Didn’t we warn you about those storm clouds?

Sure enough the thunder and lightning that was forecast to play a part in the Penn State Football Fantasy Camp Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium did just that.

To take a look at photos from the Penn State Football Fantasy Camp click here

With the score tied at 36-36 after a period of overtime, the conditions worsened and the thunder and lightning rolled in to put an end to the Fantasy Camp finale, perhaps fittingly preventing defeat for either of the two determined teams.

To take a look at video from the Fantasy Camp, click here

“They were truly drained and had nothing left in the tank,” said camp organizer Patrick Steenberge of the weary combatants. “Although they were exhausted, I know they would have played and played until there was a winner, but this was the ideal ending.”

The Blue Team had tied the game at 28-28 with only 35 seconds remaining to force overtime. A defensively dominated first half led to the teams being deadlocked at eight points apiece at the interval. Then in the second half came a flurry of points. After halftime the Blue Team went into ball control mode, while the White Team, led by the play calling of Larry Johnson and Bill Kenney went to a no-huddle offense to get the ball moving.

The White Team held a slim 20-16 lead at the close of the third quarter of a game played in light drizzle and stifling 80 degree heat in front of more than 200 spectators comprising of family and friends.

“It was a great atmosphere,” added Steenberge. “It didn’t quite match the 100,000 or so who were on hand when many of these players enjoyed watching a Penn State game after the Fantasy Bowl last year, but it was special in other ways. Some players’ kids were there dressed as cheerleaders and families wore t-shirts with their relative’s name on to cheer him on. It was a lot of fun.

“The game itself was a classic battle and it was fitting that nobody ended up on the losing team because everyone fought their hearts out.”

On Saturday evening following the game the group met in the Presidents Box at Beaver Stadium to enjoy a farewell celebration and receive game balls and in the case of the camp freshmen, to receive Nittany Lions helmets as a memento of their first time in camp.

The second-year players received special leather blankets, while junior Scott Heiser was recognized for attending his third camp with a special Penn State Football Fantasy Camp ring.

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.

First night nerves are a part of football.

There were some expectant and pensive expressions on the faces of the rookies enjoying dinner at the Letterman’s Club at Beaver Stadium on the first evening of the Penn State Football Fantasy Camp.

“You can see it in their eyes that they don’t know quite what to expect,” said camp organizer Patrick Steenberge. “There is a combination of wanting to do well for themselves, not wanting to let their teammates down and making sure they can still play football after all this time away from the field.

“For some of the older guys it is the better part of a few decades since they last threw a football or receiving instruction from coaches. And then there is an element of the intimidation factor. The Penn State players they have cheered from the stands for years and the coaches whose game plan they have admired are now in the locker room talking x’s and o’s with them. It can be a surreal experience.”

But there are veterans on hand to help. The sophomores and juniors, returning to the fantasy camp experience that they can not live without each summer, are quick to put the freshmen at ease.

“We’ve been in the end zone before and can help them,” says Scott Heisler, who as captain of the Penn State team that faced Notre Dame in last year’s Fantasy Bowl I, caught a touchdown and after two years is at home in the Nittany Lions locker room. “We become one big family pretty quickly and the new guys will be welcomed into that fraternity. Some people might appear a bit nervous – even us experienced guys – but that will soon disappear once the first practice is underway.”

That first chance to be coached by familiar Penn State names such as Jay Paterno, Wally Richardson and Blair Thomas, among a host of well-known Nittany Lions, comes at 9.30am on Thursday following breakfast that has to be finished by 7.30am and then a team meeting in the Lasch Football Building on campus.

The average age of the Penn State Football Fantasy Camp member is 46 years young and they come from 11 states with tow pairs of father-son combinations in Roger and Brandon Apple and Mike and Michael Manning. Clearly all are dedicated Nittany Lions fans.

“They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t have a passion for Penn State and a burning desire to learn what makes this famous organization tick,” added Patrick Steenberge. “They get to see Penn State from the inside, which is a very unique and privileged perspective.”

When not on the football field, the campers attend football meetings and listen to a variety of guest speakers whose knowledge of Penn State football is undeniable. At the Kickoff Dinner at the Letterman’s club, the listened intently as defensive line coach Larry Johnson, former Nittany Lions defensive tackle Bob White, alumni associate executive director Roger Williams and Nittany Lions radio voice Steve Jones spoke. Also in attendance, mixing with the campers, were quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno and former Penn State wide receiver Kenny Jackson.

Great fun already and this is only day one.

Wednesday’s guest blogger to kick off the camp is the irrepressible John Barnes, who is on his way to State College…

Ok guys. I can’t access the blog as I am at the airport. Everyone have safe travel to SC today. Look forward to meeting everyone.

On another note…

I left the house at 6am this morning to get to the airport, leaving my 4 and a half month old son with the babysitter. It’s tough to not see him for a few days, but he has the Nittany Lions on his nursery wall to think about. There are pictures on my camera for those that wish to view all 1,000 of the baby and the nursery.

Nursery! There is a word I never thought I would use to refer to a room in my house. I thought it was a place you bought plants. Now, there is enough production going on in there to fertilize plants, but no plants.

Anyway, got to the airport and saw that there was a later direct flight to State College, around noon, which clearly will impact my performance at camp because I could have used the sleep. But then again, who really sleeps when there is a 4 and half month old in the house?

Plus, it will give me some extra time with which to possibly inject some money into the state college economy. I am thinking, because this is my second year at camp, what will I see this year that I maybe overlooked?

Who will the coaches be? Will we get some insight into the much discussed HD spread offense? Who will emerge as the go to guy for kickoffs and point after attempts? Can I draft Blair Thomas to play on my team be some method of disguise? Will the blue team correct its losing ways? Will we provide entertainment to the current players, who might get the best chuckle from us?

Notice – I’m from MD coach Johnson. If I’m not picked on your team, where’s the love? I guess I’ll have to take down that antenna sending subliminal messages to all the MD/DC crowd. Will I be as good a writer as Mark Harrington, one of the founders of Fight on State? Will they give me a free subscription for that shameless plug???

All of this, plus the benefit of seeing some individuals I have not seen since either last year at camp or during the Fantasy Bowl against Notre Dame in the spring. By the way, mentioning the Fantasy Bowl, I was hoping Dave Lipson had signed up.

From here on out, if you are queasy, you may want to stop reading. Or maybe you stopped reading when you saw who this was by. You are probably asking Patrick to stop having this guy email (let alone letting him loose on the blog). What can I say, I just read Kenny Mayne’s book about sports while not being about sports, so I am inspired.

Dave Lipson was unfortunate enough to crack two ribs during the fantasy bowl practice. It happened as he fell against my leg, which left a deep bruise forcing me not to play. I should have tried to crack more ribs.

Also last year, we had a player get carted to the hospital, who then came back, stitched up, and kicked the game winning extra point or field goal! I can’t really remember and did I mention I have been up since 5am? Who will be that type of player? By the way, that injury was not the cause of that guy’s unique look at the world. I just figured his parents had been hippies.

I can’t wait to meet everyone. Nuke, please may sure you have been appropriately decontaminated. Scott Heiser, I am sure that the 40-yard fly pattern will be open. Doug Stewart, I have no money for you.

Eric Ratner – a special recognition for making it to camp a week after surgery.

If I missed any of the prior year people, did I mention I have been up since 5am? Let’s put that in bold letters FIVE.

I hope they still are sending someone to pick me up. This could be a lonely walk to the hotel.

Whether they are college players at the top of their game, or middle-aged football fanatics with a dream to play at Beaver Stadium – excitement always builds during the build up to game day.

On Wednesday, June 11, a group of 30 Nittany Lions devotees who are never too old to enjoy themselves on the football field will kick off the 2008 Penn State Football Fantasy Camp.

And they are excited.

“My son and I are really looking forward to the camp,” said Roger Apple, a 56-year-old from Mechanicsburg, PA, who along with his son Brandon (aged 26) will attend the camp as freshmen.

“I did have lofty dreams of losing 10 to 15 pounds before camp but that never happened,” added Apple. “So I hope everyone will not be too hard on an old timer. It should be great just getting to see how PSU football works from the inside.”

Someone who knows exactly how things tick within the Nittany Lions fraternity is Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who will serve as one of the guest coaches in State College this week.

“One of the great things about the Fantasy Football Camp that is breathless to watch, is how involved the campers’ families are,” said Johnson. “To see the eye of the kids when the Dad runs out the tunnel for the first time, it is really special.

“The game and camp is great, but the life relationship and friendships that develop are priceless. It is just a game but the passion for the game is special. I love it.”

Joining Johnson as Fantasy Camp coaches will be fellow PSU coaches Jay Paterno, Bill Kenney and Kermit Buggs and former players Kenny Jackson and Blair Thomas. Offensive coordinator Galen Hall will discuss PSU football and offensive strategies, while assistant coach Mike McQueary will give a talk on recruiting.

For the third year in succession, the eclectic group of young at heart football enthusiasts, whose ages range from 24 to 72, will put themselves through four days of practices and meetings before playing a competitive 60-minute flag football game in Beaver Stadium. The field where they faithfully watch the stars of college football excel during the fall will become the platform for a unique moment of football glory of their own.

From June 11-15, the campers will interact with some of the legends of Penn State Football, and dress in official team apparel for four practices. They will have daily use of the varsity locker room in Beaver Stadium, and will eat, sleep and breathe, just as the Nittany Lions football stars do during their season.

For some, the lure to play at Penn State is so strong that in the case of Eric Ratner, a 50-year-old third-year returning camper from Blue Bell, PA, even hospitalization can not keep him away.

“I’ve had a slight set back and am having surgery to retrieve kidney stones,” he explained. “But I should be one hundred percent by Wednesday or Thursday.”

And for those who can not – or prefer not to – set foot on the field, the opportunity to see Dad, brother, son or even grandfather pull on a Nittany Lions jersey and live out the fantasy of being a Penn State football player for a week, there is satisfaction in watching from the sidelines.

“My wife, oldest daughter, brother and sister-in-law are coming to tailgate and watch me damage myself,” said Jim Conroy, 56, who hails from Newton, PA. “The glory days have returned.”

The oldest participant will be freshman Doug Baxter from Bethel Park, PA, who signs in at 65 years young, and is one of eight Pennsylvania residents attending.

“You are never too old to put on a jersey and become a football player again,” said organizer Patrick Steenberge, who is himself a former college quarterback having played at Notre Dame from 1970-71. “I never tire of seeing the look of excitement on the campers’ faces when they see their names above a locker, or tread where Penn State legends have gone before them.”

STATE COLLGE, PA (Wednesday, April 16) – What is it that keeps bringing them back? Quite simply, the opportunity to live out football dreams on the hallowed turf of Penn State University is too much to resist for the returning veterans of the Penn State Football Fantasy Camp.

A total of seven veterans – classed as sophomores and juniors – will return to the third annual Penn State Football Fantasy Camp, which will be held from June 11 to 15.

“The week at camp was the best of my life,” said Dan Hall from Indianapolis, IN, who lived the 2007 camp experience and will return this year as a sophomore. “Fantasy Camp went above and beyond all of my expectations. I do not know how you can make it any better.”

And the word is spreading. Already signed up as 2008 freshmen are 22 newcomers aged between 30 and 65 who will arrive in State College from as far away as California, Florida, Massachusetts and Texas.

The oldest 2008 Fantasy Camp participant, freshman Doug Baxter from Bethel Park, PA, signs in at 65 years young, and is one is one of eight Pennsylvania residents among those who will experience football practices based upon the Nittany Lion traditions, directed by coaches and former star players.

Those who have given instruction at previous camps include coaches Jay Paterno, Larry Johnson, Bill Kenney and Brian Norwood and former players Blair Thomas and Kenny Jackson. The football at the camp is non-contact, with an emphasis on skill development, learning the offensive and defensive schemes used by Penn State, and the kicking game.

“Being around people as intensely proud of Penn State tradition makes me once again realize what a huge responsibility I have to uphold the tradition,” said Nittany Lions assistant coach Jay Paterno. “Success with Honor is real.”

The popular series of college football fantasy camps, which have been run successfully since 2003 by former college quarterback Patrick Steenberge (Notre Dame ’70-’71), offer Nittany Lions fans a chance to play football where legends have gone before them – at Beaver Stadium.

The highlight of the camp is the Blue-White flag football game played in Beaver Stadium with complete game day action, including Varsity locker room dressing, training room use, video message board, officials, a public address announcer, audio clips soundtrack with music and cheers, and blue bus transport to the game, to make this an authentic PSU Football experience.

All participants will be housed in the Penn Stater Conference Center, in single rooms. Practices and the game are open to invited guests. Each night a special function will be held in a legendary setting on campus, including the Letterman’s Club, Mount Nittany Club, and the President’s Box in Beaver Stadium. Training table lunches are served in Pollock Dining Hall; breakfasts and some meals will be at the Nittany Lion Inn.

In 2007, the passion for the camps led to 35 alumni participating in Fantasy Bowl I, a game played between veterans of the PSU and Notre Dame Fantasy Camps before the Nittany Lions and Irish met at Beaver Stadium in September.

One of the stars of that game was returning Fantasy Camp junior Scott Heiser, 44, from Princeton, NJ, who scored the game’s opening touchdown in a narrow 16-15 loss to the Fighting Irish.

A corporate tax consultant by profession, Heiser, along with 50-year-old Eric Ratner from Blue Bell, PA, will be able to show the newcomers the ropes at PSU having attended both previous Fantasy Camps at Penn State.

Returning juniors:

Returning sophomores:

And the Manning father and son combination is attending Penn State Fantasy Football Camp. Not quite Archie and Peyton, but California pair Mike Manning (aged 61 from Tustin, CA) and son Mike Manning (aged 30 from San Francisco, CA) will don the colors of the Nittany Lions for the first time as freshmen.

Freshmen:

The unique Penn State Football Fantasy Camp experience costs $4990 and is the ideal gift for that father, son or husband who has everything else!

For information call Patrick Steenberge, 817-219-7274, email him at Patrick@GlobalFootball.com or go online to www.PennStateFantasyCamp.com.