Penn State’s first-annual Victory Day turned Beaver Stadium into something a little different on Friday afternoon.
The Blue Band, cheer team, Lionettes and Nittany Lion still handled the usual pregame scene, but the spotlight belonged elsewhere. Underprivileged children with disabilities were the ones taking part in the action, getting a chance to run drills, play football and finish the night by scoring a rushing touchdown. To cap it off, they rang the Victory Bell.
Matt Campbell called it “What a great night for our community, for our kids,” Campbell said after Victory Day. “This world is about giving back and making a difference, and to be able to do that tonight, and be able to be with so many great families and young people that may never get the opportunity to play the game of football - it's a special opportunity for us.”
Campbell said he first heard about Victory Day at a high school football camp in Michigan from Aaron Segedi, a coach at Trenton High School. From there, he took the idea to his first head coaching stop at Toledo, then expanded it at Iowa State before bringing it to Happy Valley.
For Cooper Cousins, the event fit right in with what Penn State represents. Cousins, who has already become a familiar name around the community through THON and Team IMPACT, said Victory Day “blends great” with the Penn State character.
“Why not do it on a night like this with the band, the cheer team, the Lionettes, the whole community around to give these kids an opportunity to feel what a touchdown feels like,” Cousins said. “It's not even just cool for them, it's cool for us to be able to experience something like that.”
Campbell said the night was also about “putting things into perspective,” especially during a season when the day-to-day grind can crowd out what matters most.
He also framed it as a chance for his players to have something to “lean back on” as they prepare for the season, while giving back to the community at the same time.
The biggest impression, though, came from the scene itself: children, parents and players spending an hour together at Beaver Stadium, all of it marked by smiles and laughter.
“It's the best day of the year for me to get back to these kids to see a smile on their face,” Rocco Becht said. “It's truly the best thing in the world.
As you can hear, it's the best day for them as well. We're just glad to be here and put a smile on these kids' faces.
Looking ahead, Campbell said he doesn’t want Victory Day to turn into a “popularity contest.” His goal is for it to stay centered on the families it serves and grow naturally from there.
“This isn't trying to sell our program to anybody,” Campbell said. “This is to make a difference in the lives of other people, and to be honest with you, the more people we can make a difference in their lives, the better this opportunity is, and the more special this day becomes.”
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