Why don't the Penn Staters sing the fight song?

Battle Keep singing, state!

Penn State has one of the best game day atmospheres in the country. Regardless of the biases some people have, most agree that a game at Beaver Stadium is one of the top experiences on any college football fan's bucket list.

There are many reasons why the Penn State experience is so great. The most obvious explanation is the crowd. Penn State has the largest alumni association of any school in the country, and the Nittany Lions' loyal supporters flock to Happy Valley for home games each year.

Additionally, Beaver Stadium holds over 107,000 people, allowing the school to showcase its impressively large fan base, not to mention the thousands of others who can't even make it to the stadium but come into town just for tailgating.

Another reason Penn State offers such a great playing experience is its history and traditions. Penn State has the eighth-most wins of any college football program in the country and has been playing since 1887.

Despite all this history, Penn State has many amazing traditions. From the Blue Band's Floating Lions Drill to the “We are” chantevery home game is filled with relics and memories of moments from the program's storied past. One of these amazing traditions is the singing of the fight song, “Keep fighting, state.”

The Penn State fight song was originally written by Joseph Sanders in 1933 and released in a revised and shortened version in 1968. It's safe to say that the song has long been a staple of the Penn State game day experience.

The song is traditionally played by the Penn State Blue Band at the beginning of every game and after every Penn State touchdown. It is short and sweet, with a victorious and distinctly collegiate tone. The lyrics, see belowreflect the history and prestige of Pennsylvania State University.

Further state,
Further state,
Roar, lions, roar: (LET'S GO, STATE!)
We will reach that line, increase the score,
Keep fighting until you win,
Keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, Penn State! (STATE, GO! STATE!)

We here at Onward State are obsessed with the song. In case you haven't noticed, our name comes from the second verse of “Fight On, State.”

There's just one problem with the fight song: Nobody sings it! As one of Onward State's football photographers for the past two seasons, I often find myself turning around to watch the crowd sing and cheer from the field's perspective.

At this season's home opener against Bowling Green, I stood at the south goal post waiting to photograph the team's entrance while watching the Blue Band march onto the field playing “Fight On, State.” I was shocked to see the crowd standing there in silence with maybe a few students nodding their heads.

Even the Nittanyville students who camp outside the stadium to get front row seats were mostly silent during the fight song. I was shocked, as I had just heard most of them singing the lyrics outside the stadium before coming through Gate A.

Why don't people sing the fight song? The most obvious answer is that many probably don't know the lyrics. However, as you can see above, it's not a long song and it wouldn't take the average fan too long to learn the lyrics. Most Penn Staters know and sing the longer “Alma Mater,” so why not the fight song?

Singing the Penn State fight song is an opportunity to unite students and alumni, young and old. Over 107,000 fans sing a song that is older than them all. While the alumni and parents may not know the lyrics to Sheck Wes' “Mo Bamba,” they may know the fight song.

Maybe seeing the world on the big screen will encourage people to sing and help them learn the lyrics. Maybe older students need to show more initiative and sing proudly to set an example for younger students.

Penn State already has a fantastic game day atmosphere, but I can only imagine how much better it would be if over a hundred thousand people sang in unison after a touchdown the way Eagles fans sing “Fly Eagles Fly” after a touchdown at the Linc.

So folks, when you take your seats at Beaver Stadium this weekend before the Nittany Lions game against Kent State, you might want to check out the lyrics to the fight song. Sing it with pride, because in my opinion, “Fight On, State” is pretty awesome.