Spider Stories

Thank you for highlighting Brad “Spider” Caldwell, “Keeper of the Flame,” in the September/October 2026 issue  [p. 42]. In 2019, I had the opportunity to meet him and experience his behind-the-scenes tour of Beaver Stadium, including his office filled with historic Penn State treasures. The Big Ten Senior Housing, Dining, and Residence Life Officers who accompanied me on the tour could not stop taking pictures, talking about the one-of-a-kind collection, and discussing the stories that he shared. That tour was truly an example of blue and white hospitality and a priceless Penn State memory for a collaborative group of higher education professionals from rival universities.

Cheryl Trecoske Fabrizi ’91 Com
Syracuse, N.Y.

The impressive photo of Levi Brown’s shoe [p. 48] reminded me of the life-size photo of Ted Kwalick’s ring-size 13 hand that appeared in the September 17, 1973, issue of Sports Illustrated to showcase the San Francisco 49ers tight end’s physical dominance. Kwalick’s famously large hands were central to the 49ers’ offensive strategy, which relied heavily on short passes to their star tight end. 

Michael Day ’73 Lib
Hagerstown, Md.

Inspiring Flight

I enjoyed reading “Flight of Imagination” [Sept./Oct., p. 34].  I will share my copy of the magazine so that others will be able to read the article. My late wife, Colette Gilroy, received her Ph.D. from Penn State in 1989.

M. Nicholas Gilroy
San Diego, Calif.

Still Standing

Thank you so much for the beautiful photograph of the obelisk near Old Main [“Still Standing,” p. 10]. That is where my husband, Richard Adler, proposed to me many years ago. We met while working in the dining hall in North Halls and were married in the campus chapel in September 1970. The yellow autumn leaves were especially meaningful, since our wedding took place in the fall and our flowers were wildflowers picked from my uncle’s fields. The photo brought back many memories of our romantic walks across campus holding hands, 50-cent movies at the HUB, and long study dates. Those were incredible days for two penniless kids who struggled to keep grades up while working 30-plus hours a week to pay for tuition and books. During our 46 years of marriage, we often talked fondly of our life in the Nittany Valley and the fine education we received at Penn State. Although he died almost 10 years ago, after spending most of his career at the University of Michigan, we both always considered ourselves Nittany Lions! Thank you for that photo. I ripped it from the magazine and put it in a frame!

Sara Jane “Sally” Lines Adler ’69, ’73 MS H&HD
Ypsilanti, Mich.

Faithful Fans

Almost every year since 2016 our small but mighty group has attended at least one Penn State football game. We missed the strange 2020 season, but we have been to the Rose Bowl, the Big Ten Championship game, the Orange Bowl, a Stripe Out, a White Out, Homecoming, and several others. We are undefeated in games we have seen at Beaver Stadium, and some of those games involved Pitt, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Maryland. This year’s game was the home opener. Although we were there to support Coach Campbell and the team, we also wanted to show our appreciation to Terry Smith, inspired by the March/April 2026 Penn Stater [“Terry Smith Has More to Write,” p. 32]! Did I mention we also get matching shirts for the game? Well, therein lies our issue. We had white shirts made before the game was announced as a Stripe Out. We hoped we would be in a white section, but as luck would have it we were in a blue section. So here is our small but mighty tribute to Terry Smith.

Jeffrey Becker
Panama City, Fla.

IM Mixup

I was so excited to see my letter published in the Sept./Oct. issue about intramural medals [Letters, p. 7]. Oops! The letter published was mine, but was attributed to Mike Emery ’77 Bus. He wasn’t on the team or in our dorm, and the photo of the medal shown below the letter was not mine. Here again [at right] is the correct picture of our spring 1974 IM soccer championship team from Jordan Hall. Thanks!

Hugh Morton ’74 Lib
Langhorne, Pa.

The letter you published in the Sept./Oct. issue under my name is not the letter I sent in. I received two IM medals, one for a team sport (volleyball) and one for an individual sport (handball). Have to thank my Nittany Halls next-door neighbor, Larry Wile, for the volleyball success (1975-1976). I also lucked out by not having to play Ed Shrum (Penn State Handball Club president) in winning my handball medal. 

Mike Emery ’77 Bus
Noblesville, Ind.
 

We regret the error. —Ed.

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Share Your Campus Dining Memories!  

Maybe it was the food: the Creamery ice cream that cured your homesickness, the fries that got you through Finals Week, the chocolate chip cookies that were (almost) as good as Mom’s. Maybe it was where you ate: a favorite table in the dining halls, reliable haunts in Findlay Commons or the HUB, or campus faves like Bruno’s, Lares, or Port Sky Café. Or maybe it was the people: your fellow freshmen from the dorms, or that classmate who became a lifelong friend—or even a life partner. Whatever your favorite campus dining memories, we’d love to hear them. Send them our way (250 words tops, please) at heypennstater@psu.edu, and we’ll publish as many as we can in an upcoming issue.