Legion of Blue is the student cheering section supporting the Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team. The cheering section has been around as long as the Penn State basketball team, but the organization was formed in 2003 as the Nittwits before changing its name to Nittany Nation in 2007. In 2015, Nittany Nation was rebranded as Legion of Blue in an effort to better organize the group. Legion of Blue was named after the Legion of Boom, the nickname of the mid-2010s Seattle Seahawks defense that was popular during the time of the rebranding. ESPN and the Big Ten Network have featured the section during live game action.
Organization
The Legion of Blue stands courtside behind the team benches, behind the basket near the Penn State bench, and behind the pep band in back of the other basket. During big games, there is student overflow seating available in the upper deck on the pep band side. The Legion of Blue supports the Nittany Lions and makes life as difficult as possible for the opposing team by standing and making noise through the entire game, making signs, and leading chants.
All Penn State students who purchase season or single game tickets are automatically members of the Legion of Blue and are eligible to sit in designated Legion of Blue seating areas and take advantage of promotions such as free food before games and t-shirt giveaways. During the final TV timeout of each game, Legion of Blue officer Ethan Cook, better known by his persona as "PSU TV Guy," hands out a free flat screen TV to the student showing the most spirit.[1]
In the fall, season tickets are sold for $35, and individual tickets can be purchased for $5 at the Bryce Jordan Center on gamedays. For many high profile and weekend games, individual student tickets can be purchased in advance in the HUB-Robeson Center. Some students have noted that Penn State basketball season tickets pay for themselves after considering money saved from eating the Legion of Blue's free food before games.[2]
The Legion of Blue traditionally experiences increased membership during successful seasons and the years following. The Bryce Jordan Center sold out for the first time since 2011 during a February, 2020 match vs. Minnesota, due in large part to a strong showing by the Legion of Blue.[3] Penn State went on to win the game 83-77. Other games with high student attendance include Penn State's 2011 Senior Night vs. Ohio State and Penn State's 2020 THON Hoops game vs. Ohio State.
Some seasons, the Legion of Blue 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. The Legion of Blue has brought busloads of students to Madison Square Garden several times: twice for Penn State's National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship runs in 2009 and 2018, and also for the inaugural B1G Super Saturday in 2016.[4][5]
The Legion of Blue is run by an executive board of undergraduate students that are especially passionate about Penn State basketball. Board members help organize promotions and free food at games, interact with Penn State students and fans on social media, organize events such as the annual "Fill the Forum," and spread Penn State hoops fandom across campus. Applications for new board members open each spring following the end of the basketball season.
2022-23 Board Members
President
Kyle Kroboth
Vice President
Noah Odige
Treasurer
Tom Perun
Secretary
Srikar Rao
Executive Officer
James Garcia
Executive Officer
Andrew Glenn
Executive Officer
Jacob Hallowell
Executive Officer
Amelia Houser
Executive Officer
Carly Knowlton
Executive Officer
Madi McSherry
Executive Officer
Luke Miller
Executive Officer
Laurant Morris
Past Board Members
Year
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Social Media/Web
Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Executive Officer
2021-22
Jon Flatley
Garren Wolfgang
Noah Odige
Kyle Kroboth
None
Ryan Hodinko
Carly Knowlton
Olia Lantier
Madi McSherry
Tom Perun
Srikar Rao
Brayden Yoder
2020-21
Madisen Patanella
Jon Flatley
Garren Wolfgang
Ryan Hodinko
Morgan Raup
Ethan Cook
Cheyenne Johnson
Kyle Kroboth
Madi McSherry
Noah Odige
Tom Perun
2019-20
Vinny Nardella
Liz Cooney
Alexis Soo
Madisen Patanella
None
Thomas Carvo
Jon Flatley
Ryan Hodinko
Morgan Raup
Dominico Vano
Garren Wolfgang
Kyle Yoder
2018-19
Andrew Flatley
Mercedes Fraistat
Vinny Nardella
Liz Cooney
None
Thomas Carvo
Joe Nadonley
Matt O'Connor
Madisen Patanella
Alexis Soo
Tyler Steiner
Kyle Yoder
2017-18
Nick Malizia
Andrew Flatley
Mercedes Fraistat
Liz Cooney
None
Noah Bergren
Thomas Carvo
Eric Fenstermaker
Joe Nadonley
Vinny Nardella
Tyler Steiner
Alex Trias
2016-17
Greg Zelinske
Nick Malizia
Mercedes Fraistat
Andrew Flatley
Mike Kwasnik
Patrick Burns
Liz Cooney
Shannon Jacob
Joe Nadonley
Alex Trias
Gavin Vanstone
None
2015-16
Michael "Spike" Anthony
Nick Malizia
Adriana Lacy
Steven Landman
Kristina Nauman
Andrew Flatley
Scotty Heeter
Mitchell Hutula
Joe Malespini
Matt Macnamera
Matt O'Connor
Greg Zelinske
Legion of Blue Presidents
2021-22
Jon Flatley
2020-21
Madisen Patanella
2019-20
Vinny Nardella
2018-19
Andrew Flatley
2017-18
Nick Malizia
2016-17
Greg Zelinske
2015-16
Michael "Spike" Anthony
2014-15
Kristina Nauman
2013-14
Darnell Brady
2012-13
Maddy Pryor
2011-12
Steve Huber
2010-11
Katie Huber
2009-10
George Beatty
2008-09
George Beatty
2007-08
Justin Casavant
2006-07
Bryan Schuster
2005-06
Jennifer Owsiany
2004-05
Jason Mattia
2003-04
Justin Casavant
Charity
Legion of Blue helps organize events with the university's athletic department and the basketball team to benefit Penn State THON, a dance marathon dedicated to curing childhood cancer. Each year, the Legion of Blue helps host the THON Hoops game, where all revenue from single game student tickets in donated to THON under the name of the organization of the student's choice.[7] Students also receive colorful shirts worn to generate awareness. THON children and their families are seated in the typical section section behind the basket near the Penn State bench and are recognized throughout the game.
Recognition
Legion of Blue and its members have been recognized by a variety of sources for their school spirit and charitable work. During the 2017-18 school year, Legion of Blue won the Lion Light student organization of the month award for their September "Fill the Forum" event[8] and the Penn State student organization of the month for their contributions to the annual THON Hoops game.[9] Legion of Blue was featured in conjunction with Penn State THON as part of ESPN's Student Spirit Week for the Nittany Lions' 2008 matchup against Ohio State,[10] and 2005-06 president Jennifer Owsiany was named ESPN's 2006 "Miss Bracket" after an online poll of college basketball's biggest superfans.[11]
Images
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2015)