Have you seen the movie "A Night at the Museum?" A security guard at the Museum of Natural History discovers that the exhibits come alive and wreak havoc when no one else is around. Now imagine this concept at the Penn State All-Sports Museum at Beaver Stadium.
The sun goes down as the museum staff flicks off the lights and leaves for the night. Shortly thereafter, there is a slight stir in the football exhibit as John Cappelletti's 1973 Heisman Trophy stretches his twisted bronze back and shakes out his stiff right arm.
The statue then saunters toward the women's basketball exhibit to chat with Susan Robinson's Wade Trophy; the sleek gold-tone figure lowering her willowy basketball-wielding arm, begins to dribble.
During a night at the Penn State All-Sports Museum, Rip Engle's Xs and Os are studied by Nittany Lion football superstars of ages gone by.
In this dream, we can actually compare speed and skill of Penn State greats through the ages. Images of the 1970 Jack Ham, 1986 Shane Conlon and 2006 Paul Posluszny share linebacker drills; the young Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris challenge a 21-year old Larry Johnson to a 100-meter dash for all-star running backs.
Nittany Lion Olympians, decked out in their official red white and blue uniforms, share their gold-medal moments; Horace Ashenfelter recounts his 1952 steeplechase performance to 80s basketball legend Susie McConnell.
We can watch the very first female athletes of Penn State, rifle squads, bowling teams and fencers from long-ago eras. We can feel the wool of the university's first athletic uniforms, with the original team colors of black and pink.
All too soon, the dream comes to an end. The staff is arriving for the morning walk-through, and we are back in the present day, with trophies, photos and statues returned to their proper static spots.
Fortunately, history comes alive every day at the Penn State All-Sports Museum, and you don't have to wait for the doors to close. Amazing photo images stretch from floor to ceiling while classic calls from championship sporting events echo through the halls.
You can feel the weight of a shot put in your hand and stand in a baseball batter's box; grip a turn-of-the-century football or punch a leather-coated heavy bag, all part of the history and heritage of the Penn State Athletics Program.
There are special events, including speaker series. A new Museum Friends Group allows special access for some events as well as other benefits, providing fans of all ages the chance to spend some time going back in time through Penn State sports history.
Kellie Goodman can be reached at kgoodman@amcvb.com. Her column appears on Tuesdays.
