The fantasy campers woke this morning to see themselves pictured in the Centre Daily Times with legendary Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, whose visit to meet with the group in the locker room was one of the highlights of Thursday’s activities.

The first full day of camp was a long one with recounted tales of Penn State football and card games lasting long into the early hours.

Despite a little less rest than anticipated, the fantasy campers managed to put themselves through two practices in preparation for Saturday’s game. First up was a special teams practice in the morning, which caught the attention of two Penn State football players intrigued to see, shall we say, older guys practicing on their field.

Once Nittany Lions punter Jeremy Boone and long smaller Andrew Pitz had figured out who the never too young to play group was, they put on a demonstration of punting and passed on tips to the campers.

Also on hand as the Penn State varsity squad went through strength and conditioning workouts was quarterback Daryll Clark, who joined in by calling some plays and throwing some passes. The highlight of his participation was a 60-yard bomb that 44-year-old EG Hamill from Ridgewood, NJ, caught up to but dropped as Fantasy Camp immortality beckoned.

The Fantasy Camp group marveled at the size and strength of the varsity group as they flipped giant tires and the hauled them across the field as part of their conditioning drills. That workout was strictly for the youngsters.

Later in the day, coach Mike McQueary conducted an hour-long session on recruitment that gave a great insight into how Penn State attracts high school standouts to State College.

When asked if any of his Fantasy Camp group were likely to be recruited by McQueary after their exploits on the field, organizer Patrick Steenberge explained: “Some have eligibility but they fall down on academics.”

In the afternoon the group moved indoors into Holuba Hall to get out of the heat and held a Punt, Pass and Kick competition which gave early bragging rights to the Blue Team, which ran out the winner. Is that an omen for Saturday’s Blue-White game perhaps?

Then each team ran their offenses and defenses in preparation for the long-awaited game day in Beaver Stadium. Jay Paterno and Kermit Bugs have been joined on the Blue Team coaching staff by Kenny Jackson, who will call plays, while the same role will be taken with the White Team by Blair Thomas, who joins coaches Larry Johnson and Bill Kenney.

Families have started rolling into town and you can sense an air of expectation, as well as a storm brewing, which hopefully won’t replace the perfect sunny weather that has graced the camp so far and dampen spirits when kickoff time comes.