College Game Day: State College

Is State College the most literal city name of all time?
Personally I've always longed for the chance for three things:

* Designing a state or country flag
* Naming a sports franchise
* Designing the uniforms of a sports franchise

So when I see uninspired choices -- state quarters, the post-Soviet Russian flag, the Oklahoma City Thunder!? -- I get uppity.

Generally speaking, I don't consider the common usage of literal, untextured, seemingly 'uninspired' nomenclature choices as a bad thing. While '[State] City' is an obvious choice (the New York Citys, the Oklahoma Citys), you have to respect state-named cities that are situated outside that state's borders (eg Colorado City, AZ; Nevada City, CA; Kansas City, MO).

State College brings that to another level. Home to Pennsylvania State University, State College is outrageously literal. Even College Station, Texas -- the home of A&M (and a '12th guy' apparently, whatever that means) -- is a little more playful. What's more, State College backs it up with the most back-to-basics uniform of all time: Penn State's white helmet with navy blue stripe. (Notre Dame at least has a shiny helmet.)

And I like that. Even if the "white out" the fans get excited over doesn't apply to the team, who will wear dark blue jerseys. Or that they defy the Winnipeg Jets' trademark to "white out."

This week Penn State hosts Iowa and the ESPN's CollegeGameDay crew. Here's my article on State College's other travel draws for ESPN.

I'd love to go to a game -- I've only driven through -- but next time I'm back I'm definitely stopping for ice cream and a late-night 'sticky.'

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Prediction:
Penn State 22, Iowa 7
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And who wins as a destination? State College or Iowa City?

Iowa City is near some interesting sights -- I really enjoyed seeing Herbert Hoover's home, a half-hour drive away. The campus is nice. I had some veggie curry and saw bad rock bands playing by the river. But actually found other parts of Iowa more inspiring -- like the Loess Hills near Nebraska, or (particularly) the gorgeous Mississippi River Valley around Dubuque (which has a funicular train). Iowa City points: 13

State College has its moments, often drunken or high in cholesterol, but the nearby bike paths and mountains to climb are hard to argue with. I've been going to the area all my life. My mom was born in Franklin, just west. State College points: 17

--> State College beats Iowa City as destination, 17-13.