This is a story for all of you who continue to berate the Iowa State students for their jubilant celebration after our victory over Baylor.

I just received my recent copy of the Penn Stater, an alumni magazine, and read with interest Penn State’s renewed annual football rivalry with the University of Pittsburgh.

The rivalry began in 1893 and Penn State enjoyed considerable success through 1912. However, between 1912 and 1939 Penn State won only once — in 1919.

The loses were so humiliating that the Penn State Alumni Club pushed for a coaching change and received enough support from the university that the then coach, Hugo Bezdek, resigned.

Finally, in a 1939 home game, Penn State snapped its 27-year futility streak and beat Pitt 10-0.

At the end of the game, Penn State students stole the goal posts and carried them triumphantly across the campus.

To celebrate, Penn State President Ralph Dorn Hetzel (for which the student center is named) cancelled Monday’s classes.

More incredibly, in a 1947 “road” game at Pitt, Penn State students celebrated a 29-0 shutout victory over Pitt and an undefeated and untied season by tearing down the goalposts in Pitt’s stadium. Wow! I wonder who paid for those goalposts?

Like it or not, football is as much a part of the college experience for some students — and administrators — as knowledge and curiosity should be to all students. And, we see, so are goalposts.

Cheers and keep the spirit.

Scott Myers

Assistant professor

Sociology