Legion of Blue

Legion of Blue
	File:Legion of Blue Seal.jpg The Legion of Blue logo was created in 2015 to go along with the new student section rebranding.
Formation	2003
Purpose	College basketball student section
Headquarters	Bryce Jordan Center
Location	University Park, Pennsylvania;
Affiliations	Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball
Website	www.legionofblue.com

Legion of Blue is the student cheering section supporting the Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team. Founded during the 2003/2004 season, ESPN and the Big Ten Network have featured the section during live game action. From 2003 until 2007, the organization was known as Nittwits, and was known as Nittany Nation from 2007 until the 2015/2016 season as a part of the program rebranding.

Organization

Legion of Blue stands courtside surrounding three sides of the floor at the Jordan Center where they cheer for the team. All Penn State basketball student season ticket holders are members of the organization and receive a blue t-shirt to wear during games as a part of their efforts to distract the opposing team and provide a home court advantage. Students occasionally wear blue and white scarves to complement their t-shirt.

Legion of Blue creates a dirt sheet before every home game to give to students. Included in the dirt sheets are chants for the night, and negative info about an opposing player to get in their heads.

The Ohio State editions for both 2005 and 2006 were criticized by Buckeyes fans for being unsportsmanlike due to references regarding allegations that several notable athletes received illegal donations during their college career.^[1]

During the 2007/08 season, participation in the Legion dramatically increased, with over 5,700 students attending an ESPN-televised contest against Ohio State.^[2]

Legion of Blue also 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. Over 30 busloads of students were brought to Madison Square Garden to watch the Nittany Lions capture the 2009 National Invitation Tournament championship, and Madison Square Garden again in 2016 as a part of B1G Super Saturday.^[3]^[4]

Charity

Legion of Blue helps organize several events with the university's athletic department and the basketball team to benefit the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, including away game watch parties at local restaurants, and an attendance-based fundraiser at one home game during the Big Ten season.^[2]

Recognition

In March 2006, ESPN's Page 2 did a nationwide search for the top male and female student fans of college basketball.^[5] In a contest that included students from such basketball powerhouses as Duke University, Gonzaga University and the University of Connecticut, former section president Jennifer Owsiany garnered the most tallies when voting was completed at the conclusion of March Madness on April 3, 2006.^[6] Legion of Blue was also featured in conjunction with the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon as part of ESPN's Student Spirit Week for the Nittany Lions' 2008 matchup against Ohio State.^[7]

Images

References

^ "The Columbus Dispatch: Penn State fans' newsletter pokes fun at OSU athletics". Retrieved July 6, 2006.
^ ^a ^b "The Daily Collegian: Proceeds from game will benefit Thon". Retrieved March 31, 2008.
^ Lewis, Brian (April 2, 2009). "New York Post: NITTANY NATION IS RIGHT AT HOME". Retrieved April 2, 2009.
^ Ogle, Mike (April 3, 2009). "New York Times: Penn State Wins Its First N.I.T. at a Raucous Garden". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
^ "ESPN.com: Page 2: Vote for Miss Bracket". Retrieved July 6, 2006.
^ "GoPSUsports.com: Meet the 2006 ESPN.com Miss Bracket - Jennifer Owsiany". Retrieved July 6, 2006. ^{[dead link‍]}
^ Commentators: Brent Musburger, Steve Lavin and Erin Andrews (2008-01-29). "Student Spirit Week: Ohio State at Penn State (2008)". Super Tuesday. University Park, PA. ESPN. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)

  8. Penn State men’s basketball’s student section: Ever true to you, dear old Legion of Blue
  9. Jensen: Penn State and the Palestra win this one
  10. Chambers excited about expectations for talented Penn State men’s basketball team

External links

[1] "The Columbus Dispatch: Penn State fans' newsletter pokes fun at OSU athletics". Retrieved July 6, 2006.

[collegian.psu.edu-2] "The Daily Collegian: Proceeds from game will benefit Thon". Retrieved March 31, 2008.

[3] Lewis, Brian (April 2, 2009). "New York Post: NITTANY NATION IS RIGHT AT HOME". Retrieved April 2, 2009.

[4] Ogle, Mike (April 3, 2009). "New York Times: Penn State Wins Its First N.I.T. at a Raucous Garden". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2009.

[5] "ESPN.com: Page 2: Vote for Miss Bracket". Retrieved July 6, 2006.

[6] "GoPSUsports.com: Meet the 2006 ESPN.com Miss Bracket - Jennifer Owsiany". Retrieved July 6, 2006. ^{[dead link‍]}

[7] Commentators: Brent Musburger, Steve Lavin and Erin Andrews (2008-01-29). "Student Spirit Week: Ohio State at Penn State (2008)". Super Tuesday. University Park, PA. ESPN. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)

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v t e Penn State Nittany Lions basketball
Venues	Armory (1896–1929) Rec Hall (1929–1996) Bryce Jordan Center (1996–present)
Culture & lore	Legion of Blue Nittany Lion "Fight On, State" Penn State Blue Band
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA Final Four appearance in italics