Penn State Football Announces Plans for Final Spring Practice, Attendance
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State football will be hosting a variation of the annual Blue-White game with some students allowed to attend.
University President Eric Barron and Penn State Athletics announced Wednesday afternoon that freshmen studying at the main campus can attend the Nittany Lions’ final spring practice at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 17.
“We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for our first-year students to experience Beaver Stadium for the first time as Penn Staters,” Barron said. “Because of the pandemic, these students have missed out on this special tradition of cheering on the Nittany Lions, and we hope this will be a memorable way for them to gather together and celebrate the final practice of the spring.”
When head coach James Franklin was asked prior to Penn State’s first spring practice of the season whether there would be a Blue-White game, he made it clear that the football program, athletic department and university officials were working together to figure out a course of action.
Now, Penn State is set to change up its typical Blue-White game and hold its final spring practice in front of fans. After not allowing fans beyond the parents and families of Penn State players to attend games in 2020, freshmen students from University Park will be invited to attend the game.
Freshmen will receive direct communication from Penn State Athletics via their Penn State email with details and instructions, including health and safety guidelines such as masking and social distancing, for attending the team’s final spring practice.
The decision to allow a certain number of fans comes in response to Pennsylvania’s recently released COVID-19 precautions, which allow outdoor events to now hold up to 50% attendance as of April 4. Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour believes this spring practice with fans could be the first step toward an increased capacity for the 2021 season.
“We are hopeful for the fall and continue to focus on the health and safety of our community and on providing the best opportunity for a full capacity stadium for the Sept. 11 game against Ball State,” Barbour said.
Andrew Destin is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ajd6360@psu.edu.
