Two longstanding Penn State football traditions are being significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2020 season, The State College Quarterback Club’s weekly luncheons featuring Nittany Lion head coach James Franklin as well as its post-season Penn State Football Banquet will not be held in person.
Plans have been made to conduct the weekly meetings and the postseason awards banquet virtually — conditions permitting. The good news is that by going virtual, the State College Quarterback Club will not be restricted to the number of members who can “attend” the events.
The ability to access the virtual weekly meetings and the banquet will be tied to specific email addresses of each member. You can get info on becoming a member here. Membership dues are used to support the Quarterback Club’s events and Penn State’s Morgan Academic Center.
The State College Quarterback Club is an official booster for the Penn State football program. According to PSU sports historian Lou Prato, the weekly in-season meetings date back to when Bob Higgins was coaching the team in the 1940s.
From the 1970s through 2011, Joe Paterno met with the club for lunch and discussion every Wednesday — first at Toftrees, and later at the Nittany Lion Inn and ultimately the Mount Nittany Club at Beaver Stadium. Paterno was typically joined by two players, and everything they said was considered off the record.
Franklin has continued the Wednesday tradition at the Mount Nittany Club, with members enjoying lunch and then hearing from the coach and two players. Club members receive a stern warning that if they pass along any intel that Franklin shares, they’ll get the boot.
“We have a great relationship with Coach Franklin and the Athletic Department,” the club’s website says. “We have always said, ‘What is said at Quarterback Club, Stays at Quarterback Club.’ We have had some issues in the past, so to be clear, if anyone transmits what is said or conducted at Quarterback Club in any way, i.e. Email, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or any media outlet, or copy what is said via video, or audio, the member will permanently lose their membership. If their membership is part of a family membership, the family will also permanently lose their membership as determined by the State College Quarterback Club Board of Directors.”
Sources say the in-person Wednesday meetings the past few years have drawn roughly 300 to 400 members per week. The current plan is to have Penn State radio play-by-play man Steve Jones interview Franklin and select players each week. Quarterback Club members can submit written questions in advance for Jones to ask Franklin.
The Penn State Football Banquet has been held at the Penn Stater in mid-December in recent years. More than 20 awards are presented to different Nittany Lions, ranging from Outstanding Senior Player to Scout Team Players of the Year.
The Link LonkJuly 22, 2020 at 07:48AM
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Longstanding Penn State football booster events going virtual - 247Sports
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