Penn State’s vast nation of students, graduates and fans converged in State College on Saturday for the home opening game of the collegiate football season.

Amid a see of blue and white clothing and the pungent pall from countless cookouts, Nittany Lion stalwarts seem to fall in love with the tailgating experience almost as much as the football.

Some come for the football — although not every fan had even heard of Penn State’s opponent, Coastal Carolina University, before this season’s schedule was printed.

Others come for the party. Tailgating may not have been invented at Penn State, but it has been refined into a high art form there.

Others come for the camaraderie. Season ticket holders also are season parking pass holders, and most tend to spend the pre-game “warm up” in the same spot year after year. During the six or seven home games per year, they may spend more quality time with their tailgating neighbors than they do with their real neighbors.

Nearly everyone comes because it is Penn State, a university, an institution and a football program that inspires extreme loyalty.

For Tom Aber of Milton, that sense of loyalty first instilled by his foster father has led him back to Happy valley for 42 years.

“We just continued the trend by coming,” Aber, the holder of 14 season ticket seats, said. “We come here for the games. We come here for the people. It’s a nice group.”

That group includes a strong contingent from central Pennsylvania. Aber’s tailgating neighbors include people from Lewistown, Danville Milton and Shamokin. Many seem drawn to a program — and a coach — with a winning tradition.

“We’re here because of the success of the Penn State program,” Aber said. “Joe Pa(terno) is a good coach, a motivator.

Aber also motivated his girlfriend, Cindy Fawess, to start tailgating, too, about four years ago. It did not take much arm twisting, though.

“I couldn’t wait to come,” she said “I love the tailgating, going into Beaver Stadium and seeing all the fans. It gives you such a rush. Even when we pull in just seeing Beaver Stadium give you a rush.”

Fawess carries some of the rush with her wherever she goes. Her cell phone rings to the tunes of the Penn State Blue Band.

And while she may not want to ever escape from Penn State, she said the weekend in Happy Valley helps her escape the stress from her job as a Northumberland County Children and Youth Services caseworker.

“This is a nice break,” she said.