The Penn State Alma Mater

by Fred Lewis Pattee

For the glory of old State,
For her founders strong and great,
For the future that we wait,
Raise the song, raise the song.

Sing our love and loyalty,
Sing our hopes that, bright and free,
Rest, O Mother dear, with thee,
All with thee, all with thee.

(Softly)

When we stood at childhood’s gate,
Shapeless in the hands of fate,
Thou didst mold us, dear old State,
Dear old State, dear old State.

(Louder)

May no act of ours bring shame
To one heart that loves thy name,
May our lives but swell thy fame,
Dear old State, dear old State.

The first semester of my first year of college, University President Graham Spanier launched a multi-million dollar fund-raising campaign, and during the launching ceremony, the Musical Theatre students performed.  I’ve known the words to our alma mater ever since.

Fight on State!

The fight song was my favorite as a kid.  I wasn’t all that interested in football in my youth ~ my dad and brother were much more involved in what was going on on the field during the game … I was all about the Blue Band performing pre-game and during half time (such a little musical theatre geek was I!).

I grew up with the tradition of journeying to State College on Saturdays in the fall ~ we did it every year, regardless of where we lived.  Sometimes it was hot.  Sometimes it was cold.  Sometimes it rained.  It was always fun ~ it remains so to this day.  It’s changed … obviously I care a lot more about the football than I used to (in 1994 a quarterback wearing #12 piqued my interest in the game ~ he led PSU to an undefeated season and a national title ~ and I’ve totally loved him ever since, whether he wore #12 on the Panthers, or #5 on the Giants, Raiders, Titans and Colts … he’s the only non-Steeler I completely adore).  As we got older, my brother and I learned the fine art of tailgating from the best (check it out ~ Sports Illustrated ran a competition about the best tailgaters in the country …. the Buffalo Bills won for the NFL, and PSU won for college … in a head to head, we took it hands down).  And now, it’s about seeing all those people who lived through the glory days, and revisiting it (albeit with better food, beer, and sleeping accommodations!).

Here’s to the first big game of the year ~ burgers, beer, friends, football and fall.

WE ARE!!!!

PENN STATE.