Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546586
1 2 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State has announced the opening of the Paterno Family Football Experience Room at its All- Sports Museum at Beaver Stadium. Described by the athletics depart- ment as "a permanent museum experi- ence celebrating more than a century of Penn State Football history," the room "brings together historic artifacts, inter- active displays and multimedia storytell- ing to recognize the student-athletes, coaches, staff, teams and traditions that have shaped the program," PSU said in a news release announcing the establish- ment of the Joe Paterno-themed room. Athletics director Patrick Kraft noted that Penn State's football history "be- longs to generations of student-ath- letes, coaches, staff and supporters who helped build this program. "This room gives us an opportu- nity to preserve that history, present it thoughtfully and create an experi- ence that connects the proud tradition of Penn State Football with its future." Penn State said an anonymous donor made a lead gift toward the creation and naming of the room. PSU alumnus Sean Mummert contributed state-of-the- art technology, while Michael and Patty Kirschner supported the development of the Paterno desk exhibit and histori- cal display. The Paterno Family Football Experi- ence Room opened to the public Sept. 3. It was also open Sept. 4 and Sept. 6, the day before and the day after the Nittany Lions' season opener against Marshall. Additional operating hours will be an- nounced later. The room is one of the most signifi- cant university-sponsored acknowl- edgments of Paterno since he was fired in November 2011 amid the fallout from the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The Paterno Family Football Experi- ence Room includes the following, per Penn State: • Coach Joe Paterno Exhibit: Pa- terno's original office desk and work- space, personal artifacts and a curated timeline documenting significant mo- ments from his more than six decades at Penn State. • Interactive Football History: Digital displays featuring program mile- stones, championship seasons, land- mark victories, interviews and historic footage. • Trophies and Honors: Penn State bowl trophies, the Heisman Trophy won by running back John Cappelletti in 1973, national awards, All-America rec- ognition and other individual honors. • Players, Coaches and Captains: Recognition of the program's lettermen, team captains, head coaches, assistant coaches and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees. • Beaver Stadium and Fan Tradi- tions: The evolution of Beaver Stadium and video features exploring Nittan- yville, the White Out and other traditions of the Penn State football community. • Penn State Football Today: A presentation of head coach Matt Camp- bell and the current direction of the program. ■ Paterno-themed Room Celebrates Penn State's Football History G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M The Paterno Family Football Experience Room is a permanent exhibit at Beaver Stadium featur- ing interactive displays, trophies and artifacts that tell the story of PSU's program. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS