Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/79325
showed up on the side of the helmet in 1957, disappeared in '62 and reap- peared in '66. They were gone for good nearly a decade later. Though it may not seem like it, the Nittany Lions' iconic uniforms have undergone a variety of modifications throughout the past century. But one element has remained constant: Penn State has never featured names on the back of its jersey. That all changed on Aug. 7, when Penn State announced that it would be altering its uniforms for the 2012 season. The new uniforms will feature a blue ribbon intended to call atten- tion to efforts aimed at preventing child abuse. "The Penn State commu- nity stands with all victims of child abuse," acting athletic director Dave Joyner said. "Coach Bill O'Brien and his football team made it clear they want to support victims and bring more awareness to this issue, which affects so many." The new jersey will also feature the last names of each football player "in recognition of their resolve and dedi- cation to the team and the Universi- ty," Penn State's news release stated. The decision to add a nameplate to the back of the jersey has been vigor- ously debated since the change was announced. Former Penn State and National Football League tight end Troy Dray- ton told the York Daily Record that "putting the names on the jerseys is blasphemy," adding that he probably won't watch a game this fall because of it. O'Brien has stressed that the changes are not an attempt to dis- tance the team from its longstanding traditions, but rather part of an effort to recognize current players. "I'm very respectful of the traditions here," O'Brien said. "Very respectful. But it's a new era of Penn State foot- ball in many ways. … I want people to recognize the fact that these are kids who are special, competitive kids who care about education, who care about Penn State and have gone through some tough times over the last year as a team and individually and have stuck with us. I think that says a lot ON THE RISE Work on the Ice Arena's steel skeleton is well under way. Ice Arena on schedule Tim Owen The Pegula Ice Arena, the future home of Penn State ice hockey, is grad- ually becoming a part of the University Park skyline. Nestled between Holuba Hall and Shields Building on University Drive, the arena has been under construction since early February. After seven months of work, iron rafters and beams – the skeleton of the 200,000- square-foot, 6,000-seat arena – are protruding into the horizon, towering over the neighboring football facility. Joe Battista, Penn State's associate athletic director for ice arena and hockey development, said construction has gone smoothly "despite a few challenges with the geology on the site." He said the arena is on schedule for completion in September 2013. With the expected grand opening little more than a year away, Battista said he is eager to see "all the smiling faces of the players, coaches, fans, local hockey and skating groups when they see how spectacular this en- tire building will be. We really put their interests first in designing the fa- cility." Guy Gadowsky, the men's ice hockey coach, said fans are going to ap- preciate the arena's fan-friendly design. "I think the atmosphere, includ- ing the ultra-steep student section with the band right in the middle, will prove to be the heartbeat of the arena," he said. Penn State will begin Division I play this fall. The Nittany Lions open their season against American International Oct. 12 at the Greenberg Ice Pavillion. The women's team will begin its inaugural varsity season Oct. 6 at Vermont before returning home for a two-game series against Syracuse beginning Oct. 13. –TIM OWEN