Week 5.
During a Friday road game against Maryland, on Sept. 27, Penn State student fans poured into Maryland Stadium and eventually took over the Terrapins’ student section in a 59-0 blowout victory. For the first time ever, a road team — Penn State — was named the Live Mas Student Section of the Week.
“The Penn State student section is formidable at home, but when you’re able to mobilize and send enough students to create your own student section on the road, you’re raising the bar for all others,” ESPN and Taco Bell wrote. “The Penn State student section made a noticeable impact at Maryland, bringing hundreds of students, creating a home field advantage on the road and helping propel the Nittany Lions to a victory over the Terps.”
Penn State went on to win the weekly award again Week 8, during the White Out, after Michigan was forced to call a timeout before the first play of the game.
Penn State’s student section was a finalist alongside Clemson, LSU and Utah. And, according to the committee, the four criteria used to select the winner included creative energy, endurance, impact and tradition.
The student section in Happy Valley has long been known as one of the nation’s best. But, after Thursday night, it’s official: It’s the best.
