Yesterday was the annual Blue-White game which drew 73,000 fans for what is basically a scrimmage and the end of spring practice. With the PA primary coming up on Tuesday, both campaigns set up tailgates, the big winner according to the local newspaper, the Centre Daily Times...Barack Obama! more after the jump...
Most of you probably saw the 23,000 person rally earlier this month where PSU player Lydell Sargeant gave Obama a PSU football jersey and Saturday was another big day in Happy Valley for Obama and PSU QB coach Jay Paterno, the lead Obama man in Happy Valley, bought in the big guns, he brought in PSU legend and current 49er Michael Robinson!
he Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns both set up tailgates ahead of the annual intrasquad scrimmage, though the Obama tent appeared to benefit both from its big corner lot at Fox Hollow Road and Park Avenue and from some high scoring by Penn State quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno.
Michael Robinson, who as quarterback led the Penn State football team to an 11-1 record in 2005, strode into a tailgate tent wearing a T-shirt with "Obama’s Playmakers" splashed across the front.
Robinson began a half-hour of high-fiving fans, autographing footballs, posing for photos with young and old alike — and campaigning for Obama.
"I believe in what Obama is talking about," Robinson said. "I think it’s time for a change — time for a new era."
Former defensive end Matt Rice, equally busy signing autographs, looked around at the tailgating world.
"I never got to see this because I was always on the other side," Rice said. "This is crazy."
Robinson and Rice were accompanied by Levi Brown, Blair Thomas and other former
Penn State stars. In the midst of the excitement they stirred, Obama’s central Pennsylvania campaign director, Nicole Derse, walked up to Paterno, gave him a hug and expressed appreciation.
"You did great — I love it," she said.
Paterno said privately that he helped bring former Penn State players who support Obama together at the tailgate, including Robinson.
"I called him and said ‘I’m doing this tailgate,’ and he said, ‘How can I get involved?’ " Paterno said.