The only thing I dislike about the Penn State trip is the getting there. Over the hill and through the woods times 10. But there was that one time when former Gazette photographer Buzz Orr cornered Robert Duvall in the Dulles Airport and asked for a quick snapshot with the man. Buzz was compiling a book called "Who's that with Buzz?" If it ever sees the light of day, it will be without Mr. Duvall. He politely declined.
Tailgating out here is a science. State College is kind of an outpost, so it's RV City here. This town does the traffic right, though. They shut just about everything down around Beaver Stadium, a wonderful iron bowl that looks like it was made by the cast of "Deer Hunter," and make it all one way in. It seems to work.
I suggest the Iowa people make this a road trip at least once. It's a unique and powerful football stage.
From the iPod (in case you tailgate in the driveway, which works just fine, too):
"Look Out, Joe" -- Neil Young. "Look out, Joe, we're coming home. Old times were good times." I remember Joe Paterno's sprint up the tunnel after the refs in 2002. I imagine he's been slowed after the ugly deal on the Wisconsin sidelines last year.
"Peaceful Valley" -- Ryan Adams. " . . . trying to find a peaceful song to sing when everything goes wrong." Awesome show Monday night in IC.
"'Til the Bleeding Stops" -- Deadstring Brothers. "You know we've always been such good friends, you'd never judge me for the shape I'm in." Sage advice from the Deadstring Brothers, which, I'm pretty sure, includes a girl.
"I'm Not Like Everybody Else" -- The Kinks. "I'm not going to take it all lying down, because once I get started I go to town." That's never been the problem, but it's a rallying cry nonetheless.
"If Only You Were Lonely" -- The Replacements. "Twenty push-ups this morning, that was half of my goal. Tonight I'll be doing pull-ups on the toilet bowl." Just a song that everyone will be stumbling though by the end of the day.
Libation
Tröegs Mad Elf -- This is a Belgian strong dark ale, meaning it's higher in alcohol content with more of an overall character. I doubt the Benz Beverage Depot folks (endorsement deal, let's get our people together) carry this one. I bring it up because it's brewed at Tröegs Brewing Company in Harrisburg, Pa.
If I see it, I'll give it a full review. But the columnist and I are staying Altoona, which has a Hooters. Not saying we're going, just saying. Really, I'm shocked 'Toona has a Hooters. I think it's some crazy sociological experiment. I'll take a pass. Actually, we were hoping to get in for a high school football game Friday night. The town looks as if it were built around football.