(11-21-2020 11:55 AM)BKTopper Wrote:  

(11-21-2020 08:09 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-21-2020 01:46 AM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(11-20-2020 01:13 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  You know, I think it's basically unfair calling Penn State's football culture a "cult" when there are so many other college football-obsessed towns out there.

But then again, there's something off about the State College area. Yes, It's smack in the middle of the country's largest Mega-plex, between DC and Boston - Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philly and Washington DC are all within a three-hour drive in four different directions- but it is also strangely isolated, like it's in Children of the Corn zone or "The Lottery". It's isolated in plain sight, or something. So there is a weird vibe to it, and I felt that way before Sandusky.

As someone who lived 30 minutes from State College for 9 years, and has family who attended PSU, I'll feel free to explain. There is absolutely nothing to do in Central PA, and the area was hit hard by the closure of several steel mills and the collapse of the rail industry. As such, the only things people have to look forward to are Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers football. This, coupled with Penn State being the flagship for the whole state meant it was not just getting students from Central PA, but from Pittsburgh and Philly as well. With regards to isolation, State College's airport didn't have any major upgrades until the 1990's, and it's in the mountains. It's in the middle of nowhere and isn't close to any big cities except Altoona.

Did you just call Altoona a "big city"?

It's no Mechanicsburg

I wouldn’t trade my University Park years for anything as a student. But ask me every day of the year where I’d actually want to live, and I’d take Mechanicsburg (PA) over that University Park-Altoona-Johnstown area every day.