From the Editor
The Shirts That Bind

A familiar jersey can rekindle memories, or provide an invitation to connect.

two men wearing blue Stake jerseys, courtesy
By Ryan Jones '95 Com

 

I knew when I saw him that Penn State grad student Matthew Hollingham would be a guy I could talk to. I didn’t know he’d have such an incredible story to share.

Matthew and I met last fall at a State College running club hosted by Antifragile, the terrific alumni-owned brewery that opened downtown in 2022. It was the royal blue soccer jersey that caught my eye: The chest bore the badge of Everton Football Club, the English team that I’ve followed for almost 25 years. My Everton fandom is a somewhat long story (although the team’s blue-and-white color scheme had more than a little to do with it), but Matthew was born into his: Years ago, his grandfather played for the club.

The jersey was enough for me to strike up a conversation, which eventually led to his sharing his story. (I won’t spoil it here, but I trust you’ll read the excellent feature by my colleague Robyn Rydzy ’95 Com beginning on p. 48.) As the rest of this issue came together, it occurred to me that Matthew’s feature wasn’t the only one with which I had a jersey in common. Way back in 1991, I was a freshman trying to decide whose number would grace the first Penn State jersey I ever bought. One game was enough for me to choose No. 8, in recognition of the Nittany Lions’ undersized but dynamic senior wideout, Terry Smith.

I’ve still got that road-game white No. 8 jersey, although I resisted the urge to wear it to the Lasch Building when I interviewed Smith ’91 Bus in December; I hope you’ll read my profile of the man who stepped up for the Nittany Lions last fall, beginning on p. 32. I also own a few Everton shirts, including a pink-and-black alternate that came out back in 2009—another reason why, as a Penn Stater, my fandom has always felt pretty natural. In both cases, those jerseys represent not just rooting interests but a sort of community that, at its best, feels like family.

Jones signature

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Jones ’95 Com  |  Editor
ryanjones@psu.edu  |  @RJPennStater

 

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