Nittany Nation
Encyclopedia
Nittany Nation is the student cheering section supporting the Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball
team. Founded during the 2003/04 season, the section is present at the Bryce Jordan Center
for every home game with its name on the court along the sideline
. ESPN
and the Big Ten Network have featured the section during live game action.
Until 2007, the organization was known as "Nittwits."
t-shirt to wear during games as a part of their efforts to distract the opposing team and provide a home court advantage
. Students occasionally wear blue and white scarves to complement their t-shirt.
Forty Minutes is the official gameday publication of Nittany Nation, providing information about the Nittany Lions basketball team and their opponent on any particular night.
The Ohio State
editions for both 2005 and 2006 were criticized by Buckeye
fans for being unsportsmanlike
due to references regarding allegations that several notable athletes received illegal donations during their college career.
During the 2007/08 season, participation in the Nation dramatically increased, with over 5700 students attending an ESPN-televised contest against Ohio State.
Nittany Nation also plans away game bus trips to both conference and non-conference gymnasiums. Past excursions include visits to Seton Hall
, Michigan
, St. Joseph's
, Penn, and Virginia Tech
. Over 30 busloads of students were brought to Madison Square Garden
to watch the Nittany Lions capture the 2009 National Invitation Tournament
championship.
, including a dodgeball
tournament in the fall, and an attendance-based fundraiser at one home game during the Big Ten season.
, Gonzaga University
and the University of Connecticut
, former section president Jennifer Owsiany garnered the most tallies when voting was completed at the conclusion of March Madness
on April 3, 2006. It was later proven that Jennifer fixed the voting. She was later disqualified by ESPN.
Nittany Nation was also featured in conjunction with the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon
as part of ESPN's Student Spirit Week for the Nittany Lions' 2008 matchup against Ohio State.
Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball
The Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team representing the Pennsylvania State University. They are a member of the Big Ten Conference and play home games at the 15,261-seat Bryce Jordan Center, moving there from boisterous Rec Hall during the 1995–96...
team. Founded during the 2003/04 season, the section is present at the Bryce Jordan Center
Bryce Jordan Center
Bryce Jordan Center is a 15,261-seat multi-purpose arena in University Park, Pennsylvania. The arena opened in 1995 and is the largest such venue between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It replaced Rec Hall as the home to the Penn State University Nittany Lions men's and women's basketball team, the...
for every home game with its name on the court along the sideline
Sideline
Sideline may refer to:*Sidelines, lines which mark the outer boundaries of a sports field*Sideline reporter, sports term*"Sideline Ho," song by Monica...
. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and the Big Ten Network have featured the section during live game action.
Until 2007, the organization was known as "Nittwits."
Organization
Nittany Nation stands courtside surrounding three sides of the floor at the Jordan Center where they cheer for the team. All Penn State basketball student season ticket holders are members of the organization and receive a white NikeNike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
t-shirt to wear during games as a part of their efforts to distract the opposing team and provide a home court advantage
Home team
In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans...
. Students occasionally wear blue and white scarves to complement their t-shirt.
Forty Minutes is the official gameday publication of Nittany Nation, providing information about the Nittany Lions basketball team and their opponent on any particular night.
The Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
editions for both 2005 and 2006 were criticized by Buckeye
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
fans for being unsportsmanlike
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors...
due to references regarding allegations that several notable athletes received illegal donations during their college career.
During the 2007/08 season, participation in the Nation dramatically increased, with over 5700 students attending an ESPN-televised contest against Ohio State.
Nittany Nation also plans away game bus trips to both conference and non-conference gymnasiums. Past excursions include visits to Seton Hall
Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball
The Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey...
, Michigan
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
, St. Joseph's
Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball
The Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team represents Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Its home court is the Hagan Arena. The team's only Final Four appearance in 1961 was removed from the NCAA records due to a gambling scandal. Through...
, Penn, and Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball
The Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Home games are played at Cassell Coliseum, located on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg.-History:...
. Over 30 busloads of students were brought to Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
to watch the Nittany Lions capture the 2009 National Invitation Tournament
2009 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals and finals:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 31 and April 2* denotes each overtime played-NIT Championship:...
championship.
Charity
Nittany Nation helps organize several events with the university's athletic department and the basketball team to benefit the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance MarathonPenn State Dance Marathon
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, commonly referred to as THON, is a two day Dance Marathon that takes place every February at the Pennsylvania State University with the purpose of raising money to combat pediatric cancer...
, including a dodgeball
Dodgeball
Dodgeball is any of a variety of games in which players try to hit other players on the opposing team with balls while avoiding being hit themselves. This article is about a well-known form of team sport with modified rules that is often played in physical education classes and has been featured...
tournament in the fall, and an attendance-based fundraiser at one home game during the Big Ten season.
Recognition
In March 2006, ESPN's Page 2 did a nationwide search for the top male and female student fans of college basketball. In a contest that included students from such basketball powerhouses as Duke UniversityDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
and the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, former section president Jennifer Owsiany garnered the most tallies when voting was completed at the conclusion of March Madness
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
on April 3, 2006. It was later proven that Jennifer fixed the voting. She was later disqualified by ESPN.
Nittany Nation was also featured in conjunction with the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon
Penn State Dance Marathon
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, commonly referred to as THON, is a two day Dance Marathon that takes place every February at the Pennsylvania State University with the purpose of raising money to combat pediatric cancer...
as part of ESPN's Student Spirit Week for the Nittany Lions' 2008 matchup against Ohio State.